Kolkata is a land of abundance and also popularly, the land
of the abundantly cheap. A rare
combination, much to a shopper’s delight! Though the city now boasts of many
elaborate shopping malls with many high-end fashion brands, the delights of
street shopping are barely comparable.
Be it the Gariahat market in the heart of South Calcutta or
New Market in the Central area or Burrabazar in the North, Kolkata has many a
treat to offer to the patrons of street shopping. To begin with it is a
bargainer’s paradise – you are likely to get away with a steal if you have your
bargaining skills in place. Everything from traditional Bengali sarees, to
handicrafts, to upscale fashion wear, to eye-catching jewellery, shoes and bags
are available at extraordinarily cheap prices. You will find sarees, shoes,
bags and dresses for as low as Rs 100-200, while you can find jewellery for
bare minimum prices like Rs. 50. Toys, teddy bears, household items, kitchenware,
decorations etc. can be bought for as low as Rs. 20-30.
New Market,
also previously known as Hogg’s market is one of the oldest and most preferred
destination for clothes, accessories and condiment shopping. Rebuilt after the
huge fire of 1985, New Market boasts of more than 2000 stalls sprawling over
its new and old complexes. The Simpark Mall, Treasure Island and the Shree Ram
Arcade in the same area are the ideal destinations for upscale clothes shopping
– everything from Westernwear, to formals to partywear to sarees. A wide array
of street vendors line the streets selling everything from make-shift scarves
to car decorations to laundry bags. Among the residents of South Kolkata,
Gariahat is the go-to place for a quick round of shopping – be it clothes or crockery,
bed-sheets or bags, fish or fresh vegetables. The basement market complex is
especially known for its collection of household goods, everything from linen
to mattresses to hardware goods. Hatibagaan, Shyambazar and Burrabazar are three
of the oldest markets in Kolkata with extremely reasonable rates. For
bookworms, College Street with its collection of bookshops is a huge draw.
Lines of bookstores selling both academic and story books exude a cozy
old-world charm; tucked behind them is Coffee House, where the intellectuals of
Calcutta engage in vigorous ‘adda’
sessions on everything from films to politics.
The
experience of street shopping in Kolkata is one-of-a-kind, be it books, shoes
or faux Ray Bans; everyone who has experienced it will vouch for the lure of
its uniqueness and magnetism!
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