Kolkata is a Heaven for Shopaholics: Here's What to Buy from Kolkata from its Top 10 Shopping Destinations in 2019

The markets of Kolkata can be a tad confusing if you don’t know what to shop for. The variety is vast, and it can be overwhelming for a person who is new to the place. So to make the best of your shopping experience you should know what to buy.

Kolkata is famous for many things, but the most famous is, of course, the sweets and the sarees. Kolkata is also a goldmine for book lovers. The renowned college street is lined with bookstalls selling books, both old and new. So what you buy much depends on your taste as well. Saree lovers can take their pick from the various handloom varieties available here, namely Jamdani, Dhonekhali, Fulia Taant and of course the grandiose Baluchari.

If you are planning to spend a bit more, then you can visit the various gold jewellery stores and pick up some traditional Bengali Jewellery. If you are more of a street shopper, then head to roadside markets at Gariahat and Esplanade to take your pick from costume jewellery, ceramic ware, terracotta items, shoes, and bags.

Each area in Kolkata has its market street where the locals go shopping. In the north, we have Hatibagan Market, Hogg Market, Bowbazaar, and Esplanade. In the south, there is Gariahat, Dakhshinapan Complex, etc. Apart from that, there are various shopping malls dotted all over Kolkata. Each market has something unique to offer. Though you can find more or less similar stuff in each area, there is always something special that you will only find in a particular area. For example, Gariahat market has a streets side stall selling a wide variety of Bengali pickles and other delicious after-meal digestive pills known as Hajmis.

Similarly Esplanade market has a wide selection of knick-knacks and even clothes which though cheap, look no less than designer wear if paired with the right accessories. Sudder Street is an area frequented by foreigners and has quite a few stores which sell bohemian style clothes. If you like Flowy dresses, colourful pyjamas and stuff with psychedelic prints then this would be the place to visit.

Apart from street shopping, Kolkata has quite a few shopping malls. The oldest one is the Forum, located on Elgin Road. Then we have South City Mall, Mani Square Mall, Acropolis and Quest, which house some of fashion’s biggest names like Gucci, Emporio Armani, and Burberry. Shopping in a swanky mall is, of course, more comfortable experience thanks to central air conditioning, food courts serving delicious food, and the convenience of having all your shopping needs under one roof. But the reason that people still frequent street markets is the sheer variety of products and the hands-on experience.

The prices are another important decider of whether you choose malls or street-side shops. Streets give you the option to browse and bargain for hours without any commitment to buy. You also may end up finding great stuff at much lower prices. You don’t need a full purse or credit cards to enjoy the perks of street shopping. Whereas in malls, everything comes with a fixed price tag.

Before there were swanky malls and air-conditioned supermarkets, there was the Hogg Market or New Market as it’s popularly known as today. This market dates back to the colonial era and is the perfect destination for all of you, shopaholics. The old structure houses shops selling everything from clothes, fabric, sewing supplies, lingerie, make-up, crockery, jewellery, cooking utensils, electronics, school supplies, toys, bags, shoes, chocolates, baked goods, packaged food and anything else that you can think of!

It’s easy to get waylaid in this place if you don’t know what you are looking for. Some of the must-visit places in Hogg Market are Nahoum’s Bakery, an age-old confectionary, and bakery shop, Chamba Lama which sells beautiful tribal silver jewellery, J. Johnson for their collection of cheese including the famous Bandel cheese, a soft, dry and crumbly variety produced locally, known for its smoky flavour. It’s wise to carry cash when you visit this market as many of the shops do not accept cards and yes, don’t forget to bargain!

Located in South Kolkata, Gariahat Market consists of a long stretch of shops located on either side of the road. Though there are a lot of permanent stand-alone stores here, the places to grab a bargain from are the makeshift roadside stalls selling clothes, jewellery, shoes, bags, and crockery. You can find cheap loungewear, nighties, kurtis, and dresses here.

Crockery is available at very reasonable prices here. If you need serving bowls, plates, glass bottles, mugs, and cups at dirt cheap rates, then do give this place a visit. You can also pick up Bengali pickles, sauces, after meal mouth fresheners and digestives, dried spiced ginger, flavoured fennel seeds and dried raw mango from here. The prices cited are usually much higher than the original, so if you know your way around getting a good bargain, this is the go-to place for you!

Hatibagan Market is very similar to Gariahat but located in the far northern side of the city. The name is derived from the fact that it once used to sell animals and birds before it became illegal to do so. Now the area is famous for its roadside stalls selling a variety of items. People come here to shop before every big occasion as you can get a great deal on clothes, especially sarees. If you want to buy silk and cotton sarees in bulk, then this would be your market to visit. It can get a bit crowded though, especially before Durga Puja, which is the time when most Bengali households do the majority of their shopping. If you are gifting sarees to your friends and family, then we would suggest that you give Hatibagan market a visit as you can get pretty amazing deals here.

Burrabazaar is one of the oldest and largest wholesale markets in India, which is located near the Mahatma Gandhi Road metro station. We would suggest that you give Burrabazaar a visit even if you have no shopping plans just to soak in its historical vibe. But the place does sell everything. You can buy everything from sarees, fabrics, furnishings, spices, sweets, and utensils from here. There are four parts of the market, i.e., Tulapatti, Fancypatti, Dhotipatti, and Chinipatti, so named because of the things that are sold here. This is like the trader centre of Kolkata, frequented by both shoppers and sellers who often buy their merchandise from here. If you want to buy things at wholesale prices in bulk, then this place is a must-visit for you! People come here for wedding shopping as well.

If you have a fondness for handlooms, home décor and artifacts from different Indian states then head to Dakhshinapan Shopping Complex in the southern part of the city. This government-run supermarket houses all the state emporiums which sell sarees, fabric, clothes, furniture, furnishings and home décor from every corner of the country.

The place is a haunt for people with a distinctive artistic taste. You will get things here which you may not even otherwise find without doing a tour of the country. From Bandhnis of Rajasthan to Intricate Kashmiri shawls, you will find everything here under one roof. Some of the stores to visit are Mrignayani which has a beautiful collection of sarees, fabrics, readymade blouses, and silver jewellery, Garvi Gurjari Emporium, and Rajasthali for their handloom and embroidered stuff from the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Apart from this, you have various shops selling authentic Bengali Tant or hand woven sarees and Dhakai Jamdanis from Bangladesh. Some tailors sit outside the shops, who make salwar suits and blouses on order.

College street is home to some of the best educational institutes in the city including Presidency University and is known as Boi Para which roughly translates to the book district. It’s the biggest second-hand book market in the world. If you like getting lost in musty yellowing pages, browse through old tattered volumes and enjoy long walks down book laden sidewalks, then do give this place a visit. College street also has shops selling sports equipment, wedding merchandise, and sarees. But the main attraction is, of course, the books. You will need to browse quite a bit, but you may come across rare out of print books and first editions of famous literary works. While here, don’t forget to visit the iconic Indian Coffee House.

Sudder Street near Park Street is a locality frequented by foreign tourists and has a bustling vibe at all times. The place has a unique character and quite a few shops selling boho style clothes and accessories. If you like tops with psychedelic prints, mandala designs, loose flowing pyjama style pants, drawstring skirts, colourful jhola bags, etc. then this place would suit your taste. The store to visit would be Sunshine which stocks a good collection of the type of things which would best be described as ‘Hippie Fashion’. There are other stores as well. Don’t forget to visit Raj’s Spanish Café for their delicious and pocket-friendly continental fare. There is a store attached to the café as well.

Located right on Park Street below the landmark Park Hotel, is the now iconic Oxford Book Store. If you are a lover of books and tea, then give this place a visit. The area has a good collection of books and other knick-knacks like stationery, mugs, scented candles, souvenirs, pens, and postcards. The store is a great place to escape when you need a break from the real world. The wood-panelled interiors give off a feeling of warmth and coziness. On the level above the store is a little café called the Cha Bar, which serves delicious teas, both hot and chilled and an assortment of desserts and snacks. It’s the best place to unwind after a long day of shopping or just to get your thoughts together.

Esplanade is the busiest locality in Kolkata, and the market is a long stretch consisting of both stand-alone shops and hawkers on the sidewalk. Esplanade market has everything from toys to junk jewellery, hair accessories, clothes, shoes, and even lingerie. You can find cheap bags, belts, and sunglasses here. You have to be smart while shopping here as not everything is of the best quality. But if you browse long enough, you may end up finding something great at a throwaway price. There is some gorgeous stuff that you can find here at times like pretty Japanese fans; all from street side sellers. There are a few great leather goods stores as well. But you will need to bargain a bit.

Chandni Chowk market, again, is located near the office district and is known for the many shops that sell electronic goods at cheap rates. People go here to buy all their household electronic goods like music systems, laptops, TVs, etc. You can find every kind of electronics here from power banks, digital cameras, speakers, surveillance cameras to household accessories such as lights and lamps. The place is crowded before Diwali and Christmas as hordes of people shop for lights to decorate their homes. Most shops also repair and buy old electronics.