One of the oldest cities in India, Kolkata is known for its quintessential Old World charm, and where better to look for this charm than the streets of Esplanade!

Created as a recreational haven for the English during the British Raj, old, gigantic buildings still bear proof of the age of the region. But the main fame of Esplanade lies in its long rows of the street market. Large stretches of the streets and pavements are taken over by numerous small stalls, containing a variety of clothing items, bags, shoes, watches, sunglasses, junk jewelry, soft toys, and a lot, lot more. These stalls charge a largely discounted price compared to the high street shops and are further subject to bargaining. There is a common saying in Kolkata that if a good is not found in the streets of Kolkata, it probably does not exist! While this is slightly exaggerated, you would honestly be hard-pressed to find something trending, in these stalls.

It is not just these street shops, but a whole marketing arcade exists in that area from way back in the 19^th Century, known as the Hogg Market. This is more commonly known as New Market, although it is no longer limited to just the arcade; rather, the whole shopping area including the stalls are now known under the broad umbrella term of New Market. A new underground mall has cropped up right next to this arcade too, called the Simpark Mall, making this whole region heaven for shopping enthusiasts. If you get hunger pangs, no need for you to worry, for shopping stalls is punctuated with both small and large food stalls, containing every kind of street food. If you are looking for something a little fancier, there are also multiple restaurants spread all over the region that you can try.