Bengali fashion is considered to be the epitome of grace, elegance, and taste. With Kohl-rimmed doe-like eyes, handmade jewelry, and flowing sarees, the quintessential “bong-crush” is the personification of the poetic muse.

If you find yourself in awe of Bengali fashion and want to shop like one of the bong-girls, all you need to do is walk through the sidewalks of Kolkata. Let us take you through a day of shopping.

Where To Go?

Kolkata is studded with hidden gems. You can find charming stores throughout the city. However, the most renowned shopping attractions are the following.

Hatibagan

You can smell old north Calcutta in every brick of the Hatibagan Market. It is said that a person called Mehtab Chand Mullick founded the market in the eighteenth century. Hatibagan is the ultimate destination for you if you want to buy junk jewelry at affordable prices.

Once you are done shopping in Hatibagan, you can take a tram and visit College Street. In College Street, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at the legendary Indian Coffee house, or simply browse through books. However, if you are an explorer at heart, we recommend you to walk your way to College Street. Bidhan Sarani will marvel you with its colonial-era architecture and antique shops.

Esplanade

Esplanade is the pride of Kolkata shoppers. There is a Bengali proverb that suggests that you can find anything you want in Esplanade if you know where to look- even tiger milk. While that is a bit extreme, you can find everything you could possibly need or want in Esplanade. The footpaths are lined with shops as far as the eye can see. You can shop for jewelry, clothes, watches, makeup, and more. Even after you have shopped to your heart’s content, you will get to realize that you have barely spent anything. This is when you should stop by a street-side shop for a mango shake.

Gariahat

Every Calcutta girl has a soft corner in her heart for the Gariahat market. It is the perfect stop for you if you want to buy classy shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories at dirt-cheap prices. If you are a DIY person, Gariahat will amaze you. There are multiple stores that sell materials for dressmaking and jewelry-making. These stores allow you to spice up your wardrobe for as cheap as it can get. After shopping, you can explore the chess arena under Gariahat flyover where the locals assemble every day to play chess.

“Lustrous Tokens of Radiant Lives”

If you have never shopped in the streets of Kolkata before, we recommend you to take a local friend with you. (S)he will tell you where to find the best stuff and guide you through the intricate process of dordaam (bargaining). It involves showing a feigned aloofness to the product, suggesting a lower price, and walking away triumphantly with a small discount. It is an art that Bengali’s have perfected over the ages. You may not necessarily need the discount, since the trinkets are very affordable. However, shopping in the streets of Kolkata is no fun without bargaining. Any Bengali will attest to this fact.