What To See & Do

  Quirky Things to Do
  • Play Chess with the local grandmasters under the Gariahat flyover in the evenings.
  • Laugh out loud (lol) with senior citizens every morning at Rabindra Sarovar.
  • Chant with trainee priests at Hatibagan Toll, a school for Hindu priests.
  • Learn to correctly throw the fishing net with the fishermen at East Calcutta Wetlands.
  • Cross the river on public ferries and have some wonderful spiced puffed rice while watching the sun set.
  • Play football, cricket, rugby or kabaddi every morning with the youngsters at the Maidan.
  • Go bicycle riding every Sunday morning starting at 6 from Victoria Memorial with local clubs.
  • Take a rickshaw ride through the lanes and by-lanes of the city, or reverse roles for some unusual fun exercise.
  • Take a tram ride through the maidan for breathing free and through Chitpur to enjoy the chaos.
  • Watch a Mohan Bagan - East Bengal football match at Salt Lake Stadium to experience true fan mayhem.
  What to Buy
  • Indian fabric, scarves & more at Weavers’ Studio, Ballygunge Place.
  • New Market a shopping destination from pins to pachyderms, is where you can buy Junk and Silver jewellery at Chambalama.
  • Old (and sometimes rare) books on College Street and Free School Street.
  • Designer clothes at, old Bengali house turned boutique, 85 Lansdowne.
  • Indian handicraft & handloom at Dakshinapan State Emporiums.
  • Used, antique and old style furniture on Judges Court Road or at the various auction houses along Russel St and Park St.
  • Classy & elegant bric-a-brac at Sasha, Free School Street.
  • Local Bengali handicraft and handloom from Bengal Home Industries Association, Camac Street.
  • Fabindia, By Loom, Sienna and Tia Pakhi, around Hindustan Park, are contemporary lifestyle stores.

 

  What to Eat
  Regular Eats
  • Double egg double chicken roll at Nizam's behind New Market.
  • Chelo kabab from Peter Cat next to Flurys.
  • Bangladeshi fare from Kasturi , or Radhuni on Free School Street and
  • Bengali food from Kewpie’s on Elgin Lane.
  • Goat tongue & brain fry with Rezala at Sabir’s, Chandni Chowk.
  • Mutton biryani and mutton chaap from Royal Indian Hotel on Chitpur Rd.
  • Chinese food in tanneries-turned-restaurants of Tangra.
  • Chicken croissant & rumballs from Flury's with Darjeeling tea.
  • Momos, thukpa and other Sikkimese delicacies at Blue Poppy in Sikkim House.
  • Chef Joymalya’s Bengali fusion delicacies at Bohemian, in Ballygunge.
  • Baked goodies from Jewish bakery Nahoum’s in New Market.
  Street Food
  • Chicken Bharta from Russel Punjabi Dhaba, Russel St.
  • Bhelpuri, Phuchkas and Jhaal Muri from streetside vendors.
  • Chicken Pyaare Kabab from Haji Lane.
  • Steaming hot chai laced with milk and sugar from next to the Sant Kutiya Gurudwara on Elgin Road.
  • Soota kababs on Phears Lane (a.k.a. Chuna Gali).
  • Duck Egg Mughlai Parathas from Anadi Cabin.
  • Pav Bhaji from Mayaram’s on Lord Sinha Road.
  The Sweet Bengali Tooth
  • Rossogollas from KC Das, Esplanade.
  • Madhupak from Chittaranjan, Bagbazar.
  • Nolen Gurer Sandesh from Nakur’s, Hedua.
  • Baked Rossogolla from Balaram’s, Bhowanipur.
  • Mishti Doi from Bhim Ch. Nag, Park Street.
  • A variety of sweets at Mishti Hub, Eco Park, New Town.
  Pubs
  • Olypub on Park St for beefsteaks and cheap beer.
  • Broadway, on Ganesh Chandra Avenue for its old world charm.
  • The Grid at Topsia, Hard Rock Cafe on Park Street and Raise the Bar in Salt Lake for the beer on tap experience.
  • Someplace Else in Park Hotel, the mecca of live music.
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