A Local’s Guide To Burrabazar, Kolkata’s Oldest Marketplace

Kolkata is more than simply art, cinema, and food. And Bara Bazar, the oldest wholesale marketplace in India that has been in charge since colonial times, is where you can truly see the city's turmoil and charm coming together. Cars squeezing into impossible distances, sellers shouting discounts that sound like music, lanes just large enough to accommodate a few individuals, and 50,000 people moving like clockwork. It is chaotic, boisterous, and incredibly vibrant and is a genuine, breathing reminder that Kolkata knew what hustling meant way before it became a trending hashtag.

If you're a first-time visitor to Kolkata, Bara Bazar is where you really get to see the city. It is hardly hyperbole to say that the name literally translates to "large market". Originally a small textile and yarn market in 1738, Sutanuti Haat has expanded into one of India's largest wholesale centres, a labyrinth where business and culture coexist harmoniously. The market, which is surrounded by Posta, Jorasanko, B.B.D. Bagh, and the Hooghly River, is located in the centre of old Kolkata and spans about 500 bighas. One of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, Mahatma Gandhi Road, runs directly through it, linking Howrah Bridge to Sealdah and providing you with an up-close look at the chaos. When you walk into Bara Bazar, time takes a pause and turns into a collection of micro-worlds, such as Chinipatti for sugar, Tulapatti for jute, and Dhotipatti for cotton. People believe that you can get anything here, anything! Let's dive into all that you can buy, see and do at the oldest and largest wholesale market in India.

Explore some of the market's most well-known areas, including Satyanarayan AC Market, Banstalla Street, Kalakar Street, and Bagri Market. If you're new to the neighbourhood and want to shop in a cosy underground market, Satyanarayan AC Market is the place to go. In general, it includes stores that sell ethnic clothing and fake jewellery, along with certain silver vendors. Kalakar Street and Bastalla Street are quite crowded with winding pathways that resemble tree branches. A vast array of sarees and other clothing materials with vivid colours and embroidery can be seen on either side of the street as you enter. You should pay attention to Bagri Market because it is the location of all the bridal, junk and imitation jewellery that ranges in style from dainty to loud and unique to mainstream. 

We can guarantee that you will discover what you want at a very affordable price. The Chinese lanterns, fruits, souvenirs, and other dazzling and sparkling curios displayed at the many stores are not only a feast for the eyes but also make up for all those Pinterest-worthy old Calcutta with love postcard frames. If you can't resist the stores filled with sketchbooks, pots of gel pens, amazing pencils, creative-looking erasers, neon highlighters, banks of Post-it Notes and a plethora of other items, the Canning Street neighbourhood is a great place to shop for these kinds of things.

Amartalla Street is a playground for everyone, so if you have children or younger siblings and are unsure of what to get them, you can buy a few soft toys or more—there are no limits! Cotton Street in the area should satisfy your synthetic saree requirements. Ezra Street and Pollock Street should be your first stop for all things electricity, lighting, and electric appliances. Need a set of fairy lights for Christmas? Do you need wedding venue lights? Do you merely want to make your home cosier with those aesthetically pleasing lights and lamps you see on Instagram? The market has it all.

Chitpur is a jumble of everything kitchen, including cookware and other home and décor items, whereas Strand Road is where you'll find all the hardware appliances and industrial supplies. All of the spices you need for everyday cooking, comfort cooking, and luxury cooking will be presented at the shops bordering Jorashanko. People balancing crates four times their weight on their heads, sellers setting up their stores in impossible-to-fit spaces, hand-rickshaw pullers navigating through crowded alleys, and shoppers haggling as if it were their last chance to shop. Despite the complete chaos, at first glance, you’ll see how it looks like a scene from a drama about a marketplace, with characters busily acting out their parts and knowing just how they should move and act—harmonious despite its disarray.

This is where Kolkata shines like a diamond in the rough since the vegetarian food served in the restaurants and shops here is the best you can taste. This is because a substantial portion of Burra Bazar's wholesale company owners are amalgamations of Marwaris, Gujaratis, and other non-Bengali businesses. Here’s our recommendation for you:

The only establishment in Kolkata that serves unlimited thalis that are pure vegetarian, and potatoes are a side dish here. You won't have to wait long to get your hot rotis here, and the daal is made with high-quality, homey rice. And it just costs INR 120! Sabji, chutney, farsan, salad, chapati/poori, and rice are typically served in one thali. The dahi, chutney, and papad are chargeable.

Timing: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM-1:30 PM and 6:45 PM-9 PM. Closed on Sundays.

Price: INR 300 for two

Contact: 08420134998

LBB tip: There is also no sign or board directing you to the restaurant, so you can ask somebody for assistance.

Google Rating: 4.4/5

Kolkata is one of the best places to eat authentic cuisine from all over the world. At 180-year-old Kandoi Sweets and Snacks, try theplas with mirchi achar. Thecha with theplas is also an amazing power combo here. The gulab jamun is delicious and incredibly soft. And if you go early, you can get freshly prepared gulaab paak, which is basically sticky and oozy. It is said to resemble a kalakand once it is settled. The creamiest of srikhand resides in this confectionery, so be sure to sample these as well.

Timings: 7 AM - 9 PM

Contact: 098360 09350

Price: INR 100 onwards

Google Rating: 3.9/5

When your stomach rumbles and you're yearning for that crispy golden pyaz kachori? That's when you turn to Ambika Bhujiyawala. The sweet and savoury items are incredibly fresh and rapidly sell out. The quality is truly top-notch. You should definitely try the kaju barfi, kalakand, and laddoo from here. These sell out the most. The onion kachori is quite delicious. It fires up your taste buds after the garlic chutney has been served with it. It might be a little price but hey, quality over quantity right?

Timings: 6 AM - 9:30 PM

Contact: +919831101419

Price: INR 300 onwards

Google Rating: 3.9/5

The first destination on the opposite side of the tram line is the fabled Kaligodam. They sell delicious and scrumptious boondi by the kilogramme. There are many different namkeens and other snacks! Their kaju barfi and boondi are delicious. They also sell samosas, kachori, and other snacks. It also offers sweets, including balushahi, kesariya peda, rasgulla, chamcham, gulab jamun and other mawa sweets. Do not miss out on the samosas, raj kachori and dabeli. Kaligodam also makes its own line of ready-to-eat paratha and fafda. All year long, the namkeen and bhujiya are much sought after.

Timings: 7 AM - 8 PM

Contact: 09830855551

Price: INR 30 onwards

Google Rating: 4.2/5

Particularly for those fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, Zakariya street food comes to life. Because of this, Zakariya Street is a veritable melting pot of the city during this time of year. As a result, the passageways feature delicacies made right around the corner. Winter is the second season to explore the abundance of food. The foodgasm you’ll get after devouring suta kabab from Adam Kabab Shop is worth the “oomph!” While Dilshad Laziz Kabab offers dahi & malai kabab, you should also try a plate of chicken special kabab from Al Baik, beef boti roll from New Lucknow Hotel, beef chaanp and phirni from Bombay Hotel, haleem from Sufia, falooda and lassi from Taskeen.

Initially, they also stocked gond ka halwa, a type of sweet dish made by mashing a mixture of dry fruits and extracts from the babul tree. Battisa is another name for it, derived from the 32 ingredients and this sweetshop is very popular for it. They also serve gulab jamun and mawa laddu fried in desi ghee. Bournvita sweets, patisa, milky soft bars, coconut-based products, milk halwa, and walnut halwa were introduced by Allauddin's son Nasiruddin and his son Nizamuddin. Gajar ka halwa, dudhiya halwa, and halwa sohan were also introduced by Nizamuddin. The store also sells Karachi halwa, mansuri, and Kanpuriya laddu. They make Arabian desserts, such as chocolate dry fruit balls, kaju diamonds, anjeer rolls with poppy seeds, and khajur dry fruit barfi.

Timing: 7 AM - 11 PM

Contact: 09831966115

Price: INR 100 onwards

Google Rating: 4.5/5

There is so much to see that you won't know where to start. The stunning ancient warehouses on Strand Road and Howrah Bridge make for perfect backdrops for any of your mood boards. You will occasionally catch a glimpse of the Hooghly River. Visit Kolkata's largest mosque, Nakhoda Masjid, on Zakariya Street near Burrabazar, as well as the Rabindra Sarani crossing near the market. 

The Nakhoda Mosque, Kolkata's major and largest mosque, was built in 1926 and can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. With its elaborate exterior and green-roofed domes, minars (Indian turrets), and minarets, this massive red-sandstone structure, which is situated in Kolkata's Chitpur neighbourhood, is reminiscent of India's Fatehpur Sikri architectural style.

Timing: 11 AM - 9 PM

By metro, the nearest metro stations are MG Road metro station and Central station. After you exit the stations, you can either walk or take an auto-rickshaw. It's about 10-15 minutes away. There are numerous public buses, both AC and non-AC that you can take. If you take a cab or drive your own car, your location needs to be set for MG Road or Howrah. Parking is very limited; it is recommended you use public transport since the lanes are really narrow.