The gold quarter of Kolkata: showrooms on B.B. Ganguly Street and, in the lanes behind, several thousand karigars working at the bench in small rooms. Most of the craftsmen come from Midnapore, Bankura and Howrah, and a large share of the gold jewellery sold across eastern India is made here.
Bhim Chandra Nag, the 1826 sweet shop, is on Nirmal Chandra Street in the same district.
Inside the market
The sections, the shops and what each one sells| Name | Where | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| The gold showrooms1800s | B.B. Ganguly Street, Bowbazar | Retail jewellery; the visible edge of a much larger trade. |
| Karigar workshops | lanes behind Bowbazar | Where the work is actually done; small rooms, bench work, filigree. |
| P.C. Chandra Jewellers1939 | Bowbazar and city-wide | One of the best-known Bengali jewellery names. |
| Senco Gold1938 | Bowbazar and city-wide | Founded in Kolkata; now listed. |
| Anjali Jewellers1974 | Bowbazar and city-wide | A large Bengal chain. |
| Bhim Chandra Nag1826 | 5 Nirmal Chandra Street | The 1826 sweet shop, where the ledikeni was invented. |
| Hallmarking centres | within the district | BIS hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewellery. |
| Bowbazar market | Bowbazar | The general market for the neighbourhood. |
Worth knowing before you go
- Buy hallmarked and take the bill.
- The making charge is negotiable; the gold rate is not.
- Weekdays. Much of the district shuts on Sunday.
- Wedding season and the weeks before Puja are the busiest.
The other markets
Read the city another way
A note on this page. Restaurants, shops and markets open, move and close far more often than industries do. Everything here is a snapshot of Kolkata as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check the address and the hours before you travel.
Restaurant, shop and company names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement, ranking or affiliation.
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