Kolkata sells what Bengal makes. The handloom trade — tant, jamdani, baluchari, garad — runs through Gariahat and Hatibagan. The gold is made in the karigar lanes behind Bowbazar. The books are on College Street. The crafts come through the state emporia at Dakshinapan, and the idols come from Kumartuli.
Above all of it sits Burrabazar, one of the largest wholesale markets in India, where each lane does one thing and most of eastern India buys.
Sarees & Handloom
Gariahat, Dhakeshwari and the Bengal weaves
Books, Print & Stationery
College Street, the publishers and the pavement trade
Gold, Silver & Filigree
Bowbazar, the karigars and the Bengali jewellery tradition
Imported & Gourmet Food
New Market, Bandel cheese and the Christmas trade
Handicraft, Crafts & Home
The state emporia, Kumartuli and the Bengal craft trade
Music & Instruments
Rabindra Sarani, the tabla makers and the Bengali music trade
Leather & Bags
Tangra, Topsia and the Kolkata leather trade
Tea
Darjeeling, Assam and the Kolkata auction
Puja & Festival Goods
Kumartuli, the dhak, and the trade that runs on the calendar
Worth knowing before you go
- Jamdani is woven, not printed. Hold it to the light and look at the back.
- Buy gold hallmarked and take the bill; making charges are negotiable, the gold rate is not
- The Gariahat pavement sells what the shops behind it sell, cheaper
- Durga Puja compresses a large part of the retail year into six weeks
- Burrabazar is wholesale; minimum quantities apply almost everywhere
- Dakshinapan and Biswa Bangla are where craft provenance is reliable
The markets themselves
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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