Kolkata/South
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South Kolkata is an important part of Kolkata city. It is less congested and more modern than the rest of the city. You will find more apartment blocks and green patches here. The neighbourhoods covered include Ballygunge, Gariahat, Bhawanipur, Alipore, Chetla, New Alipore, Rash Behari and Dhakuria.
Understand
Get in
South Kolkata can be easily reached from the central regions like Dharmatala and Sealdah easily by bus, taxi or metro railway. From north Kolkata the number of buses is slightly low, but metro railway is always an option. There also are bus links with the East and the Southern fringes. There is a railway system linking the city to the suburbs and a part of this system passes through the city.
By road
Buses have the most extensive coverage, and is inexpensive. You can travel 20 km at around ₹10. The exact fare depends on the type of bus, whether it is a state bus, a mini bus or a private bus.
Point to point auto rickshaws are a cheap and popular means of transport, in most parts of the city, except the central business district. These accommodate four passengers and charge individually.
Taxis are a fast mode of transport and offer you more comfort and privacy than the other modes. However, they are much more expensive than buses or metro rail. There are many agencies that provide hired cars - AC and non-AC. They charge per km or per hour, whichever is higher.
By metro
Metro railway is the fastest and the most convenient way to reach South Kolkata. However, there is only one route which runs along the city from north to south. This means you may have to change to other modes of transport to reach your destination. Trains run every 10-15 minutes and at ₹5-15. It runs from 8AM to 9:45PM from Monday to Saturday and 2PM to 9:45PM on Sunday.
The metro runs from Noapara in the north to Kavi Subhas (New Garia) in the south-east. The metro route from Belgachia to Rabindra Sarobar is underground. The metro stations in South Kolkata are:
- 1 Rabindra Sadan metro station (Exide More).
- 2 Netaji Bhawan metro station (Bhawanipur).
- 3 Jatin Das Park metro station (Hazra More).
- 4 Kalighat metro station (Rashbehari More / Crossing of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road and Rashbehari Avenue).
- 5 Rabindra Sarobar metro station (Change over to overground sub-urban railway at Tollygunge railway station).
By train
The suburban overground railway tracks pass through the eastern and southern edges of South Kolkata. The Park Circus-Majherhat section is also used by the circular railway system. The stations in South Kolkata are:
- 6 Park Circus railway station.
- 7 Ballygunge railway station.
- 8 Khidirpur railway station (Circular Railway only).
- 9 Remount Road railway station (Circular Railway only).
- 10 Lake Gardens railway station.
- 11 Tollygunge railway station (Change for Rabindra Sarobar Metro).
- 12 New Alipore railway station.
- 13 Majerhat railway station.
- 14 Dhakuria railway station.
By boat
- 15 Bidhan Ghat, Strand Road, Hastings (Near to Tolly Canal).
See
Map of Kolkata/South
- 1 Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, 19A, Gurusaday Road, Kolkata - 700 019, ☏ +91 33 22877241, +91 33 22877242, +91 33 22877243. Daily 10AM-5:30PM. A modern museum with lots of interesting artifacts, shows, events and activities, primarily popular with school-going children. The exhibitions, many of them demanding you to take an active part, can compete with one you could visit in countries like the United States. ₹15; special presentations are charged extra.
- 2 Maulana Azad Museum, 5, Ashraf Mistry Lane, Ballygunge, Kolkata-700019 (Near Ballygunge Military Camp Gate), ☏ +91 33 23356623. M-F 10:30AM-5:30PM. The former home of the learned great Indian freedom fighter and First Education Minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Azad's work interpreting the mystic Sarmad of Prince Dara Shikoh's court is also a cornerstone to the secular tradition of India. The museum is replete with narrations of his life, times, work, personal archives, and belongings. Free.
- 3 CIMA Art Gallery, Sunny Towers, 43 Ashutosh Chowdhury Avenue, Kolkata-700 019 (close to the Birla Temple), ☏ +91 33 2485-8509, +91 33 2485 8717, cimacal@vsnl.com. M 3PM-7PM; Tu-Sa 11AM-7PM. The Centre of International Modern Art is a small museum showing modern artworks. Free.
- 4 Former Belvedere House, now the National Library (Ministry of Culture, Government of India), Belvedere Road, Alipore (south of Kolkata - near Alipore Zoo - M: Netaji Bhavan 1.3km E), ☏ +91 33 2248-7831, fax: +91 33 2479-1462, nldirector@rediffmail.com. M-F 9AM-8PM; Sa Su, holidays: 9:30AM-6PM. This is a stately mansion. Once home of the British Viceroys, Belvedere House is now the National Library. Oldest Library in India with a huge collection, including some rarities. It houses over a million books and is the biggest in India - Main Campus Tel:+91-33-2479 1381 to 87, Librarian: +91-33-2479 2467
- 5 Indian Government Mint, Alipore Mint Colony, Taratala (South from Majherhat railway station), ☏ +91 33 2401 4132.
- 6 Nirmal Hriday (Mother Theresa's home for destitutes). The home for the destitute is just next door to the Kalighat temple. If you are bold, have a look into the building to see the people lying in big dormitories and being cared for by some sisters of the Missionaries of Charity.
- 7 Mother House (Missionaries of Charity), Entally.
- 8 Rabindra Sarovar (near Lake Gardens railway station). It is a large open lake and park area housing boating clubs, an open air theatre and eateries. The rowing regatta events are held here.
- 9 Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, ☏ +91 33 2464 1307, rmic@vsnl.com. Houses a bookstore and a library, among other amenities, with Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. It has an auditorium and a well-maintained guest house.
Holy Places
- 10 Bhukailash Temple, Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur (Near to Babu Bazar).
- 11 Birla Temple (Radha-Krishna Temple, Birla Mandir), 2 Queens Park Road, Ashutosh Chowdary Ave (Ballygunge Phari Bus Stop). 5:30AM-11AM and 4:30PM-9PM. The most modernly-opulent in Kolkata and worth a visit. The adjoining tree-lined lane Queen's Park is the most exclusive and fashionable address in the city and is worth a stroll through. Some of the biggest names in the city call it home. A close second is Sunny Park, running parallel to Queen's Park on the other side of the Birla Temple.
- 12 Durga Mandir, 127A, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd (Tollygunge PS Bus Stop), ☏ +91 89 61613209.
- 13 Ismail Mosque (Masjid Ismail), Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur, (Near to Babu Bazar).
- 14 Kalighat Temple, Kali Mandir Road (Metro 'Jatin Das Park Metro'). Houses Kolkata's patron deity. According to the legend, when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s body was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Rebuilt in 1809, this is an important shrine of Hindu Shakti worship
- 15 Lord Soni dev Temple, Harish Chatterjee Street (Tolly Canal Embankment).
Do
Cinema
- Inox, Forum Mall, Elgin Rd.
- Cinepolis, 5th Floor, Lake Mall, 104 Rashbehari Avenue.
- Inox, Quest Mall, 4th Floor, Syed Amir Ali Avenue.
- Priya Cinema, 95, Rashbehari Avenue, beside Deshapriya Park, ☏ +91 33 2464 1313.
- Menoka Cinema, 5, Sarat Chatterjee Avenue, near Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, ☏ +91 33 2466 0417, +91 33 2466 3080.
- Basusree Cinema, 102, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, near Kalighat Metro, ☏ +91 33 2455 4808.
- Bijoli Cinema, 39, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Patuapara, ☏ +91 33 2455 5382.
Parks
- 1 Alipore Zoo (Zoological Gardens of Kolkata), No.2 Alipore Road, ☏ +91 33 2479 1150, director@kolkatazoo.in. F-W 9AM-5PM, aquarium 10:30AM-5PM. Built on 6 ha of land in 1876. The lakes within are a favourite retreat for migratory Siberian birds. Zoo ₹20, aquarium ₹5, video photography ₹250 per hour.
- 2 Bhawanipore Cemetery, Debendra Lal Khan Rd, Bhawanipur.
- 3 Horticultural Garden, 1, Alipore Road (South from National Library, - Remount Road railway station 0.8 km). A lush environ owned and managed by the Agri-Horticultural Society of India. The venue for exotic plant and flower exhibitions, it is spread over 21 acres comprising main lawns and informal gardens and children park, and has many rare and tropical plants.
- 4 Kalighat Park, 61, Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Rd, Manoharpukur, Kalighat (Kalighat Metro Station 0.4 km).
- 5 Lions Safari Park, Moiras Street, lake Terrace, Dhakuria (Vivekananda Park Bus Stop).
- 6 Padma Pukur Park, Kavi Bharati Sarani Road, Lake Gardens (On the lakeshore).
- 7 Vivekananda Park, Kavi Bharathi Road, Southern Park, Lake Gardens (Vivekananda Park Bus Stop).
Sports
- 8 Calcutta Cricket Centre, ~107, Southern Ave, Lake Terrace, (On the northern lakeshore of the Rabindra Sarovar).
- 9 Rabindra Sarovar Stadium, Moira Street, Hindustan Par (Sarat Bose Southern Avenue Crossing Bus Stop. - Watch sporting activities). Multi-use stadium. Can accommodate 40,000 spectators.
Buy
Markets
- 1 Gariahat Market, 212, 214 Rash Behari Avenue, near Gariahat Road-Rashbehari Avenue crossing. Closed on Sunday. One of the largest markets in Kolkata. Good for food and fashion. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, betel leaf, fish, egg, meat are the main groceries available. You can buy branded and non-branded clothing from Western like tees and jeans to tradition Indian such as dupattas and sarees, along with bags and purses.
- 2 Fancy Market, ~22, Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur. Consumer goods market - lots of foreign goods. Fancy items, fancy prices. Beware of fakes.
- 3 Kidderpore Babu Bazar, Bhukailash Road, Khidirpur (from Fancy Market 300 m west).
- 4 Jadu Babu's Market, 31, Asutosh Mukherjee Road. Vegetables, fruits, betel leaf, fish, meat, eggs, etc., available
- 5 Lake Market, 104, Rash Behari Avenue. One of the largest markets in Kolkata. Vegetables, fruits, betel leaf, flowers, fish, meat, eggs, etc., available. It is the best place in South Kolkata for flowers, flower bouquets, floral rings etc.
- 6 Lansdowne Market, 65/1 Sarat Bose Road. Vegetables, fruits, betel leaf, flowers, fish, meat, eggs, etc., available. Old market, popular for both variety and fair prices.
Shops
- 7 Dakhsinapan Shopping Complex, Dhakuria. Tu-Sa 11AM-7:30PM, and Mondays after 2PM, closed on Sunday. It is an excellent place to buy Indian handicrafts and artifacts. There are many Indian state government emporiums there, stocked with fixed price goods from all over the country. It also has clothes shops, eateries et al.
- 8 The Forum, 10/3 Elgin Rd. Tu-Sa 10AM-9PM, M 1PM-8PM, closed Sunday. There is an appealing range of upmarket shops housed across six floors. Forum is a centre of fashion and there are many beautiful clothes, accessories, and shoes to choose from. For those with nostalgia about things foreign, can find shops selling Belgian chocolates, English biscuits and so on.
- 9 Gariahat. Gariahat which comes under Ballygunge area is the biggest shopping district of Kolkata, where one can find shops ranging from branded showrooms and malls to numerous smaller shops. It has a good market for saris and other clothing items. The shops are spread along both Rashbehari Avenue and Gariahat Road, and extends into the lanes.
- 10 Gariahat Mall, Ballygunge.
- 11 Merlin Homeland Mall, 18B Asutosh Mukherjee Road, Bhawanipur. Homeland Mall is one stop mall for house building materials and interior decor items. E Zone Electronic Mall is next to it.
- 12 Pantaloons, Ashutosh Chowdhury Rd, Dover Terrace,Ballygunge.
- 13 Lake Mall, Kavi Bharathi Sarani, off Rash Behari Avenue. Highend shopping mall, branded shops, food court and restaurants, multiplex, offices and hotel
- 14 Quest Mall, 33, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Park Circus. Luxury retail, largest apparel store, fine dining, six screen insignia class multiplex
- 15 Machli Baba, 24A, Lake View Road, Ground Floor. Different varieties of fish starting from single piece to large quantities
- For South City Mall see Kolkata/Southern fringes
Eat
Mall food courts
- 1 South City Mall, Prince Anwar Shah Road (Taltala Bus Stop). It has a food court on the third floor with a number of restaurants. Most of the restaurants have bars. The restaurants are splurge/mid-range. Apart from restaurants at the edges there is a big open space in the middle with seating arrangements. This area is served by KFC and other outlets serving food ranging from South Indian to Kababs. The open space food outlets are comparatively less costly. Spencer's also have a food zone within their outlet in the basement. Restaurants (on the 3rd floor): Mainland China Restaurant (☏ +91 33 64578361, innovative Chinese food), Flame & Grill (variety of kababs served hot), Zara the Tapas Bar and Restaurant (Mediterranean food), Benjarong (Thai food), Sarson.
- 2 Forum Mall, 10/3 Elgin Road. Sunday closed. Restaurants here: Oh! Calcutta (☏ +91 33 22837161, mains from ₹150, excellent Bengali food). Ar-Han-Thai (Lebanese & Thai food), Spaghetti Kitchen (Italian food), Starstruck (Chinese, Continental, North Indian, Mughlai).
Lake Gardens, Jodhpur Park & Dhakuria
- 3 Chakhna Shakna Punjabi Dhaba (Flavours of Punjab.), 259-B, Lake-Gardens, Kol-45 (Near Rammohan Mission School,), ☏ +91 9002107890, +91 9474453800. Specialist in Punjabi, tandoori & North Indian cuisine. Free home food delivery or sit'n'dine service.
- 4 Domino's Pizza, 1/432 Gariahat Road South, Jodhpur Park, ☏ +91 33 24837471, +91 24837474-76-32402551, +91 33 40004601. 11AM-11PM. Pizzas, garlic bread.
- 5 Don Giovanni's, 1/114 Jodhpur Park, ☏ +91 33 40007830, +91 33 24133243. Supreme pizza, momos, fried rice chicken, burgers, Margherita pizza.
- 6 Tandoor Park, 28/4 Gariahat Road South (Near Jodhpur Park Post Office), ☏ +91 33 40007588, +91 9836370051, +91 9831458972, +91 9830006647. North Indian and Chinese cuisine. Specialities - mocktails, shawarma, murgh musallam, masala kulcha, keema naan, murg reshmi kabab, manchow soup. Try their mixed kabab plate. Hard drinks served.
- 7 Suresh Mistanna Bhander, Shop 7, Sarat Ghosh Garden Road, Dhakuria, ☏ +91 9836876365. All sorts of sweetmeat with unforgettable taste
- 8 Hungry Tide, UBI Dhakuria Branch Building, 32/12A, Gariahat Road (South), Dhakuria, ☏ +91 33 3099 1262. Noon-10PM. Chinese, Continental, North Indian, etc.
- 9 Lokaahar, 533, Jodhpur Park, ☏ +91 8420170529, +91 9007980125. 9AM-10PM. Tasty and varied Bengali dishes - mocha chingri, mochar ghonto, mutton kasha, dhokar dalna, posto bora et al. Must try bhetki fry. Special menu during the Poila Baisakh week, but beware of the crowds it attracts, because it is a small homely place. They also serve Continental, Chinese and Thai dishes. Drinks not served.
Gariahat & surrounding areas
- 10 Bhojohari Manna, 18/1A, Hindustan Rd, ☏ +91 33 24663941, +91 33 24667686. Authentic Bengali food. Fish and vegetarian speciality - sukto, mochar ghanto, chital macher muitha, chingri macher malaikari, kankra (crab), et al. Mutton Dak Bungalow has become a trade mark. No hard drinks.
- 11 Bhojohari Manna, 9/18 Ekdalia Rd. Mostly for take-away service. Food also served.
- 12 Chinese Pavilion, P 21 Old Ballygunge Road (At Ballygunge Phari crossing), ☏ +91 33 2283 3093, +91 9836627306. Noon-10:30PM. Chinese and Thai cuisine. Drinks not served.
- 13 The Dhaba, Ballygunge Phari, ☏ +91 8017779607, +91 9903000353. 11:30AM-11PM. North Indian and Chinese cuisine. Try out the Punjabi speciality;makka di roti and sarson di saag
- 14 Krystal Chopstick, 71 H, Hindustan Park (Opposite Basanti Devi College), ☏ +91 33 4060 3022, +91 9831526118. Noon-10:30PM. Chinese cuisine. No drinks.
- 15 Mirch Masala, 49/2 Gariahat Rd (Near Pantaloons), ☏ +91 9830644484, +91 33 24618900. Great Punjabi food, also has a Chinese restaurant. Drinks served.
- 16 6 Ballygunge Place, 6 Ballygunge Place, ☏ +91 33 24603922, +91 99 03975614. Bengali & North Indian cuisine. Buffet lunch ₹375 (Monday to Friday), ₹425 (Saturday). No drinks.
- 17 South India Club Canteen, 70 B, Hindustan Park, ☏ +91 33 24640927. Budget restaurant. Place not posh but tasty food.
- 18 Padmaparer Rannaghar, 26/4 Gariahat Road, ☏ +91 33 2419 8916. Noon-10PM. Bengali and South Indian cuisine.
- 19 Tero Parban, 49C Purna Das Rd (Near Gol Park), ☏ +91 33 2464 0199, +91 9830432175. Noon-10:30PM. Bengali cuisine with the ambience of a traditional Bengali home.
- 20 I Love Haldiram, 24 Ballygunge Park, ☏ +91 9339692141, +91 9339692149. 10AM-10PM. Mithai, North Indian vegetarian, street food.
- 21 Mitra Cafe, 23/37 Gariahat Road, ☏ +91 90076 95923. 11AM-11PM. North Indian fast food. Speciality - fish kaviraji, mutton chops, rolls, pakoda, mutton kaviraji, chowmein, pudding.
- 22 Kasturi Restaurant, 13/6B Anil Moitro Road (near Patha Bhaban Montessori School), ☏ +91 33 2440 0039, +91 8334922228. 11:45AM-11PM. Dhakai cuisine. Speciality - bhetki paturi, biryani, mochar ghonto, kochu pata chingri bhapa, jhuri alu bhaja, mutton kosha, kosha mangsho.
- 23 Kwality, 2A, Gariahat Road (near Ballygunge Phari crossing), ☏ +91 33 2460 9982, +91 33 2460 7079. Noon-10:45PM. One of the earliest posh restaurants in South Kolkata. Authentic North Indian delicacies. Continental and Chinese also served. Drinks available. Payment in cash only.
- 24 Mainland China, Uniworth House, 3A, Guru Saday Dutta Road, ☏ +91 33 2283 7964, +91 9330627506. 12:30PM-3PM, 7PM-11PM. Innovative Chinese food. Grand buffets. Drinks served.
- 25 Azad Hind, 12/1, Ballygunge Circular Road, ☏ +91 33 24866475, +91 33 24864742. Virtually open round the clock. North Indian cuisine, street food. Popular items: chicken bharta, tandoori chicken, tandoori aloo, butter naan, dal tadka, rolls, panneer butter masala. No alchohol.
- 26 Domino's Pizza, 62/7, Ballygunge Circular Road, ☏ +91 33 4063 3339, +91 4063 3339. 11AM-11PM. Pizza, fast food. Popular for: garlic bread, chocolava cake, pepperoni pizza, pasta, chicken wings, lava cake, veggie pizza. No alchohol.
Lake Market-Deshapriya Park
- 27 Banana Leaf (A unit of Komala Vilas), 74&75 Rashbehari Ave (Near Lake Market), ☏ +91 33 24641960, +91 33 24640941. South Indian vegetarian snacks and thali meal. Great food. Authentic South Indian taste - very different from the road side stalls catering to Bengali taste.
- 28 Khawab, 166A, Sarat Bose Rd (Near National High School For Girls), ☏ +91 9836033337, +91 9874246629, +91 33 24669695. Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, Mutton Rogan Josh.
- 29 Kurry Club, 176 Sarat Bose Rd, ☏ +91 33 24661979. Mexican, Italian and other cuisine.
- 30 Tamarind, 177 Sarat Bose Rd (Near Deshapriya Park), ☏ +91 33 66343960. South Indian Non-vegetarian. Snacks like idli and dosha not available. Specialised main meal dishes. Enjoy Keralian food, Coorgi dishes et al.
- 31 Zeeshan, 187 Sarat Bose Rd (Near Deshapriya Park), ☏ +91 33 2464 4224, +91 7604066539. 11AM-11PM. Great Mughlai food, take away only.
- 32 Oudh 1590, 23/B, Deshapriya Park and also at P-562, Hemanta Mukhopdhyay Sarani (behind Vivekananda Park). Period dining experience - try it out.
- 33 Prema Vilas, 63/1, Lake Market Area, ☏ +91 33 2463 1961. South Indian vegetarian.
- 34 Maharaja and Maharani, Sarat Bose Road, near the Rashbehari Avenue crossing. These are two separate kachouri shops, near each other. The footpath in front of the shops is always crowded. Their early morning stocks often get exhausted by around 9AM. They also serve later in the day. Any one going that way must give it a try. Don't miss the jalebis/malpuas after the kachouri-sabzi. The location shown in the map here is that of Maharani, and Maharaja is a little down the road towards the lakes.
- 35 Marco Polo, 205 Sarat Bose Road (near Southern Avenue crossing), ☏ +91 33 2463 0909. 12:30PM-11:30PM. Continental and North Indian cuisine. Drinks served.
Southern Avenue
- 36 Bijoli Grill, 124B, Southern Avenue, ☏ +91 33 4003 6606. Bengali cuisine.
- 37 Fung Shway, 122A, Meghnad Saha Sarani (Southern Avenue), ☏ +91 33 4065 9510. Thai, Chinese, etc. Drinks served.
- 38 The Coastal Macha, 55, Southern Avenue, ☏ +91 33 3099 1254. Indian sea food, South Indian, Keralian, Maharshtrian.
Bhawanipore
- 39 Bhojohari Manna, 23A, Priyanath Mallick St (Near Hazra Morh), ☏ +91 33 24545922. Authentic and traditional Bengali food.
- 40 Bijoli Grill, 38, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, ☏ +91 33 4003 6606. Noon-10PM. Seafood, Chinese and Bengali cuisine.
- 41 Sangu Valley Restaurant, 6A, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd, ☏ +91 9831361928, +91 8583962171. 11AM-10PM. North Indian, Chinese cuisine.
- 42 Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, 2, Puddapukur Road, ☏ +91 33 2486 9490, +91 33 2454 0281. Sweets and snacks.
- 43 Pepper Chino, 37 Sarat Bose Rd (Opposite Lakshmi Narayan Temple), ☏ +91 33 6555 2051, +91 7004985103. Noon-4AM. North Indian Continental and Chinese cuisine. Drinks served.
- 44 Tangra Kaizen, 33B, Sarat Bose Road, Paddapukur, ☏ +91 33 2474 4358. 11AM-11PM. Chinese and Thai cuisine. Drinks served. Only cash payment.
- 45 McDonald's, Merlin Homeland, 18B, Asutosh Mukherjee Road, ☏ +91 33 6600 0666. 8AM-11PM. Burger, fast food. No alchohol.
- 46 Subway, Merlin Homeland, 18B, Asutosh Mukherjee Road, ☏ +91 33 4004 7412, +91 33 2454 2234. 11AM-10:30PM. Healthy food, salad, fast foods. Popular items: Sandwiches, Chicken Wrap, Chicken Tikka Sub. No alchohol.
- 47 Balwant Singh's Eating House, 10B, Harish Mukherjee Road, ☏ +91 9903975361. 4AM-3AM next day. North Indian vegetarian cuisine. Popular items: Tea, lassi, paneer tikka, samosa, dudh cola, kesar chai. No alchohol.
- 48 Ganguram, 84A, Shambhunath Pandit Street, ☏ +91 33 2455 2357. 6AM-10PM. One of oldest sweet meat sellers in Kolkata, with a chain of outlets across the city. It is a revered name in the arena of Bengali sweets. Take away only.
- 49 Gupta Brothers, 82A, Shambhunath Pandit Road, ☏ +91 33 2455 6328, +91 33 2454 8716. 9AM-10:30PM. Sweets and casual dining. Popular items: vegetarian thali, gulab jamun, dahi vada, dhania dosa, kulfi, mango lassi, idli.
- Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, 2, Paddapukur Road, Bhowanipur, ☏ +91 33 2486 9490, +91 33 2454 0281, balarammullicksweets@gmail.com. 9AM-10PM. Offers a wide range of sweets and snacks. Famous for its baked rosgolla.
Park Circus
- 50 Arsalan, 28, Circus Avenue, ☏ +91 33 22844010, +91 33 22848556. They have seven branches: 1. Chinar Park, 2. Anandapur (opposite Calcutta International School), 3. Hatibagan, 4. Park Street Area (Muzaffar Ahmed Road), 5. Park Circus 7 point crossing, 6. New Alipore, and 7. Jessore Road, Bangur.
Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: firni, mutton kosha, mutton boti kebab, chicken chatpata, mutton biryani, egg chicken roll. - 51 Jimmy's Kitchen, 7/1A, AJC Bose Road (AJC Bose Road-Shakespeare Sarani crossing), ☏ +91 33 2290 7139. Chinese food. Drinks available. Popular items: Thai soup, noodles, lung fung soup, prawn, crispy chilli chicken, roast pork chilli, sweet corn soup. Jimmy's Kitchen has two branches: 1. 36F Ruby Hospital Road, 2. 14D, Lindsay Street.
- 52 Only Alibaba, 28A, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, ☏ +91 33 4070 1109. Noon-4:30PM, 7PM-11PM. Biryani and Mughlai food. The food has a good taste in the main shop but in their fry king outlet at Baghajatin some items are bad and unpalatable.
- 53 Shiraz Golden Restaurant, 135, Park Street (Near AJC Bose Road crossing), ☏ +91 33 3099 0175. Noon-11:30PM. Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: firni, mutton biryani, brain masala, chicken tikka, chicken reshmi butter masala, mutton haleem.
Shiraz Golden Restaurant has four food outlets:1. Kankurgachi, 2. Salt Lake Sector III, 3. Ajay Nagar, 4. Nager Bazar. - 54 Zeeshan, 17 Syed Amir Ali Avenue, ☏ +91 33 22806842, +91 9903611112. 7AM-midnight. Zeeshan has several outlets mostly for take-away customers: 1. Deshapriya Park, 2. Kidderpore, 3. Garia, 4. Lake Market Area, 5. Ballygunge, 6. Tollygunge, 7. Esplanade, 8. College Street.
Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: biryani, rolls, firni, murg reshmi kabab, mutton tikka, mutton chaap, tandoori chicken.
Alipore & New Alipore
- 55 Taj Bengal, 34-B, Belvedere Road, ☏ +91 33 6612 3939, +91 33 2223 1193, bengal.calcutta@tajhotels.com. Taj Bengal is a 5-star deluxe hotel and is amongst the top hotels in Kolkata. The luxurious restaurants are also open to non-residents.
- 56 Amrit National Hotel, 43 Diamond Harbour Road (Mominpur Bus Stop), ☏ +91 33 66343401. Budget restaurant. Biryani and Mughlai food.
- 57 Upper Crust, 17/1 E, Alipore Road, ☏ +91 33 2479 3667. 9AM-9PM. Bakery, desserts, fast food. Serves non-vegetarian items also. No alchohol. Some popular items: vegetable burger, vegetable pizza, chocolate pyramid, pineapple pastry.
Khidirpur
- 58 Drop In, Ground Floor, Ideal Towers, 57, Block A, Diamond Harbour Road, ☏ +91 9073309928, +91 9073309929. 7:30AM-11PM. Vegetarian restaurant. Indian and Chinese cuisine. Popular items: lassi, naan, paneer tikka masala, roti, thali.
- 59 India Restaurant, 34 Karl Marx Sarani (near Fancy Market), ☏ +91 33 44502381.
- 60 Sheesh Mahal, 28 Karl Marx Sarani (Near Fancy Market), ☏ +91 33 66037353.
- Note: For places to eat in Tangra/ China Town see Kolkata/East, for the Park Street area see Kolkata/Esplanade
Drink
The lassi at Sharma's Confectioners in Mandeville Gardens is worth checking out.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Fern Hotel & Restaurant, ☏ +91 33 24407797, +91 9831477704.
- 2 Hotel Komala Vilas, 74&75 Rashbehari Ave (near Lake Market, Kalighat metro station 400 m), ☏ +91 33 24641960.
- 3 Mysore Guest House, 5A, Mysore Rd (near Lake Market, Kalighat metro station 200 m), ☏ +91 33 24667705.
- 4 Park Inn, 10/1 Tal Bagan Ln (near Park Circus Maidan). US$20 for standard double bedded room.
- 5 Sharani Lodge, 71/K Hindustan Park, Gariahat, ☏ +91 33 24635717, +91 33 24641999, +91 33 24644971.
Mid-range
- 6 The Best Inn, 1B Sushil Sen Road, Kolkata-700025 (off crossing of Chowringhee Road & Elgin Road, near Rabindra Sadan Metro Station), ☏ +91 33 24549101. Amenities include air-conditioning, telephone, internet connectivity, TV (Cable), laundry service, housekeeping, room service, continental breakfast. Deluxe Suite (King size Double Bed)/Deluxe Queen (Queen Double Bed)/Deluxe Twin (two single beds) rooms with attached bathrooms. ₹2,000-3,000.
- 7 Central Bed & Breakfast, 7th Floor, Lansdowne Court, 5B, Sarat Bose Rd (near Minto Park), ☏ +91 9836465400, j@centralbnb.com. Check-in: Noon, check-out: 10AM. 10-minute drive from Park Street and 1 minute from Minto Park. It’s on the 7th floor of a residential apartment. 4 bedrooms with free WiFi, attached bathrooms, common kitchen. All rooms are air conditioned. Owners live in the same building. Great location, safe, and 24/7 security. Recommended for backpackers. ₹2,699.
- 8 OYO Townhouse 095 Park Circus, 1 Orient Row (near Park Circus maidan), ☏ +91 124 620 1323. Check-in: Noon, check-out: 11:00 AM. From ₹2,000.
- 9 Hotel Samilton, 35A, Sarat Bose Rd. ₹3,000-4,500.
- 10 Lee International, 53D/1,Tiljala Road, Park Circus, ☏ +91 33 23431678, +91 33 23431679, booking.hotellee@thesparkhotels.com. Check-out: Noon. ₹2595-4095.
- Mrs. Dam's Guesthouse, near Ballygunge (near Ice Skating Rink), ☏ +91 33 2290 4533. Modern, prettily furnished rooms with attached bath, air-con, TV, etc. in a quiet, safe neighborhood. Helpful owner lives in the same building, and is a handy source for tips on what to see/where to go in Kolkata. They also have a great cook, so make sure you try a home-cooked Bengali meal when you're there. ₹2000.
- 11 The Red Carpet, P-399, Keyatala Lane, Kolkata-700 029 (The Red Carpet lies in an extremely posh neighborhood of South Kolkata nestling in between two of the major thoroughfares of South Kolkata, Southern Avenue & Rash Behari Avenue.), ☏ +91 33 40086847. ₹2,500/-.
Splurge
- Bodhi Tree Boutique Guesthouse, 48/44, Swiss Park, Kolkata. (Rabindra Sarovar Metro Station-Swiss Park.), ☏ +91 33 2424 6534, fax: +91 33 2424 1598.
- 12 Hotel Hindustan International, A.J.C. Bose Rd (near Minto Park). Good location near Rabindra Sadan metro station. Good food. Five-star rates.
- 13 Hotel Taj Bengal, 34B, Belvedere Road, Alipore., ☏ +91 33 2223 3939, fax: +91 33 2223 1766. It is one of the best in town. 5-star rates.
Connect
- 16 National Library, Belvedere Road, ☏ +91 33 24791381.
- 17 Sarat Bose Road Post Office, Raja Basanta Roy Rd, Southern Avenue, Ballygunge (Sarat Bose Southern Avenue Crossing Bus Stop), ☏ +91 33 2466 3126.