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The
Dakshinapan Shopping Centre,
Gariahat Road, contains dozens of
government emporiums selling local goods
at fixed prices, while Swabhumi,
near the Hyatt Regency, is a cultural
centre cum shopping plaza selling
clothing and crafts. The latter is
slightly twee, but there is a
commendable selection of local (good
value) jewellery and silk shirts.
Central Cottage Industries
Emporium, 7 Jawaharlal Nehru
Road, is good for buying quality
handicrafts from around India and fixed
prices makes life easier.
Artisana, 13 Chowringee
Terrace, 1/F, was created by the Crafts
Council of West Bengal, a non-profit
organisation promoting craftworkers and
weavers of India. Women's
Friendly Society, 29 Park Lane,
is a co-operative selling exquisitely
embroidered clothing and table linen
made by destitute women.
The eastern end of BB Ganguly Street,
near Sealdah station, has a string of
tiny jewellery stores, selling mainly
very ornate gold and silver pieces. The
lively Park Street has a wide range of
small independent outlets, including an
array of fabric and sari shops,
restaurants and bookshops.
Oxford Bookstore, 17
Park Street, is one of Kolkata's best;
modern and airy, with an excellent range
of publications, from fiction to
pictorial. It has a charming little
cafe, plus regular talks and activities.
The vast Music World,
18G Park Street, has CDs and DVDs of
Indian contemporary, regional and
classical music, plus music from all
over the world. Planet M,
22 Camac Street (Block B), is also
recommended for its wide range of CDs.
Larger shops are usually open around
1000 to 1800. Some close for half a day
on Saturday. Most are closed on Sunday,
especially around Park Street. |