Kolkata/South

South Kolkata is a district of Kolkata. It is less congested and more modern when compared to the rest of the city. One will find more apartment blocks and green patches. The neighbourhoods covered are: Ballygunge, Gariahat, Bhawanipur, Alipore, Chetla, New Alipore and Rash Behari.

Gariahat Flyover
Kalighat Temple
Nirmal Hriday: Mother Teresa's Home for the destitute at Kalighat
Birla Temple
A tram rolls past Entally market

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 β‚Ή10. 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 β‚Ή5-15. It runs from 8AM to 9:45PM from Monday to Saturday and 2PM to 9:45PM on Sunday.

The metro runs from Dum Dum in the north to Kavi Subhas (New Garia) in the south-east. The entire metro route within South Kolkata is underground. The metro stations in South Kolkata are:

  • 🌍 Jatin Das Park metro station (Hazra Morh).
  • 🌍 Kalighat metro station (Rashbehari Morh / Crossing of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road and Rashbehari Avenue).
  • 🌍 Netaji Bhawan metro station (Bhawanipur).
  • 🌍 Rabindra Sadan metro station.
  • 🌍 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:

  • 🌍 Ballygunge railway station.
  • 🌍 Dhakuria railway station.
  • 🌍 Khidirpur railway station (Circular Railway only).
  • 🌍 Lake Gardens railway station.
  • 🌍 Majherhat railway station.
  • 🌍 New Alipur railway station.
  • 🌍 Park Circus railway station.
  • 🌍 Remount Road railway station (Circular Railway only).
  • 🌍 Tollygunge railway station (Change for Rabndra Sarovar Metro).

By boat

  • 🌍 Bidhan Ghat, Strand Rd,Hastings (Near to Tolly Canal).

See

  • 🌍 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. β‚Ή15; special presentations are charged extra.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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, e-mail: . M 3PM-7PM; Tu-Sa 11AM-7PM. The Centre of International Modern Art is a small museum showing modern artworks. Free.
  • 🌍 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, e-mail: . 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
  • 🌍 Indian Government Mint, Alipore Mint Colony, New Alipore (South from Majherhat railway station), ☎ +91 33 2401 4132.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Mother House (Missionaries of Charity), Entally.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, ☎ +91 33 2464 1307, e-mail: . 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

  • 🌍 Bhukailash Temple, Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur (Near to Babu Bazar).
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Durga Mandir, 127A, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd (Tollygunge PS Bus Stop), ☎ +91 89 61613209.
  • 🌍 Ismail Mosque (Masjid Ismail), Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur, (Near to Babu Bazar).
  • 🌍 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
  • 🌍 Lord Soni dev Temple, Harish Chatterjee Street (Tolly Canal Embankment).

Do

Cinema

Parks

  • 🌍 Alipore Zoo (Zoological Gardens of Kolkata), No.2 Alipore Road, ☎ +91 33 2479 1150, e-mail: . 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 β‚Ή20, aquarium β‚Ή5, video photography β‚Ή250 per hour.
  • 🌍 Bhawanipore Cemetery, Debendra Lal Khan Rd, Bhawanipur.
  • 🌍 Horticultural Garden, 1, Alipore Road (South from National Library, - Remount Road railway station 0.8 km). A lush environ and also the venue for exotic plant and flower exhibitions. This spread over 21 acres comprising main lawns and informal gardens and children park, having many rare and tropical plants.
  • 🌍 Kalighat Park, 61, Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Rd, Manoharpukur, Kalighat (Kalighat Metro Station 0.4 km).
  • 🌍 Lions Safari Park, Moiras Street, lake Terrace, Dhakuria (Vivekananda Park Bus Stop).
  • 🌍 Padma Pukur Park, Kavi Bharati Sarani Road, Lake Gardens (On the lakeshore).
  • 🌍 Vivekananda Park, Kavi Bharathi Road, Southern Park, Lake Gardens (Vivekananda Park Bus Stop).

Sports

  • 🌍 Calcutta Cricket Centre, ~107, Southern Ave, Lake Terrace, (On the northern lakeshore of the Rabindra Sarovar).
  • 🌍 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

  • 🌍 Gariahat Market, 212, 214 Rash Behari Avenue, near Gariahat Road-Rashbehari Avenue crossing. One of the largest markets in Kolkata. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, betel leaf, fish, egg, meat, grocery etc. available
  • 🌍 Fancy Market, ~22, Karl Marx Sarani, Khidirpur. Consumer goods market - lots of foreign goods. Fancy items, fancy prices. Beware of fakes.
  • 🌍 Kidderpore Babu Bazar, Bhukailash Road, Khidirpur (from Fancy Market 300 m west).
  • 🌍 Jadu Babu's Market, 31, Asutosh Mukherjee Road. Vegetables, fruits, betel leaf, fish, meat, eggs, etc., available
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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

  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Gariahat Mall, Ballygunge.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Pantaloons, Ashutosh Chowdhury Rd, Dover Terrace,Ballygunge.
  • 🌍 Lake Mall, Kavi Bharathi Sarani, off Rash Behari Avenue. Highend shopping mall, branded shops, food court and restaurants, multiplex, offices and hotel
  • 🌍 Quest Mall, 33, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Park Circus. Luxury retail, largest apparel store, fine dining, six screen insignia class multiplex
  • 🌍 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

  • 🌍 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 (Tel.+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, Subway (fast food), KFC (fast food), Pizza Hut
  • 🌍 Forum Mall, 10/3 Elgin Road. Sunday closed. Restaurants here: Oh! Calcutta(Tel.:+91 33 22837161, mains from β‚Ή150, excellent Bengali food). Ar-Han-Thai (Lebanese & Thai food), Spaghetti Kitchen (Italian food), Starstruck (Chinese, Continental, North Indian, Mughlai).

Lake Gardens, Jodhpur Park & Dhakuria

Gariahat & surrounding areas

Lake Market-Deshapriya Park

  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Khawab, 166A, Sarat Bose Rd (Near National High School For Girls), ☎ +91 9836033337, +91 9874246629, +91 33 24669695. Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, Mutton Rogan Josh.
  • 🌍 Kurry Club, 176 Sarat Bose Rd, ☎ +91 33 24661979. Mexican, Italian and other cuisine
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 Zeeshan, 187 Sarat Bose Rd (Near Deshapriya Park), ☎ +91 33 2464 4224, +91 7604066539. 11AM-11PM. Great Mughlai food, take away only
  • 🌍 Oudh 1590, 23/B, Deshapriya Park and also at P-562, Hemanta Mukhopdhyay Sarani (behind Vivekananda Park). Period dining experience - try it out
  • 🌍 Prema Vilas, 63/1, Lake Market Area, ☎ +91 33 2463 1961. South Indian vegetarian
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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

Bhawanipore

Park Circus

  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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.
  • 🌍 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

  • 🌍 Taj Bengal, 34-B, Belvedere Road, ☎ +91 33 6612 3939, +91 33 2223 1193, e-mail: .
    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. Given below are average costs to give an idea of the expenditure involved. Actual cost will depend upon the food ordered. Drinks are served and costs extra. Amongst the restaurants are:
    1. Sonargaon presents the zemindary or landlord culture of the past. Punjabi, North-west India and Bengali cuisine. Average cost of lunch/ dinner for two Rs. 2,800 plus taxes. Open all days.
    2. Souk presents Mediterranean and Middle-eastern fare. It offers a medley of flavours from Moroccan, Greek, Turkish, Egyptian and Arabic cuisines. Average cost for two Rs. 3,200 plus taxes. Closed on Mondays.
    3. Chioniserie is a top class Chinese fine dining restaurant with a spread of dishes from Sichuan and Canton. Average cost for two Rs. 3,600 plus taxes. Open all days.
    4. CAL 27 is the best all-day dining restaurant. It offers a global menu but specialises in Italian cuisine. Average cost for two Rs. 2,500 plus taxes. Open all days. Look out for buffet lunch on Sundays.
    In addition to the above there are specialised small bar/ confectionery/ eatery sections. Check with hotel website for lunch and dinner timings. Taj Bengal is a large hotel and if someone arrives without a booking there will generally be some place to get in, but that may not be what the person desired. Please book seats in advance to avoid disappointment.
  • 🌍 Amrit National Hotel, 43 Diamond Harbour Road (Mominpur Bus Stop), ☎ +91 33 66343401. Budget restaurant. Biryani and Mughlai food.
  • 🌍 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

Drink

The Lassi at Sharma's Confectioners in Mandeville Gardens is worth checking out.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

  • 🌍 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. β‚Ή2,000-3,000.
  • 🌍 Central Bed & Breakfast, 7th Floor, Lansdowne Court, 5B, Sarat Bose Rd (Near Minto Park), ☎ +91 9836465400, e-mail: . 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. β‚Ή2,699.
  • 🌍 Hotel Akash Ganga, 1 Orient Row (Near Park Circus maidan), ☎ +91 33 2287 4056, +91 33 2287 5817, +91 33 2289 5791. Check-out: Noon. β‚Ή990-β‚Ή2,500.
  • 🌍 Hotel Samilton, 35A, Sarat Bose Rd. β‚Ή3,000-4,500.
  • 🌍 Lee International, 53D/1,Tiljala Road,Park Circus, ☎ +91 33 23431678, +91 33 23431679, e-mail: . Check-out: Noon. β‚Ή2595-β‚Ή4095.
  • 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. β‚Ή2000.
  • 🌍 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. β‚Ή2,500/-.

Splurge

Connect

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gollark: What's "HL" and "IB"?
gollark: Maths teaching at my school has generally been pretty good, although I don't expect this is a UK-wide thing.
gollark: Therea re lots of good explanations for complex things, although you should probably do a bunch of practice with them too.
gollark: Which is... kind of useful if you do, but sometimes you need a simple or intuitive explanation for a thing.
gollark: In my experience, Wikipedia seems to mostly have highly technical knowledge which assumes you already generally know about a subject.
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