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Don't tell me you've been to Kolkata but couldn't find anywhere to shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Puja Saha

Shopping is in our genes. There is no one in this world who doesn't like to shop and what else do we need if we know better places to shop? Of course, there is money, but it is no longer a problem if we have the ability to find the perfect way and the perfect shops and great bargaining skills.

So here are my top places for you where you can find variety at every corner of Kolkata at very affordable prices. So without further ado let's get jump into the points:

1. Gariahat Market

Gariahat market will be the top one on my list, it is one of the best places of all and one of my favourite places to shop in Kolkata. If you have a  particular test like you are more into printed traditional work with soft cotton material and simple stitch work then I recommend you to visit Grihat as it has a more beautiful collection of kurtis and embroidery work than any other place in Kolkata. according to my experience, Gariahat has a very decent and sober group of clothes. They have a great jewellery collection too, i.e oxidise, afghani, german silver, and statement neck pieces all just in one place. A long stretch of road all the way to the Golpark, From (50-500) to various jewellery and (100-1000) to clothing and you can also find beautiful shrugs under 300 and many types of bags at very affordable prices. At the last point near Goalpark, you can look for vintage books along with the new additions also just for Rs 200, I have been buying many 2nd handbooks from there at very cheap prices and the books are also in good condition so yes you can buy them. At "Gariahat Mor" you can find beautiful jute bags and many jewellery shops. A walk in Gariahat is always like a walk in heaven, so I would highly recommend it to you.

Here is the way to Gariahat Click here

গরিয়াহাট মার্কেট

Kolkata, West Bengal 700019

Timings: 11 AM to 8:00 PM (Monday - Saturday) 

Sunday Closed

  

2. Esplanade kolkata market

Esplanade is a fun place to window shop and enjoy super yummy street food. When you pass by the new market area you can definitely buy some souvenirs from this place, I rarely buy clothes from there but that doesn't mean they don't have a good collection, as I said before I have a specific test and Esplanade is also very time consuming. So many items in one place confuses me but I always buy jewellery from there, I mean in one word the jewelery shops are just amazing, especially the earrings and necklace sets. In the new market area, you will find a lot of authentic earrings. New Market is one of the oldest shopping areas and a shopper's paradise Among the kicks of excited shoppers, one can find a wide range of products from shoes, sarees and exotic flowers. The saying is true, all the shops of similar items are stuck in one block, thus it becomes more orderly. One can choose from thousands of stalls in the region. New Market offers everything one could ask for

Here is the way to Esplanade

Click here

Esplanade, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal

Timings:

Monday-Friday(10-8)

Saturday(10-2:30)

 Sunday Closed

3. College Street (boi Para)

College Street or Boi Para in a word is a passion for all Bengalis, a very nostalgic and evocative place in Kolkata. A stretch of College Street, nearly a million square feet long is located in central Kolkata. It is one of the world's largest markets for second-hand books. It is said that there is no book in the world which cannot be found here. Several popular institutions of Kolkata such as Calcutta Medical College, Calcutta University and Presidency University are located on this road. The place has several small and large bookstores built of brick and mortar, bamboo and metal sheets. Each stall has a different story and all stalls have a title written by the authors. Books here are sold at bargain prices and you can find books that are 250 years old or more. Bargaining is also a common feature here.

Here is the way to College Street

Click here

কলেজ স্রিট

Kolkata, West Bengal

 

Timings: (10:00 am to 11:00 pm)

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SHOPPING TACTICS💯

Puja Saha

Kolkata is the only place where you can find different stories in every corner. We are steeped in tradition and culture but not behind in fashion either, but first, we need to know some basic rules. As a Bengali street shopping lover, usually, I follow a list before going to any market or even in online shopping too and it works amazingly for me, I am now able to find the perfect thing for me at a convenient time.
                                Here is a fully organized list that I follow and trust me if you start following it accordingly, shopping will be easier for you and at the same time you will be able to control your "fashion and finances" together.

😄Why should we make a list 

       You will find so many items in one place that your eyes will get confused and you will end up with things you don't actually like and didn't want to or you will not be able to find the perfect one that you are looking for, it happened to me so many times that I ended up confused and bought wrong things. so first make a short list of what you want including what kind of material you need. Consider cotton, silk, lace, or something else, and also in what colour obviously. 

             We make a list when we do grocery shopping so why not in general shopping also? Both are the same thing and it's not just about what we buy it's about getting our things done perfectly and on time. I know this may sound like an unnecessary, time-wasting thing, but it's better to spend some time pre-organizing instead of wasting your time on shopping-related confusion.

👠How to know your necessities 

    It is also very important to know your requirements first, what we usually do is to we go to the market, and the first thing that catches our eyes we buy it without any thinking and after a few times we realize "it is not going well with me" and that dress sits in the closet for days waiting to be worn at the right time which seems unnecessary, so always make a clear thought first and then write it down on a paper or notepad. 

           If you want a grand or simple something or you are looking for a gift for someone else, make a list of what he/she likes or what you think is suitable for them and if you are looking for something for yourself, think somewhere you must wear it. As for me, I usually always buy clothing when an occasion arrives, it may sound like a "moment of moments" but with this reminder, I have always been able to successfully buy perfect clothing and other accessories.

😎 Do not fall for any discounts or sale

            When we do street shopping or online shopping we get many discounts and sales offers and we fall for them it's very common but the seller stands there to sell it's their job but it's our job to decide whether we actually need it or not otherwise we get involved and end up buying unnecessary stuff, yes there. Exceptional if you have wanted a dress for so long and are waiting for the price to drop, you can go for it.

💸Set a budget 

               It is very important to always set a budget and make sure we don't go over the limit. A small trick that can save your money is to always pay in cash because when it comes to spending through plastic cards or e-banking, you spend a lot in the blink of an eye, I know you are now saying “so what about cash on delivery then?" But again in my experience when I pay through "COD" I spend less than e-banking because paying with cash feels more real and we have to carry that concept to avoid those impulsive purchases.

😕Always Shop alone
          I used to make this mistake a lot so I couldn't shop accordingly and I had a bad habit of not facing my fear of going out alone I thought it was a big deal for me and what if I messed up? But eventually, I messed up anyway, I was shy and didn't know how to stand up, and told myself I'm a grown woman now I don't need to worry about anything anymore. You are shopping for yourself because only you know what you like, what suits you best and when you go out shopping with somebody else you get confused because your preferences are opposite. So make sure you carve out some time for yourself and get yourself out alone.

                     These are some tips that I specifically follow and it does work really well for me and I hope it helps you too somewhere. I will see you in my next blog on where to shop so stay tuned, thank you............