The Atlas Obscura Guide To Kolkata

13 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Kolkata, India

Updated December 22, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Kolkata

South Park Street Cemetery

Kolkata, India

South Park Street Cemetery

An eclectic mix of influences rot together in harmony in this India necropolis.

College St is the largest secondhand book market in the world

Kolkata, India

College Street

The world's largest secondhand book market is a haven for bibliophiles and bargain hunters.

Kolkata, India

Nahoum and Sons

This Jewish bakery, among the last in the region, sells legendary sweets from a century-old storefront.

Marble Palace

Kolkata, India

Marble Palace

This lavish estate recalls the opulent history of Calcutta.

Bazaar vendors chat while selling lap cheong, momos, and fritters.

Kolkata, India

Terreti Bazaar

For just a few hours each morning, this market serves specialties from the city's shrinking Chinese-Indian community.

Statues drying in storage.

Kolkata, India

Mud Statues of Kumortuli

The potters' quarter is packed with artists sculpting clay gods with mud from the sacred Ganges river.

The Black Hole of Calcutta within Fort Wiliam

Kolkata, India

The Black Hole of Calcutta

The site of an atrocity that would be used to justify Britain’s conquest of India.

See All 13 Things To Do in Kolkata

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Kolkata

Kolkata, India

Nahoum and Sons

This Jewish bakery, among the last in the region, sells legendary sweets from a century-old storefront.

Bazaar vendors chat while selling lap cheong, momos, and fritters.

Kolkata, India

Terreti Bazaar

For just a few hours each morning, this market serves specialties from the city's shrinking Chinese-Indian community.

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Kolkata, India

Sacred Spaces 4

Immigration 3

Religion 3

Architecture 2

Markets 2

Cemeteries 2

Temples 2

Churches 2

Festivals 1

Gravestones 1

Bookstores 1

Memorials 1

Art 1

Hospitals 1

Culture 1

Statues 1

Cultures 1

Buddhism 1

Collections 1

Hinduism 1

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Stories About Kolkata

Hear the Soundscapes of Cities Transformed

"It is, in a word, quiet."

by Matt Mikkelsen, Atlas Obscura

Arabinda Das Gupta in his historic shop, which was founded by his grandfather in 1886.

The Uncertain Future of the World's Largest Secondhand Book Market

At the College Street market in Kolkata, India, independent booksellers fear the arrival of a massive mall.

by Peter Yeung, Atlas Obscura

November 18, 2019

The Muslims Preserving Kolkata’s Last Jewish Synagogues

"It's not ours or theirs, it's for both of us."

by Lizzie Philip, Atlas Obscura

November 26, 2018