Chowringhee Kolkata | Shopping, Restaurants, Nightlife

Chowringhee, Kolkata Overview

Chowringhee, officially known as Jawaharlal Nehru Road, is a happening hub and frequently visited by locals for recreational activities and shopping. It is one of the few localities in the city with top end boutiques, hotels, malls, shops and restaurants. The region also has several heritage buildings nearby that tourists can explore. These buildings were built during the British era and are famous for their architecture and historical importance that photographers shouldn't miss at all.

Chowringhee was the inspiration of a novelist from Bengal, Sankar which was also featured in a movie made in 1968. It is one of the places for the night owls searching for nightclubs/ pubs. With the Chowringhee Market nearby, the area is a paradise for shopaholics. It also houses some main metro stations in the city. Due to its accessibility, locals visit the area often to explore on foot or window shop or indulge in some delicious street feed. It does get very crowded during peak hours, but there's something for everyone here at Chowringhee.

Shopping at Chowringhee Road

Chowringhee is an active commercial area in Kolkata making it a hub for shopaholics. With several local market places and malls, Chowringhee attracts people in large numbers. One can purchase local and international branded apparel, accessories, gifts, souvenirs etc. Chowringhee was once a famous location for movie buffs. It had some of the most famous movie halls/ theatres in Kolkata like the New Empire, Metro, Tiger, Elite and Roxy. Today, most of these halls have been converted into Boutiques, Shopping Complexes/ Malls. The region gets pretty crowded during weekends and public holidays, but it still attracts people for the variety of shopping options they have.

Chowringhee Nightlife & Restaurants

The area has many 5-star hotels, restaurants, and eateries that serve a variety of national and international cuisine. The restaurants are inviting, and each has a charm that draws customers to their other the top class service. New Embassy, Maharaja Restaurant, Lazeez, New Cathay Restaurant are some of the famous local restaurants. Most of these restaurants have bars/ pubs. However, some of the famous ones are Maharaja, Empire Bar, Bar BQ and the Chowringhee Bar. One can even find many local and international fast food joints like Dominos, McDonald's, KFC, Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks etc. Street lovers will find this place to be a paradise as it has some outlets selling momos, local snacks, aloo chop, fish chop and the famous Bengali Sweets, Rasgulla, Sandesh etc. With so many options to choose from, one cannot but wonder how happening Chowringhee Street is usually.

Attractions at Chowringhee

There are several heritage sites around Chowringhee road. It is, therefore, of a part of the city is of great historical importance. On 51 Chowringhee Road is the Bishops House which was relocated from 5 Russell Street in 1849 but it was originally built in 1763 by Major Mark Wood. It is said to be the first ever construction on Chowringhee Road. The site had the Bishop's residence and the Bishopric in the same building. The region also has the M.P Birla Planetarium which was established in 1963. It is said to be the second largest planetarium in the world and the largest planetarium in Asia. St. Paul's Cathedral is also another famous attraction in the region that was built in 1810. It draws tourists for its Gothic Architecture and religious importance. Tipu Sultan's mosque is also located here. It draws tourists for its cultural importance, historic importance and architectural brilliance.

Best Time To Visit Chowringhee

The best time to visit Chowringhee is in the evenings as the place is bustling with activity and the stores, restaurants and recreational zones are open.

How To Reach Chowringhee

One can reach Chowringhee from the city centre via Central Ave and Jawaharlal Nehru Road by local buses or taxis. Head to the Radha Nath Mullick lane and Surendra Lal Pyne Lane to reach College Street. From College Street, travel further and take Central Avenue that leads to Chowringhee Road.

If taking the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose road, follow the route that goes through Mahatma Gandhi Road - Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road - Shakespeare Sarani Road (Mullick Bazar) - Chowringhee Road.

The region houses four metro stations and can be reached by metro as well from Park Street, Rabindra Sadan, Maidan and Esplanade.