Chowringhee

Sometimes touted as the Fifth Avenue or Champs Elysees of Kolkata (Calcutta), Chowringhee Road, now known as Jawaharlal Nehru Road, is the main drag in the city and one of the most prominent shopping and entertainment centers. The Chowringhee neighborhood in central Kolkata served as inspiration for the 1962 novel Chowringhee by Bengali novelist Sankar and the film of the same name produced in 1968.

The wide street is lined with Victorian buildings left over from the British colonial period. If you’re looking for high-end boutiques, this is where you’ll find them. Amidst the shops, restaurants, banks and hotels you’ll also find the Indian Museum, with the largest collection of artifacts in India, as well as the Oberoi Grand Hotel, one of the most famous British-era buildings in the city.

Set aside a few hours in the morning or early evening to explore Chowringhee by foot. When you’ve had enough shopping, head north along the main street toward the center of Kolkata to explore the area surrounding BBD Bagh, the city’s main business district.