| Unique things you experience ONLY in Kolkata |
| Food for Thought |
| Alurdom | The world’s best. Try the offering at Vivekananda Park. |
| Alu Posto | Difficult to find any other vegetarian dish that tastes this good. |
| Alukabli | Where will you get something like this? |
| Bharer Chaa | On the Maidan, from shining brass vessels on a rainy day. |
| Chanachur | Many have tried unsuccessfully to steal the formula, MNCs included! |
| Chanmp | Even Pakistani cricketers have sampled these, in Chitpur. |
| Chicken Kabiraji | An unbelievable variation on the chicken cutlet. |
| Chingri Machher Malaikari | An absolute mouth watering dish. |
| Coffee House-er Coffee | Try the float with ice cream. |
| Dimer Kalia | Again, where do you get something like this? |
| Ghugni | Again, Chana is not the same at all. |
| Ilish Machh | Umm… that undisputable lingering taste of the coveted fish. |
| Illish Machh Bhaja diye Khichuri | An absolute must on those rainy days when it seems as if the downpour is never going to stop. |
| Jhalmuri | A unique concoction, with nothing to equal it. |
| Karaishutir Kochuri | A seasonal favourite, have it with alurdom. |
| Kasha Mangsho | It’s become an institution now. |
| Lero Biscut | Needed to make the batter for chop-cutlet. |
| Luchi | Puri and Phulkas - no comparison. |
| Moghlai Parota | Nobody can better the ones at Anadi Cabin. |
| Mochar Chop | Exquisite pakodas at the local roadside shop made with a stuffing of banana blossom. |
| Moton Afghani | An equally innovative presentation of the mutton cutlet. |
| Paan | Unmatched, even in Benaras or Lucknow. |
| Paradiser Sharbat | There is one which is green, and another, pink. No student from college street area has failed to sample these! |
| Phulkopir Shingara | Samosas don’t stand a chance against these. |
| Phuchka | Pani puri and gol-gappas aren’t a patch on phuchkas. |
| Radhaballavi | Try it with alurdom or cholar daal. |
| Rezala | Out of this world, just out of this world! |
| Roll | The ubiquitous mutton, chicken or egg roll. Unquestionably superior to any variants in any other city in the world. Check out Bedwin at Gariahat. |
| Telebhaaja | These and jhalmuri are like ‘made for each other’. |
| |
| Sweet tooth |
| Jilipi | Smaller than the jalebis and tastes quite different. |
| Jolbhora | Sondesh with sugar syrup in the interior. |
| Kamalabhog | A pale yellow orb, delicately sweetened. |
| Lal Doi | Not just curd, Is an experience by itself! |
| Maalpoa | Rich brown pancakes, dripping in sugar syrup. |
| Mihidana | Golden yellow, saffron scented. |
| Nalen Gurer Sondesh | It should be eaten to believe. |
| Natun Gurer Rosogolla | The latest innovation. There are many, many more traditional favourites. |
| Roshomalai | A creamy, mouth-watering delight! |
| Rosogolla | Simply needs no introduction - became Identity of Bengali sweets |
| Ranga Alur Pithey | Another traditional favourite in winter. |
| Sitabhog | Pure white, sweetened to just the right extent. |
| |
| In Fashion |
| Baluchari Sari | Plain fabrics with brocaded, untwisted silk threads, and subtle linear patterns. |
| Balaposh | The lost art of that unstitched layer of cottonwool between two layers of silk. |
| Bidyasagari Choti | You still get them here. |
| Dhakka Par Dhuti | The finest and most elegant available here. |
| Garader Sari | Ideal with pujo bari, shankh'er awaaj. |
| Giley Kara Panjabi | Those with the improbably crinkled sleeves. |
| Jamdani Saree | Blend of cotton and silk, with intricate floral and geometric designs. |
| Kabuli Chappal | Another old favourite. |
| Lal Kalo Dhuti | The latest sensation in Kolkata. |
| Tangail Sari | The best in these all-time favourites can be found here. |
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| Unforgettable sound |
| Churi Kanchi Shaanwala | Sharpens knives, scissors and anything with an edge. |
| Lep Shelaiwala | They make those cotton quilts which warm you up in winter. |
| Mahalayar Mahisasuramardini | This radio broadcast in Birendra Kishore Bhadra’s voice is exquisite. |
| Shil Kataowala | They chip the stone slabs which grind masalas. |
| |
| Quaint - very special Kolkata |
| All Night Music Conference | You won’t find a minute to yawn. |
| Chinese Khabar in China Town | An early morning breakfast here is an experience. |
| College Street-er Boipara | Bookworms buzz around this place morning, noon and night. |
| East Kolkata Wetland | Our very own eco-system regulator – just on the outskirts. |
| Ganga-te Nouko Bihar | Either in a country boat or a steamer or on hover craft! |
| Gangar Dolphins | If it’s your lucky day, you might catch a glimpse of a frolicking shoal. |
| Maidan | The ideal place to be on a sleepy, winter morning. |
| Sokal-er tram to Maidan | See how green and fresh the city looks. |
| |
| Travel- the Kolkata way |
| Circular Rail | See the river all along as you travel on the train. |
| Hand-pulled Rickshaw | Still preferred form of transportation for some, especially children and the elderly. |
| Metro Rail | Spick and span, and the trains are dot on time. |
| Mini Bus | Sometimes it is too risky. |
| School Van | It’s to be seen to be believed. |
| Tram | If you have time on hand, you can see the city glide by. |
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| Kolkata's passion |
| Boi Mela | When the fair is on, you are there – whether you love books or not. |
| Cricket match at the Eden | Cricketers and cricket lovers the world over treasure the experience. |
| Durga Pujo | The pomp and pageantry, reserved each year for the ‘mother of all festivals’. |
| Jatra | Who says it is all melodrama? |
| Mohan Bagan - East Bengal | Prices of ilish or chingri go up, depending on who wins the day. |
| Pujo Barshiki | People just love this publishing wonders during the Durga Pujo. |
| Rocker Adda | Calcuttans are an adda baaj lot. |
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| Kolkata's very own |
| ‘Italian’ Saloon | Road side barber joints, where you sit on a piece of brick. |
| Chinese Dry Cleaners | Do a very clean job, indeed. |
| Coffee House | The place for adda on anything and everything under the sun. |
| Darjees of Metiabruz | Are a cut above the rest. Even if they cut corners at times! |
| Hydrant | There’s a move by the CMC to revive the practice of washing the streets with Ganga water from the hydrants |
Aamar Kolkata 
