New market, Kolkata

This one came into being 150 years ago, thanks to Sir Stuart Hogg. And so was named Hogg’s market. It’s the one stop-shop for a street shopper in Kolkata.

Here you get stuff ranging from books to gramophone records to clothes, shoes, household items, accessories sprawled on its street, and sometimes on the bonnets of cars parked alongside.

The rule here is to bargain hard and you can get away with stuff costing 60 per cent cheaper than the quoted price.

What to buy: Authentic Bengali saris, trendy clothes and household items

Alternatives: Park street is a more upmarket alternative with branded stores, eateries and book stores lined up in a colonial setting.