South Kolkata is a posh and new area of Kolkata. It is less congested and more modern than most parts of the city. You will find more apartment blocks and green patches here.
South Kolkata consists of the southern "mushrooming" parts of the city that has been continuously developed over the years. Although the northern part of the district was developed during the British rule, the rest of South Kolkata was developed mainly after the partition of India 1947, when millions of refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) squatted in the district. Although there are still slums here and there, most of these now sport a brighter look.
This district covers the neighbourhoods south of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road (AJC Bose Road, previously Lower Circular Road) and west of Sealdah South lines (upto Jadavpur) and Raja SC Mullick Road. The major neighbourhoods in South Kolkata include Alipore, Ballygunge, Behala, Bhowanipore, Dhakuria, Garden Reach, Gariahat, Jadavpur, Kalighat, Kidderpore, Majerhat, Park Circus and Tollygunge.
Most of South Kolkata was once part of three separate municipalities, namely Garden Reach, Jadavpur and South Suburban. They became part of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in 1984. However, the area is still often called "suburbs" (শহরতলি SHAW-hohr-toh-lih) by the locals and Behala (once part of South Suburban) is still often considered a separate community with its own cultural values. Most people of Behala call themselves "Behala citizens" (বেহালাবাসী BEH-hah-lah-bah-shih) rather than "Kolkata citizens" (কলকাতাবাসী KOHL-kah-tah-bah-shih).
South Kolkata can be easily reached from Central Kolkata easily by bus, taxi or metro railway. From North Kolkata, the number of buses is slightly low, but the metro and tram are always an option. There also are bus links with East Kolkata.
A large number of bus routes from other parts of Kolkata and outside Kolkata ply into this district. Air-conditioned buses have also started plying, for example from Sulekha to Rajarhat and New Town and from Tollygunge to Kolkata Airport. There are many long-distance buses from southeastern places to the Northern Suburbs which avoid the city crowds and travel via the EM Bypass.
Garia has three bus stands. Garia No. 5 handles buses coming along Raja SC Mullick Road. The second bus depot handles buses coming along NSC Bose Road. There is a bus stand in Patuli, handling 45 no. private bus. The Garia-Gol Park autos leave from opposite the No. 5 Bus Stand. Garia No. 6 handles buses coming along NSC Bose Road. Buses travelling south of Garia are handled by either the No. 5 or No. 6 depot depending on the direction they are coming from. Autos on the Garia-Tollyguge route leave from near this bus stand. There also are autos for Boral.
The North–South Line [blue] of the Kolkata Metro runs over Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, SP Mukherjee Road, Deshpran Shasmal Road, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Road and the Adi Ganga, with stops at Rabindra Sadan, Netaji Bhavan, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge), Netaji (Kudghat), Masterda Surya Sen (Bansdroni), Gitanjali (Naktala), Kavi Nazrul (Garia Bazar), Shahid Khudiram (Dhalai Bridge) and Kavi Subhash (New Garia).
The Purple Line [purple] runs over Diamond Harbour Road with stops at Taratala, Behala Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Silpara and Thakurpukur. The line is locally known as Behala Metro.
South Kolkata can be reached by the Circular Railway and Sealdah South lines. The Circular Railway stations are at Park Circus, Ballygunge, Lake Gardens and Tollygunge, while other stations in South Kolkata are Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Baghajatin and New Garia. Beware of the work hour rush. Cycle rickshaws are available at all stations for local travel.
Major chain restaurants include Domino's (1/432, Gariahat Rd S ad 62/7, Ballygunge Circular Rd) and Haldiram's (58, Chowringhee Rd and 24, Ballygunge Park). For places to eat in Tangra, see Kolkata/East, for the Park Street area see Kolkata/Central.
Chakhna Shakna Punjabi Dhaba (Flavours of Punjab.), 259-B, Lake-Gardens (near Rammohan Mission School), 22.50433°, 88.355976°, +91 9002107890, +91 9474453800. Specialist in Punjabi, tandoori & North Indian cuisine. Free home food delivery or sit'n'dine service. 2022-07-26
Don Giovanni's, 1/114 Jodhpur Park, 22.506483°, 88.365547°, +91 33 40007830, +91 33 24133243. Supreme pizza, momos, fried rice chicken, burgers, Margherita pizza.
Fiya the Zayka, 44/1 Adi Ganga, Bansdroni Post Office Road, Bansdroni (opposite of Surya Sen Metro), 22.47319°, 88.36114°, fiyathezayka@gmail.com. 3-10:30PM. Cooking the Royal Biryani is the profession of Fiya the Zayka’s; they serve Mughlai food, developed under the patronage of the Mughal Kings and Queens using the spices of the Mughals' adopted Indian homeland. ₹25/₹100
Tandoor Park, 28/4 Gariahat Rd S (near Jodhpur Park Post Office), 22.506613°, 88.367347°, +91 33 40007588, +91 9836370051, +91 9831458972, +91 9830006647. North Indian and Chinese cuisine. Specialities - mocktails, shawarma, murgh musallam, masala kulcha, keema naan, murg reshmi kabab, manchow soup. Try their mixed kabab plate. Hard drinks served.
Suresh Mistanna Bhander, Shop 7, Sarat Ghosh Garden Rd, Dhakuria, 22.509213°, 88.369167°, +91 9836876365. All sorts of sweetmeat with unforgettable taste 2018-03-16
Hungry Tide, UBI Dhakuria Branch Bldg, 32/12A, Gariahat Rd S, Dhakuria, 22.506213°, 88.367347°, +91 33 3099 1262. Noon-10PM. Chinese, Continental, North Indian, etc. 2018-03-16
Lokaahar, 533, Jodhpur Park, 22.506783°, 88.362167°, +91 8420170529, +91 9007980125. 9AM-10PM. Tasty and varied Bengali dishes - mocha chingri, mochar ghonto, mutton kasha, dhokar dalna, posto bora et al. Must try bhetki fry. Special menu during the Poila Baisakh week, but beware of the crowds it attracts, because it is a small homely place. They also serve Continental, Chinese and Thai dishes. Drinks not served. 2018-04-13
Bhojohori Manna, NA°, NA°, +91 33 24663941, +91 33 24667686. Authentic and traditional Bengali food. Fish and vegetarian speciality - shukto, mochar ghonto, chital macher muitha, chingri macher malaikari, kankra (crab), et al. Mutton Dak Bungalow has become a trade mark. No hard drinks.
Chinese Pavilion, P 21 Old Ballygunge Rd (at Ballygunge Phari crossing), 22.528863°, 88.365987°, +91 33 2283 3093, +91 9836627306. Noon-10:30PM. Chinese and Thai cuisine. Drinks not served.
The Dhaba, Ballygunge Phari, 22.528353°, 88.365777°, +91 8017779607, +91 9903000353. 11:30AM-11PM. North Indian and Chinese cuisine. Try out the Punjabi speciality;makka di roti and sarson di saag
Krystal Chopstick, 71 H, Hindustan Park (opposite Basanti Devi College), 22.518263°, 88.361897°, +91 33 4060 3022, +91 9831526118. Noon-10:30PM. Chinese cuisine. No drinks.
Mirch Masala, 49/2 Gariahat Rd (near Pantaloons), 22.523184°, 88.364596°, +91 9830644484, +91 33 24618900. Great Punjabi food, also has a Chinese restaurant. Drinks served.
6 Ballygunge Place, 22.527863°, 88.368077°, +91 33 24603922, +91 99 03975614. Bengali & North Indian cuisine. Buffet lunch ₹375 (Monday to Friday), ₹425 (Saturday). No drinks.
South India Club Canteen, 70 B, Hindustan Park, 22.518363°, 88.362757°, +91 33 24640927. Budget restaurant. The place is not posh but has tasty food.
Padmaparer Rannaghar, 26/4 Gariahat Rd, 22.518363°, 88.365457°, +91 33 2419 8916. Noon-10PM. Bengali and South Indian cuisine. 2018-03-16
Tero Parban, 49C Purna Das Rd (Near Gol Park), 22.516863°, 88.362657°, +91 33 2464 0199, +91 9830432175. Noon-10:30PM. Bengali cuisine with the ambience of a traditional Bengali home.
Mitra Cafe, 23/37 Gariahat Rd, 22.515563°, 88.367127°, +91 90076 95923. 11AM-11PM. North Indian fast food. Speciality - fish kaviraji, mutton chops, rolls, pakoda, mutton kaviraji, chowmein, pudding. 2018-04-12
Kasturi Restaurant, 13/6B Anil Moitro Rd (near Patha Bhaban Montessori School), 22.524313°, 88.368597°, +91 33 2440 0039, +91 8334922228. 11:45AM-11PM. Dhakai cuisine. Speciality - bhetki paturi, biryani, mochar ghonto, kochu pata chingri bhapa, jhuri alu bhaja, mutton kosha, kosha mangsho. 2018-04-12
Kwality, 2A, Gariahat Rd (near Ballygunge Phari crossing), 22.528063°, 88.366277°, +91 33 2460 9982, +91 33 2460 7079. Noon-10:45PM. One of the earliest posh restaurants in South Kolkata. Authentic North Indian delicacies. Continental and Chinese also served. Drinks available. Payment in cash only. 2018-04-12
Mainland China, Uniworth House, 3A, Guru Saday Dutta Rd, 22.536913°, 88.359477°, +91 33 2283 7964, +91 9330627506. 12:30-3PM, 7-11PM. Innovative Chinese food. Grand buffets. Drinks served. 2018-04-12
Azad Hind, 12/1, Ballygunge Circular Rd, 22.535884°, 88.356996°, +91 33 24866475, +91 33 24864742. Virtually open round the clock. North Indian cuisine, street food. Popular items: chicken bharta, tandoori chicken, tandoori aloo, butter naan, dal tadka, rolls, panneer butter masala. No alchohol. 2018-04-14
Banana Leaf (A unit of Komala Vilas), 74-75, Rashbehari Ave (near Lake Market), 22.517243°, 88.349757°, +91 33 24641960, +91 33 24640941. South Indian vegetarian snacks and thali meal. Great food. Authentic South Indian taste - very different from the road side stalls catering to Bengali taste.
Khawab, 166A, Sarat Bose Rd (near National High School For Girls), 22.519163°, 88.352187°, +91 9836033337, +91 9874246629, +91 33 24669695. Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, Mutton Rogan Josh.
Kurry Club, 176 Sarat Bose Rd, 22.516143°, 88.352757°, +91 33 24661979. Mexican, Italian and other cuisine.
Tamarind, 177 Sarat Bose Rd (near Deshapriya Park), 22.518513°, 88.351857°, +91 33 66343960. South Indian Non-vegetarian. Snacks like idli and dosa are not available. Specialised main meal dishes. Enjoy Keralian food, Coorgi dishes et al.
Zeeshan, 187 Sarat Bose Rd (near Deshapriya Park), 22.516343°, 88.352387°, +91 33 2464 4224, +91 7604066539. 11AM-11PM. Great Mughlai food, take away only.
Oudh 1590, 23/B, Deshapriya Park and also at P-562, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Sarani (behind Vivekananda Park), 22.518543°, 88.350257°. Period dining experience - try it out. 2018-04-09
Prema Vilas, 63/1, Lake Market, 22.517143°, 88.348957°, +91 33 2463 1961. South Indian vegetarian. 2018-04-10
Maharaja and Maharani, Sarat Bose Rd (near the Rashbehari Ave crossing), 22.516513°, 88.352387°. These are two separate kachori shops, near each other. The footpath in front of the shops is always crowded. Their early morning stocks often get exhausted by around 9AM. They also serve later in the day. Anyone going that way must give it a try. Don't miss the jalebis/malpuas after the kachouri-sabzi. The location shown on the map here is that of Maharani, and Maharaja is a little down the road towards the lakes. 2018-04-12
Marco Polo, 205 Sarat Bose Rd (near Southern Ave crossing), 22.514763°, 88.352657°, +91 33 2463 0909. 12:30PM-11:30PM. Continental and North Indian cuisine. Drinks served. 2018-04-12
Bijoli Grill, +91 33 4003 6606. Seafood, Chinese and Bengali cuisine.
Fung Shway, 122A, Southern Ave, 22.514163°, 88.362457°, +91 33 4065 9510. Thai, Chinese, etc. Drinks served. 2018-04-10
The Coastal Macha, 55, Southern Ave, 22.513263°, 88.349337°, +91 33 3099 1254. Indian seafood, South Indian, Keralian, Maharashtrian. 2018-04-10
Sangu Valley Restaurant, 6A, SP Mukherjee Rd, 22.528454°, 88.345336°, +91 9831361928, +91 8583962171. 11AM-10PM. North Indian, Chinese cuisine.
Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, 2, Puddapukur Rd, Bhowanipore, 22.533284°, 88.346956°, +91 33 2486 9490, +91 33 2454 0281, balarammullicksweets@gmail.com. 9AM-10PM. Offers a wide range of sweets and snacks. Famous for its baked rosogolla. 2019-08-22
Pepper Chino, 37 Sarat Bose Rd (opposite Lakshmi Narayan Temple), 22.534064°, 88.353256°, +91 33 6555 2051, +91 7004985103. Noon-4AM. North Indian Continental and Chinese cuisine. Drinks served.
Tangra Kaizen, 33B, Sarat Bose Rd, Paddapukur, 22.534544°, 88.353356°, +91 33 2474 4358. 11AM-11PM. Chinese and Thai cuisine. Drinks served. Only cash payment. 2018-04-13
Subway, Merlin Homeland, 18B, Asutosh Mukherjee Road, 22.536284°, 88.345586°, +91 33 4004 7412, +91 33 2454 2234. 11AM-10:30PM. Healthy food, salad, fast foods. Popular items: Sandwiches, Chicken Wrap, Chicken Tikka Sub. No alcohol. 2018-04-13
Balwant Singh's Eating House, 10B, Harish Mukherjee Rd, 22.537784°, 88.344186°, +91 9903975361. 4AM-3AM next day. North Indian vegetarian cuisine. Popular items: Tea, lassi, paneer tikka, samosa, dudh cola, kesar chai. No alcohol. 2018-04-13
Ganguram, 84A, Shambhunath Pandit St, 22.538084°, 88.345996°, +91 33 2455 2357. 6AM-10PM. One of the oldest sweet meat sellers in Kolkata, with a chain of outlets across the city. It is a revered name in the arena of Bengali sweets. Take away only. 2018-04-14
Gupta Brothers, 82A, Shambhunath Pandit Rd, 22.537984°, 88.345206°, +91 33 2455 6328, +91 33 2454 8716. 9AM-10:30PM. Sweets and casual dining. Popular items: vegetarian thali, gulab jamun, dahi vada, dhania dosa, kulfi, mango lassi and idli. 2018-04-14
Arsalan, 28, Circus Ave, 22.541984°, 88.363626°, +91 33 22844010, +91 33 22848556. They have seven branches: 1. Chinar Park, 2. Anandapur (opposite Calcutta International School), 3. Hatibagan, 4. Park Street Area (Muzaffar Ahmed Road), 5. Park Circus 7-point crossing, 6. New Alipore, and 7. Jessore Road, Bangur.<br/>Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: firni, mutton kosha, mutton boti kebab, chicken chatpata, mutton biryani, egg chicken roll.
Only Alibaba, 28A, Syed Amir Ali Ave, 22.540784°, 88.365426°, +91 33 4070 1109. Noon-4:30PM, 7-11PM. Biryani and Mughlai food. The food has a good taste in the main shop but in their fry king outlet at Baghajatin some items are bad and unpalatable.
Zeeshan, 17 Syed Amir Ali Ave, 22.541384°, 88.365926°, +91 33 22806842, +91 9903611112. 7AM-midnight. Zeeshan has several outlets mostly for takeaway customers: 1. Deshapriya Park, 2. Kidderpore, 3. Garia, 4. Lake Market Area, 5. Ballygunge, 6. Tollygunge, 7. Esplanade, 8. College Street.<br/>Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: biryani, rolls, firni, murg reshmi kabab, mutton tikka, mutton chaap, tandoori chicken.
Amrit National Hotel, 43 Diamond Harbour Rd (Mominpur Bus Stop), 22.525894°, 88.325416°, +91 33 66343401. Budget restaurant. Biryani and Mughlai food.
Upper Crust, 17/1 E, Alipore Rd, 22.535294°, 88.333271°, +91 33 2479 3667. 9AM-9PM. Bakery, desserts, fast food. Serves non-vegetarian items also. No alcohol. Some popular items: vegetable burgers, vegetable pizza, chocolate pyramid and pineapple pastry. 2018-04-14
Drop In, Ground Floor, Ideal Towers, 57, Block A, Diamond Harbour Rd, 22.531794°, 88.326716°, +91 9073309928, +91 9073309929. 7:30AM-11PM. Vegetarian restaurant. Indian and Chinese cuisine. Popular items: lassi, naan, paneer tikka masala, roti, thali. 2018-04-14
Budget: under ₹1000, mid-range: ₹1000 to ₹3000, splurge: over ₹3000 (standard double room).