This is the largest wholesale flower market in all of Asia. The Mullik Ghat Flower Market, near the great Howrah Bridge and river in Kolkata, India. Customers come from all over the state of West Bengal, and other parts of the country. Even international buyers can be seen at some of the stalls buying up bulk flowers for other parts of Asia, Europe, and beyond.
The demand for marigolds, mango leaves and other flowers for temple offerings is huge. It’s wedding season so there’s even a further demand for these and other varieties of flowers and leaves.
It’s not quite mid-morning but the hustle, bargaining and chaos is still present. Things get going here as early as 3am. When you visit be prepared for another Indian sensory overload. The colors, the smells of flowers, the constant movement of people, and carts that carry the goods in and out of the market. There is no order here. Much like road traffic in India though, it still somehow works.
