New Market – Kolkata’s Crowded And Chaotic Shopping Experience

Hand-Drawn Rickshaws Line The Streets Of New Market – Kolkata, India

Crowded, Chaotic-New Market

The stores, stalls, vendors, and food are so plentiful in the New Market shopping area of Kolkata that you will most likely find yourself tripping over someone just to take a few steps. This is not an exaggeration.

Kolkata’s population is approximately 4.5 million. If you include the suburbs and outer areas it rises to over 14 million making it the third largest urban area in India. So the density of people per square meter is higher than most places in the world. That’s not the only factor that contributes to New Market’s crowded environment.

A Rare Empty Space On The Street – New Market

New Market – Retail Congestion

Like any city shopping area, traditional store fronts line the streets. What makes everything so congested though are the stalls set up in front of the stores. I mean right in front of the stores. Sometimes blocking the stores sign in the window. Frustrating for the shop owners who pay rent. In some cases their whole store front is hidden by these stalls selling everything from fans to cheap tshirts.

At one time only the covered Hogg Market building was considered New Market. Today Lindsay Street where it’s located and the surrounding shopping area is referred to as New Market.

Hand-Drawn Rickshaws

This is also the only place in India you will still find hand-drawn rickshaws. I found myself almost in shock the first time I saw a man pulling another man on a cart-rickshaw. This was the 21st century, wasn’t it? Bicycle rickshaws are still everywhere but hand-drawn carts? I personally could never hire a man to pull me on his feet. But they are still accepted here.

A combination of the last of the old-time rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, cars, bicycles, and motorbikes. The chaos so typical of a large Indian city.

The Only Place In India You Will Shockingly See Hand-Drawn Rickshaws

For me, a passionate street photographer, it’s the ultimate playground. So many people on the streets. So many stories to be told. Chaos, noise, people, India! I was just there but I already want to go back. I’m far from finished this assignment.