Lake Market

লেক মার্কেট

A neighbourhood market with a South Indian flavour.

About Lake Market

Lake Market on Rash Behari Avenue grew up with the Tamil, Telugu and Malayali families who settled around it in the twentieth century. Alongside fish and vegetables you find banana leaves, jasmine strings, filter coffee powder and stalls selling dosa and vada. Flower sellers line the pavement before every festival.

Why visit

Filter coffee and dosa in the middle of a Bengali fish market.

What to see and do

Flower sellers on the pavement
South Indian grocers and coffee grinders
Old tiffin rooms nearby

Plan your visit

Area: Kalighat, South Kolkata
Nearest landmark: Rash Behari Avenue
Best time: Morning or evening. October to March is the most comfortable time of year.
Time needed: About 40 minutes
Cost: Free
Entry: Open to everyone: a street, ghat, market or park you can walk into.
Metro: Kalighat (Blue Line), about 8 minutes’ walk
Walking: Little walking
Photography: Photography is fine with some care.

Nearby and related places

Kalighat Kali Temple: One of the 51 Shakti Peeths, and the shrine the city is said to be named after.
Rabindra Sarobar: A 73-acre lake ringed by trees: South Kolkata’s morning walk.
Kalighat Patuapara: The south’s own idol-makers’ lane, near the temple.
Greek Orthodox Church: A Doric temple-fronted church of the 1920s, beside the Kalighat tram depot.
Lake Kalibari: A much-loved Kali temple on Southern Avenue, founded in 1949.
Birla Academy of Art & Culture: An art museum and galleries on Southern Avenue.

Walks that include it

South Kolkata Cultural Trail: Temple town to the lake

More guides

Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.