Bidhannagar

Understand

Bantala Bantala (বানতলা Bāntalā) is famous for the Kolkata Leather Complex (KLC), and is an upcoming business district. However, there are still memories of the 1990 rape case among the older populations of Kolkata, leading to the name "Bantala" being associated with the rape to them instead of the KLC.

New Town New Town (নিউটাউন Niuṭāun) or Rajarhat (রাজারহাট Rājārhāṭ), one of the two satellite townships in eastern Kolkata, will take you to the leading edge of the city's development, in contrast to the crumbling old town of North Kolkata. Before the development of the present-day New Town, Rajarhat mainly consisted of huge acres of cultivable land and water bodies. According to historian Haripada Bhowmick, the name "Rajarhat" was coined in 1649 when a local tax-collector named Gourhari Roy Choudhury decided to start a market in the area. He belonged to the Sabarna Roy Choudhury zamindar family. But after Gourhari's death and his son moving to Behala in 1716, Rajarhat fell into neglect for centuries. There was no road connectivity between Shyambazar and Rajarhat due to the Bagjola Canal till 1956, when a bridge was built over the canal, and a bus service between Shyambazar and Baguiati began. The VIP Road was built between Ultadanga and the Airport in 1956, covering the Rajarhat area. In the late 1990s, the rural tracts of Rajarhat were acquired for developing the township under the leadership of the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, to address the urban pressure of Central Kolkata. New Town is an emerging hub for IT, fintech, housing and smart urban infrastructure.. The Indian government declared New Town a "Solar City" in the 2000s and a "Smart Green City" in the 2010s. New Town integrates wide arterial roads, underground infrastructure and green spaces, something rare in Eastern India. The township is divided into Action Areas I to III for different functions.

Action Area I (AA I) — the residential area with various houses, housing complexes, shopping malls and parks. The parks include children's parks, senior parks (like Swapna Bhor), and also parks themed on famous Bengali films (like Apur Sansar, Sonar Kella). Action Area II (AA II) — the commercial area with business parks like Ecospace, Synthesis, FinTech Hub and the being-developed Bengal Silicon Valley (BSV). It hosts tech companies like TCS, Wipro and Cognizant. However, its main tourist draw is the Eco Park, one of the largest urban spaces in India, attracting people from West Bengal and even beyond. Its northern end hosts housing complexes as well. Action Area III (AA III

Getting there

The area is extensive and still developing. Cycle rickshaws are available for short trips wherever there is regular demand for it. Point-to-point auto rickshaw services are there but are not as extensive or frequent as in some other parts of the metropolis.

By metro East Kolkata is served by two different metro routes. The Green Line 2 runs from Sector V to Howrah Maidan, on the opposite side of the Hooghly River, and is India's first underwater metro journey. It connects Howrah and Sealdah stations to East Kolkata. The Orange Line 6 runs from Kavi Subhash to Beleghata, and is expected to connect South Kolkata to New Town.

By bus Numerous bus routes connect the area with other parts of the city.

1 International Bus Terminus (Karunamoyee), 3rd Ave, Sector III. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Newtown Bus Stand, AH Block, AA I. Almost all buses via New Town stop here. (updated Nov 2025) 3 Ajaynagar More bus stop. There are many long distance buses from places like Baruipur and Sonarpur in the south to places like Airport, Barasat and Dakhineswar which avoid the city crowds and travel via EM Bypass. This is the bus stop from where people of Santoshpur and the surrounding areas can board such buses. Mukundapur is nearby. It has many hospitals and many budget guest houses and hotels have sprung up. 4 Avisikta More bus stop (Kalikapur). It is at the meeting point of the Prince Anwar Shah Road Connector and EM By Pass, near Kalikapur and Anandapur crossings. There is a Spencer's outlet nearby. 5 Santoshpur Jora Bridge bus stop. Buses may available to some important places, such as- Howrah, Burrabazar, Ultadanga, Sealdah, College Street, Dumdum Airport, Birati, Kalighat, Behala, Park street, Esplanade, Chandni chowk, B.B.D bag, Tea board, Rajarhat Newtown, Saltlake Sector 5, Karunamoyee, Beleghata, Santragachi, Vidyasagar setu, PTS, Alipore zoo, Park Circus & Nabanna. Except Dakhineshar & Belur math. Some important bus services- 1A Mukundapur-Ramnagar (via Santoshpur, Alipore zoo, Kalighat, Khiddirpore). 1B Nayabad (Garia stn.)- Ramnagar (via santoshpur, Golpark, New Alipore). S9/AC9 Jadavpur- Saltlake Karunamoyee (via Santoshpur, E.M. Bypass, Bikasbhawan, Central Park). MW-1(AC) Jadavpur(Sulekha)- Unitech (via Santoshpur, E.M. Byepass, Niccopark, Sector 5, New Town). S4B Haridevpur-Newtown (via Tollgunge, Ranikuthi, Baghajatin, Santoshpur, E.M. Bypass, Sector 5). S5C(Old C5) Nayabad (Garia stn)-Howrah station (via Santoshpur , Kalighat). SD16 Mukundapur-Serakole (via Santoshpur, Amtala, Behala). AC37B Airport Gate No.1– Garia 5 Bus Stand (AC) (via Santoshpur,

Getting around

Both Salt Lake and New Town follow a grid-based urban plan, and navigating the townships is intimidating without an online map service, as the street layouts are about the same. The addresses are in the format "AA-00, Sector II, Salt Lake" or "AA-00, Action Area II, New Town", with "AA-00" being the block name followed by the plot number.

By car

Eastern Metropolitan Bypass (EM Bypass) is the arterial road of East Kolkata, dotted with major hotels, hospitals, business parks, residential blocks and other high-end construction and development. It can get very congested during peak hours, especially at the Chingrighata intersection. Biswa Bangla Sarani (বিশ্ব বাংলা সরণি Bishwo Bānglā Soroṇi, literally "World Bengal Street") is the four-lane artery of New Town that connects the township to the Airport on one end and Salt Lake on the other, across Action Areas I and II. From Salt Lake, the road turns left at Narkelbagan More crossing, left again at Akankha More, and finally meets at VIP Road (Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani) near the Airport. Two other roads begin from Narkelbagan More. The one next to Rabindra Tirtha (not the one next to HIDCO Bhaban) runs across Action Area III, while the one opposite Rabindra Tirtha runs across the southern parts of Action Area I before meeting at a narrower 2-lane road next to East Kolkata Wetlands.

By bicycle It has some bike paths along footpaths, and they are usually coloured in green. Bicycles are mainly useful for short trips, and for longer trips you have to opt for a bus or car.

See

1 Biswa Bangla Gate (বিশ্ব বাংলা গেট Bishwo Bānglā Geṭ), Biswa Bangla Sarani, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (bus: Rabindra Tirtha ). Restaurant: 7-10PM; observation deck: noon-6PM (closed M). An arch monument in New Town and one of the most iconic structures in Kolkata. "Biswa Bangla" literally means "World Bengal". The structure consists of a single ring supported by two parabolic arches from four sides of the Narkelbagan intersection. The ring houses a restaurant, an observation deck, as well as souvenir shops. The "hanging restaurant of Kolkata" offers a variety of items, as well as a buffet of ₹550 per head. The observation deck is surrounded by glass. There are three lifts to reach the deck. Decorative paintings of luminaries have been drawn on the wall inside the ring with the outer side having a glass façade to have a view of the township. Free for children below 3, ₹100 per adult. (updated Nov 2025) 2 Dhapa (ধাপা Dhāpā). Despite being a major landfill site where the solid waste are dumped, more than 40% of the green vegetables in the city's markets come from here, being a prominent example of peri-urban agriculture in Kolkata. (updated Aug 2025) 3 Forum Atmosphere (metro: Ritwik Ghatak 6 ). A luxury residential building, consisting of two tower blocks and a structure called "Deya" connecting the two. Deya is the world's first residential floating sky sculpture, and it houses the residents' community and recreational facilities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, spas, running track, sporting facilities, virtual golf, cinema, meeting spaces and function facilities. (updated Sep 2025) 4 Kolkata Leather Complex, Basanti Hwy, Karaidanga, Bantala. An industrial complex and the centre of leather-tanning business of the metropolis, fondly known as chormonogorī (চর্মনগরী, literally "Skin City"). It has approximately 500 tanneries, which account for 22-25% of all the tanning in India. (updated Nov 2025) 5 Pedestrian Plaza (Mini Times Square), GP Block, Sector V. A pedestrian zone, stretched from Infinity Benchmark to RDB Boulevard. Opened in September 2023 with a vibe of New York's famous intersection, this cyberpunky area has become a hangout spot for social media reels. There are tall obelisks on both sides, and walking spaces in between. Each obelisk carries an LED screen that displays various tourist spots of West Bengal. (updated Aug 2025)

Eco Park

Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area II (bus: Eco Park , Prakriti Tirtha ), ☏ +91 33 2706 4010. 11:30AM–7:00PM (closed M). ₹20. Eco Park (ইকো পার্ক Iko Pārk), also known as Prakriti Tirtha (প্রকৃতি তীর্থ

Do

Bioscope (See films at Axis Mall). Four screens for films. Club Prana (Spa), Hyatt Regency Kolkata Hotel, JA-1 Sector III, Salt Lake City, ☏ +91 33 2335 1234, [email protected]. Fame - Hiland Park (Watch films). Inox (See films at City Centre II Rajarhat), 3rd Floor, ☏ +91 - 33 - 25266063.

Durga Puja venues Many apartment complexes in the EM Bypass area host Durga Puja celebrations that attract people beyond their respective localities.

1 Metropolitan Durga Bari, Sector A, Metropolitan Co-Operative Housing Society Limited. (updated Nov 2025) 2 Siddhartha Shankar Roy Smriti Udyan, 26, Bosepukur Rd, Kasba. (updated Nov 2025) 3 Telengabagan, 65, Adhar Chandra Das Ln. (updated Nov 2025) 4 Ultadanga Pallyshree, 17/18, Jaharlal Dutta Ln. (updated Nov 2025)

Event venues 5 Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Action Area I. (updated Nov 2024) 6 Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan (বিশ্ব বাংলা মেলা প্রাঙ্গণ Bishwo Bānglā Melā Prāngoṇ), JBS Haldane Ave (metro: Barun Sengupta 6 , bus: Milan Mela ). Previously known as Milan Mela, it is a permanent trade fair complex. Fairs of different kinds are held at regular intervals. (updated Jan 2023) 7 Boimelā Prāngoṇ (বইমেলা প্রাঙ্গণ), 3rd Ave, Sector III (metro: Karunamoyee 2 ). Site of the annual Kolkata Book Fair that takes place from the last week of January to the first week of February. It is the largest book fair in Asia and is a significant event in the city. (updated Jan 2026) 8 Eco Park Amphitheatre, Eco Park. (updated Dec 2024) 9 New Town Mela Ground (Fairground). (updated May 2026) 10 New Town Square. Hosts Durga Puja and trade fairs. (updated Feb 2025) 11 Ozone Convention Centre. (updated Dec 2024) 12 Taal Kutir, Eco Park. (updated Dec 2024)

Lakes and parks

13 Aquatica, Kochpukur (off Street 299; Thakdari ), ☏ +91 33 3200 7947, +91 93315 55220. 10AM–6PM daily. This theme water park offers visitors a cool respite from the heat and grime of city life. Aquatica has a number of rides including tremendously exciting ones like the Black Hole, the Wave Pool, Niagara Falls, surf racer, Tornado and the Aqua Dance Floor. Regular parties and fashion shows are hosted here, especially in the winter. Wide varieties of cocktails are available, as well as mocktails for sobers. M-F: ₹500 for adults, ₹350 for children; Sa-Su: ₹600 for adults, ₹400 for children. (updated Nov 2024) 14 Captain Bhery Park (Eco & Aquatic Hub). Captain Bhery is one of the remnants of the vast series of wetlands east of Kolkata before the establishment of Salt Lake City. (updated Dec 2024) 15 Central Park, Sector III (Ce

Buy

Markets 1 Biswa Bangla Haat (বিশ্ব বাংলা হাট Bishwo Bānglā Hāṭ), Eco Park (Gate 5). (updated Dec 2024) 2 Metro (মেট্রো Meṭro), JL 21, EM Bypass, ☏ +91 90736 77847. 6AM-10PM. (updated Jul 2025) Sonajhuri Hat, Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area I (somewhere beneath the Axis Mall Flyover). F–Su 5–8PM. Based on the famous Sonajhuri Hat in Santiniketan. No entry price. (updated Feb 2025) 3 VIP Bazaar, Picnic Garden Rd, Tiljala. (updated Jul 2022)

Shopping malls 4 Acropolis Mall, 1858/1, Rajdanga Main Rd. 10:00AM-10:30PM. The main shopping centre of Kasba. Has Chilli's, Cinepolis, Hoppipola, Ozora, and Spencer's. (updated Nov 2024) 5 Avishar Shopping Complex (অভিসার Obhisār) (at the crossing of EM Bypass and Prince Anwar Shah Rd Connector). (updated Jul 2025) 6 Axis Mall, Street 106, CF Block, AA I, ☏ +91 33 32006827. Shopping mall, restaurants, Bioscope multiplex with four screens. Restaurants include Aaheli (4F), Addiction (4F), Café Coffee Day (2F), Calcutta Retro (5F), Mehak-e-Punjab (4F). (updated Nov 2025) 7 Chambers Mall, 256, Rash Behari Ave Connector. 9AM-9PM. (updated Jul 2025) 8 Charnock City, KB-26, Sector III, ☏ +91 33 2335 1349. 9 City Centre (সিটি সেন্টার Siṭi Senṭār), 3rd Avenue, DC Block, ☏ +91 33 23581011. Restaurants and bars include Afraa Lounge, KFC (1F, Block A), Pizza Hut (1F, Block A), Afraa Restaurant (7F, Block G), Caught n Bowled (4F, Block B), Copper Chimney (3F, Block C), Haka (2F, Block E) and Kaafila (3F, Block B). 10 City Centre II, AA IID (bus: City Centre 2 ). There's Inox at third floor. Restaurants include KFC (GF, Block C), McDonald's (GF, Block A), Pizza Hut (GF, Block C), Gamma's World Cuisine (2F), Massekah (2F, Block B), The Orient (GF) and Zion Lounge (GF). (updated Jan 2026) 11 DLF Galleria. (updated Dec 2024) 12 Down Town Mall, Uniworld City, Action Area-III. (updated Jul 2022) 13 Hiland Park Metropolis Mall (হাইল্যান্ড পার্ক Hāilyānḍ Pārk), Santoshpur, ☏ +91 33 2436 8705. Has a ten-outlet eatery. 14 HomeTown (Central Mall), BG Block, ☏ +91 90 07 862472. (updated Dec 2024) 15 Mani Square, 164/1, Maniktala Main Rd (off EM Bypass, metro: Bengal Chemical 2 ). Restaurants include KFC (3F), McDonald's (GF), Flame & Grill (4F), Haka (4F), Khandani Rajdhani Restaurant (4F), Machan (4F), Mio Amore (4F), The Shack (4F) and Square 4o5. (updated Sep 2025) Orchid Point, 3/1A, UC Banerjee Rd, Kankurgachi. It houses most major brands. 16 Silver Spring Arcade, EM Bypass (metro: Beleghata 6 ). Restaurants include Mainland China (3F), Masque (3F), Oh! Calcutta (3F) and Sigree (1F). (updated Sep 2025) 17 Southend C

Eat

1 Absolute Barbecues (AB's), 1F, OMEGA, GP Block, Sector V, ☏ +91 73373 83770. ₹800–1,000 per head. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Arsalan Restaurant & Caterer, MAR, Chinar Park, ☏ +91 91633 63652. Closed 1:00AM-10:30AM. Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: firni, mutton kosha, mutton boti kebab, chicken chatpata, mutton biryani, egg chicken roll. ₹200-600. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Arsalan Restaurant & Caterer, 1693/A, Naskarhat Rd (off EM Bypass, opposite Calcutta International School), ☏ +91 91633 63644. Closed 1AM-10AM. Biryani and Mughlai food. Popular items: firni, mutton kosha, mutton boti kebab, chicken chatpata, mutton biryani, egg chicken roll. ₹200-600. (updated Feb 2026) 4 The Backyard, 19, E Topsia Rd, ☏ +91 98308 55994. 11AM-10PM. (updated Nov 2025) 5 Byepass Dhaba. Noon-1AM. North Indian. (updated Sep 2022) 6 Cafe Amari, 95, Street 324, DE Block, AA I. A café with the French colonial vibe of Pondicherry, It has a strong coffee selection of pour-over V60 and frappés, fresh juices and bakery treats like butter croissants, Korean-style buns and Boston crème doughnuts. ₹500. (updated Dec 2025) 7 Café Offbeat Up There, 7F, 36/F, Topsia Rd (off EM Bypass), ☏ +91 70037 95319. noon-11PM, takeout 24 hours daily. ₹3,150. (updated Nov 2025) 8 Calcutta Art Café, BB33, Shantipally (opposite Delhi Public School Ruby Park Sr). 7AM–7PM. Known for its lavish interior with chequered floors, bricked walls and stained-glass hurricane lamps (হ্যারিকেন hyāriken). It blends modernity with vintage. (updated Dec 2024) 9 Charnock's, 9F, KB 26, Sector III, ☏ +91 33 23351349, +91 9051325905. noon–11PM. Continental, Bengali, North Indian cuisine. Drinks served. (updated Dec 2024) 10 Club De Golf, Gate 6, Eco Park (beside golf arena), ☏ +91 98318 26779. 7AM-11PM. (updated Aug 2025) Keshariya Junction, Axis Mall, ☏ +91 90733 74291. 12:30-11:00PM (Tu-W: 12:30-11:30PM). A rail-themed multi-cuisine restaurant inside a replica of an LHB coach. (updated Nov 2025) 11 OG by the Lake, 11A, E Topsia Rd, ☏ +91 98310 06395. M-F noon-11:30PM. Outdoor seating, and a glasshouse with floral-deck ambiance. Offers Asian, Continental, Italian and North Indian food. Handmade mocktails and coffee served. (updated Aug 2025) 12 Rever Skydeck Cafe, 5F, 29/A, Dr Ambedkar Sarani, ☏ +91 89817 27878, +91 89817 27879, +91 98313 17799. 1PM-6AM. (updated Dec 2025) 13 Shiraz Golden Restaurant, 62, EM Bypass, toll-free: +1 800 313 626 262. Biryani and Mughlai food. The Anandapur branch of the popular restaurant at Park Street. ₹400-600. (updated Feb 2026) 14 Shiraz Golden Restaurant, 1st Cross Rd, HA Bloc

Drink & nightlife

Mishra's Bar & Restaurant, DG 1, Sector 2, Salt Lake City, ☏ +91 33 4009191, +91 33 4009195. 9AM-11PM. Bar with good food arrangements. North Indian, South Indian, Continental, Chinese cuisine. Mishra's Bar & Restaurant, IB-157, Sector 3, Salt Lake City (Near Tank 14), ☏ +91 33 40669175. 9AM-11PM. Bar with good food arrangements. North Indian, South Indian, Continental, Chinese cuisine.

Sleep

Budget Eastern View Hotel, 185/9 Santoshpur Ave (nr Jora Bridge), ☏ +91 33 2416-9396. Check-out: noon. 1-star with six rooms. Amenities include cable TV. Government approved. 1 The Kolkata Hotel, 3117, Rajdanga Main Rd, Sector E, East Kolkata Twp, ☏ +91 12443 30599. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. ₹1,856. (updated Jul 2025) 2 NRI Residency, CIT Rd, Kankurgachi, [email protected]. Offers guesthouse-style accommodation with clean and large AC rooms with Western-style private bathrooms. ₹1,050-1,200. Step In, G6 Tagore, Ruby Park, Kasba, ☏ +91 33 66037838. (updated Sep 2022)

Salt Lake Salt Lake is a quiet by well developed township of Eastern Kolkata.

3 Alcove Guest House & Service Apartment, Block DL-39 , Salt Lake City (Close to CK Market.), ☏ +91 89510 89510, [email protected]. All rooms with air-conditioning, TV and private bathroom. Breakfast complimentary, free Wi-Fi access. They also have guest houses at other locations in Salt Lake City and Kolkata. ₹2,250 for serviced room. 4 Aquatic Palace, NP 222, Sector V, Salt Lake City (Opposite Technopolis), ☏ +91 33 44502716. 5 Sun & Services, GC 35, Sector 3 Bidhannagar (Near GC Island), ☏ +91 33 66245815.

Mukundapur Mukundapur has a number of hospitals - notably Dr. Devi Shetty's Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Medica, Vision Care of AMRI and Shankara Nethralaya.

6 Arunadoy Guest House (অরুণোদয় Orunōdoy), 173/1 Barakhola, Mukundapur, ☏ +91 33 24260842, +91 9831284083. ₹250 per non-AC room. Ashirbad Guest House (আশীর্বাদ Āshīrbād), 264 Barakhola, Mukundapur, ☏ +91 33 2426 4048, +91 9477402644, +91 9477402645. ₹300 per double-bedded room, ₹350 per triple bedded room, all non-AC rooms. Debi Guest House (দেবী Debī), 175 Barakhola Mukundapur, Kalikapur, ☏ +91 33 24264817, +91 9831687537, +91 9831923007. ₹500 per double-bedded non-AC room, ₹800 per double-bedded AC room. Maa Tara Guest House (মা তারা Mā Tārā), 175/1 Barakhola, Mukundapur, ☏ +91 9831203612, +91 9903803612, +91 9007304467. ₹400-500 per double-bedded non-AC room. Meghalaya Guest House (মেঘালয় Meghāloy), 138 Barakhola, Mukundapur, ☏ +91 33 32986868. ₹300 per double-bedded non-AC room. Uttam Guest House (উত্তম Uttom), 1563 Mukundapur Rd, ☏ +91 33 24264287, +91 9830057482. ₹500-₹600 per double-bedded non-AC room, ₹800-₹900 per double-bedded AC room.

Panchasayar Panchasayar is a quiet neighbourhood near Peerless Hospital.

Apanjan, 3 Shanti Park, Panchasayar, ☏ +91 9830016645, +91 9836198199. Around ₹200 per day/ non-AC room. Atithi, 7 Sonali Park, Panchasayar, ☏ +91 9