Amar Para Hidden Gems

Finding Hidden Gems
Across Kolkata.

Every para has a gem only locals know about. Help us uncover them across Kolkata

236gems discovered
From a gigantic tower that fed signals to tree-lined avenues that serve global fare

Community Submissions

Explore the Gems of Kolkata

Submissions may come in these categories: Food & Mishti, Heritage & History, Culture & Craft, Green & Hidden Corners.

Bhukailash Rajbari
Heritage

Bhukailash Rajbari

You would not expect to find a grand old rajbari in the middle of Kidderpore, but Bhukailash Rajbari is still standing here with centuries of history behind it.

Kidderpore
Clive House
Heritage

Clive House

This old house in Dum Dum is easy to miss, but it is believed to be one of the oldest colonial buildings still standing in Kolkata.

Dum Dum
Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth
Heritage

Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth

Hidden inside the busy old city is a church built by Kolkata’s Armenian community, which was here even before the British.

Armenian Street
Beth El Synagogue
Heritage

Beth El Synagogue

Right around Kolkata’s busy trading streets is this beautiful synagogue that tells the story of the city’s once-thriving Jewish community.

Ezra Street
Magen David Synagogue
Heritage

Magen David Synagogue

I had passed through this area many times before realising that one of Kolkata’s most striking old synagogues was right here.

Ezra Street
Chitreswari Kali Temple
Heritage

Chitreswari Kali Temple

This old Kali temple in Chitpur comes with a story you do not hear every day—dacoits are said to have prayed here before going on raids.

Chitpur
Cossipore Udyanbati
Heritage

Cossipore Udyanbati

This peaceful garden house in Cossipore is where Sri Ramakrishna spent the last few months of his life.

Kashipur / Cossipore
Tiretta Bazaar Chinese Breakfast Market
Markets

Tiretta Bazaar Chinese Breakfast Market

Come here early enough and you will find one of Kolkata’s most special breakfasts—dumplings, buns and other Chinese favourites being sold before the city fully wakes up.

Tiretta Bazaar
Kumartuli Idol-Makers’ Workshops
Culture & Craft

Kumartuli Idol-Makers’ Workshops

Walk into the smaller lanes of Kumartuli and you can actually see bamboo, straw and clay slowly taking the form of the idols we see during Puja.

Kumartuli
Ahiritola Ghat
Landmarks

Ahiritola Ghat

This is one of those ghats that feels like old Kolkata is still alive — people come here every day for rituals.

Ahiritola

Chronicles of Kolkata

Stories from the Paras

Real people. Real memories. Authentic life snippets that breathe soul into the historic streets.

Behind the counter of a tiny neighborhood paan shop sits Pintu Pohan, quietly crafting 11 novels, hundreds of stories, and countless poems between serving customers.

— Pintu Pohan, paan shop owner & writer, Behala

Articles & Features

Deep into the fascinating stories behind the Gems

Discover the history, culture and people behind some of Kolkata's most interesting para finds.

Creator Discoveries

Fresh Finds From
the Paras

See creators uncover lesser-known places, people and local favourites from across Kolkata.