Esplanade (এসপ্ল্যানেডEsplyāneḍ) orDharmatala (ধর্মতলাDharmatalā) is the modern city centre ofKolkata, combining colonial-era buildings with modern developments. It serves as the city's new central business district and is preferred by major businesses, particularly along Chowringhee Road.
The modern city centre is known asEsplanade (এসপ্ল্যানেডEsplyāneḍ) andDharmatala (ধর্মতলাDharmatalā), with Esplanade being common in English, and Dharmatala in Bengali and Hindi.
The word "esplanade" originally referred to the large, open, level area outside a fortress to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress's guns. The open area around Fort William (present-day Vijay Durg) was labelled as the "Esplanade" in old maps, now called theMaidan. However, "Esplanade" eventually referred to the area around theEsplanade Row north of the Maidan and east of the Government House (present-day Lok Bhavan), corresponding to the modern city centre.
The name "Dharmatala" literally means "Holy Street", and is commonly believed to be named after Tipu Sultan Mosque. According to historian Binoy Ghosh, the name Dharmatala is probably due to the preeminence of folk deity Dharmathakur in olden days.
In the mid-18th century, the British began expanding beyond B. B. D. Bagh, and this area was among their earliest developments. They constructed large bungalows and houses along the northern stretch of Chowringhee Road. Only a few of these structures remain today, including The Oberoi Grand, Janbazar Building, Chowringhee Mansions, Asiatic Society, and the Indian Museum.
22.5630388.349971Esplanade Bus Terminus also serves several city bus routes, not just the long-distance ones. It is the most obvious way to get here, though there are bus stops to alight at specific destinations within the district.
22.56444488.3516672Esplanade 1 2 
is the main hub of the Kolkata Metro, being served by both Blue and Green lines. It has two separate underground terminals for each line, connected by a subway (underpass).
There are only two active routes from22.56588.353Esplanade 
, one fromShyambazar, and another fromGariahat. Despite being eco-friendly, this is not the most practical way to get here, especially in peak hours when the roads are congested.
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(updated Dec 2024) (updated Nov 2025) (updated Jul 2025) (updated Sep 2022) (updated Nov 2025)).3PM–8PM (closed Th).A museum housed inside a decommissioned tram, showcasing the 150-year-old heritage of the tram system in Kolkata. There's a cafeteria in the museum which serves basic tea and coffee. The cafeteria is considered a great place foradda...₹5. (updated Feb 2026)
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The Esplanade area is the central marketplace for the people of Kolkata. There are shops ranging from computer peripherals to paint brushes and accessories, from cloth merchants to "foreign" (ফরেনpharen) goods. There are cinemas and restaurants. Major chain retailers includePantaloons (22, Camac St).
(updated Dec 2022) 
).M–F 10:30AM–7:30PM, S 10:30AM–2:30PM.Despite being named as such, New Market is not new at all! In fact, it is one of the oldest surviving markets in the city. Opened in 1874, it was named Sir Stuart Hogg Market after the commissioner, and it is still sometimes known as such. Although the beautiful fountain and benches at the market no longer exist, its popularity has not waned and the beautiful Gothic clock tower recalls the British heritage of the market. New Market is a good place to sample Indian sweet delicacies and generally soak up the atmosphere of Kolkata. There are also a few handicraft stalls inside. The market is in a large red brick building on Lindsay Street (the road parallel Sudder Street to the north). It has got over 2,000 stalls and is a bargain hunter's delight. The shops are arranged merchandise-wise. It is supposed to be the ultimate marketing experience in Kolkata. (updated Feb 2026) (updated Feb 2026) (updated Oct 2022) (updated Feb 2025) (updated Dec 2024) (updated Nov 2022) (updated Jul 2025) (updated Feb 2019) (updated Feb 2019) | This guide uses the following price ranges for a standarddouble room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹2,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000–5,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹5,000 |
(updated Feb 2026)
Sudder Street is at the centre of Kolkata's backpacker area, and many of the budget hotels geared towards travellers are on and around this street.
(updated Nov 2024) (updated Jul 2025) (updated Nov 2024) (updated Nov 2024) (updated Dec 2025) (updated Oct 2022) (updated Oct 2022) (updated Oct 2022)
(updated Nov 2024) (updated Nov 2024) (updated Nov 2024) (updated Nov 2024)Although most of Esplanade is considered safe, one noted problem here is the drug dealers around Sudder Street. However, as the dealers obviously do not want to draw undue attention to their activity, they are not persistent and are rarely a threat.
There are other smaller internet cafes on Sudder St such asNet Freaks, but they are often very busy.
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