Finding a mall

proxyindian

In October, we'll be in India for three weeks, and one of those weeks will be all Calcutta. There are a number of things we want to do this time around in India, and if we don't do them we'll be disappointed.

Here's the list:
1. Travel by Metro in Delhi and in Calcutta
Find that Delhi jalebi wallah I took of picture of last time and give him his picture and actually buy his jalebis. Jeesh, I think that was so rude not to buy any last year.
2. Go to the cinema (Scheduled for the day we get back to Delhi. We will see whatever is playing at the cinema down the street from the Hotel Broadway. Last year we missed Om Shanti Om.... I'm still kicking myself.)
3. Go to a kabootar baaz in Agra (Rough Guide tells us how to make the arrangements)
4. Get a shave and a haircut at one of those adorable barbershops. (This has been scheduled for the last day just in case we end up with a style that would be unattractive in a photo. This isn't a worry about India because on a trip to London one year I got a haircut that was just a bit too trendy, and now I roll my eyes at those photos.)
5. Go to a mall.

Snce we'll be in Calcutta for a week we think this would be a good time to go to a mall. Can anyone make a suggestion for a way-too-big, western style, ultra-modern, multi-floor, stainless steel mall? Or at least anything in that fashion.... and in Calcutta too.
Thanks.

KABAARY

Nothing way too big...for that Delhi/Noida/Gurgaon (particularly the latter) would be a better bet.

In Calcutta - Forum mall, if nothing else for the excellent "Oh Calcutta" restaurant.

proxyindian

Thanks for the suggestion. We'll go to Forum Mall. There are also some malls in Lucknow and we might check out one of them.

You know, John and I do not go to malls here in the US. We prefer our neighborhood shops. But where I work in the suburbs, there are so few shops. It's all malls and strip malls. And it's that way too where the rest of my family lives in Iowa. But the thought of going to mall in India just sounds exciting. It's also something my mother will relate to... For her, it will possibly the most interesting thing I'll have done in India. She and my sister just love going to the mall on a Saturday. So I'm not only going to see it for myself but to document it for Mom.

triliana

There is no city better for empty, meaningless materialism than New Delhi.

If you end up in Delhi, go to Ambi Mall (Gurgaon, on NH-8) or Select Citywalk (Saket) for an incredible materialistic shopping excursion. The luxury mall being built in Vasant Kunj seems to outdo both, but alas, it will be a while before that thing opens.

It all depends on what you're looking for. If you want to see a gigantous mall, go to Ambi Mall ... if you want the total snob experience, Citywalk is your best bet.

tasuray

There are lot of malls in Kolkata viz. South City, Mani Square, Charnok,Pantaloons,City Center etc. I'm not comparing with Bangaluru or Delhi but first two i've mentioned are big.
thanks.

proxyindian

My friends say I'm materialistic.... so hurray for Delhi!

We've located this mall on Google Earth. It was still under construction when the picture was taken, but the web site we found has all these neat stores we don't have here... okay, we do have Benetton's here. Probably we'll skip it, though, becuase the day we've planned for getting that far south already has Qutb Minar, Hauz Kauz, and Tagluqabad on the program.... There's just too much that we need to do other than being in a modern mall.

Probably we'll use the time in Kolkata for that since we'll be there for a full week.

singsub

india mike does throw up posts from time to time that hit the nail on the head.

singsub

OP, go to City centre in anwar shah road as someone said. also dont forget to go to City Centre in salt lake. but yes malls in kolkata arnt as huge as those in delhi, noida, gurgaon, and mumbai.

stungan

In Calcutta, try out these places:

• South City Mall [on Prince Anwar Shah Road in South Calcutta]. This is one of the biggest and offers the best choices on almost everything.
• Swabhumi [on Eastern Metropolitan (EM) Bypass, opposite to Hyatt Regency/Saltlake Stadium]. This is more of a spacious, open-air shopping complex with an ethnic feel to it.
• City Centre [Saltlake]. International retailers, nice architecture with lots of open spaces to rest your limbs after some serious mall-crawling.
• Mani Square [on EM Bypass]. Recent addition, not sure how well stocked it is.

BTW, you mentioned your trip will be in October. Hope you are planning to be in Calcutta during Durga Puja. That's one thing you must not miss

__________________
Bhole Baba Paar Karega!!

hfot2

If you make it to the Forum mall in Kolkata - and I think it fits your description - look for Kewpies and plan to eat there if you are feeling flush. The restaurant is down an alley almost directly across from the mall entrance. They have 2 buildings, try for the original less fancy operation rather than the "touristy" fancier half.

We never visited the mall, but it was the address we used for the taxi to get to Kewpies.

distaff half of hfot2

70s-80s overlander

For me, the most important question would be --
........for each of the major international airports in India,
........what is the closest & best mall for stocking up on miscellaneous travel items?
........Ideally this would be a 24-hr mall like we have some places in the US.

My current "to do" list for "Day One" in India includes buying these:
water, "Snapple" tea [mostly for the solid glass bottles], "Glucerna" [diabetic nutrition drink],
peanut butter, hot sauce,
soap, detergent, toilet paper, “baby” wipes,
mosquito repellent, "Good Knight" mosquito killer, roach spray,
hot pot [simple, electric, for boiling water],
hydrogen peroxide

For Kolkata, I've planned on heading to City Express Supermarket between Sudder St & New Market, at 3 Madge Lane, basement level, as soon as it opened in the morning. Is this a reasonable choice?

This might make for a good "sticky" if enough good ideas are forthcoming.

proxyindian

Yes, we will be there for the entire time. We're arriving a day early and staying through day after. We've planned it that way. Can't wait!!!

proxyindian

Thanks for pointing out the Kolkata market. It sounds like a Walgreens or Boots, and it's right near where we're staying (I think).

I don't know what makes something sticky worthy, but I'm glad my question about malls received such positive results.

tasuray

I don't know whether you will get the tea or diabetic nutrition drink at City Express Supermarket. It is not at all a very big one in respect to South City Mall or Mani Square.
I think nearest to airport is 'Bigbazar' at Parvati Vihar on VIP Road (Nazrul Islam Sarani).

singsub

thats not much of a mall. more of a supermarket.