Mullick Ghat Flower Market

Mullick Ghat Flower Market sits along Strand Road beneath the Kolkata end of Howrah Bridge, in the Burrabazar district of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the city's main wholesale flower market and one of the largest in eastern India, and it takes its name from the adjoining riverside ghat on the Hooghly. Trading continues around the clock, but the busiest period is the pre-dawn to about 9:00AM window, when growers and traders arrive with sacks of marigolds, roses, jasmine, tuberoses, lotus and hibiscus, and buyers bargain loudly over bundles and garlands. Much of the stock is brought in by boat, truck and cart from villages across West Bengal and neighbouring districts, and the flowers are destined for temples, weddings, festivals and decorations across the city. Visitors walk through narrow lanes between heaped flowers, garland makers threading strings of marigold, porters carrying baskets on their heads and traders weighing blooms on scales. The market is a riot of colour and scent, and the steel girders of Howrah Bridge overhead frame the scene. The adjoining ghat has steps down to the river, where bathers, boatmen and priests are active at dawn, and ferries cross to Howrah. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, and the best time is between about 4:30AM and 8:00AM, when the activity peaks and the light is soft. Midday is quieter but less atmospheric. Visitors should be prepared for crowds, wet and slippery ground, strong smells and carts moving quickly through the lanes, and should wear closed shoes and keep valuables secure. Photography is possible, though vendors and porters appreciate being asked, and a small purchase or tip is welcome when photographing them. The market is within walking distance of the Armenian Church, Nakhoda Mosque and the Burrabazar wholesale lanes.