If there is a family wedding or any occasion in the family I used to keep hearing someone who has been given the responsibility to get fresh flowers from the Howrah Flower Market, later I came to know that this market is actually known as Mullick Ghat Flower Market. Whatever it may be but I never managed to visit this place, one of the main reason may be that this market is at its full bloom in the early hours of the morning something which is way beyond my imagination since I am not that an early riser. Years passed by but I never had been to the Flower Market of Kolkata.
It was then that I was selected for the Mullick Ghat Flower Market Photo Walk organized by Times of India – Calcutta Times Passions Club. This was like a Pandora’s Box for me, being a photographer and a blogger I always wanted to come here and do some photography along with blogging and now I would also have the opportunity to meet other fellow enthusiasts plus would also be mentored by a senior.
Location of Mullick Ghat Flower Market
There are two ways through which you can enter Mullick Ghat Flower Market, one from Strand Road and the other from Howrah Bridge. The entrance from Strand Road is next to the Tram Depot and you need to climb up a small foot over bridge to reach the southern end of the market. To enter from the Howrah Bridge side you need to take the small stairs down the bridge on the Kolkata end of Howrah Bridge.
Please keep in mind that photography on Howrah Bridge is prohibited and is an offence. I have seen many doing photography and not getting caught and I have also seen over enthusiast photographers who get caught by cops and get questioned which sometimes becomes a hassle.
How To Reach Mullick Ghat Flower Market
Bus: If you are coming from Kolkata then take any bus to Howrah station and get down just before Howrah Bridge and walk to the market. From Howrah side you can get down at Howrah Station and walk over Howrah Bridge and reach the market.
Private Car / Motorbike: There are limited parking space available under the Strand Road flyover but the space is limited so come early. Alternately you can park your vehicle in Howrah Station parking lot and walk over Howrah Bridge to reach the flower market.
Taxi: Similar to bus just get down before Howrah Bridge if coming from Kolkata and from Howrah side get down just after crossing Howrah Bridge.
Walk: If you stay nearby then walk, I guess you really don’t need direction since you might be living pretty close by.
Additional Tips
- This is a flower market thus there will be garbage mostly rotting flowers all around, if you are not comfortable then give it a skip.
- Wear covered shoes with a good grip as there may be some slippery surfaces which is the result of scattered flower petals and other debris.
- Wear a cap or a hat to protect from the sun, alternatively the ladies can use a dupatta.
- Carry a bottle of water so that if you really feel thirsty then you just need to reach for your bag.
- There is a Ghaat out there with the best view of Howrah Bridge, do click a few shots.
- Hot tea is available in earthen pots so sit in the ghaat stairs, enjoy the river and sip tea.
- There is a traditional Indian bodybuilding (Akhara) at the ghaat so do sit and enjoy some bodybuilding Indian style.
- Do not disturb the flower sellers unnecessarily, they are doing a business thus might get disturbed if you keep bugging them during their peak business hour.
Mullick Ghat Flower Market Photo Walk
The photo walk was mentored by Manjit Singh Hoonjan and he gave the colour “Red” as the theme for the day. This was bit tricky since most of the flowers in the market in this time of the year were yellow and orange and finding a good subject with the colour red was real tricky.
So here is my set of red themed photos.
Did not restrict myself to the colour red only so here are some more shots from the flower market.
Click to read the full article TOI -CT-26-Nov-2015