History of Gariahat as Kolkata's Saree Hub

Gariahat has always been everyone's favourite hub for sarees and every type of clothes. Getting affordable and huge bargainable discounts on every item, mainly clothes. Gariahat’s roots trace back to the late 19th century, when it was a “haat”, and it later became an iconic location for traditional Bengali sarees, jewellery, clothing, and street food. 

Gariahat has a famous heritage apparel store and is known for its collaboration between modern showrooms and hawker shops lined on the footpaths. 

For people who want to explore the kingdom of traditional, ethnic, and modern sarees, Gariahat should always be their first choice. This is the paradise for families who want sarees for wedding occasions, casual events, and festival events. 

The Famous Gariahat Market for authentic Indian sarees for women

The Gariahat market is famous for its sprawling open-street shopping, beautiful heritage saree boutiques, and various collections of accessories, jewellery, blouses, home decor, crafts & many more things, and at very affordable prices too. 

It is the ultimate destination for locals to shop for their wedding occasions, Puja events, or casual parties. The bustling crowd gathering in Gariahat is made up of people who want their favourite material or a saree. There is a unique open-air chess arena just under the bridge. 

The History of Gariahat: From a 19th-Century Haat to Kolkata's Iconic Saree Hub

The history of Gariahat dates back to the 19th century, transforming the sleepy village market in the “Dihi Panchannagran area”. The transformation started after the railway expansion. The local weavers and the neighbouring traders from other rural areas came through the dirt pathway to set up their temporary stalls. 

They initially sold daily essentials like fresh fish, grains, produce, and cotton fabric clothes for the villagers. Then, the turning point of the market was when the British expanded the railway lines to Ballygunge.

A major educated Bengali middle class started moving out from the crowded North Calcutta side to the South Calcutta side. As the colonies grew, the “haat” evolved into a daily, permanent bazaar for the middle-class population.

Why Gariahat Is Known as the Mecca of Saree Shopping in Kolkata

 

It is the best place to buy sarees because it offers a diverse range of heritage showrooms and super budget-friendly stalls on the footpath in a single place. It has Bengal's fabrics, starting from high-quality Silk sarees to affordable Cotton sarees. 

Gariahat has variants of sarees of different fabrics like Cotton, Dhakai Jamdani, Baluchari, and Tussar, and you can find any saree if you are looking for it. The small stalls on the side are highly negotiable; you can secure a superb deal if you bargain properly.

Apart from the sarees, Gariahat has many shops like traditional imitation jewellery, tailoring, matching petticoats, and readymade blouses, making your full ethnic outfit search much easier.

Gariahat Wholesale Saree Market: A Paradise for Bulk Saree and Fabric Buyers

Gariahat is the main location for purchasing sarees or other materials in bulk, paying half the price if bargaining is done properly. Many companies and brands buy materials and sarees from the Gariahat market in bulk for their own shops and sellers. 

Gariahat has always been the epicentre of getting valuable gems, which are expensive online but come at half the price here. It has been a comfort place for many people as they come here to spend some time, play chess, have good street food, and buy clothes, accessories, and, most importantly, sarees. 

Be it the wedding season or a festival, Gariahat to Triangular Park will always be crowded with people who love to explore and discover the hidden gems in between the chaos. This brings us to the sarees part and their heritage, starting from the 1950s and booming till now.  

The Legacy of Bhojraj: The Heritage Saree Showroom That Shaped Gariahat's Identity

The first saree shop cum showroom, starting from the year 1954, marking the start of the Bhojraj legacy established by the well-known K. Bhojraj in Triangular Park, and they primarily flourished with Cotton sarees, South Silk fabric Kanjivaram sarees, and their most famous Silk Gadwal sarees with an authentic Golden Zari border.

K. Bhojraj was the first shop for authentic sarees, with every saree being handcrafted, catering to the middle-class and the high-class people simultaneously. 

They started the first printing on sarees, as it comes down to the legacy. It was the only showroom in the Gariahat and Triangular Park area; then, slowly other brands came to establish themselves here in the saree hub of Kolkata.

Now, the legacy of Bhojraj is run by the grandson of the respected Sri K. Bhojraj, Sri Chetan Thakwani. Till today, Bhojraj is well known for its pure Silk Gadwal, traditional Kanjivaram, and Cotton sarees. 

There is a huge collection of sarees now in the Legacy of Bhojraj, ranging from budget-friendly lightweight Cotton sarees to highly expensive Pure Silk sarees. The brand itself has been a trustworthy emblem of sarees for almost 75+ years.   

The collections of authentic Indian handloom sarees in Gariahat

There are various sarees in Gariahat, like these:

• Silk (Gadwal, Benarasi, Kanjivaram, Madhubani, Bishnupuri, Tussar)

• Cotton (Ikkat, Kanchi, Mangalgiri, Maheshwari, Narayanpet, Gadwal)

• Dhakai Jamdani 

• Baluchari

• Pure Silk Benarasi

• Silk Kanjivaram 

• Chanderis 

• Maheshwarie

• Narayanpet

• Linen

• Tussar 

• Organza

• Tissue

Conclusion

Kolkata’s most famous place for buying sarees has been Gariahat, and it is also a place of emotions. The middle-class Bengali people have created this place to cater to everyone's needs of clothing and accessories. 

And those emotions are upheld by the iconic shops, now showrooms for more than half a century, as the legacy of Bhojraj. These destinations, like Gariahat, have made Kolkata a sustainable place for everyone, be it locals or people who come to live in Kolkata. 

With its nostalgic history and heritage, places and markets like Gariahat have given people the blessing to survive even when there was nothing, starting from the 19th century. Explore legacy- and emotion-driven places like Gariahat in Kolkata. Have a happy discovery. 

FAQs

Which market is famous for sarees in Kolkata?

Borobazaar (Burrabazaar) and Gariahat are the most famous saree markets in Kolkata. You can find any saree you want, from traditional Bengali lightweight Tant, Jamdani, and Baluchari to heavy wedding-wear Banarasis. 

What is Gariahat market famous for?

Gariahat is famous for its open-air market. It has an abundance of saree variations, accessories for daily use, affordable street food, and iconic saree showrooms that guarantee authenticity.

Is Gariahat Market cheap?

Yes, the Gariahat Market is very cheap. This place is one of the most iconic places for clothing and daily accessories. Every corner has a stall to offer you something valuable, starting from junk jewellery to highly affordable home décor.