Just below the towering Howrah Bridge, the fascinating Mallick Ghat flower market is located. It was early in the morning with very few people on the usually busy road leading to Howrah station. But the largest flower market of Kolkata was already bustling with activity. Lying just beside the Hooghly river and the two famous bathing ghats of Kolkata – Mullick Ghat and Ramchandra Goenka Zenana bathing ghat, the Mullick ghat flower market is a celebration of senses. It is not only a visual delight to be here, but also your olfactory senses will be at work.

The market starts around 4 am in the morning with flower sellers from adjacent areas of Kolkata gathering with their colourful merchandise. The sellers displayed their merchandise – roses, marigolds, sunflowers, garden balsams and other flowers lay in all their colourful glory. There is utter chaos everywhere, the market is overcrowded, but the experience of seeing such a vibrant market is altogether unique. Quite obviously, the market becomes all the more booming during the festive and marriage seasons.

Visit to the Mullick Ghat flower market should be made early in the morning to get the essence of the place. Also, visit this place only if you are willing to overlook the dirty surroundings and the absolute absence of hygiene around you. The market is quite dirty and so are the bathing ghats around the market. If you are ready to neglect these factors, then another facet of colourful, raw and fresh Kolkata awaits you with all its colourful and vivid frames and zeal for life.

Visit the Mullick Ghat to get a magnificent view of the Howrah Bridge. There are so many people taking a bath, getting tonsured and doing chores. Each one seems to have a story of their own. Also, see the akhara near the ghat. If you are lucky enough, you may even see a wrestling match!

After a visit to the Mullick Ghat flower market, take a walk along the iconic Howrah Bridge which is also an experience to cherish.

How to reach Mullick Ghat :

You can take any bus or taxi towards Howrah and get down at Mullick Ghat stoppage. It is just a few minutes walk from there.
You can also take a train to Howrah if you are coming from suburbs. Cross the Howrah Bridge and take a flight of stairs from the right end of the bridge to the flower market.

Some tips to visit Mullick Ghat Flower Market:

Visit the market early in the morning.
Wear proper shoes as the market can get quite dirty.

Trivia:

This is the largest wholesale flower market in eastern India. But an individual can also buy flowers from here at a very cheap rate.
The flower market is almost 125 years old.
The market supplies around 80% of the flowers sold in the world’s biggest flower auctions in Amsterdam, Auckland and Dubai.