With the advent of digital technology, many predicted that books would soon be on their way out. Not only has that been proven wrong, but book sales have increased. According to WordsRated, an international research data and analytics group, as of 2023, global book publishing revenue stood at $129 billion, jumping from $122 billion in 2018. The global book publishing market will be valued at $143.65 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $163.89 billion by 2030. A good book continues to be a draw as a portal to other worlds. The City of Joy has always been a bibliophile'sbibliophile's haven, with some of India's top independent and speciality bookstores. We have put together a list of stores you can visit when you are in the city next. And you don'tdon't have to carry your stash back with you, all the bookstores will deliver them to your doorstep.
Earthcare Books
This charming little space can be challenging due to the need for signage. But if you are a die-hard bookworm, we suggest you try. It will be worth it. With its non-mainstream, hard-to-find collection, Earthcare Books has to be one of the best indie bookstores in India. The cosy interiors with red oxide floors, bamboo and rattan furniture, and whitewashed walls will pull you in. Books are stocked according to different themes in separate areas. Each section has handpicked books on history and philosophy, women and gender, adivasi issues, conservation, architecture, ecology, and nature. One of the sections has a range of handmade bags, wooden toys, ceramics, and organic skincare. Their children's section stocks excellent books from Indian publishing houses like Tara, Tulika, and Katha.
Address 10, Middleton St, near Maidan, Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Seagull Books
This independent bookstore and publishing house specialises in English translations of European works. Look for works by Mrinal Sen and Ritwick Ghatak and academic writings by Gayatri Chakravarty Spivak. Authors such as Chinese Nobel Prize laureate Mo Yan, Tariq Ali, Max Frisch, and many others have been translated by them. Pick up their limited edition notebooks if they are in stock.
Address 36c, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd, Jatin Das Park, Bakul Bagan, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700025
Bahrisons Booksellers
This is the Kolkata branch of the famous family-owned bookstore in Delhi'sDelhi's Khan Market. Bahrisons Booksellers was established in 1953 in Delhi and grew from a tiny space to become a well-known entity in the literary scene. Spread across two floors, their collection includes the usual Rushdies and Pamuks, as well as feminist writers like Rachel Cusk, Jia Tolentino, and Rebecca Solnit. These are writers you won't find in most other bookstores. If you have the time, you can grab a bite and some excellent coffee at the Blue Tokai café on the ground floor.
Address 31 Chowringhee Road, Park St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016
Oxford Bookstore
This historic bookstore on Park Street in Kolkata has seen several changes since it opened its doors to book lovers in 1921. It is well-stocked with books from the world's biggest publishers, coffee table books, periodicals, writing instruments, and various lifestyle products. On the second floor, there is a little café where you can get the original Darjeeling tea and multiple teas and savouries. The bookstore also organises several literary festivals, including the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsav, and Hindi Sahitya Utsav.
Address 17 Park Street, Kolkata 700016
The Story Teller Book Shop
Spread across 1,500 square feet, this is Kolkata's only pet-friendly bookstore. They specialise in children's literature and regularly host workshops and author reading sessions. Their graphic book and comics selection is excellent, ranging from the popular (such as the original DC and Marvel comic series to Tinkle's Suppandi) to the unusual (such as Ari Folman's version of Anne Frank's Diary). Manga comics can also be found here.
Address MM Gardens, 171M, Picnic Garden Road, VIP Bazar Laskarhat, Amrabati, Kasba, VIP Bazaar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700039
Niyogi Books
Niyogi Books, a Delhi-based publishing business with over 500 titles, runs this store in Kolkata's famous College Street area. It stocks a wide range of items, including excellently produced coffee-table books. Their collection is wide and varied. For instance, you can pick up Wayel Kati, Linthoi Chanu's new YA fantasy novel, which delves into the realms of Manipur mythology, magic, and monsters. Alternatively, Dr Anita Shah's book, Colours of Devotion, explores the Pushtimarg group's history and Saint Vallabhacharya's teachings.
Address 12/1A, First Floor, Bankim Chatterjee St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073
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