Photography Tour of Mesmerizing Markets of Kolkata

Fabulous Tour Experience!

I can’t imagine a better tour company to utilize than Calcutta Photo Tours. As a lifelong resident Manjit, the owner, knows the markets, neighborhoods and their residents intimately. If you’re a photographer, his knowledge and friendships will give you access to areas you would otherwise not be welcome. He is a talented photographer himself, so he knows what interests people in the field. He will give you as much, or as little, guidance as you like. You may have visited Asian markets before, but I promise you have not seen one like this. The lighting and the color are beyond belief! If you’re a woman, traveling on your own, you may have concerns about your safety in Kolkata. I assure you Manjit works hard to make you feel secure and well cared for. This is a fascinating city; for photographers it’s a dream destination.

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Mesmerizing Markets Tour

We joined a half-day photo walk with Calcutta Photo Tours through Kolkata’s fish market and the neighboring vegetable market. It was one of the most vivid, sensory-rich shoots I’ve done in a city setting. We couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide than Manjit! He was absolutely wonderful. He is extremely talented, kind, personable, knowledgeable and just an absolute Prince! In spite of doing this same tour for several years, he was enthusiastic and totally committed and wanted nothing but a successful tour for us. He came and picked us up at our property and we started our tour early in the morning. I love a market and these tours did not disappoint. The pace was relaxed but focused — which allowed for plenty of time to compose shots and move between stalls. This photo walk is a sensory feast—from the calling of fish mongers and the slap of wet fish market bags against my legs—visceral and colorful, with endless photographic opportunities from gritty portraits to vibrant still-lifes. Manjit’s local knowledge opened doors and conversations, making it highly rewarding for both of us. I am a more experienced photographer and my husband is a newer enthusiast using only his mobile phone camera. I would highly recommended this tour if you want authentic street and market photography in Kolkata with an incredible guide! The Fish Market is a rush of activity — vats of gleaming swimming fish and prawns, crabs and small river fish laid on crushed ice or banana leaves; vendors filleting and preparing fish; buyers inspecting catches; old wooden scales, metal basins, blood-splattered boards. The scene is raw and dramatic: steam from iced fished being carried on the heads of the porters, spray, and the constant call-and-response of bargaining create strong opportunities for those once in a lifetime photos. Expect narrow, crowded lanes and occasional stepping over of fish crates — wear comfortable shoes that will probably get funky. That’s all part of the experience. :-) I 🩷 faces and I found a smile and a nod go a long way when shooting in these markets as a stranger and non-Indian. I’ve found the Indian people to be incredibly kind and we were very rarely denied our request for a photo. The second part of this is the vegetable market across the street. Towering piles of produce—bright red chilies, emerald spinach, pale cauliflower, stacks of gourds, long green beans, neatly bundled coriander and mint. Women in sarees and men and women with baskets move through narrow aisles; truck drivers and porters load and unload produce. Colors and textures here are abundant and yours for the taking. The most fascinating part though has got to be the porters that in a well choreographed “ballet” hoist massive baskets weighing upwards of 750 kg—you read that right, onto their heads. It made my back and neck hurt just watching them! The narrow rows and heavily stocked stalls of the market do not allow for any mechanized equipment. It is therefore the responsibility of these porters to move these massive baskets into the market area from the street. It’s absolutely fascinating and mind boggling! It all made for a powerful photographic opportunity! We also ended up taking another tour with Manjit to the Hooghlys Flower Market the following morning. It was equally as rewarding with the vibrancy of flowers, buzzing bees, friendly faces, and fascinating hustle and bustle. I cannot recommend these tours enough from Manjit and CalcuttaPhotoTours.com. I would book the same tours when we return to Kolkata. I feel like we’ve made a friend. A very talented and kind friend — half the world away. 🩷 Oh, and don’t forget to ask him about his cute and beautifully curated shawls from Bengal. One with the iconic yellow ambassador cabs and the other with cameras. I ended up buying three for gifts— okay, admittedly two were “gifts” for me. Ha! Very cute and beautifully finished and packaged.

Response from the operator: Oh wow — reading this felt like reliving the morning through your eyes, fish slap and all. Thank you for such a generous, vivid recounting… I could practically hear the porters calling out and smell the mint and coriander again. Guiding guests like you both — one chasing light with a camera, the other with a phone and fresh curiosity — that’s the real magic of these walks. The energy of the markets always keeps me on my toes, but it’s your enthusiasm that makes each tour feel new, even after all these years of pre-dawn adventures and slippery lanes. I’m thrilled that both the fish market and vegetable market delivered that unforgettable sensory punch. And yes — those porters are straight-up superheroes. Kolkata’s everyday ballet deserves front-row photographers like you. It means a lot that you joined me again the next morning at the flower market… you braved the wet floors, buzzing bees, and my endless stories — and still wanted more! If that’s not a friendship test, I don’t know what is. And hey — excellent shawl choices. You clearly have impeccable taste. 😄 You always have a friend waiting for you here in Kolkata. Come back soon — there are many more lanes to wander, more smiles to earn, and more photographs whispering “just one more shot…” Warmest regards, Manjit Calcutta Photo Tours

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Great tour to take photos

Doing the photo tour you get great impressions on the market live and the people working there. If you are interested I photography Manjit give you great advices to take good shots. I only had the camera on my phone but I took amazing photos.

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As always had an amazing tour.

As always had an amazing tour. Manjit ensures he shares his view of the place and makes people around him comfortable, specially when the surrounding is challenging and chaotic. His ability to pace the tour and give space to the photographers in the tour makes it even more enjoyable. Look forward to the next one.

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Brilliant tour

Absolutely brilliant travel experience with photography opportunities around every corner and led by Manjit who provided tips, tricks and insights that made the whole experience one of the most remarkable travel experiences.

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