The stretch of College Street between Presidency University and Calcutta Medical College is lined with hundreds of tiny stalls and shops selling new, used, and antiquarian books. This is said to be the largest second-hand book market in the world, and the range is extraordinary: old Bengali novels, textbooks, rare art books, out-of-print academic works, and paperback novels in every language. Prices are low and bargaining is expected.
The best strategy is to walk the length of it slowly, stopping wherever a pile of covers catches your eye. The narrow lanes behind the main street have additional shops with more specialist stock. Set aside a couple of hours and arrive with an empty bag. The Indian Coffee House at 15 Bankim Chatterjee Street is the obvious stop for tea and conversation when your arms tire of carrying books.