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.

Highly recommended! - We had an amazing tour of the markets of Kolkata. Manjit speaks great English and can help you both professionally with camera settings etc. and amaze you with interesting facts. We can definitely recommend the tour.

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.

Beyond all expectations! - It is our first time in India and of course in Calcutta. As fans of markets and authentic places, we were looking for a way to really get in touch with the soul of the city, and relying on Manjit was the best choice we could make. Born and raised here, Manjit knows every corner with deep familiarity. But what makes him truly special is his human sensitivity, combined with an innate ability to observe, listen and tell, transforming even the smallest details into indelible memories. He has a natural way of putting people at ease, even in contexts that, for a tourist, can seem chaotic and difficult. With him, even what to our eyes might have seemed like total confusion, took a precise rhythm. In just three hours (literally flies) he guided us not only through the fish market, vegetables, but through the culture and people's lives. Always present, discreet, authentic, attentive and with a clear and spontaneous communication, he made us feel comfortable from the first moment. With this mode, his curiosity and life experience, allowed us to enter the heart of the true, simple and intense everyday life of Calcutta, making us part and not just spectators. It was truly one of the most unique and engaging experiences of our lives. We felt so enriched and involved that we booked a second tour with him, already for the next morning!

Markets and Neighborhoods Tour - We toured the markets and neighborhoods together with Manjit and it was great. He made us explore authentic parts of Calcutta as if we were local, an experience I would repeat right away! Manjit is also very nice and tells very well about the city and its various characteristics. Tour recommended to really see the city.

Great photographic diving in Kolkata - Visiting Kolkata with Manjit is a great experience. Everything is very well organized. I wanted a tailor-made program and he understood my requests very well. Far from the usual tourist trails, I was able to immerse myself in the real life of Kolkata, while benefiting from his photography experience. He also gave me valuable tips to improve the quality of my photos. It was the 3rd time I went for a ride with him and it was really great. Manjit is very attentive, very friendly and very professional. I highly recommend it.

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.

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.

Out of this world photography adventure - #mesmerizingmarketstour is a great, hectic and teaching (although tough) photography experience, that left me speechless. Thank you #calcuttaphototours. Hopefully I’ve not only become a better street photographer, but a more compassionate one too

My favourite Calcutta experience - I have been on the Mesmerising Markets tour three times. This is because it gives great opportunities for candid photography of "real life" as the city awakens, as well as the chance to engage directly with everyday people who are generally very open to being photographed. I always learn something new about Calcutta during the tours and Manjit is great at giving technical tips that help to improve my pictures. I have also been on customised photo walks with Manjit, designed at my request. No trip to Calcutta would be complete without going on one of these tours and I plan to do another one when I am back in the city early next year,