Zakaria Street is a street that joins Rabindra Sarani with Chittaranjan Avenue (Central Avenue) in Central Kolkata. Nakhoda Mosque is situated in this street. It is the biggest ramadan market in Kolkata.[1] Mohammad Ali Park is located very close to this street.[2] This street is very popular to food bloggers.[3]

Zakaria Street
Native name
  • জাকারিয়া স্ট্রিট (Bengali)
  • زکریا اسٹریٹ (Urdu)
  • ज़कारिया स्ट्रीट (Hindi)
Maintained byKolkata Municipal Corporation
LocationKolkata, India
Postal code700073
Nearest Kolkata Metro stationM.G. Road, Central Metro
Coordinates22°34′38″N 88°21′29″E / 22.5771521°N 88.358129°E / 22.5771521; 88.358129
West endRabindra Sarani
East endChittaranjan Avenue
Other
Known forRestaurants

History

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During the colonial period, the British authority divided the city of Kolkata into two parts. There was a part of the British whose name was White Town. Zakaria Street was then part of Black Town.[4] Zakaria Street was developed as a residential area in the past. In the nineteenth century, Haji Nur Muhammad Zakaria, a Muslim businessman from the Kutchi Memon community, lived on Armanitola Street. This street is named after him. Later, especially after the riots of 1910, some Muslim families left the area. In 1911, as part of the development work of Calcutta Improvement Trust on the street, it demolished several slums owned by some Muslims, leading to frequent inter-communal territorial fights between the prosperous Marwaris and working class Muslims of this area.[5] Then several Marwari families started to dominate in this area. Frequent riots drove many Marwaris away from the street in the 1950s.[6]

Food street

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There are about 100 temporary stalls on this street during the month of Ramadan. There are also at least thirty restaurants open throughout the year.[7] A variety of food is sold in front of the Nakhoda Mosque on the street. This place is usually famous for sahri and iftar food during Ramadan season. A variety of kebabs are available on this street. Haleem is available at Sufia and Aminia Restaurant on Zakaria Street. Chicken Changeji, a North Indian dish, is sold on many more restaurants, including Dilli 6 on this street. Halwa and Lachcha Sewai are also available here.[8] Royal India Hotel sells mutton chap and biryani here.[9] This street is popular for Bakarkhani.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Mitra, Debraj (7 April 2022). "Ramazan mirrors friendly spirit of Kolkata in face of divisiveness". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ "খাবারের গন্ধে ম-ম জাকারিয়া স্ট্রিট". The Indian Express (in Bengali). 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ Mitra, Bishwabijoy (30 May 2019). "Zakaria Street is a heaven for food bloggers". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ^ Bhaumik, Neal (11 September 2019). "JUST PASSING THROUGH KOLKATA". Verge. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ^ Bandyopadhyay, Ritajyoti (2022). Streets in Motion: The Making of Infrastructure, Property, and Political Culture in Twentieth-century Calcutta. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009109208. ISBN 9781009109208. S2CID 250200020.
  6. ^ Banka, Neha (30 March 2021). "Streetwise Kolkata: Beyond food and city's largest mosque, Zakaria Street is a story of Muslims and Marwaris". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  7. ^ Mitra, Bishwabijoy; Chakraborty, Shamaymita (14 May 2019). "Have the polls impacted the Ramzan mood on Zakaria Street?". Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  8. ^ Saha, Somdatta (14 June 2022). "Food Trail: Explore Kolkata's Zakaria Street For The Most Indulgent Iftar Treat". NDTV. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Zakaria Street: Eating out in Kolkata". Times of India. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  10. ^ Basu, Rriju (11 June 2017). "রমজানি স্বাদে জাকারিয়া যেন শহরের ফুড স্ট্রিট". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 28 April 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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