Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy

LEGENDARY!!! Words fall utterly short to express my happiness of visiting this sweet shop. One of the Oldest or perhaps the oldest one in Kolkata. The Sandesh were fresh, super soft and delectable for a sweet tooth like me. Just the right amount of sweetness. I am from Varanasi, for me it was great. The owners are extremely friendly and polite. The team and the workers are hardworking and polite as well. They even customised to my request of Jwalbhara Nolen Gur Sandesh in super fancy boxes (₹100/- each). One thing I must say that I felt very proud that a family is carrying forward the legacy and in turn preserving the essence and heritage of Kolkata as well. I am definitely recommending that if you are going to Kolkata, this place is a Must Visit.

Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy are remembered as pioneers of the early Bengali commercial theatre in Kolkata. Their work helped shape modern Bengali drama in the mid–late 19th century. Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy: History of Kolkata Theatre Background Time period: Mid to late 19th century Place: Calcutta (now Kolkata), then the cultural capital of British India They were active during the formative years of public, ticketed Bengali theatre, when drama was moving out of private houses into professional stages. Their Contribution to Theatre Girish Ch. Dey and Nakur Ch. Nandy worked together as theatre entrepreneurs and organizers. They played a key role in establishing professional Bengali theatre companies, helping theatre become a sustainable public art form. Their theatres provided regular employment to actors, playwrights, musicians, and stage workers. Theatre and Performances They were associated with early commercial theatres of North Calcutta, which catered to the growing middle-class Bengali audience. Their productions included: Mythological plays Historical dramas Early social plays These performances were staged in Bengali, which helped theatre reach the common people and strengthened Bengali cultural identity. Importance in Kolkata’s Cultural History They helped create the infrastructure of modern Bengali theatre—ticket systems, fixed stages, scheduled shows. Their efforts laid the groundwork for later legends like Girish Chandra Ghosh and institutions such as the Star Theatre. Kolkata’s reputation as the birthplace of modern Indian theatre owes a lot to early pioneers like Dey and Nandy. Legacy Though less famous today, Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy are crucial figures in: The professionalization of Bengali theatre The cultural renaissance of 19th-century Kolkata They helped transform theatre from elite entertainment into a public cultural movement.

Framed by solemn white pillars and guarded by an iron gate, Girish & Nakur stands at 56, Ramdulal Sarkar Street with a commanding presence—like a relic gently preserved from the pages of history. Revered for its extraordinary range of sondesh, the counters are adorned with timeless classics: Chandrapuli, Gurer Jolbhora, Gurer Monohora, Talsash, Chocolate Singara, and the iconic Sachin Sondesh—a few among many that I had the pleasure of tasting. In an era crowded with competition and changing tastes, Girish & Nakur has remained unwavering, refusing to dilute its essence. Its devotion to sondesh has never wavered, and that quiet consistency is perhaps its greatest strength. Behind the unassuming façade lies not merely a sweet shop, but a sanctum of memory—a place where generations have surrendered to their cravings, where sweetness is not just sold but woven into the cultural fabric of Bengal. For 181 years, this institution has stood as a testament to tradition, patience, and purity of craft. Visiting Girish & Nakur is not just about tasting sweets; it is about experiencing history—one delicate bite at a time.

One of the best if not the best sweet shop in Kolkata. It's so popular that full plates of sweets runs out while you are in line and you have to wait for the next best to come out. They are literally making the sweets in the back while the front shop sells out. Best recommendation are Manohara, Kachaholla, Jalbhara. There are also many other types of sweets to try out all of which are dry sweets.

One of the finest sweet shop in Kolkata. It carries the legacy of Bengali Sweets. Prices are little bit high but the taste is beyond imagination.

Framed by solemn white pillars and guarded by an iron gate, Girish & Nakur stands at 56, Ramdulal Sarkar Street with its commanding presence as if relic from the pages of history. Revered as it is for the myriad variety of sondesh, one sees them dotted in front of the shop: Chandrapuli, Gurer Jolbhora, Gurer Monohora, Talsash, Chocolate Singara, Sachin Sondesh - to name a few I tasted. Despite the surge of competition, Girish & Nakur has remained steadfast, refusing to dilute its soul as it has never strayed far from its devotion to sondesh. Behind its unassuming façade lies not just a shop, but a sanctum where generations (now for 181 years to be precise) have surrendered their cravings, where sweetness has been woven into the fabric of Bengali memory.

Tried assorted fruit flavored sandesh here and they were not as fruity as expected! Also, 500 rupees for 500 grams felt like a bit much considering the food quality provided. Wasn't sure if they serve sweets by piece though otherwise, we could have tried more.

This has to be the go to place for delving into classic Bengali sweets such as Sandesh. Established in 1844, they have been delivering the tastiest sweets to Kolkata and attracting people from all over the globe. Even the lane down to the shop reminds you of the old retro Calcutta, with minimal impact of modernization. I have tried the following sweets: 1. Nolen Gur 2. Butterscotch 3. Jolbhora 4. Chocolate 5. Malai role 6. Kanchagolla Loved it.