One of the top things to do in Kolkata is to visit the always colorful and chaotic Mullik Ghat flower market.

The market takes place just below the magnificent Howrah bridge, and is located adjacent to the Hooghly River.

I took a taxi to get to the market and arrived mid-morning, but I think the market is virtually open and busy 24 hours a day.

Yes, it’s a little dirty, but the colorful chaos of flowers, transporters, and shoppers was an incredibly interesting scene to witness.

Some people run, others walk fast, some squat on the side or in the middle of the walkway, and others lay or sleep on top of flowers or in the middle of the market. Anything goes in Kolkata.

Some of the people and sights I saw really reminded me of Cairo, an ancient land that made me feel like I was in a history book rather than in 2013.

If you take one of the small lanes to the river, you’ll get a great view of the impressive Howrah Bridge, one of the worlds busiest pedestrian bridges.

While there are roses and other flowers, nothing dominates the market like orange and yellow marigolds, which are widely used for religious rituals.

The marigold trade is huge, and they are often sold in long strands.

One of the best things to watch when you’re at the flower market is transporters getting buried in countless strings of marigold flowers to deliver somewhere. It looks like a giant flower dress.

If you visit the Kolkata Mullik Ghat flower market, be sure to walk over to the Howrah Bridge to get a great view. The amount of pedestrians, and what they are all carrying, is incredibly amusing as well!