Kolkata's (Calcutta's) Paramount Sorbet Bar - Best In The Town - Next To None
Whenever I visit College Street I make it a point to visit Paramount - the
one-stop shop for sherbets in Kolkata (Calcutta). Paramount is a 94 years old sherbet joint
that boasts of a rich heritage that very few places in the city can match up to.
It is declared as a Heritage building/shop by Kolkata (Calcutta) Municipal Corporation.
Paramount is in the College street area, of Kolkata (Calcutta), that is also known as Boi Para, next to Mahabodhi Society opposite the College Square. Paramount retains the old world charm and has a perfect setting for an adda.
Established in the year 1918, by Mr. Niharanjan Mazumdar, this shop was earlier at 1/a Bankim Chatterjee Street and its name was "Paradise" during those days. In the year 1936 it shifted to its present day location - 1/1/1d, Bankim Chatterjee Street and was renamed to "Paramount".
Even after the change in name, nothing much has actually changed...
The ambiance is still the same — the same old marble top tables, narrow benches, glass framed menus and the deer torsos grace the shop that is invariably associated with tradition, heritage and nostalgia.
At the very entrance of the shop there is a notice board full of news paper clippings, articles that have 'talked' about Paramount over the years. The walls are lined with Photos of great people like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy etc. who have visited this place.
The most popular and the best sherbet in Paramount is the Daber Shorbot - a Sharbet made of tender coconut water, ice, syrup and the white meat/pulp of the coconut. Once you take a sip of Daber Sharbat you will understand why people prefer Paramount's Sherbet than any regular soft drinks to quench their thirst.
Founder Mr Niharanjan Mazumdar in collaboration with the renowned scientist Acharaya Prafulla Chandra Ray had made this famous ‘Daaber sharbat’.
Paramount was originally a meeting place for revolutionaries involved in Indian freedom struggle - the Swadeshi movement. Many luminaries like Subhash Chandra Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, S.D. Burman, Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen have frequented this place.
The present owner Mr. Mazumdar (who is the third generation running the business) told that many people suggest upgrading the interiors of this place, but since paramount is declared as a heritage place, the interiors can not be changed or altered.
Though new Sharbats like "Passion Fruits" and "Tamarind" are added to the exquisite menu of Paramount's Sharbets.
This menu includes Green Mango, Cream Vanilla, Cocoa Malai, Rose Malai, Passion Fruit, Grape Crush, Strawberry Malai, Tamarind and Lichi other than the famous and refreshingly delicious Daaber Sharbat. I generally start with Daaber Sarbat and then have other Sharbets and then end with Green Mango.
Earlier Paramout was operational only during summers and was closed in winters. But nowadays, mainly because of the popular demand by the patrons, the sharbat parlour is open round the year. The Shop is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday. Another very significant reason, because of which so many people have patronised this place, is the personal touch Mr. Mazumdar and his team renders to each and every customer.
So all in all Paramount is a treat to your taste buds and is a true symbol of Kolkata’s (Calcutta's) past glory and heritage.
Paramount is in the College street area, of Kolkata (Calcutta), that is also known as Boi Para, next to Mahabodhi Society opposite the College Square. Paramount retains the old world charm and has a perfect setting for an adda.
Established in the year 1918, by Mr. Niharanjan Mazumdar, this shop was earlier at 1/a Bankim Chatterjee Street and its name was "Paradise" during those days. In the year 1936 it shifted to its present day location - 1/1/1d, Bankim Chatterjee Street and was renamed to "Paramount".
Even after the change in name, nothing much has actually changed...
The ambiance is still the same — the same old marble top tables, narrow benches, glass framed menus and the deer torsos grace the shop that is invariably associated with tradition, heritage and nostalgia.
At the very entrance of the shop there is a notice board full of news paper clippings, articles that have 'talked' about Paramount over the years. The walls are lined with Photos of great people like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy etc. who have visited this place.
The most popular and the best sherbet in Paramount is the Daber Shorbot - a Sharbet made of tender coconut water, ice, syrup and the white meat/pulp of the coconut. Once you take a sip of Daber Sharbat you will understand why people prefer Paramount's Sherbet than any regular soft drinks to quench their thirst.
Founder Mr Niharanjan Mazumdar in collaboration with the renowned scientist Acharaya Prafulla Chandra Ray had made this famous ‘Daaber sharbat’.
Paramount was originally a meeting place for revolutionaries involved in Indian freedom struggle - the Swadeshi movement. Many luminaries like Subhash Chandra Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, S.D. Burman, Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen have frequented this place.
The present owner Mr. Mazumdar (who is the third generation running the business) told that many people suggest upgrading the interiors of this place, but since paramount is declared as a heritage place, the interiors can not be changed or altered.
Though new Sharbats like "Passion Fruits" and "Tamarind" are added to the exquisite menu of Paramount's Sharbets.
This menu includes Green Mango, Cream Vanilla, Cocoa Malai, Rose Malai, Passion Fruit, Grape Crush, Strawberry Malai, Tamarind and Lichi other than the famous and refreshingly delicious Daaber Sharbat. I generally start with Daaber Sarbat and then have other Sharbets and then end with Green Mango.
Earlier Paramout was operational only during summers and was closed in winters. But nowadays, mainly because of the popular demand by the patrons, the sharbat parlour is open round the year. The Shop is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday. Another very significant reason, because of which so many people have patronised this place, is the personal touch Mr. Mazumdar and his team renders to each and every customer.
So all in all Paramount is a treat to your taste buds and is a true symbol of Kolkata’s (Calcutta's) past glory and heritage.
Liked the article.. I have been hearing a lot about this juice bar since past several years.. I really want to visit this place and sip one of those 'Daaber' Sherbets.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this informative piece..