(From top ) Actresses Konkona Sen Sharma and Shabana Azmi at Swabhumi Meena Bazar; visitors at a restaurant at the same venue. Pictures by Pradip Sanyal and Aranya Sen

Fill up your shopping bag at quaint little shops in Karigaar Haat, take a break to catch a puppet show, soak up the Rajasthani village ambience aided by chillas, chaats and chutney, catch a movie on the biggest screen in town? And still have loads left to do.

Swabhumi, the Heritage Plaza, which turned four on February 17 this year, is not your typical mall. “Swabhumi is different from other malls both in concept and design. It was conceptualised with a view of providing a heritage spot on the list of every Calcuttan. It is particularly charming to the tourist who gets a glimpse of the culture of the country under one roof,” says a spokesperson for the destination off the Bypass.

Here, tribal artefacts make up for the absence of designer labels and desi khana scores over international cuisine. Goodlife takes you on a heritage high?

Address: 89C Narkeldanga Main Road.

Time: Noon to 8 pm.

Footfall: The winter months see a footfall of anything between 4,500 and 5,500 everyday. The numbers shrink to 2,000 or 3,000 per day in the summer months.

Work smith: Trek through Karigaar Haat, a make-believe hamlet in the heart of the Heritage Plaza, where artisans display their wares. While Md Salim from Uttar Pradesh is busy turning a block of wood into a beer bottle stand or a bookshelf, two pavement-dwellers selling jute chappals attract feminine feet in large numbers.

If you want to furnish your house with ethnic goodies, stop by Sensitive Creations. From clocks to wall hangings, masks to chimes, here, everything is terracotta, created at a small workshop in Thakurnagar, North 24-Parganas. The knickknacks come as cheap as Rs 30 and can go up to Rs 3,000.

Dame domain: If you are looking for payals and pendants, Meena Bazaar is for you. Whether shopping for your best friend’s wedding or just hoarding some junk jewellery, you can do so in a budget ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 500.

Urban Court: If you require a breather after running through the shops at Karigaar Haat or escorting your girlfriend through Meena Bazaar, let your hair down at the Urban Courtyard. This place is always crowded with people. Lay your hands on paintings, modern ensembles and well-crafted jewellery.

Cha, adda, etc: Though the Heritage Plaza does not boast swank eateries and varied cuisine, a bite or a cup of tea or coffee can be had in plenty. If time is not an issue, sit down for adda at Adda, the teashop or Cha Ghar, a stall tucked away in a cosy corner. Adda serves a variety of teas ranging from masala to fruity flavours. The Cha Ghar sells the usual variety in kullhars, and a range of flavoured popcorn.

Aangan, the speciality restaurant serves Rajasthani food in enchanting environs. True to the name, the restaurant has an aangan, or a courtyard, with a mandir and a chaat counter. If you want to have a full meal, there is an enclosed, air-conditioned area where typical Rajasthani food in served. The mall itself started with four food courts namely Dakshini, Uttara, Paschima and Purba. At present only Paschima and Dakshini are operational, serving the southern and western cuisine.

Movie magic: After traversing the mall, hop next door to the cool environs of 89 Cinemas to catch the latest flick. “Our place is easily accessible and safe, the seating arrangement is comfortable and the pricing of tickets and food and beverage is competitive. We also boast the biggest screen in the city,” says Prashant Shrivastav, general manager of the multiplex.

Moviegoers can look forward to a lot of add-ons in the near future. A pool table and a small basketball court for the kids are on the cards.