As the summer heat intensifies, the temptation of a cool, refreshing drink simply becomes irresistible. Worry not! Jai Baba Bhuthnath, located near Ahiritola, close to the revered Bhootnath Temple, is the latest hub for quenching your thirst. It’s a new shop, owned by the proprietors of Shiv Assram, the famous lassi and thandai shop located on Bidhan Sarani. This expansion marks a new chapter in their journey, broadening their horizons to offer even more delightful experiences to the customers.
The usual crowd outside Shiv Assram on a scorching summer day
Located on Bidhan Sarani, right beside the iconic Laha Bari, Shiv Assram, is a cherished local gem that has been serving customers with refreshing drinks for over four decades. Their signature thandai, available at both locations, is a must-try. During special occasions like Holi, you might even find thandai infused with bhaang. Beyond thandai, Shiv Assram offers a variety of other options all year round. Their chocolate milkshake and ripe mango lassi are sheer bliss. And the menu of our new shop is the same as the old one.
When My Kolkata spoke to the shop owner, Pramod Gupta, he shared, “My father started Shiv Assram about 46 years ago, and after his passing in 2005, I have been managing the shop. Since then, I’ve introduced several changes to the shop and its products to meet the evolving needs of our customers. For example, we make all our syrups and base products in-house at our factory. Our aim is to serve our customers with fresh products, hence we use the base products prepared on the same day."
Owner Pramod Gupta at the new shop, Jai Baba Bhuthnath
What sets Jai Baba Bhuthnath and Shiv Assram apart is the personal touch. You can see the drinks being made right before your eyes. The ingredients are fresh, blends are perfect and each sip is like a mini escape from the relentless heat outside. And if you’re not in the mood for something too heavy, they’ve got you covered with simpler syrup-based drinks and lighter milk-based smoothies in a range of flavours. It’s all about choices here, and every choice promises to cool you down and lift your spirits.
Brothers Mukesh (left) and Pramod at the shop
“I inaugurated this shop about six months ago, on the day of Ganesh Puja. If I had named it Shiv Assram, I wouldn’t have faced any challenges. I chose to name it Jai Baba Bhuthnath because it is near the ‘Bhootnath Temple’ here. Both names are of the almighty Shiv and I believe Bholenath will bless our new shop in the future, as the base products of both shops are prepared at the same factory,” explained Pramod.
Both Shiv Assram and Jai Baba Bhuthnath aren’t just places for beverages, they’re moments of respite, a pause from the summer chaos and a chance to treat yourself to something truly refreshing. In Kolkata, where summers are long and hot, a visit to a fresh thandai and juice shop is nothing short of finding a cool oasis.
What sets Jai Baba Bhuthnath and Shiv Assram apart is the personal touch. You can see the drinks being made right before your eyes
Location:
- Jai Baba Bhuthnath: 38, B.K. Paul Avenue, Kolkata -700005
- Shiv Assram: Hedua Park, 168, Bidhan Sarani Rd, Manicktala, Hedua, Kolkata -700006
Pocket Pinch: Rs 40 to 100
Must-try items: Rose Lassi, Chocolate Milkshake, Range of flavourful Thandai, Kesar Bhaang, Mango Shake