Calcutta - culturally yours!
A deserted Calcutta Street
Backside view of Victoria Memorial
Front view of Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial
The New Bridge - Vidya sagar setu
The Howrah Bridge
The Kalighat street
The word "North-east India" always has a magical sway on me and I have been wanting to visit some of the places, there, for a long time. When, recently, I got an option to go to Calcutta, I was on my toes to welcome the surprise package.
Calcutta - gateway to North Eastern states, ex-capital of Delhi, place of intellectuals, culturally vibrant, and what not, is true to all its nameplates.
The torrential rains played spoil sport in our trip. The Victoria Memorial, Kali Ghat, The Howrah Bridge, is all what we could see. And, yes, we did some shopping, too.
Kali Ghat - the place where there's the Kali mandir, was like a dreaded place becuase of the priests and the vendors. The people were literally like pounding on you for services and suck money. The driver was mentioning that they take as much as Rs.200 for taking care of your chappals/shoes! Beware of them, if you have to visit this place. The Golden rule is to be on your own and not to talk/heed to anyone speaking to you.
I have never seen such beautiful pose of Goddess Kali. The beautiful and expressive eyes of Goddess Kali have magical powers that one gets struck to his feet upon seeing Her. I wish, I could spend more time seeing her.
Best time to visit: Early morning before 9 or 9.30am. Avoid Saturdays.
Victoria Memorial - Good place to revitalise your national spirits. The muesuem has a good collection of paintings. A very good and well maintianed lawn. A must visit.
Howrah Bridge - the engineering marvel, the Ravindra Setu, travelling on which, for me was a great experience. Could not get out of the car and watch the river and near by surroundings due to rain.
Shopping
We were during the right time. Durga Pooja is around the corner and people were busy setting up their home and themselves for the Pooja.
The New Market or The Hogg Market, Garia Hat were full with festive activities despite the "torrential" rains.
The New Market is pretty impressive for Cotton Suits, dresses, bed sheets for Kantha work, Leather products - especially Purses and bags with Shantiniketan prints, Jute products and artificial flowers.
Garia Hat is famous for Calcutta Saree's - Calcutta Cotton with Kantha work, Printed, or Silk, Dhaka Cotton and so many varieties, were there. We could not do much as we had less time and it was raining too much.
Prefer to go to a fixed price shop to avoid being cheated.
Sweets
We bought the Bengali sweets from Mithai, and savoured Mishti Dahi, Sandesh, Ras gulla.
Roads
Road condition was okay, not very good. The rains had caused too much of water clogging and to our scare at certain places. Looks like the good development stopped in Calcutta after the British left to New Delhi.
We could not make it to many places. Shantiniketan, Dakshineshwar - Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, trams, etc are still drawing my attention to Calcutta.
Calcutta, when will you invite me, again?
Calcutta - gateway to North Eastern states, ex-capital of Delhi, place of intellectuals, culturally vibrant, and what not, is true to all its nameplates.
The torrential rains played spoil sport in our trip. The Victoria Memorial, Kali Ghat, The Howrah Bridge, is all what we could see. And, yes, we did some shopping, too.
Kali Ghat - the place where there's the Kali mandir, was like a dreaded place becuase of the priests and the vendors. The people were literally like pounding on you for services and suck money. The driver was mentioning that they take as much as Rs.200 for taking care of your chappals/shoes! Beware of them, if you have to visit this place. The Golden rule is to be on your own and not to talk/heed to anyone speaking to you.
I have never seen such beautiful pose of Goddess Kali. The beautiful and expressive eyes of Goddess Kali have magical powers that one gets struck to his feet upon seeing Her. I wish, I could spend more time seeing her.
Best time to visit: Early morning before 9 or 9.30am. Avoid Saturdays.
Victoria Memorial - Good place to revitalise your national spirits. The muesuem has a good collection of paintings. A very good and well maintianed lawn. A must visit.
Howrah Bridge - the engineering marvel, the Ravindra Setu, travelling on which, for me was a great experience. Could not get out of the car and watch the river and near by surroundings due to rain.
Shopping
We were during the right time. Durga Pooja is around the corner and people were busy setting up their home and themselves for the Pooja.
The New Market or The Hogg Market, Garia Hat were full with festive activities despite the "torrential" rains.
The New Market is pretty impressive for Cotton Suits, dresses, bed sheets for Kantha work, Leather products - especially Purses and bags with Shantiniketan prints, Jute products and artificial flowers.
Garia Hat is famous for Calcutta Saree's - Calcutta Cotton with Kantha work, Printed, or Silk, Dhaka Cotton and so many varieties, were there. We could not do much as we had less time and it was raining too much.
Prefer to go to a fixed price shop to avoid being cheated.
Sweets
We bought the Bengali sweets from Mithai, and savoured Mishti Dahi, Sandesh, Ras gulla.
Roads
Road condition was okay, not very good. The rains had caused too much of water clogging and to our scare at certain places. Looks like the good development stopped in Calcutta after the British left to New Delhi.
We could not make it to many places. Shantiniketan, Dakshineshwar - Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, trams, etc are still drawing my attention to Calcutta.
Calcutta, when will you invite me, again?
Labels: calcutta, north east
posted by Ashwini Bhat @ 4:12 AM
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