Kolkata.My first Official Visit.

This was my fourth visit to Kolkata and My first official trip.Apart from the company work I had a few things planned for it.

I checked-in in Hotel Natraj in Howrah area near the station and by 7am was ready to go out.I went to the legendary Mitra Cafe hoping to down some famous dishes like Brain chops and fish fry.But to my disappointment I found out that those items would be available only in the evening.I had a boiled egg for breakfast there.Atleast I knew the location now.From here I took the metro to MG Road and there walked around the streets. I was still hungry and desperately wanted a mughlai breakfast and checked zomato for a nearby place to eat a mughlai breakfast and found Sufia Restaurant nearby the Nakhoda masjid.Before I could reach Sufia restaurant I came across Hotel Aminia.I didnt know there was a branch here in these parts.I am still doubtful of the authenticity of that branch.Anyway I was very hungry from my long walk and I walked right in.I had mutton kheema and tandoori roti which I didnt quite like.

Next I walked back to my Hotel in Howrah going past the beautiful Writers Building while doing so.Yes I walked 3km maybe back to my hotel.From there for my official work I went to Ichapur.I was back to my hotel by 11 30am.I took some rest here and for the lunch I already had a restaurant in mind.I always wanted to try korean food for a long time.After seeing so many korean movies and Dramas I was curious to try something.This was my priority one activity for the trip and off I went determinedly.I took an Ola cab for the ride.

At the Family Chicken Restaurant at sector 1, Salt Lake I ordered Chicken Deopbab as it was the only dish I could eat(pork and squid are not permissible items for a muslim) The chicken was also halal here.As I took the first bite,mixing some rice with a chicken piece I didn't quite like it.It tasted very normal but as I continued eating the taste grew on me and by the time I finished I was absolutely delighted with the whole dish.After the meal here I went to college street by taking a share auto first then a public bus.In college street I was excited to see the piles and piles of books scattered everywhere.Nothing like the sight of books to lift the spirits of a bookworm.Taking Presidency College as my pivot I checked out both directions.I bought a good book at a Rs 100 fixed price book stall.I was happy with the deal.

From college street I took a cab back to Ichapur to complete my official work.From there it was straight back to my hotel where I took some rest till 9pm when I checked out.I went to the railway station and had my dinner in the KFC there which was overflowing with travellers.I boarded my train back to raigarh at 12am and slept like a log till the morning next day.

Tram ride in Kolkatta,India

     The trams of Kolkata present one of the best modes of viewing the city.And I find it the most

The Heritage Tram

charming.The tram rattles on like it has all the time in the world.Leisurely and at its own sedate pace the tram offers a relaxing ride around the congested streets.Introduced in 1873 they were initially horse drawn.In 1900 electrification followed.It is managed by Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC).Interestingly CTC was listed a joint stock company in London in 1880 and after Independence West Bengal Govt entered into an agreement with it and eventually took over all rights to manage the trams.It is the only remaining tram network in India.Other cities where tramways were introduced but later stopped were Delhi,Mumbai,Chennai and Kanpur.
     Last month I took a trip in a tram.Satya(my room mate) and myself booked a ride in a Heritage Tram,an initiative by the WB Govt to promote tram tourism.After much searching we found the booking office at Esplanade from where the ride starts.Apart from us there was also a family of 3.
The circuit was follows
Esplanade-Dalhousie square-Belgachia-College street-Espanade.

It covers a number of landmark buildings in its circuit.We were not given any list of those buildings to watch out so we looked out in total ignorance.Also the AC didnt work and we were left sweating in the humid climate.
The rest of the post in pictures.

Inside the Tram

The beautiful tickets

My favourite pic of the trip

For online bookings
http://www.indianstage.in/?eventId=7242

Kolkata,The City of Joy

This was my second visit to Kolkata.The first one was back in my second year of Engineering when my dad took me there and from where we went on to Agartala.This time I had Abhishek and Deepanjan,Bengalis themselves to help me.

The plan to go to Kolkata was spontaneous.It emerged from the fact that we had five holidays ahead of us and our plans to go to Orissa coudn't materialise properly with a number people dropping off from it. So abhishek and me,having decided that is was a long time since we had met our friend deepanjan, decided to go to Kolkata.So within an hour ,we packed our bags and off we went.Luckily for us, a group of abhishek's friends were going to Kolkata the same night and we joined them.We took two general tickets and in the train we bought sleeper clas tickets from the TC and adjusted with abhishek's friends.A million thanks to them.We took the 8 30pm Howra Mail from Raigarh.

We reached kolkata the next morning at 7 30 am.We said our goodbyes to abhishek's friends and started looking for a hotel around the howrah station.We got a decent hotel nearby.We then called deepanjan and around 10 am he arrived .All that while we were strolling on the British era Howrah Bridge.Here we had a small discussion about the days plan and firstly decided to go to the Esplanade area.So accordingly we boarded a ferry across the River Hoogly to Babughat.From there we walked past the Eden gardens,the maidan and then finally reached the college street and the new market area.We had hot kati rolls here and from there we went on to the famous bakery,Kathleen.Here we had some nice pastries.We then rambled along to the british era Hogg market.Here we sat down and just took in the atmosphere.Kolkata has this strong residual british influence still left in it and it can be seen everywhere.The buildings being the strongest reminder.I spotted some buildings here which were constructed as back as in 1886.After some time here musing about Kolkata, we went inside the market.Everything from keychains to jewelery could be found here.

Sweets at KC Das

New market was next on the list.Here we strolled along looking at the various stuff the stall keepeers had to offer.I bought some small hand bags as souvenirs.Then in the afternoon we went to park street.As deepanjan had some work near Jadavpur University we went there by catching a metro.After his work was done we casually walked around and luckily for us there was a fish stall and eager to have some seafood I quickly orderd fish fry and prawns.Though I was dissipointed by the taste I was content with the fact that I tried something new.Evening came and we went back and decided to have some kebabs in a nearby restuarant.So we went to this 'Singhji ka Dhaba' where we had three types of kebabs and some chicken.We ate our fill and when we were done it was time to part.Deepanjan was to take the local back to home from Howrah.Once again we boarded the ferry from bapughat and had some wonderful views of the city.The howrah bridge was wonderfuly and subtly lit up and was a delight to look at.We parted ways near the Railway Station and abhishek and myself made our way back to our hotel content with the days travels.

Indian Coffee Prince

The next day started off in real earnest.Abhishek and myself got up,had some excellent breakfast of kachori nearby and discussed our plans for the day over breakfast.After this discussion we decided to go visit Rabindranath Tagore's home which has been converted into a museum.Its called Jorashanko Takhurbari.After much asking around the sharp bylanes we found ourselves standing in front of the entrance to Ravindra Bharati University.We strolled inside looking around the small but beautiful campus.Soon we entered the actual home of  Rabindranath Tagore.He came from a rich family and that showed in the size of the house.We skipped in and out of the numerous rooms looking around.There was a whole section dedicated just to the relationship between Rabindranath and Japan.There were 

Hotel Prince

pictures,manuscripts,books,clothes and other items related to him.Apart from us there was a big group of students and a couple of other visitors.There was a chinese couple also.Anyway we spent some time here,took some pics and left the museum in a couple of hours.From here we went to the famous and iconic Indian Coffee House where the likes of Rabindranath Tagore and Subhash Chandra Bose used to come.It is Kolkata's favorite hangout place or what is locally called 'adda'.We had some delicious chicken pakoras and chicken something.The ambience of the hotel was great.

Tram

Our next stop was the famous Victoria Memorial.By the time we reached there by taking trams,buses and metro( just for fun) it was evening.We spent some time in the sprawling gardens around the british marvel and took some great pics.It was dark soon and we made our way to new market next.Everything was beautifully decorated here,with Christmas round the corner.At a roadside stall we had some delicious momos and kebabs.Soon it was dinner time and we went to the famous Prince hotel.We had two types of fish here,Pabda Mach and bowal mach.From here we called it a day and went back to our hotel and the next day we started back for Raigarh.

Highlights of the trip

1- Muffins at Kathleen Bakery.

2- Rasgollos at KC Das.

3- Fish Dishes at Hotel Prince.

4- Rides in Tram,Metro,Ferry and Bus.

5- Snacks in Indian Coffee House.

6- Momos at a roadside stall in New Market.

7- A Walk on the Iconic Howrah Bridge.

8- Rabindra Nath Tagore's House.

9- Walks in and around Hogg Market,New Market and College Street.

10-Chicken and Egg Rol from Hot Kati Rolls.