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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
