Kolkata–Kalikkhetro

The beauty of eastern India – its metropolitan hub. And vibrant hues of reds, yellows, blues and greens. Yes, it’s time for Durga Puja in Kolkata. The time when the fairy tales you read from gold embossed books in childhood seem to come alive.

               
                                                 http://durgawalls.com/2009/09/24/durga-puja-2009-jodhpur-park/

                           
                          http://cshyamal.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/10/a-photo-feature-on-durgapuja-in-calcutta-2008-part.htm; 

It is said that the name comes from Kalikata – meaning Kalikshettro , the abode of Goddess Kali - one of the 3 villages that was present in the area before the arrival of the British. Take a walk here and you are transported back in time. With a history of inhabitation for over two millennia, once the capital of the British Raj and presently the 8th largest urban conglomeration in the world, this city has more layers than meets the eye. One second, the Victoria Memorial catches your breath and the next, before you realise, an antique tram has subtly gone past you!

                                              
                                      http://traveltoindias.blogspot.com/2010/06/victoria-memorial-kolkatta.html

As a newcomer to Bengal, if you do not know the sweet tongue of Rabindranath Tagore, fear not, my friends! For the people are so warm and friendly. They will even invite you home to try out some of the famous delicacies. And talking about food, who can not mention Rasogullas – ah, the heavenly taste of sugar syrup and homemade cottage cheese! Note: There are several of Haldiram’s outlets around the city. If you wish for a more authentic flavour, you can try out the local sweet joints snugly squeezed into the corners at crossroads

     
     http://funnfud.blogspot.com/2008/04/rasgulla-traditional-bengali-sweet.html
                               
                        
The transport modes are a highlight to any tourist – such a wide variety is not present in any other city in India. Comfortably seated in the trademark good-old yellow Ambassador taxis, which are the lifeline of Kolkata, you can spot horse-carriages along Maidan Road, trams  playing hide-and-seek every once in a while, buses – news ones as well as the older generation with wooden window shutters, cycle rickshaws and hand rickshaws, autos and yes, cars – from BMW models to the cosy Nano.

                         

http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/8138/Calcutta-A-beautiful-city-of-India-_Means-of-transport_15761.jpg

            
                     
                  http://www.rakhdu.com/destinations/asia/india-asia-destinations/west-bengal/kolkata/yellow-taxi-kolkata/

                      
                                                http://www.filmapia.com/published/places/trams

Places to see here? If you are an ardent cricket fan, you will look no farther than Eden Stadium and Sourav Ganguly’s residence.
       

http://crazyharsha.blogspot.com/2009/01/saurav-ganguly-living-legend-of-indian.html


For those of you who admire engineering marvels, Howrah Bridge is the place to be. It is a cantilever truss bridge that was constructed without using any nuts and bolts way back in 1874. Amazing, isn’t it?

                

http://vashiculturalassociation.com/template1/places-in-calcutta.asp; 

Looking for family entertainment with kids? Relax your worries, Kolkata offers that too – with its beautiful Nicco Park and the Science Centre!
                  
For a walk through history, there is the privately owned Marble Palace with its artistic sculptures and masterpieces, the Indian Museum, the Town Hall and Writer’s Building for a glimpse of British Administrative buildings and the Shaheed Minar to name a few.
                       

Finally, at the end of the day, wish to sweep your special one off her feet? Take her shopping – to the gigantic malls in Salt Lake City  and elsewhere or if she loves bargaining and the excitement of roadside shopping, New Market, Esplanade, Gariahat, Chowringhee Road with its terracotta wares [a Kolkata speciality] and Vardaan Market. However, you are sure to discover lots more markets in your travels.

The cultural capital of India, this city welcomes you with an open heart and casts a spell on you with its depth. How many ever times you come here, its never enough. There is always more to be seen, known, observed, experienced.
Keep visiting it. Again and again. Its worth every bit of it.

P.S: Traffic congestion and pollution are one of the major drawbacks of this metropolitan hub. Make sure you go at a favourable time of the year, unless you wish to be drenched in sweat and scorched by the sharp sun. Lastly, beware of taxi drivers who might take you for more of a ride than you’ve bargained for.