Treasures in My City

Well, where to start and where to stop, perhaps writing about your own city really a great challenge at least for me. No matter how much I write, it ends up with still something unexplored or uninformed.

You know every inch of your city and never be able to check out all of them. As I’ve already said, there still something “unexplored”. This time I won’t be mentioning anything about bliss, break or get away from your busy life. Rather, I used up my weekends to fulfill my thirst of traversing my very own city, Kolkata.

Kolkata(formerly, Calcutta) has a huge pile of historical notes stuffed under it’s hustling and bustling traffics and metropolitan arena. Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal, India and it was the capital of India under British Raj from 1773-1911. Kolkata is India’s second biggest city and has residents around 45 lakhs according to the statistics of 2011. Starting from traditional Hindu architecture to the Roman Catholic Church. From theme parks to vast open grounds. From Lavish restaurants to streets food. From the branded mall to local roadside markets.

Kolkata is a world to itself.

You cannot cover Kolkata in a single day. So, I decided to explore it in segments.

Victoria Memorial

What symbolizes Kolkata is Victoria Memorial. The first and foremost must go to place. As Taj Mahal defines India, Victoria Memorial defines Kolkata. Positioned near Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Kolkata, and the nearest being the Maidan Metro station. It’s a few minutes walk from the Metro station.

The memorial was architected by William Emerson, President of Royal Institute of British Architects. The design is a blend of British and Mughal elements, with Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architectural influences. The garden was sketched by Lord Redesdale and David Prain. Atop the central dome of the Victoria Memorial is the 16 ft figure of the Angle of Victory. The garden comprises an area of 64 acres, managed by a team of 21 gardeners. The gallery is a repository of rich British culture in Indian history. It reserves oil paintings, and other scripted articles manifesting the Victorian era. It is the core of family gatherings, friends hang out and for someone who seems to have rich taste in arts.

Victoria Memorial is a splendid gift given to the Indians by the Britishers. Before going it’ll be better to check out the timings. As it varies from weekdays to weekends. It would be reasonable if you spend at least three hours over here.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

It’s ten minutes march from Victoria Memorial. Opposing to Birla Planetarium endures the dignified Roman Catholic Church of Kolkata, St. Paul’s Cathedral. Noble, aristocratic, divining architecture demonstrating the rich taste and culture of Christianity. The interior of the church reserves immense findings of the history of the Church. The prayer hall is peaceful and heavenly. Visitors are allowed to seat here as much time as they want. I almost spend near an hour. The serene atmosphere in the prayer hall washes off all your tantrums of your daily life. As if Jesus, himself chanting hymns to your ears and helps you to imbibe all his offerings. No matter how long you stay, you’ll always feel that it’s not enough. I wish I could’ve spent some more time so that I can take up all the gifts that are here to offer.

Heading out of the church, it was almost six, as none of my travel or journey doesn’t achieve without shopping. I availed metro from Maidan Metro Station to Esplanade, coz it was the time to make my wallet to worry a little.😉 

Esplanade Shopping Arcade

One of the oldest and famous street shopping hub of Kolkata. You can get whatever you want as much less as Rs.50 to Rs. 5000.

It is the junction of all local business man who’s life styles responsibility is totally dependent on this place.

After almost making my wallet to weep, I halted in a local food shop and gobbled to kill my appetite.

The Indian Museum

The great Indian Museum is situated in Park Street, Kolkata. The nearest metro station is Park Street.

As the name suggest, Museum, vast repository of the treasures of the past.

From the tiny fossils of extinct insects to the fossils of the gigantic terrestrial mammal who ruled our Earth before we came to existence.

From the wide variety o aquatic animals to the mother’s nature’s canvas in the sky. From the traditional dress to progress in the modern scientific world. The evolution of human beings, the interior artifacts of the palaces and the remains of it are all well preserved under one roof.

It took around four hours to go through all the rich artifacts inside. I don’t know about other museums, but the Indian Museum shows the dedicated and magnificent cultural heritage of India and other countries.

Out of the museum, i booked a cab and set off for Princep ghat.

Prinsep Ghat

Named after James Prinsep, aligned of river Hooghly, and adjacent to Vidyasagar Setu lies beautifully pleasurable place, Princep Ghat.

The place has also got station under its name. And twice a day, we can avail it. It is the best place for all the lovebirds. Everyone over here wished to spend quality time with the view and beauty of nature and also with one another.

If you wanna city break for a day, then this place is a perfect breakup point.

If You want to witness the famous bridges of Kolkata, then of course, you must come here. One side Vidyasagar Setu and on the other side Howrah Bridge.

The sun descending down and when I crossed over my watch, it was already late. So, unfortunately, I had to return.

And, it was time to bid my second weekend a heartwarming goodbye. But, definitely not the place.

Jorasako Thakur Bari

Also referred as Rabindra Bharati Museum.

Well, I really don’t have any words to describe, neither be able to get some perfect ornamental adjectives to yield my experience over here. I wished to capture everything in my camera. But, photography is prohibited. Honestly, thank god it is prohibited. Because few moments is better to be locked in memory than as photocopies in any gadgets.

Doors, hall, bedroom, clothes, utensils, kitchen, mirrors, every corner, every inch of the villa you’ll get the feeling of the world-famous Rabindranath Tagore.

There is nothing much to say, rather, I’ll tell, that I’m not worthy enough to pen about Tagore.

“Greatness” will be a short, rather not gratitude word for him. His efforts, lifestyle, everything is well crafted and preserved in the villa.

The interior of the place was giving me goosebumps. In my wildest dream also, I couldn’t imagine that I’ll be walking on the same floor that was once walked by Rabindranath Tagore.

He stayed there, spend his maximum lifetime here.

(sigh).

Well, I should keep my pens down. Cause, everything can’t be uttered in words.

I spend my entire day, walking through the corridors, looking at the mirrors, reading about the artifacts.

As no vacation gets over without the mouth licking foods. I decided to halt in the famous Quest mall, to hit my appetite.

Strolling moments through the lavish mall…

That comes to the end of my weekends’ safari in Kolkata. There’s a lot more to see, to experience, but for this time that’s all.