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New Indian Express
November 13, 2014 Thursday
The Top 20 Unmissable Experiences in the City of Joy
BENGALURU
BENGALURU, Nov. 13 -- Kolkata, the grand doyen of the East, where
history is a living, breathing root of the city, providing it the
nourishment to limp through its not-s0-glorious present. Kolkata, the
city which nurtures art, culture, music and poetry and also sounds the
death knell for commerce and industry. Kolkata, a haven for immigrants
and refugees, from the handful of Jews and Armenians to the
disappearing Chinese who made this city their nerve centre and
established their culinary sway over India through their hybrid food.
Kolkata, a city where Christmas is a state festival, celebrated with
fervour and excitement-a city that knows its Christmas carols and the
right consistency of the plum pudding-a knowledge gleaned through the
British Raj and the vibrant Anglo-Indian community.
Kolkata, a city of political idealism and idealistic kerfuffles.
Kolkata, a city of fabulous food, madness, contradictions and great
beauty to the eyes of a somewhat biased observer like me. However,
partiality aside, here is a list of the top 20 things to do in the
city, things that would complete any tourist's itinerary and remain
the much-loved nostalgia-inspiring treats for an erstwhile Cal cuttan
returning to his or her home.Take a boat ride on the Hooghly that
snakes its way through the city. This is a great way to watch the life
on the banks, unravelling before your eyes in a slow and unrushed
manner. Late afternoon is the best time to hire one of the numerous
noukas or country boats at the Princep Ghat. Watch the sky change
colours as the boatman rows you into a golden sunset.
Go on a tonga ride around the Victoria Memorial in the evening.
Especially enjoyable in winter. While this activity might be obviously
touristy, there is some amount of charm in the ride around the
greenest and prettiest part of the city. Take your loved one, climb on
to the carriage and slip into another era. Tongas are available for
hire in front of the Victoria Memorial.
Indulge in the unforgettable rich plum cake from Nahoums, an Armenian
bakery in New Market which used to make the best Christmas cakes and
remains a part of every Calcuttan's Christmas itinerary. While the
last Armenian owner just passed away, his employees continue to run
this age-old establishment.
Catch the best live music in town at Someplace Else in the Park Hotel.
This iconic bar has developed an identity of its own, nurturing new
musicians and initiating generations of young people into the hallowed
world of rock n roll. Whatever be your favoured style-blues, jazz, or
good old-fashioned rock n roll, Someplace Else provides something for
every kind of music aficionado.
Olypub is a dusty old character-laden bar on Park Street which is a
good place to catch a quick beer and a fine Steak Chateaubriand. They
grill this meat in magical ways and rare, medium or well done you are
likely to get a surprisingly wonderful steak as well as some great
conversation with the regulars who patronize the joint. While a recent
fire shut the establishment, everyone is waiting for the pub to
reopen.
Eat a chello kebab platter at the Peter Cat restaurant. This entirely
appropriated version of an Irani classic with succulent mutton/chicken
kebabs on a skewer, buttery rice, roasted vegetables and an egg fried
sunny side up on top, makes it a perfect symphony of flavours. No
wonder hundreds of chello kebab platters roll out of the restaurant's
kitchens.
Visit Kumartuli to check out this artisan community that showcases
some of the most beautiful art work by local craftsmen, sculptors and
potters as they make idols of gods and goddesses. Visit in the run-up
to the Durga Puja to see the colony buzzing with activity.
Eat the typical and mouth-watering Kolkata-style biryani at Arsalan,
complete with the saffron grains of rice, melt-the-mouth chunks of
meat, whole fragrant potatoes and a boiled egg.
Take a tram ride down Red Road, the central artery of the city. This
is a lovely way of enjoying this laidback and historical city and the
ride is through the Maidan, which is one of the greenest stretches in
Kolkata.
Revisit Tagore's life at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home
of the Tagores.
The house has been restored and converted into a museum and gives
visitors an insight into the life and influences of this noble father
of Bengali art, music and culture.
Discover the marvellous architecture and history of the erstwhile
zamindars, intellectuals and student revolutionaries on a North
Kolkata walk. The labyrinthine lanes of the old city offer surprises
at every turn and an organized walk by companies like Calcutta Walks
or a resident who knows the history of the area can add value to your
wanderings in this atmospheric part of the city.
Visit a traditional fish market and watch the innumerable fresh fish
on display as well as the whole process of assessing, bargaining and
buying. Mornings at the Gariahat Market are a good time to experience
an ordinary day in the life of a fish market.
Take in the imposing Gothic architecture of St Paul's Cathedral in the
heart of the city. The seat of the Anglican Diocese of Kolkatta, this
is a grand sprawling structure with an awe-inspiring midnight mass on
Christmas eve.
Volunteer or simply visit Mother House, the headquarters of the
Missionaries of Charity, which has great historical value as the
one-time abode and resting place of Mother Teresa.
Don't miss a photo-op at the Malik Ghat flower market thriving on the
banks of the Hooghly. This colourful mess of all kinds of beautiful
fresh flowers, right below the Howrah Bridge is a sensory early
morning experience.
Visit Calcutta University and Presidency College, world renowned
academic institutions, which are worth a visit for their architectural
styles. Take a walk down the corridors that have produced numerous
eminent personalities. Both are on College Street
Victoria Memorial might be an odd relic from the Raj. but it is grand,
opulent and worth a trip. Its lovely lawns under the shadow of a
massive statue of Queen Victoria are a great picnic spot.
Give in to your religious side at the Kalighat temple. This chaotic
and ancient temple is much venerated as one of the 51 Shakti peethas
and is believed to be the spot where the toes of the Goddess Sati fell
to earth.
Do not miss a football match in progress at one of the clubs in the
Maidan to get a feel between the legendary rivalry between the Mohan
Bagan and East Bengal football teams. The practice matches are usually
free and there is a lot of good natured ribbing that goes on during
the game as supporters gather on to cheer their favourites.
Stay at the Fairlawn Hotel which is renowned for its famous guests
like Dominique Lapierre, Shashi Kapoor (there is a room named after
him). The hotel has a cluttered Victorian air and till very recently,
had a wonderful proprietor, the indomitable Mrs Violet Smith, who
would watch over single female travelers with a watchful eye and would
regale anyone willing to listen with stories of a bygone era.
From: Baghdasarian
November 13, 2014 Thursday
The Top 20 Unmissable Experiences in the City of Joy
BENGALURU
BENGALURU, Nov. 13 -- Kolkata, the grand doyen of the East, where
history is a living, breathing root of the city, providing it the
nourishment to limp through its not-s0-glorious present. Kolkata, the
city which nurtures art, culture, music and poetry and also sounds the
death knell for commerce and industry. Kolkata, a haven for immigrants
and refugees, from the handful of Jews and Armenians to the
disappearing Chinese who made this city their nerve centre and
established their culinary sway over India through their hybrid food.
Kolkata, a city where Christmas is a state festival, celebrated with
fervour and excitement-a city that knows its Christmas carols and the
right consistency of the plum pudding-a knowledge gleaned through the
British Raj and the vibrant Anglo-Indian community.
Kolkata, a city of political idealism and idealistic kerfuffles.
Kolkata, a city of fabulous food, madness, contradictions and great
beauty to the eyes of a somewhat biased observer like me. However,
partiality aside, here is a list of the top 20 things to do in the
city, things that would complete any tourist's itinerary and remain
the much-loved nostalgia-inspiring treats for an erstwhile Cal cuttan
returning to his or her home.Take a boat ride on the Hooghly that
snakes its way through the city. This is a great way to watch the life
on the banks, unravelling before your eyes in a slow and unrushed
manner. Late afternoon is the best time to hire one of the numerous
noukas or country boats at the Princep Ghat. Watch the sky change
colours as the boatman rows you into a golden sunset.
Go on a tonga ride around the Victoria Memorial in the evening.
Especially enjoyable in winter. While this activity might be obviously
touristy, there is some amount of charm in the ride around the
greenest and prettiest part of the city. Take your loved one, climb on
to the carriage and slip into another era. Tongas are available for
hire in front of the Victoria Memorial.
Indulge in the unforgettable rich plum cake from Nahoums, an Armenian
bakery in New Market which used to make the best Christmas cakes and
remains a part of every Calcuttan's Christmas itinerary. While the
last Armenian owner just passed away, his employees continue to run
this age-old establishment.
Catch the best live music in town at Someplace Else in the Park Hotel.
This iconic bar has developed an identity of its own, nurturing new
musicians and initiating generations of young people into the hallowed
world of rock n roll. Whatever be your favoured style-blues, jazz, or
good old-fashioned rock n roll, Someplace Else provides something for
every kind of music aficionado.
Olypub is a dusty old character-laden bar on Park Street which is a
good place to catch a quick beer and a fine Steak Chateaubriand. They
grill this meat in magical ways and rare, medium or well done you are
likely to get a surprisingly wonderful steak as well as some great
conversation with the regulars who patronize the joint. While a recent
fire shut the establishment, everyone is waiting for the pub to
reopen.
Eat a chello kebab platter at the Peter Cat restaurant. This entirely
appropriated version of an Irani classic with succulent mutton/chicken
kebabs on a skewer, buttery rice, roasted vegetables and an egg fried
sunny side up on top, makes it a perfect symphony of flavours. No
wonder hundreds of chello kebab platters roll out of the restaurant's
kitchens.
Visit Kumartuli to check out this artisan community that showcases
some of the most beautiful art work by local craftsmen, sculptors and
potters as they make idols of gods and goddesses. Visit in the run-up
to the Durga Puja to see the colony buzzing with activity.
Eat the typical and mouth-watering Kolkata-style biryani at Arsalan,
complete with the saffron grains of rice, melt-the-mouth chunks of
meat, whole fragrant potatoes and a boiled egg.
Take a tram ride down Red Road, the central artery of the city. This
is a lovely way of enjoying this laidback and historical city and the
ride is through the Maidan, which is one of the greenest stretches in
Kolkata.
Revisit Tagore's life at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home
of the Tagores.
The house has been restored and converted into a museum and gives
visitors an insight into the life and influences of this noble father
of Bengali art, music and culture.
Discover the marvellous architecture and history of the erstwhile
zamindars, intellectuals and student revolutionaries on a North
Kolkata walk. The labyrinthine lanes of the old city offer surprises
at every turn and an organized walk by companies like Calcutta Walks
or a resident who knows the history of the area can add value to your
wanderings in this atmospheric part of the city.
Visit a traditional fish market and watch the innumerable fresh fish
on display as well as the whole process of assessing, bargaining and
buying. Mornings at the Gariahat Market are a good time to experience
an ordinary day in the life of a fish market.
Take in the imposing Gothic architecture of St Paul's Cathedral in the
heart of the city. The seat of the Anglican Diocese of Kolkatta, this
is a grand sprawling structure with an awe-inspiring midnight mass on
Christmas eve.
Volunteer or simply visit Mother House, the headquarters of the
Missionaries of Charity, which has great historical value as the
one-time abode and resting place of Mother Teresa.
Don't miss a photo-op at the Malik Ghat flower market thriving on the
banks of the Hooghly. This colourful mess of all kinds of beautiful
fresh flowers, right below the Howrah Bridge is a sensory early
morning experience.
Visit Calcutta University and Presidency College, world renowned
academic institutions, which are worth a visit for their architectural
styles. Take a walk down the corridors that have produced numerous
eminent personalities. Both are on College Street
Victoria Memorial might be an odd relic from the Raj. but it is grand,
opulent and worth a trip. Its lovely lawns under the shadow of a
massive statue of Queen Victoria are a great picnic spot.
Give in to your religious side at the Kalighat temple. This chaotic
and ancient temple is much venerated as one of the 51 Shakti peethas
and is believed to be the spot where the toes of the Goddess Sati fell
to earth.
Do not miss a football match in progress at one of the clubs in the
Maidan to get a feel between the legendary rivalry between the Mohan
Bagan and East Bengal football teams. The practice matches are usually
free and there is a lot of good natured ribbing that goes on during
the game as supporters gather on to cheer their favourites.
Stay at the Fairlawn Hotel which is renowned for its famous guests
like Dominique Lapierre, Shashi Kapoor (there is a room named after
him). The hotel has a cluttered Victorian air and till very recently,
had a wonderful proprietor, the indomitable Mrs Violet Smith, who
would watch over single female travelers with a watchful eye and would
regale anyone willing to listen with stories of a bygone era.
From: Baghdasarian