Oh Kolkata!!

There is this path marked with artificial footprints that marks the route Netaji Subhash Bose took- to escape from his house (from Brit Custody) way back in the 40’s. I stood there- in his study- spent a few quiet minutes for I was the only visitor at the Netaji memorial at Elgyn road in Kolkata. These minutes marked the defining moments in this trip of mine to Kolkata.

Etmad, Ittefaaq and Qurbani so remarkably define the spirit that Netaji lived for and died for. I left the place with a choke in my throat.

May I request you to go through this before you read the subsequent paragraphs. Maybe the lines in the referred blog will tell you about my love for Bengal- and anything/ anybody related to Bengal.

I landed on a lazy hot afternoon in Kolkata. Kolkata was still sulking from the insult meted out to Ganguly by Kolkata Knight Riders. The cab driver had plenty of nice words for Saa-Rooq-Kaahn.

This was my opportunity to try out the dancing-coffee at Udupi hotel near Esplanade. This one is at CR avenue. The experience was more wonderful than was described by very dear friend- RawBean dada, a most wonderful Bongo-bondhu from Kolkata.

Once the snack of special sada dosa (ney-roast) was over, I proceeded to visit the bhurld-phamose K.Shi. Das at the Esplanade junction, a stone’s throw from Udupi. The rosogullas were good- but a trifle lower than my expectations. I would strongly recommend the dahi wada there- never had better dahi wada anywhere and the Roso-Moloncho and the Malpua- ekdOm mOst hOi.

I had planned my evening out- a repeat trip to Dokkhineswar and Belur Math. The experience was as lovely as I’ve mentioned in my other blog. Standing at Vivekananda’s samadhi-sthal can give you goosebumps.

To those of you traveling for the phorst taim too Kolkata, I would recommend that you take a tram ride- from nobhere in porticulor to nobhere in porticulor. I did Esplanade to Dalhousie Square and I was the only one on the tram besides the driver and the conductor. Delightful!!

The next day began early with a visit to Kalighat. The pandits can get on to your nerves here too. The temple may be jam packed on holidays- or so I was told. The streets or Saranis around the tame-pal are bustling with flower sellers and sellers of Puja materials. One does run into the occasional vegetable seller. A walk trip around the area is highly recommended.

I move on to Victoria memorial. I am going there after 19 long years.

As I saw a child walking around there with a straw hat, I had a sense of déjà vu. My parents had gotten me one such hat there and I’d gleefully forgotten the hat in the train on the way back to Kerala. Very vivid memories also of the white pebbles in the complex.

The memorial has a wonderful collection of Angrezon ke zamaane ki artifacts. My personal favourites were the paintings of the Jantar Mantar and Jama Masjid in Delhi in the early 1700’s. The paintings are both very descriptive and it is hard to imagine the surrounding areas minus the modern day Connaught Place and the sights of Purani Dilli.i closed my eyes visualizing Jantar Mantar without CP around- I failed. Another interesting one was a snap of Pt. Nehru and the family of Chiang Kai Shek enjoying a Bengali Thali sitting on the floor. A very recommended drink is the masala cola (and the masala shikanji) sold outside the complex.

The MP Birla planetarium is a 5 minute walk away; the taramondal show there is a major let down though. It is interesting to watch the kids play football in the sprawling Moidan in the area. The jhaal muri sold outside the planetarium along with masala soda is highly recommended.

Bengal has a rich history of art and sciences. The Birla technology museum serves to enhance the scientific awareness in children. A visit to the mock coal mines and the 3D theatre is recommended- even for adults.

There is this place called Kew Pees at Elgyn road- my friend Suhrid (pronounced as Shu-hh-wreed) calls it famous. (Lonely Planet agrees with him) He called it an awesome place. The expectations were high- the food is good, but a trifle overrated and very over-priced. The place serves authentic Bong Phhood. All said and done, worth a visit.

As I leave Kolkata to come back to Delhi, I come back with plenty of beautiful memories- again. Kolkata beckons me again… I shall come back soon again.

This one is dedicated to all the wonder bongs in my life.