Among
the several explanations about how the name came up, the most popular one is
from erstwhile village called Dihi Kolikata. Kolkatta is located on the
eastern bank of Hoogly distributary of Ganga river. Many of the tourists
area are covered by Kolkata's Metro Service-which, defying all predictions,
has continued to run smoothly. Distances here are not long either, so taxis
won't break your bank. And there is of course the street car called as tram,
an endangered species in the 21st century. For every new visitor Kolkata is
enfolded in power adjectives; maacher-jhol; roshogulla; Bannerje and
Mukherjee;Chowrangee Lane; Durga Puja; Kali Ghat; trams and many more that
come out gradually.
Tourist Attractions in Kolkata
Eden Garden
If had too much of salty feel of the water just cross the road and reach to
other side called as Eden Garden togather formed with Strand and Esplanade
area. This was one of the main recreational area for British. The gardens
stretches over 50 acres with pathways stretching shrouded by mahogany and
banyan trees. There is a large moat and Three storey pagoda brought from
Dalhousie. The boundaries of Eden Garden is shared by common boundary with
Eden Stadium, the world 's best cricket avenue. You will again have to cross
Strand road to reach in front of Baboo Ghat. It used to be the same ghat
where the Bengali Families came for a dip in Ganga.
Shahid Minar
oni Monument' or in short 'monument'. The monument is amalgamation of three
cultures; Syrian, Turkish and Egyptian. In 1969 it was rechristened as
Shahid Minar to commemorate the Indian freedom fighters. One can have a
panoramic view of Calcutta from the top of Shahid Minar. For that, one has
to secure permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lal Bazaar
(Enquiry) by signing a bond that the venture is undertaken at one's own
risk. From Shahid Minar one can hop to the near by places such as Curzon
Park, Laidlaw Building. Row after row there are places of heritage buildings
and one such building is Hog or New Market.
Victoria Memorial
This comes just after you cross Chowranghee Lane and you will spot this
unofficial symbol of Kolkata. Maintained like no other this is a perfect
piece in Kolkata to visit. This sprawling Baroque building, built entirely
with white marble, along the lines of Taj Mahal was built in 1921. Inside
the building are several exhibition of relics from the colonial past -
paintings, uniforms, arms, photographs, and even a piano used by Queen
Victoria. Adjacent to Victoria Memorial is the average Kolkatan 's favourite
church -St Paul's Cathedral, consecrated in 1939.
Indian Museum
Now you will have to take a different direction after Victoria Memorial and
St Paul Cathedral. It is a stupendous Indian style building with 60
galleries preserving Originally established in 1814, and moved to its
present site in 1878, Calcutta's Indian Museum archeology, art,
anthropology, geology, zoology and industry. Other sections of the museum
contain diverse treasures, such as an Egyptian mummy, the skeleton of a
whale, rare statues and a collection of meteorites.
Botanical Garden
A
mind-blowing repository of 50,000 trees and 157 offshoots hanging from the
original trees, its prime attraction of 404 sq mts. of land. This park is
emplaced on Shibpur area occupying 270 acres with amazing numbers of orchids
and several flowers. Besides the park and shrub species the Botanical Garden
is blessed with library which comprises a rare collection of books on
Botany. The garden houses tree of the rarest kind which rarest collection of
Nepal, Brazil, Penang, Java and Sumatra can be found here.
Rabindra Sadan
The erstwhile home to Rabindranath Nath Tagore, Kolkata reminisces Rabindra
Sadan which is a seat of Bengali culture having Nandan theater hall behind
Rabindra Sadan. The place was patronized by Satyajit Ray and has three
motion picture theaters have the best screening facilities in Calcutta.
Visit this place to see actual Kolkata.
Dakhinseshwara Temple
This temple is located on bank of Ganges near Bally bridge. The are has one
temple of goddess Kali & 12 temples of God Shiva. The place is redolent
with Saint Ramakrishna and his wife Sarada Devi. Waive a temporary bye to
taste the cuisines of Kolkata. Still pending is to browse the street.
Shopping In Kolkatta
Kolkatta has pretty much to offer in terms of shopping and bargain hunting.
It has something to suit every needs. The growth of shopping malls and ritzy
cemented shops has glamorized shopping scene at once. Check out places like
New Markets, Bagri Market, Bowbazar Market, Chandani Market, AC Markets,
College Street, Dakshinapan Shopping Complex. Check out what are these
famous for:
Eating Out In Kolkata
Whatever your budget and taste is,eating out in Kolkata is not at all a
problem. The city is a melting pot of various communities and food is
usually cheap . For good Bengali food try Kewpie's kitchen on Elgin Roa.
Nizam behind New Market, is where the Kathi Roll was invented. It is known
for Mughlai Food. Shiraz on Park Street Mullick Bazaar Crossing, Shabir and
Alia, down Chandani way, also deserve mention . Others in the bracket are
Kwality Peter Cat and Shenaz. Old China Town, around the missing row area is
famous for perfect Chinese breakfast. Eu Chew on Mission Row Extension does
does a fantastic chimney soup. For multi cuisine try Blue Fox, Fung Shyway,
also on the more recent Ar-Han Thai on Avenue is perhaps the only place in
Kolkata which offer authentic Goan and Konkani cuisines, tough you have to
carry your own alcohol. Be sure not to miss Puchka or Churmur at the street
corner vendor's.
How to reach Kolkata
Kolkata Dumdum Airports has daily flights to New Delhi and many other major
cities of the world. Kolkata is served by Howrah and Sealdah Stations well
connected to many parts of India. Travelling road wise is little hectic and
for better knowledge NH2 links Kolkata, Delhi, via Varanasi.
Hotels in Kolkata
Choose from many hotels in Kolkata that gives you a pleasant site of
riverside. Accommodation in Kolkata is a matter of choice, for backpackers
to business people, to settle down with your pick. The gurgling Hoogly marks
your curiosity trip in this city. Whether you want to stay at deluxe hotels
in Kolkata, luxury hotels in Kolkata or budget hotels in Kolkata, you have a
wide range of stay options in Kolkata to choose from. Some of the most
preferred hotels in Kolkata are as follows.
» Golden Park Hotel
» Hotel Hindustan International
» Taj Bengal
» The Oberoi Grand
» The Kenilworth Hotel
» MBD Airport Hotel
» Lytton Hotel
