Kool Kolkata - Traveller's Treat

- Antara Nag

Kalikata is derived from the Bengali word Kalikshetra, meaning "Ground of the Goddess Kali." , according to some, while a few opine that the city's name derives from the location of its original settlement on the bank of a canal (khal). Some match it to the Bengali words for lime (kali) and burnt shell (kata), since the area was noted for the manufacture of shell-lime. Another opinion is that the name is derived from the Bengali term kilkila (meaning, "flat area"), which is mentioned in the old literature.

Coming to the topic of birth of Calcutta, we must say that Job Charnock cannot be robbed off the glory of being the father of Calcutta (now Kolkata) though according to the recent high court rulings, the city owes its genesis in the Maurya and Gupta period.

Note: On 16th may, 2003 the Hon’ble Kolkata High Court has dismissed the name of Charnock as the city’s founder and 24Th august 1690 as its birthday. This landmark verdict came after the Sabarna Roy Choudhury Paribar Parishad and nine other intellectuals of the city filed a public interest litigation. The verdict was based upon the findings of an expert committee report headed by the famous historian late Sri Nemai Sadhan Basu.

It was an established trading post long before the slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Portuguese, the French or the British established a modern township there. References to the existence of an ancient riverine port (named Kalikata) exist in the travel journals of Chinese scholars and Persian merchants dating from centuries BC. The Hindu epic, Mahabharata, lists the King of "Vanga", as having fought alongside the Kauravas in the great war.

The three villages Kolikata, Sutanuti and Gobindapur were brought from a local merchant by the East India Company. The East India Company led by Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanuti. Ten years later, a fort was built near what is today known as BBD Bag and the consolidated city of Calcutta was set up.

Calcutta was the place that saw the first revolt against the British. Many historians name it the first war of independence, though it is more commonly known as the Sepoy Mutiny, started exactly 100 years before India was declared an independent country. 18th century saw Calcutta as the seat of education and prime trading centre. Many reform movements spawned at Calcutta, and later developed into what is known as Bengal Renaissance.

Calcutta has given India scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose, Prafulla Chandra Roy, Meghnad Saha, and P. C Mahalanbis. Reformers like Rammohan Roy and Vidyasagar. Leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, and great writers like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, and Michael Madhusudan Dutta not to forget the philosopher Swami Vivekananda. Films that are hailed till date as the best made films and sill considered masterpieces such as 'Pather Panchali', 'Aparajito' and 'Apur Sansar' were created (for the word 'made' would understate such a marvelous creation) right there at Calcutta. Directors like Ritwik Ghatak, Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen are but the gems of Calcutta.


The culturally rich Calcutta was officially renamed Kolkata in 2001. People would argue that Kolkata has lost its charms in form of great writers, filmmakers and musicians but can anyone deny the soft soil that nurtures soft minds? A huge heart right at the centre of Kolkata beats beside the lung of every individual in Kolkata. It is softness, helpfulness, a mind that appreciates and understands beauty that gives such an individual flavour to Kolkata. The dirty streets may repulse some, but those who can connect with the heart at the centre know what a gem in that dirt, Kolkata is. Something is there in the mind and soul of Kolkata (by which I mean Kolkatans) that lives and thinks like true human beings that knows how to love.


If you wish to connect with the heart of Kolkata, don't wait.here's all the information you have been looking for


The Places of interest would include:

1) Academy of Fine Arts - Established in 1933. Academy of Fine Arts exhibits works of contemporary artists throughout the year. Group theatres and dance programmes are performed in a hall inside. The Rabindra gallery exhibits manuscripts, paintings and personal belongings of Tagore.
Open 3-8 p.m.

2) Agri Horticultural Garden - Agri-Horticultural Gardens are situated in Alipore and was founded by William Carey in 1820. This garden has a significant collection of botanical varieties with facilities for gardeners and plant/flower lovers. This garden is adjacent to the Calcutta's Zoological Garden. Open: 7:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:00-5:00p.m.

3) Asiatic Society - The institution is located at 1, Park Street (in the junction of Park Street and J.L.Nehru Road). It was founded by Sir William Jones in 1784 with Warren Hastings as its first patron. The library inside has approximately 20,000 volumes inclusive of 8,000 rare Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and Hindi manuscripts. It is also rich with archaeological relics, geological and ethnological specimens.

4) Asutosh Museum of Indian Art - Located at Centenary building of University of Calcutta. This museum has rare and valuable collections including Bengal patachitra paintings, 'katha shilpo' art etc.

5) Belur Math- 6 kms from Howrah station, Belur Math is on the bank of the river Hooghly. Built in 1899, it gives a picturesque view of Belur math and Ramakrishna temple. The Ramakrishna mission runs among other things, an art college, an industrial school and charitable dispensary.

6) Birla Academy of Art and Culture- Located at 108, Southern Avenue, Birla Academy of Art and Culture have a good collection of paintings and sculptures. Regular exhibitions of art and sculpture are organised here.

7) Birla Industrial and Technological Museum- Established in 1966 at 19A, Gurusaday Road ( at the junction of Gurusaday Rd and Syed Amir Ali Avenue ) , it displays industrial and technological models.

8) Birla Planetarium - One of the largest planetariums in Asia, Birla planetarium was inaugurated on 29th September, 1962. The internal diameter of the tomb is 82 feet and the air conditioned auditorium that can accommodate 500 people has seats that can be inclined backwards to give you a neck ache free heavenly view. The shows are in Hindi, English and Bengali.

9) Botanical Gardens, Shibpur- Situated at Shibpur, Howrah, Botanical garden was founded in 1786 on the bank of the river Hooghly. The 270 acre has around 50,000 different kinds of plants, trees and herbs. The oldest banyan tree is a little younger than Kolkata. It has seen 250 years.

10) Calcutta Museum ( Town Hall )- Calcutta Museum is a hi-tech story-telling museum. Events of historic importance are recreated here with animation sound and light that promises a lasting impression on the minds of the visitors. Town Hall is located near High Court and is open to all everyday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except second and fourth Saturday of a month, Sundays and other official holidays.

11) Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA)- Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA) is situated near the Birla Temple, at Ballygunge Phari.

12) Dakshineswar Temple - Situated on the bank of the Ganges near Bally Bridge. Dakshineswar temple boasts of one kali temple & 12 Lord Shiva temples. The air is full of the smell of saint Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi.

13) Eden Gardens- In 1835, Mrs. Eden, sister of Lord Auckland, laid out Eden Gardens. A garden with a Burmese pagoda and a band stand hosts a cricket stadium which can accommodate 85000 people.

14) Fort William-Situated on the bank of river Hooghly and named after king William III. The fort occupies five square kilometers and has six gates. Permission is required from the Commanding Officer to visit the arsenal inside. It is indeed worth visiting.

15) Howrah Bridge- Kolkata is almost always characterized by this brigde. A fine specimen of structural workmanship, this bridge connects Calcutta and Howrah over river Hooghly. It was completed in 1941. Length main span: 450 meter, length of drop in span: 172 meter, height: 82 meter.

16) Indian Museum- Established in 1814 and commonly known as 'Jadughar'. It is one of the biggest and oldest museums in Asia. It has more than 54000 archaic coins which are almost 2400 years old.

17) Jorasanko Thakurbari & Rabindra Bharati Museum - Rabindranath Tagore was born here and he breathed his last here as well. The museum stores Tagore's clothes and other accessories that he used.

18) Kalighat Kali Temple- Famous Hindu temple situated at Kalighat

19) Nehru Children Museum- Exhibits a gteat collection of dolls from all over the world. The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are depicted through dolls.

20) Nakhoda Mosque- At the junction of Rabindra Sarani and Zakaria Street, is the biggest Muslim Mosque in Calcutta. Resembling the Mughal emperor Akbar's tomb at Sekendra, the mosque can accommodate 10,000 devotees.

21) National Library- Biggest library in India. It is located at Belvedere House in Alipore. It was earlier known as the Imperial Library. It consists of around 1800000 books and documents in a variety of languages.

22) Nicco Park (Jheel Meel)- The Disney Land of West Bengal, a theme park located at Salt Lake.

23)Octerlony Monument ( Sahid Minar)-48 meter ( 218 steps ) high monument near Chowranghee. It was erected in recognition of the services of Sir David Octerlony who brought the Nepal war (1812-1814) to a successful end. iits name was changed to 'Sahid Minar' im 1969. You can get a bird's eye view of the Calcutta from the top.

23) Pareshnath Temple- Located at Belgachi, its sculpture is worth a view.

24) Science City - Located in the east side near Dhapa. It is a science museum with a whole lot of attractions. The space Odyssey, Dynamotion, Life Science Corners, Science Park, Toy Train and Ropeway are but a few of the attractions. Space Time Rocket takes you to the cavity of an erupting volcano or takes you back to the days of pyramids. It is an experience to be remembered.

25) St. Paul's Church- Built in 1847, this wonderful building is 24 meter high.

26) St. John's Church - Situated near B.B.D. Bag on Hastings Street, this church built in the model of the Greeks is 200 years old and 174 feet high. The grave of Job Charnok, the founder of Calcutta is very near this place.

27) Victoria Memorial- A beautiful monument built in memory of Queen Victoria. It is made of Jodhpuri white marble. It stands in the south east corner of the Maidan. It was opened for public view in 1921. There are enormous oil paintings in the Royal Gallery illustrating episodes from Queen Victoria's eventful life - an impressive collection of the British colonial period.

28) Vidyasagar Setu - Popularly known as second Howrah bridge, the Vidyasagar setu connects Calcutta to Howrah. A staid cable bridge, broad enough to accommodate six cars side by side makes the bridge a great piece of architecture. Main span length 457 meters and pylon height is 127 meters.

29) Zoo Gardens, Alipore- Comprising an area of 16 hector, this zoo has a large collection of animals, from rare to the common ones.


Enough of traveling you would say, now it's time to take a break, well! Yes Kolkata can serve you with such a royal lip smacking variety that you would wish to stay put right there. The aroma is delicious enough to make to dream of food even if you do not happen to be a faddie.

So, here you are with a list of lip smacker services, if you wish to dine the bengali way, you can try out Aheli at Peerless Inn.umm.it's gourmand perfect! You crave for north western cuisine? Zarang can solve your problem. Chinoiserie at Taj Bengal can take to right to China and Palm Court to Thailand.

Amber's ambience and mughlai food is worth a try and Macambo at Free School Street can make you go around the world with its continental varieties. Zen can serve your yen for Chinese and so can Mainland China.

The happening restaurants at Park Street serve you with palatable plates, be it good old Blue Fox, Bar - b- q or the all new Marco Polo in China, all of them will make you drool over the food!

You can let your hair down at Tantra or caress your ears with the classy music at Some Place Else.

As for you stay, you can choose the five stars like Taj Bengal, ITC Sonar Bangla, Hyatt Regency, The Park or HHI. Peerless Inn, Stadle and Sojourn can give you a world class feel. If you want to get your penny's worth, try hotel Lindsay, Udayachal Tourist Lodge or Royal Garden. This is but only a few of them. Consult the tourist operators or travel agents like:

. Altair Services - 92 Hazra Road, 1st fl, Ananda Bhavan, Calcutta 700026
Phone: 4747833 Fax: 4747832

. Aviana Travels - Hotel Hindusthan International, Room No. 104, First Floor
235/1, AJC Bose Road, Calcutta 700020, Phone: 91-33-247-5316/280 6535/287 0609 Fax : 91-33-240-9280 (Warning...uses Flash)

. Gainwell Travel and Leisure - 8, Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani, Calcutta - 700 071
Phone: 282 6667/5315 Fax: 91-33-282 9423

. Peerless Travel - 1, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta- 700 069
Phone: 91 33 2487181/91 33 2487197 Fax: 91 33 2104123/91 33 2286650

. Royal Tours and Travel - 100/2, N.S.C. Bose Road, Calcutta - 700040 and
13/1/1, Madhu Sudan Pal Chowdhury 1st Lane, Howrah - 1
Phone : 471-0330

. Sanraj Tours - 29 Ballygunge Terrace , Golpark, Calcutta -- 700 029
Phone: (+91) (033) 460 0599/440 7124 Fax: (0091) (033) 440 8768

. Wayfarers India (Trekking and Exploratory Tours) - 6B, Sultan Alam Road, (Beside Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station), Calcutta 700 033 Phone +91-33-4172463 4136562 (Office) +91-33-4130960 (Res) Fax +91-33-4172463

Treat your eyes, mind and tummy to an unforgettable experience called Kolkata.     Come, and you'll know what I mean. See you around sometime.

*Antara Nag

M.A. in english and with a P.G. Diploma in Mass communication,  passionate about writing.

You may mail your queries to the author at antara.nag@gmail.com