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Kolkata
Travel Guide by Vinay Chaubey
Kolkata
is the largest metropolis in India, Calcutta is a vibrant city on the
move, volatile and unpredictable. The Gateway to India, till 1912, and
the capital of the Raj in India, it still bears the Victorian imprint on
its streets and structures. A city just about ready to burst at the
seams, Calcutta is home to more than 10 million people. The Ganga (called
the Hooghly in Calcutta) is still the inspiration, as it was to Job
Charnok, East India Company agent, who reached the shores in August 1690,
to found the city. Calcutta, after London, was the British Empire's
second city.
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Places of Interest in
Kolkata
Birla
Planetarium:
Only
the second of its kind in the commonwealth and similar to that in
London. Regular astronomical shows are presented here with commentaries
in different languages. Shows are held on all days excluding Mondays.
Dakshineswar
Kali Temple Belur Math :
Built
in 1847, on the banks of the Hooghly, north of Calcutta, the temple is
associated with Shri Ramakrishna, the eclectic 19th century saint who
revived Hinduism during the British Raj. Across the river stands Belur
Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. The Monastery is a haven of
peace and religious harmony.
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Marble
Palace :
Situated
in an artistically laid-out garden, the place is full of rare collection
of antiques of immense artistic and historical value. Wonderful curios,
china and a couple of paintings by Rubens are only a few to mention of
the spectrum of attractions of the palace. The Marble Palace is situated
on Muktaram Babu Street, off Chittaranjan Avenue. Open on all days except
Mondays and Thursdays.
Kolkata
Fairs & Festivals:
Durga
Puja, the most important and the most popular of all Bengali festivals is
the Durga puja. It is celebrated throughout the state, but with great
grandeur in Calcutta. There are some ancestral houses in Calcutta where
Durga puja is being observed over decades and even over centuries.
Kolkata
People & Lifestyle
Calcutta
is the home of the Bengalis - volatile in politics, sports lover,
intellectual, romantic with a unique sensibility. To whom every activity
is a commitment of passionate intensity - be it a religious festival,
soccer matches, political demonstrations, music, art, poetry reading,
eating or adda (chat sessions).
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Calcutta breeds culture:
Rabindranath Tagore gave
Bengal new composite music, dance drama and literature. Sitar maestro
Pandit Ravi Shankar internationalized Indian Classical music. Jamini
Roy revived folk painting. Uday Shankar created a new dance form.
Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) introduced a new genre of
performing arts. Ustad Allauddin Khan created a new orchestra and
famous film maker Satyajit Ray's home and canvas was Calcutta.
Kolkata
Cuisine:
The
Bengali fondness for good food is legendary. Exotic Bengali cuisine is
available at selected restaurants like Suruchi and Aheli (Peerless
Inn). To experience the true taste of traditional cooking, it is best
to befriend a Bengali. His hospitality will definitely include a meal!
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Excursions
in Kolkata:
Botanical
Gardens, located 8 kms from Calcutta on the west bank of Ganga are the
famous Botanical Gardens. The highlight of the Gardens is the 200 year
old banyan tree, said to be the largest in the world. The tree is 26
meters high with a circumference of approximately 900 feet.
About
the Author: Vinay Chaubey SEO Manager For more details on Places of
Interest in Kolkata visit www.times2travel.com
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