Common Sense - Never Leave Home Without It
by vpalexander
"A characteristic feature of Kolkata is the para or neighbourhoods having a strong sense of community. Typically, every para has its own community club with a clubroom and often, a playing field. People here habitually indulge in adda or leisurely chat, and these adda sessions are often a form of freestyle intellectual conversation. The city has a tradition of political graffiti depicting everything from outrageous slander to witty banter and limericks, caricatures to propaganda."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata#Culture
The idea of a para is not alien to most of us, but to see it so strongly evident can sometimes be almost unnerving. The sensible traveler will recognize and respect certain boundaries when encountered. Generally this so-sensible meanderer will keep to areas where tourists are commonplace, or at least nothing out of the ordinary. But every so often our curiosity will take us places where both good and bad things can happen - more likely the latter. Being somewhat of a professional at wandering in places I have no business being, I can assure you that it is basic human nature almost all of the time to extend the benefit of the doubt. It probably has to do with our civilization-over-aggression compulsion to avoid conflict, or maybe the fact I look like a harmless, bumbling idiot. Regardless, people seem very forgiving in general. Until your luck runs out, anyway.
Either you are a proper tourist, or you're going to do what you're going to do anyway. May the gods protect us both. :) Well...truthfully...I've never been there.
Beat the Heat-2
by goutammitra
Beat the heat continues. Apart from offering water rides they also allow you to invite your friends for parties, cocktails and also they have conference hall and dining facility. They are now encouraging the corporates to organize their dealers, resellers, even officers meet there. We too have taken our dealers and officers with family for outing. I tell you it's a good outing there with family. You be in the water for whole day, have fun and relax with family. But Aquatica is not the only one offers such facility, there a few places offer such facility.
trams...
by husain
Calcutta trams-- they lend character to the city and are one of the things that go into defining the citys look. However, there is pressure to remove them as they are sometimes the cause of traffic jams. The one way they bring in the moolah these days is by donning the colours of advertisers and by ending up looking like moving billboards.
Rickshaws
by Rupanworld
I don't want to be diplomatic in writing the tip. There are many people earning their living by pulling rickshaws and there is no meaning of not boarding rickshaws on the ground that one will not travel on another person's labour. People boycotting rickshwas will not debar the pullers from the occupation. They need the money and have chosen the means of earning it.
Well I guess no trip to Kolkata can be complete without a ride on the handpulled rickshaw.
South Indian Food at Kolkata!
by goutammitra about Premavilas
Those who know about Kolkata, must know that this place is also known for excellent food at very resonable price. Though I have written about Chinese, Indian, Thai, Moghlai even North Indian Dhaba food but I have never written about the very famous South Indian food of Kolkata city! South Indian Food is very popular in Kolkata or in India as snack or fast food and is available in every street of Kolkata. But there is a sizeable population of South Indians ( Tamils, Kannadigas, Malayalis, & Telegu people from the four states of South India), who are here for centuries and have made Kolkata their home. Their food is also different in taste or flavour from each other but the basic food like the famous Dosas, Idlies, Vadas, Rasams, Upama, Utthapams remains same but with distinct flavour of their own state. They have their very tasty Chettinadu, Udupi etc styles of food.
One such restaurant opened in1942 at Rash ehari Avenue by Mr. Govindan, from the famous Guruvayur region of Kerala called " Premavilas" means "The House of Love". Initially it used to cater to only those from Kerala but it has become very famous among the local Bengalies who are now their major customers. This place is currently being managed by Mr. Premraj G.M. who is the grandson of Mr.Govindan. This place serves only pure vegetarian food. We took our VT friends from Kathmandu Urvashi & husband Dibya Rana on 22nd March for treat of those South Indian vegetarian delicacies. Rakhi, Munu, Urvashi & Dibya has their famous Masala Dosa and Idly. I had selected their vegetarian meal comprising, Puries, Rice, Lentil Soup( dal), Rasam, Payasam, Chutny& curd etc. It was an excellent meal. In the end we also had the delicious South Indian coffee, full of aroma and flavour! Simply heavenly coffee!
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Pre-Christmas
Princep Jetty
The Food court.
The streets of Kolkata
