Kolkata (Calcutta) Favorites

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Fondest memory: The streets of Kolkata are busy, like it is in most of the cities in India. But it seams to be more accepted with human povered rickshaws and people sitting/sleeping in the streets. The chaotice atmosphere is the charm of Kolkata.

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Fondest memory: Whenever you change money in Kolkata you have to declare the transaction on a receipt. They call it an encashment certificate. "We hereby certify that we have purchased today foreign currency... bla, bla...", and you have to show your passport, write down passport number, name and sign the letter. Bureaucracy!

Fondest memory: The Hindus consider the cows in India as holy and they are allowed to freely roam the cities whatever traffic around. This looks strange to foreigners, but you will get used to it. It is always like that everywhere you go. The hindus believe the cows are wise and show a motherly calm.

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Fondest memory: Ambassador Classic ("The king of Indian roads") is a car manufactured by Hindustan Motors of India. It has been in production since 1948 with few modifications or changes. And you really feel it when you enter the car. The car is a slow rattletrap with bad brakes. I felt unsecure in the car. Nearly all the taxis in Kolkata were Ambassador Classics.

Favorite thing: Kolkata has so many hidden 'gems' of architecural and historic value.One has to look beyond the grimy shopfronts in the crowded narrow lanes in order to suddenly spot a beautiful archway, or graceful latticed marble balcony. The city was known as 'The City of Palaces' because of its palatial homes. Most are still there, but modernity has encrouched, and their once magnificent gardens have been turned into parking areas and hawker stalls.
In Sudder Street, which is THE back-packer paradise of Kolkata- there stands a wonderful marble bust of Rabindranath Tagore- Kolkata's favourite son. It is covered with dust and bird droppings, and has not seen a clean in ages. I spotted it quite by chance. One would hope that these sort of monuments would be looked after.
Unfortunately- we came upon many examples of such neglect and decay in Kolkata. The only possible conclusion that I could come to is that maybe Kolkatans have other priorities. Its a very tough city, with an overloaded infrastructure and population.
We bought a wonderful book in Park Street, at the Oxford Bookstore, which is a guide to walking in Kolkata. I suggest that the purchase of this book will make your visit to Kolkata that much more memorable. We certainly found it to be invaluable.
A Jaywalker's Guide to Calcutta- by Soumitra Das will take you on an unimaginable adventure, and you will see the other side of the city, when it was really The City of Palaces.

Fondest memory: I miss the energy and vibrancy of this city- there is something new to discover around every crowded corner and in every mysterious narrow lane.

Favorite thing: "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. :)

Fondest memory: Well...truthfully...I've never been there.

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Favorite thing: Like in any other country West Bengal also has lot of Coconut available. This coconut vendor is like many other 100s of vendors in and around Kolkata sells coconut for very cheap. In Kolkata you will get coconut in almost every corner of the city, price is about Rs.5 to Rs.6/- about 20Cents.

Just try this. It is really the best gift of God.

Favorite thing: (date visited : July 24, 2006)

Tourist Visa- single entry (valid for 6 months and can stay in Nepal for 2 months)

Visa fee - 1,500 rupees
1. Original passport
2. Photocopy of passport
3. 1 Picture
4. Application form

Nepal Consulate
No. 1, National Library Ave.
Alipore Road, Kolkata 700027
Tel. # 33479117

Opens from 9 a.m. - 4. p.m. daily

Traveller's note:

I was able to get my visa for just 10 minutes after giving all the necessary requirements. I was asked if it is my first time to travel in Nepal and I said yes then they immediately put the sticker in my passport and that's it!!!