2025FEB Calcutta
"Calcutta feels like a city stuck in time." -- a friendCalcutta -- a historically and culturally dense city draped in a layer of centuries old dust. Abandoned brittle buildings, tram lines branching out into every little narrow street, traffic police in suspenders and long leather boots for uniform. Everything hinting towards what the old capital of India would've looked like at its peak -- bustling with trams, yellow cabs and being an important center of attraction for all.
Now what remains are the leftovers of the old city, memorials and museums to remember the past. Old tram lines are washed over with new asphalt. Layers over layers. A lot of cultural undertones for observant of eyes -- bright red colors all across the city -- perhaps because of its links to communism or because of the sacred durga puja.
Now-refurbished areas like Park Street, heavily resemble the aesthetics of South Bombay. No surprises though, those streets were made by the colonial British too. I could imagine Mumbai collecting all that dust 100 years from now. Old abandoned skyscrapers and dysfunctional local trains that once were the life line of the city.
On another end of the city a shiny new "New Town" is developing for a more palatable modern aesthetic. Some interesting things I noted were -- a japanese garden, a replica of the Eiffel tower and a lot of tall corporate buildings.
Old city
Victoria Memorial
Food
Some great food in Calcutta. Perhaps because the old capital knows the bets of what the world has to offer and the standards haven't died down yet.India Restaurant has biryani to Lucknow's Dastarkhwan, except it has a hidden surprise in it -- potato! A very well flavoured and masala-ed one at that!
Ate delicious parathas from Rang De Basanti restaurant, one of the most highly rated establishment at the moment. Tried out sweet dishes like Roshogulla, Baked Roshogulla at Balaram Mullick and Flury's cheesecake. Shanghai Mushroom was a surprising find at Wow China in Park street while we were on our eatery-hopping adventure.
Stay
The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat has some great views and hospitality.