How to experience the true essence of Kolkata

There are few cities in India that are so rich in culture that they manage to carve a niche in your psyche. One such example is Kolkata whose old-world charm and ever-lively atmosphere is sure to enwrap you in its spell.  Below is the list of my personal experiences that made Kolkata a special place for me.

1.  Victoria Memorial

Victoria Memorial

Built in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s 25 years of rule over India, this white marble beauty is sure to make your visit to this city a memorable one. The architectural grandeur of this place that is an amalgamation of both British and Mughal elements is a huge tourist magnet of the city - primarily because it is located in the heart of the city. This place is a marvel for history enthusiasts as the museum inside the memorial houses galleries full of portraits, artefacts and sculptures of royalty, national leaders as well as about the history of Calcutta. The gardens, elaborate shrubbery and the lovely fountains surrounding the memorial are well maintained and is meant for cupid-struck couples. Although photography is not allowed inside the premises, do try to sneak a picture with the magnificent statue of Queen Victoria standing tall right in the middle of the museum hall.

Entry fee – INR 20 (Indians) , INR 200 (Foreigners)

2.  Prinsep Ghat

Your Kolkata experience is unfinished without taking an evening boat ride from Prinsep Ghat to Hooghly river. This place is sure to give you the vintage feels and is one of the most romantic things to do in the city. The Palladian Porch that you can see here was built in the memory of Anglo-Indian scholar James Prinsep and has the magnificent view of the hanging Hooghly bridge towering over it. Do visit this place in the evening to experience the mesmerizing lighting of this place.

3. Belur Math to Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

Belur Math

Now this was undoubtedly my most memorable thing to do in the city. The ferry/boat ride from Belur Math to Dakshineshwar Kali temple was not only full of captivating scenes but also quite an adventurous one that managed to give me a minor scare.

Belur Math situated on the West Bank of Hooghly river was founded by Swami Vivekananda and is the chief headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The most notable part of this temple is the symphony of its architecture that employs Christian , Islamic , Hindu and Buddhist elements. It is a place of utmost peace during off-seasons and could send you into a meditative trance.

Head to the Belur Jetty and take a ferry/boat to Dakhshineshwar Kali temple (another architectural mogul in its own right) through river Ganga . The ride takes around 30 minutes and you will get scenic views of the 2^nd Hooghly Bridge, the Vivekananda Setu (Bally Bridge) and the magnificient Dakshineshwar Kali temple in all its glory. The cool breeze along with the sway of the ripples created by Ganga makes the ride memorable.

Bally Bridge

Our boat almost capsized due a sudden approach of strong waves in the river and we survived all thanks to our adept boatman. Once you reach the Maa Bhabatarini Jetty Ghat , you can see the Bally Bridge looming over you in all its rustic glory.

Although I am not a big fan of temples, I must say the Dakshineshwar Kali temple is quite unique as far as temples go. It’s typical Bengali architecture coupled with a frenzy of spiritual energy drove me forward for the darshan (I usually skip the darshan and just visit temples for the architecture) and I felt quite content afterwards.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

4. Tram ride across the city crowd

Joy of a tram ride

Not local trains, not metros but it’s trams that will definitely give you a feel of travelling in the colonial era. This mode of travel is dirt cheap and slow but the childlike fun you experience is un-paralleled. Being the only running tram systems in India, this mode of transport adds not only an vintage charm to city but is also an environmentally sustainable way of transport.

5. Delectable Bengali cuisine at Bhojahori Manna

It is no doubt that Kolkata is difficult to compete with in matters of food. Bengali cuisine manages to weave its magic on you. Making its way through your taste buds, the food here manages to etch forever-a place in your heart. And to experience Bengali cuisine, this place is definitely one of the best. Being a franchise restaurant, this place has multiple locations across the city and provides you lip-smacking Bengali delicacies at reasonable cost. I tried the Basanti Pulao and Daab Chingri at their Ballygunge outlet and needless to say the food won me over.

6. Authentic Chelo kebabs at Peter Cat

Let me lay it out upfront, that I am truly not a fan of kebabs. But recommendation from every true-blooded Kolkatan I know compelled me to check this place out. And boy was I amazed! Peter Cat is the one of the oldest restaurants in Park Street Circle and is famous for the unique dish of Chelo kebab (mutton and chicken) served with steamed rice and veggies. A plate will cost you around 400 bucks. Also try the fish dish Beckty Munier and some caramel pudding to end on a sweet note.

Chelo Kebab at Peter Cat

7.  The game of galaxies at Birla Planetarium

If the stars and the galaxies interest you, this is undoubtedly worth your time. But have you ever tried to watch a show in Bengali? Being similar to Hindi, Bengali can be understood by most Hindi speakers with a little concentration. Watching the show in the local language gives you a chance to brush up your Bengali skills and is a unique experience worth boasting about later.

Entry fee – INR 40

8.  Get amazed at the Gothic architecture of St Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

9.   Ferry ride at Babu Ghat across the Ganga

Babu Ghat

The peace you feel at the heart of Ganga can be experienced at a very cheap cost (as low as INR 5) by the amazing ferry rides connecting Howrah to Kolkata. This experience will also give you majestic views of the Howrah bridge looming over the river.

Things I missed in Kolkata and would like to see again

• ·         Nicco park
• ·         Eco Park
• ·         Kalighat temple
• ·         Sunderbans
• ·         Ravindra Sarovar lake

Below are some more snaps of my visit to Kolkata.

Although, there might be 100 other reasons to love the city, this list is curated as per my own experience. Do comment below if you agree or disagree with my top choices.

Howrah Railway station

India's only running tram system

The mystifying beauty of South Goa

Goa- the word is enough to evolve a sense of excitement in any Indian. And my Goa trip came as a sudden bittersweet surprise to me. This March I was selected for a giving a presentation on our project to the board members of our company. The event was going to be for two days in Goa and I felt all my elation deflate like a punctured balloon. I thought it to be a waste to get to travel and stay in Goa for free and yet not be able to explore the awesome place. But I made up my mind to make the best of my situation and explore whatever tidbit I could.

Goa-the ultimate charmer

I reached Goa on a Sunday and the travel arrangements made for us was at the beautiful Kenilworth resort and Spa in South Goa which is situated 17 km away from Dabolim Airport. Hiring a cab will cost you around 500 bucks. The resort had me at hello and I was swayed beyond compare but boy did I know that this was just the beginning of all the mesmerizing views and experiences I was about to witness and experience in this place.

Below is the view from my room at Kenilworth which firmed up my mind that ,if there was heaven anywhere in the country, I was witnessing it.

The heavenly view from my room at Kenilworth Resort and spa

The resort is beautiful with the quaint but tranquil Utorda beach connected to the resort. Below are some more breathtaking views that would make you pack your bags this moment and book rooms for this resort.

Sunset at Utorda beach

Lavish sea-side lawns at Kenilworth

After spending my Sunday evening slogging hard for the presentation next day, Monday managed to completely wow me. Our company event was held at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa in South Goa which manages to feature in almost all major Top Indian resorts list that is ever prepared. Park Hyatt is truly a luxurious affair, but one that would make your travel incomparable to any other. The resort , in my opinion, is a small version of Goa itself and the beauty of this resort surpasses any I have ever seen.

Greeted with this view after entering into Park Hyatt

Lush greenery at Park Hyatt

The event went throughout the day and evening was devoted to some Goan themed parties and socializing with some cool Goan themed performances.

Goan welcome at the evening party

The next day I was overjoyed to know that the event would finish before afternoon and I started planning my itinerary. As South goa is some 50 kms away from North Goa (where all the action happens), we decided to only explore the serene South Goa beaches and it was a decision that I haven’t come to regret at all.

First up, we ventured to Colva Beach (8 km from Margao). This beach is perfect as it is quite tidy and offers you a range of water sports like para-sailing, Jet-sking, canoeing and surf boarding. I mustered up the courage for para-sailing and I was amazed at my own bravado. Para-sailing at this beach will cost you around 1000 bucks.

Para-sailing, Colva Beach

Tip:- You can experience para-sailing for a cheaper rate between 600-800 in any of the popular North Goa Beaches.

For para-sailing you are first taken on a small wobbling boat into the ocean , away from the shore,  where they station a big boat with all the para-sailing equipment/arrangements. The sea waves are too high and violent on most occasions which will manage to make you queasy. For a little extra bucks they will also dip you into the ocean while tied to the rope for a couple of seconds. But I am embarrassed to say that being influenced by numerous Hollywood movies I visioned a sea creature ( yes I mean sharks ) gobbling my lower half during the dip and me squirting blood,attached to rope, while the beast kept munching into me. This gory visual was enough to scare me and I decided against taking a dip. 

After securing the safety contrapments , I was freed into the air some 300 feet above sea level. It is an amazing feeling to witness the clear blue sky and the placid sea from that vantage point and you feel like you are out of this world. They keep you in the air for some 5 minutes and for those who always dream of soaring high in the sky, this activity is one that gives you the wings for it. While coming down it does get scary for a moment when they tug on the rope to bring it down. It almost feels like the rope is gonna give away. But thankfully without any mishap I landed safely back on the boat.

I want to say that such experiences are very crucial in life. They make you fearless upto an extent and also make you aware of the fragility of human lives amidst the vast expanse of nature and its forces.

Next stop was Benaulim beach which lies 6 km away from Colva Beach. Visit this place if you are tired of those popular but overcrowded Indian beaches that don’t let you experience the true charm of a beach. This beach is serene with clear water and the sunset here is to die for. For food you can check out the rustic Johncy restaurant on the beachfront. You can also buy some beach favouring clothes from the nearby flea market like  wrap-around skirts, sarong or hats. After the tryst with South Goa beaches we decided to head back to the hotel.

Benaulim Beach

South Goa is a different experience altogether that deserves to be visited as a standalone trip and not clubbed with the North Goa exploring. If you are a tourist then North Goa is the place for you but if you are a traveler in search of less trodden paths , undoubtedly you should visit South Goa. South Goa is for the purist at heart. It is not meant for drunk meanderings and wanderings. Atleast for a teetotaller like me , South Goa turned out to be a calm abode that just offers you a perfect setting to sit and be immersed in your flow of thought without much commotion. But that being said , I do wish to experience the other side of Goa too one day. After all its true what they say, - What happens in Goa, stays in Goa.

Kenilworth Resort and Spa, Goa

Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, Goa

Serene beaches of South Goa

South Goa

Humayun’s Tomb- Best of the Mughal Dwellings

Have you ever seen a place that looks like a mirage, a dream from afar but transforms into reality the moment you enter in? Such is the enigma of this mausoleum called Humayun’s Tomb. Nestled in the heart of all the hubbub of the capital city of Delhi, this UNESCO world heritage site with its exquisite gardens make this tomb a truly picturesque sight to behold.

A great place for pictures

This June I was sent to Delhi for a month on an official business tour. While I welcomed the change from daily routine work life, I was concerned if I would find time to explore the rich culture and history of the city between the hectic business meeting schedules. But as they say- where there is a will there’s a way. I marked my Sunday to have a tour of the city with my friend. Delhi surely is blessed to have been bestowed with a bunch of historical monuments which makes it an ideal destination for a history lover like me. But out of all the places I visited, I believe Humayun’s tomb deserves an entire post of its own.

This mausoleum was built in 1570s by Bega begum for her beloved husband, Emperor Humayun whose body was resting previously in Purana Qila after his death in 1556. This monument is the first garden tomb ever to be built in the Indian sub-continent and the large scale use of red sandstone makes it not only unique but also visibly enticing. The monument flourished in the Mughal Era till the Mughal capital was shifted to Agra from Delhi. When the British took over Delhi, the lavish gardens were transformed. During the partition of 1947, this tomb acted as a refugee camps for Muslims. It was only in 1993 that this site was declared as a UNESCO world heritage and restoration works began to regain this place’s former glory and opulence.

The entry ticket to this place costs 10 bucks for Indians and 250 bucks for foreigners. After entering you find this grand entrance that just begins to describe the grandeur of this monument.

Entrance to the tomb

The tomb is dome shaped and is preceded by a fountain and beautiful garden. It is placed on a stage.

Front view of the tomb

As soon as you walk down the main pathway, you come across a flight of stairs to reach the tomb which is the burial ground of not only Humayun but also Bega Begum and a couple of other noble men. After that I took a stroll around the tomb and then entered the main hall that has Humayun’s cenotaph. The high roof ceilings along with the symmetrical architecture around the cenotaph will leave you spellbound for sure and will transport you back in time.

Stairway to the enchanting tomb

Persian architecture at its best

Entrance hall ceiling

One of the distinctive features to adorn this tomb is the cut-out windows on the marble walls that add an unworldly charm to the interiors.

Window of Mughal Lives

The complex also houses the inimitable Isa Khan Tomb which dates back to 1540s even older to Humayun’s Tomb. Isa Khan was an Afghan noble in the court of Sher Shah Suri. Albeit being a small tomb and being in the shadow of the Emperor, this mini tomb complex manages to shine and make its mark and presence felt.

Isa Khan Tomb

 This place is an ideal spot for history lovers, architecture enthusiasts and peace lovers for a weekend escape. The monument is an epitome of an Empress’s love for her beloved husband and the fragrance of that love can be felt till date in this place. This monument is the first of its kind and has influenced the design of Taj Mahal. However, this monument carves its own niche and has its own silent story to tell. This place has made me start believing that even death can be enamored in a breathtaking tale.

Humayun’s Tomb in all its glory

Chilika-A bird’s view

Do you ever feel the need to be just lost in a vast expanse , to sit and just retrospect about your own place in the huge universe? If yes, then Chilika lake is one such place whose limitless water will make you feel insignificant and little in the oscillating world of sorrow and happiness .

Chilika boathouse 

Nestled between the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha this lake boasts of being the largest coastal lagoon of India and second only to The New Caledonian Barrier Reef in the world. It is also the largest wintering ground for more than 16- species of migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent.

This January I marked my calendar for a trip to Bhubaneshwar and Chilika with my parents. I  regret to say that this was my first visit to this beautiful place even though I am a resident of Odisha for the last 24 years and one of my best friend’s native town is Chilika.

There are several routes to reach Chilika. Several trains run from both Bhubaneshwar and Puri to Chilika. We took a morning train to Chilika from Bhubaneshwar and reached Balugaon by 10 am, booked a local auto  and headed to the boat house at Chilika lake.

It is a 1-1.5 hour boat ride across the Chilka lake to Kalijai Mandir. And there are several boats to take you across. The boats usually stay at the mandir for around 20 mins which is enough time to explore the temple and have a darshan.

There are a great many fables, folklores and mysteries surrounding this temple but I am sharing the one that I read in an odia poem by Godavarish Mishra in my school days. Goddess Kalijai is actually Mata Kali. As the folkore goes, JAI was a young girl who was being taken by her father on a boat to her in-law’s house after marriage which was across the Chilka lake. Their boat capsized due to a strong whirlpool in the lake and they drowned. But even after this mishap, the voice of JAI could be heard and the local people started believing that JAI had reincarnated into Goddess Kali and started worshipping her. Other accounts suggest that the temple was built in 1717 by King Jagannath Mansingh of the kingdom of Bankud, present day Banapur.

The ride to the temple is relaxing and soul-enriching. The freshness of the air and the scenic beauty engulfs you into a frenzy of delightful calmness. The boat ride is as good a place as any to sharpen your photography skills. We were hoping to see some famous Irawaddy dolphins but we were of no luck. Travel tip:- Travel to Satapada lake from Puri if you want to see dolphins. As you start getting near to the temple, you can see beautiful migratory birds swarming around the temple. Birds like flamingos , sea eagles etc will grace your eyes and their effortless glide into the sunshine will mesmerize your soul.

Approaching Kaljai temple

Life in the lake

After reaching the temple, we finished a quick darshan and captured some amazing clicks of the beautifully serene sights beholding us. Do drop in a coin in the temple’s wish box for any unfulfilled desires.

The burden of a barrage of prayers-Kalijai temple

Wish box-Kalijai temple

The ride back to the shore was equally pleasant. We headed straight for lunch to the famous Chilika Dhaba. I was pining for some tasty crabs and tiger prawns since these are extensively exported from Chilika. Due to unavailability of tiger prawns, we ordered crab and prawns curry which were lip-smackingly delicious. The service staff of this dhaba are courteous although there is much to be desired in the ambience.

Sea-food love – Chilika Dhaba

We caught the late afternoon train back to Bhubaneswar the same day. And thus, came an end to a glorious day spent admiring nature at its best and treating our taste buds. This place has a lot of potential for development on the tourism front and hopefully the government capitalizes its potential and makes this place wondrous and more tourist friendly while at the same time taking measures to safeguard the avi-fauna and wildlife which reside in the lake.

Straight out of a dream-Queen of hill stations, Ooty

Well if you are trying to find heaven on earth, look no further than Ooty. Ooty or Udagamandalam (also called Ootacamund) is a town in Tamil Nadu which is located 86 km from Coimbatore and 277.8 km from Bangalore. This January I had an opportunity to visit this beautiful place. Although, the best time to go to Ooty is summer but we wanted to have the winter feels since winter is hard to come by in Visakhapatnam where I reside. This post will feature a review of my Ooty trip as well as be a fashion guide. Now I am not claiming to be a fashion guru. But I will just share what I wore throughout the trip.

We decided to take a road trip from Bengaluru via Mysore. We started from Bengaluru in the middle of the night.Our first pit stop was Mysore Palace which is the royal palace of Wadiyar dynasty. It truly looks majestic at night. I was all in for tres-passing and going inside the barricaded portions but thankfully my friends put some sense in my brain.

Night view of Mysore Palace.

We reached Ooty in the morning.The first place we witnessed in Ooty was the tea-garden. I would recommend this place to all nature lovers. The serenity and the luscious green surroundings will put you in a trance for sure. The most amazing thing about these gardens are the fact that you can see green gardens blending into the blue sky seamlessly. It seems like the beautiful green gardens just transcend into the blue sky. Being from a humid area like Visakhapatnam , I hardly ever get the chance to wear winter clothes. But finally I got the chance to sport this leather jacket look. This black leather jacket is from FabAlley and it is sure to be quite a valuable and useful addition to your closet.

Ooty tea gardens

Our next stop was Pykara lake. This place left me spellbound. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that I could witness something so beautiful. This lake and waterfall is an amalgamation of a plethora of colors. It feels unbelievable that this place is a part of India.

Pykara Lake

After this we finally reached our hotel -Two Seas Residence around 2 pm . Nice hotel with a duplex room. After taking rest for the afternoon we headed to the Botanical gardens which has an explicit collection of flowering trees, beautiful shrubs, a lotus-adorned pool and well maintained green lawns. It’s a picturesque scene and the best place for lovers. And speaking of love, what color would symbolize the emotion better than Red. This red cardigan coupled with black jeans and sport shoes does help me add more colors to the already colourful garden. If you visit this garden make sure to see the cool India map shaped shrub arrangement.

Government Botanical Gardens

Day 2 in Ooty was initiated with a trip to Doddabetta Peak. The place looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. You can witness an aerial view of the entire hill-station. I would suggest going to this place early in the morning as that’s the time you can actually see why this place is compared to heaven. Another spectacular tourist spot of this place is surely the Ooty lake boating house. The serene lake nestled between greenery is the perfect spot for a group outing of boating. I would also like to recommend buying fresh mouth-watering carrots, lichis and strawberries from this place.

Ooty Lake

Another place worth-visiting in Ooty is Avalanche lake but it was a disappointment. Firstly, because we were not able to find the exact route leading to it and secondly because by the time we reached, the place was closed. It’s far off from the city and the confusing uphill journey to reach this place is definitely not worth it. My outfit for the day is one of my favourites. This check skirt coupled with white top and leather jacket does give you a hilly feel. The Government Rose garden is also worth a visit but I felt it could be a bit more maintained.

The second day evening was devoted to the tea factory. I would highly recommend buying the white tea, tea tree oil and lots of chocolates from this place. This place has a courier service too and you can order your favourite goods later also.

And with this culminated our enthralling experience in Ooty. This place is a bit over-crowded during summers so it’s a good option to visit this place in winters.

My thoughts on Kangana starrer Simran

And I thought Queen was the best Kangana has got!

This flick is totally hers. She ruled it. All the drama about Kangana-Hrithik controversy saga that shrouded the movie actually should have been avoided. The movie has the potential to succeed on its own.

Hansal Mehta’s refreshingly fresh plot revolves around the life of 30-year old divorcee Praful Patel (A.K.A Praf ) who works as a hotel maid (oops housekeeping department ) to save up enough money for buying her dream house so that she can move out of her over-bearing father’s house. Twist arrives when she is invited by her cousin to Las Vegas for her bachelorette party ( read her last fling with her ex-boyfriend) and gets addicted to gambling. After a first day of beginner’s luck , she ends up getting addicted and losing all her life-savings.  She then falls into the trap of private money-lenders . what ensues is falling into the world of bank robberies and the world of crimes.

The movie touches upon a lot of poignant issues. It gives us a picture of the lives of the typical Indian immigrants in US who didn.t quite live up to the “American dream”. It is the opposite of your typical Karan Johar movie families . The character of Praf makes you love her even when she is on a morally shakeable ground. She is an independent woman who just wants to fly. She nailed the knack of speaking English with a subtle touch of Gujarati accent . Miss Anushka Sharma – you should take tips from Kangana on how not to stereotype a Gujju accent.

But apart from giving all due credit to Kangana, the movie falters in other areas. The supporting cast cannot shine or even make their presence felt with Kangana in the frame. Hence, it makes the viewer feel disconnected and disinvested in anything apart from Kangana ! This movie is worth a one-time watch just for the sake of seeing Kangana’s in-the-skin acting .

My review of Whiplash

It can be best described as a battleground of music. It was totally intense and thrilling. I never imagined that I would be chewing my nails while watching a movie about musicians. Teller plays the character of Andrew Neiman, a musical prodigy who is taken under the wing of ace music conductor Terence Fletcher ( Simmons). What ensues is totally a gripping tale of how a musical prodigy transitions into a total PRO!

While J K Simmon’s unconventional training methods are a little scary ( I mean he threw a fucking chair at the poor guy !) , but he acts flawlessly. The scene where he slaps his pupils for not getting the exact tempo he desires was absolutely breath-taking. We all believe that the world of music is this soothing universe where the calm and composed thrive. But this movie introduces us to a world that has the same amount of stress as any other job in this world. The movie was able to successfully give me an epiphany - pushing someone to their breaking point just so they could achieve greatness. That last scene where the teacher and student smile at each other was actually a smile of utter contentment!

J K Simmons truly deserved that Oscar. The man is one brave actor. He makes you empathize with his not-so-lovely character. He is fierce and totally unstoppable. He pushes Teller’s character right to the edge and completely toys with him. But what absolutely floored me was Teller’s character. He gives the exact amount of expressions – not more, not less. His performance deserved more recognitions and appraisals.

And this movie actually gave me some insight into the music world. I had the misconception that some great music legends were child prodigies and would have had an easy time making it big. But the amount of practice and stress that goes into the job is insurmountable. But what I realized is that only at your breaking point, can you truly achieve what is called as greatness. You can rise above your inhibitions, break free every bondage that ties you and truly FLY!