Places to Visit Near Mutukbani

Departed on 14th as scheduled, by one of the most preferable train for going to NJP from Kolkata, Darjeeling Mail. We still were not sure about the destination. There were possibilities of coming back from NJP too.

In 1690 Job Charnock a British administrator of East India Company took lease (jagirdari) of three villages namely Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kolikata and the city Kolkata was born. It is said Kolkata’s name derived from Kali khetra (Place of Kali). Kolkata is located in the east bank of River Hoogly (Ganga). It was also the first capital of British colonial India before it was shifted to Delhi. Kolkata has very rich history; every road has some story to tell.Kolkata was built by British over a period of time. Old Kolkata still carrying out their presence in terms of buildings, monuments, cemeteries etc. There are lot to see and it will take almost two three days’ time to cover whole city. Below are the few spots which can be covered in one day.We’ll start with the blessings of Maa Kali from Dakhineswar which is located at north Kolkata on the banks of river Ganga.1. Dakhineshwar Kali Mandir & Belurmath: This is the place where thakur Ramkrishna & Swami Vivekanda spent most of their lives. Come early morning here for offering prayer. There are lot of stalls available for flowers & other puja items across the temple. Belurmath is just at opposite bank of Ganga, this was established by Swami Vivekananda and headquarter of Ramkrishna Mission. Motor boats are available for whole day for ferry. After prayers come back to Dakhineshwar, visit nearby eatery shops to have breakfast – Hot Hing (Asafoetida) Kachori & Cholar Daal – its awesome.

The following are just a select few from the myriad of spots, streets and haunts in Calcutta that are waiting to be delved into and documented, guaranteed to transport you to a bygone era and envelop you in a time warp as you come across the narrow lanes and the colourful ramshackle houses scattered across them.1. An art affair

Calcutta, or Kolkata, is a kaleidoscopic melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. There's quite possibly no festival that the city doesn't celebrate with glorious hoopla. Each month sees small pandals (marquees) popping up at every corner of the street and come October, to welcome the mighty goddess with the lithe, lissome eyes, Durga Puja brings with it throngs of buxom women enwrapped in silk sarees and red, round bindis, undeterred by the ever-present rains. With frenzied festivities lasting all year, there's hardly any chance that one can ever run out of places to engage in street photography in Kolkata.Also holding a rich vehicular heritage ranging from the big yellow taxi that floods both parts of the city (Calcutta and Howrah) divided by the reticent Hoogly, to the hand-pulled rickshaws and rickety trams meandering the roads, every street you walk on, every house you pass is a frame waiting to be captured on lens.

Hi guys....the purpose of this article is to serve as an itinerary for the city of joy - Kolkata. The article is especially good for people who are not gonna stay for more than 1 or 2 days in the city.So why Kolkata?Every body knows that Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, one of the states in India. But that's not all....here are some unknown and interesting facts about the city of joy that might answer his question:1. The Howrah Bridge seems to be the identity of the city—but did you know that it’s the one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world, and the largest one in the country?2. You often refer to the city as the “city of joy”, but did you know its other names—“city of palaces”, “city of processions” and the “cultural capital of India”?3. To the British rulers, Kolkata, the then Calcutta, was the most important city in India (it was India’s capital too), and the second most important city of the whole British Empire, after London.4. The National Library of India, situated in Kolkata, is the largest public library in the country.5. The botanical garden of Kolkata has been the house of the world’s largest tree: An enormous banyan tree whose circumference is more than 330 meters!SourcePlaces of Interest:The Victoria Memorial (wiki)

Right from the time I landed to the huge Airport of the city, the Bengali letters caught my attention- there was an earthy feel to those words. I do read and write Bengali profoundly but there was a uncertain magic in those letters inscribed in the huge entrance of the airport. Though the city was terribly hot and humid in the early month of July but I was very lucky to witness the timely splash of the season inspiring several hearts to fall in love! Yes the rains of Kolkata brought about a sudden splash of raw fragrance of the wet earth that I had always missed in my life! Those greeneries and splendid sun etched its wonders in my heart. How beautifully, has this city balanced its greeneries and the concrete constructions.It was nearly 6 pm in the evening and as I entered my grandparent’s locality, I heard a thousand cacophonies of some “instrument” which was unknown to my teen ears. Later my mother informed me that as the dawn was preparing its dark coating over the city, the Bengalis blow their “Sankha” commonly known to us as Conch. It seems that they jointly blow their “Sankha” to lull their gods to sleep. What an amazing way to embrace the dark nights!

I have lived in Kolkata for 8 years and being a food lover have explored many places in search of a hearty meal. When I was about to leave the city in 2014, someone told me about Territy Bazaar known for its Chinese breakfast. Since I was shifting my base at that time I couldn’t make it. But somewhere down I know would make my way to this place and all because of my love for Chinese cuisine.Territy Bazaar, located near Poddar Court was once home for 20,000 Chinese Indian nationals which have now reduced to 2000 or even less. Morning breaks here at around 5 am and the market comes to life from 6 am to 9 am.

A "Sweet" Love StoryForget the diet charts. For once, indulge yourself in the mouthwatering delicacies one will hardly find anywhere else; Sweets! For every occasion sweets. One does not have to have a reason to have sweets in Kolkata. And sweets come in all possible shapes and sizes. So profound is the love for sweets, that the city shops have "sugar free" sweets for the diabetic patients. So, shed your inhibitions and gorge on the Rosogollas (and not Rasgullas - Rasgulla is a name, Rosogolla is a feeling !) and Pantus and Sandeshes and Misti Doi.Some of the best sweet shops in Kolkata are here.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the city of joy? Howrah bridge, Eden Garden Stadium, Roshogollas, and our 'Dada' Sourav Ganguly. But there's one aspect of Kolkata that goes unexplored; the streets! So I decided to make an expedition to explore the streets of Kolkata while my parents and sister were busy shopping for jewelry and clothes for my sister's wedding. It was 2 weeks before Durga Puja and the market places were flooded with the enthusiastic shoppers.