Kolkata – Reasons To Visit The City Besides Cricket

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March 17th, 2016 by Abhijit Chakraborty

The India-Pakistan match is just around the corner, and the city of Kolkata is already brimming with nervous excitement. Cricket lovers are starting to arrive in the city as the stage is set for the most exciting cricket match of the year – India vs Pakistan! If you are in Kolkata to watch the match or planning to reach and catch the match live, read this blog to find out what else you can do in this great city.

Kolkata is called ‘The City of Joy’ for a reason. A cosmopolitan city like no other, myriad hues and flavours come together to give this city its distinct feel. As opposed to the faster-paced cities of Mumbai and Delhi, Kolkata may come across as easygoing and laidback, but live here for long enough and the city’s gentle pace will make you sway in its rhythm too.

Now, there are plenty of reasons, big and small, to visit Kolkata, and not all of them can be listed down. So we present just 5 of the many reasons why everyone needs to visit Kolkata this season.

Landmarks

The first capital of British India has a number of famous landmarks.

Perhaps the most loved and recognisable landmark among Indians is the Eden Gardens, the premier cricketing ground in Kolkata.

Image Source – Partha Bhaumik via a Creative Commons License

Plus, there’s the astounding Victoria Memorial, dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria. Goddess Kali being the predominantly worshipped deity here, religious spots like the Dakshineswar Kali temple and the Kalighat Kali temple see a high number of footfalls. There’s also the beautiful Belur Math shrine that was founded by Swami Vivekananda as well as the newer Sheetalnathji Jain Temple. The Howrah Bridge – prominently featured in literature, art and cinema – also serves as a major tourist attraction. And how can one forget the familiar yellow taxis?

Architecture

Kolkata is home to a variety of architectural styles, ranging from the Victorian buildings reminiscent of the city’s colonial past to the distinct, never more than a couple of stories high homes that are spread all over the city. If buildings could speak, the people of Kolkata would never see a death of stories. A walk down a street in South Kolkata is nothing short of a walk down memory lane.

St. Paul's Cathedral — St. Paul’s Cathedral

B.B.D. Bagh - the business centre of Kolkata — B.B.D. Bagh – the business centre of Kolkata

Culture

Being the city of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata has plenty of literary and cultural hubs. Rabindra Sadan, a large theatre, serves as the primary cultural hub of the region. A number of events and plays take place at the theatre every evening. Rabindra Bharti Museum, formally the home of Rabindra Nath Tagore, is a major literary hub that serves as a significant reserve of the works of Tagore. The citizens take great pride in the rich Bengali cultural heritage that encompasses art, music, literature, cinema and more.

Food

A tour of Kolkata is incomplete if you do not treat your tongue with the delicious cuisine of this place. The rich Kasha Mangsho, the awesome Kathi Rolls and heavenly desserts like Mishti Doi, Shondesh and the omnipresent Roshogolla are among the most popular food items here, but a wider range of options exist for the more adventurous foodies. Paying a visit to places like Haji Saheb, The Park, Sanjha Chulha, etc. will be a great idea if one wants to try out authentic Calcuttan cuisine.

Different varieties of the highly popular Sandesh

Products

Kolkata excels in terracotta products. Small ‘Bankura’ figures can serve as beautiful keepsakes to gift your people back home. The Lal Paar Sarees (red border sarees) and fabulous jute craft items such as handbags and wall hangings are some of the other beautiful gifts that you can carry home. That, only if your bags are not full of boxes of sweets already!

Image Source

For more detailed insights into Kolkata’s heavenly food, check out this blog, and in case you are planning to visit this city, do check out the best hotels in this city here.

Cover Image – By Chippu Abraham from Gurgaon, India – Eden Gardens, CC BY-SA 2.0