Kolkata Magic

Saving the trams
https://www.facebook.com/100064776873902/posts/817096153792940/?mibextid=RtaFA8

| Once celebrated as Kolkata's lifeline, trams have gradually faded into the background as alternative modes of transportation.

Meet Debasish Bhattacharyya, the President of the Calcutta Tramways Users Association (CTUA), one of the most important pro-tram voices in a city where this environment-friendly mode of transport still exists. With a passion deeply rooted in his childhood memories of exploring the city's tram routes with his father, Bhattacharyya has dedicated himself to advocating for the retention and revitalisation of this iconic mode of transportation.

Learn his whole story from the link in the bio.





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We're thrilled to receive such heartwarming feedback from one of our recent guests! Thank you for having us to be a part of your journey through Varanasi, Odisha, and Kolkata.

Back by popular demand! After the previous beautiful December tour of Bengal, here is the next repeat - it's a 3 night/4 day trip to explore the food, handicrafts, and textiles of Bengal.

We will be visiting Kolkata, Santiniketan and the weaving village of Phulia.

If you missed the December one, here is your chance! Join our February tour!

For more information, please WhatsApp wa.me/+919867707414 or email [email protected]

Kona Dukan, saffron tea and toast

The iconic Ambassador, also called Amby, is based on the Morris Oxford series III. Fresh sales of the vehicles stopped after new emissions standards were rolled out in 2012, and the last car rolled out of the Uttarpara factory in 2014. The brand name Ambassador was sold to French automobile manufacturer Peugeot. There is some news that Peugeot will relaunch the car, using their Chennai factory. Will the market accept it?




Photo Credit: Kolkatar Chobiwala on Pexels

Come on our Chitpur Walk to see how this area looks today!

The Chitpore Road, Calcutta - 1867
Painted by William Simpson

This chromolithograph is taken from plate 3 of William Simpson's 'India: Ancient and Modern'.

This is a a Bazaar or line of native shops along the Chitpore Road in Calcutta, leading northwards to Cossipore, Dum Dum and Barrackpore. Many different nationalities plied their trades in this Bazaar and on hot nights many also slept in the streets. There were no pavements, and the main modes of transport in this street were the bullock cart and the palanquin. Simpson wrote: "In this bazaar, hundreds of Englishmen have had their first conceptions of Eastern life realised, or more properly falsified, face to face with the living facts."

Text and image credit :
Copyright © The British Library Board

It's that time of the year! Mahalaya today! The day the goddess leaves her home in Mount Kailash, to visit her maternal home on earth. A beautiful image by

Ipsh*ta Nath on memsahibs. Particularly, the difficulties of raising "proper" British children in India.

A woman's perspective: British Raj through the eyes of memsahibs who straddled two lands The book chronicles stories of Englishwomen who followed their husbands to the unknown east, their 'British' children, ‘munshis’ and more

Enjoying the bazaars...

Parasnath Jain Temple, Kolkata.

The first photo in this series is of the famous British photographer Cecil Beaton, with his Rolleiflex camera. It's a self portrait clicked somewhere in the 1940s, at the Jain temple in Kolkata.

Rolleiflex, first launched in 1929, was known for its compactness and clarity. Made it ideal for travel photography.

The second pic is of the same temple, from our tour a couple of days ago. You can see the fabulous mirrorwork that inspired Beaton's selfie!

The last 2 photos are also old photos taken at the temple.

Calcutta Heritage Walk: Old Calcutta was divided into a White Town and a Black Town. The White Town was centred around Lal Dighi, a water tank which provided drinking water to the town. The area around the tank (earlier called Dalhousie Square, now renamed B B D Bagh) is the oldest square in the city. Some of the city’s earliest and grandest buildings are located in this square. These beautiful buildings are still in use, providing a glimpse of Calcutta’s living British heritage. A walk through this area tells the story of the growth of Calcutta, from its early years to modern days.

Walking through the potter's colony at Kumartuli

Biryani Tales from the 1800s!

Manzilat Fatima, the great great grand daughter of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who invented the Kolkata biryani says:

“The only difference between Awadhi biryani and the Kolkata biryani is that the latter has aloo (potatoes).

When Wajid Ali came to Kolkata, he did not have enough funds to feed his entourage in an elaborate way.

But his culinary heritage was his biggest treasure and he was both khaane ke aur khilaane ke shaukeen (eating and hospitality).

So, after a few years in Kolkata, the potato was introduced in the biryani. The tuber had been brought to India by the Portuguese and was considered a novelty, since it was imported. It was also quite expensive, though not as much as meat. Apart from bringing down costs, the potato also helped to maximise the volume of the dish".

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/heres-how-wajid-ali-shah-made-the-kolkata-biryani/amp_articleshow/58622647.cms

Nawab: Here's how Wajid Ali Shah made the Kolkata biryani | Kolkata News - Times of India On the outskirts of Kolkata, in Metiabruz, the Nawab rebuilt a repli ca of his beloved capital, complete with grand Islamic structures, his beloved pa

Bring out the bubbly! India has revised guidelines for international arrivals with effect from Monday, February 14. The government has removed the category of 'at risk' countries. It has removed the 7- day quarantine as well.
To visit India, you need to either be fully vaccinated, or provide an RTPCR negative report tested 72hrs prior to arrival. Please go through the official announcement to understand the current requirements fully. Or write to us.
You can reach us at [email protected] or by WhatsApp at +919867707414

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR26VSw6ntXVKy4WHgFtcgLsVYciazxs2_JGTs571ZwIcv577YF2SYaAmo8

The Brahmaputra is one of the largest rivers in the world, and it has been a defining feature influencing life in Assam. Join us in an immersive tour to explore Assam!
We will meander through cities, villages, wildlife sanctuaries and tea planations, immersing ourselves in the natural beauty, culture, religion, textiles and crafts of the land.

For an itinerary based on your interests, email [email protected] or WhatsApp 9867707414.

An ode to the Baluchari

Interesting view of Jawaharlal Nehru on Subhash Chandra Bose.

"Some people ask me why I am now praising Subhas Bose when I had opposed him while he was in India. I want to give a frank reply to this question. Subhas Bose and I were co-workers in the struggle for freedom for 25 years. He was younger to me by two or four years. Our relations with each other were marked by great affection. I used to treat him as my younger brother. It is an open secret that at times there were differences between us on political questions. But I never for a moment doubted that he was a brave soldier in the struggle for freedom.I do not expect that there would be unanimity on every issue when we have achieved freedom. There will be always differences in the outlook of the people who belong to a healthy race. Such differences are welcome. People who behave like sheep cannot make any progress.…The manner in which Netaji faced the crisis inspires admiration. Perhaps I might have done the same thing if I were in his position. "___ Jawaharlal Nehru.( On 49th Birth Anniversary of Subhsh Bose).
In the picture he is at Netaji Museum.