Break Free Trails

Last few weeks. Creating lasting memories, beaming smiles and more and more hopeless lovers of Calcutta!

Give us a shout if you also wonder how one can fall in love with a city. We are available for private tours and experiences.

A wonderfully sunny early winter morning and an equally lovely and charming mother-daughter duo explored with our very own Shaikh Sohail today.

When you have such beautiful people and surrounding the picture is bound to come out good :-). Keep walking and exploring ladies!

শুভ মহাসপ্তমী।

All fantastic tours must have fantastic people in it. Today was one such day. Had an immensely enriching and fun filled experience walking with this inquisitive and knowledgeable lot for our tour. As always, we just didn't walk the talk but also sat down for an impromptu adda or baithak whenever there was a choice!

Here's hoping we see you guys again walking with us. Thank you guys. Cheers!

Some vivid moments captured by participant and a dear friend Dizzie Diganta Gogoi

Yet another full house on "The Greatest Daylight Robbery Trail" on 26th August, 2023 to remember the heist of arms carried on by the revolutionaries on 26th August 1914. As usual the new participants from junior to senior enjoyed the walk as the story was unfolded.

Thanks to Anjan Kundu and Nilendu Guha for clicking lovely photographs of the walk.

As we approach our 77th Day, it gives me immense joy and happiness to share with you all this gem of an episode from a popular podcast hosted by the ever so suave and articulate Indrajit da.

My dear friend and partner in crime from Break Free Trails Mr. Amitabha Gupta takes us on a much needed course of remembering some extraordinary men AND WOMEN who contributed immensely to our freedom struggle yet remain forgotten or overshadowed by more popular names. From the Rodda Arms heist to the terrific girl duo who shot dead a British official, hear it all here on the Independence Day special episode of Ebong Indrajit .

The Untold Stories of Freedom Movement | আজকের আড্ডায় Mr. Amitabha Gupta এবং Indrajit | Ep. 13 In this Independence Day special episode of Ebong Indrajit,I talked to Mr. Amitabha Gupta, a travel writer and photographer who has been documenting and writ...

The "walk of the year" Is back. Visit our FB page or check our stories to book. Limited seats.

26th August , 2023 . 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Registration charges : Rs 800 per head

Click Here to book :

https://www.townscript.com/e/the-greatest-daylight-robbery-trail

Sunday morning spent stopping by some of Calcutta's iconic heritage precincts with this lovely family. We beat the heat and sweat together! A moment in front of one of our favourite houses from the old city.

We have collectively managed to make Metiabruz news over the last week with stories and articles across media. Latest is in print in one of Calcutta's leading dailies today!

All for a positive outlook and much needed attention. Thanks to its most illustrious resident who liveld here half his life, contributed immensely to local culture and arts and yet remains conveniently missing from Calcutta's mainstream conversations. Here's our humble tribute to the one and only Wajid Ali Shah on his 200 bicentennial.

A big shout out to all our friends who made it happen Soumyadeep Roy Heritage and Art walks Kolkata Know Your Neighbour INTACH - Hooghly Chapter Kamran Meerza bhai and family.



https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/imageview/440639/185334865/undefined.html

https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/events/metiabruz-heritage-walk-and-exhibition-pay-tribute-to-nawab-wajid-ali-shah-on-his-bicentenary/cid/1953581

Immensely thankful to all those who turned up today for our special heritage walk in collaboration with Heritage and Art walks Kolkata to mark the 200 bicentennial of King Wajid Ali Shah. We had an immensely curious, participative and excited bunch of people from all age groups and all walks of life. Splendid to walk with them.

The walking tour complimented the fantastic art work put up by Soumyadeep Roy . All in all a great show and must thank the organisers especially Di, bhai and Fatema apa for their constant support and encouragement. Oh and a huge shoutout to Uncle (Soumyadeep's Dad) for just being there as always!

Few weeks back had the honour of accompanying Mr. Ahmad on a tour of Calcutta's mini Awadh. Here, he comes up with one of the best write-ups ever written on our lost legacy. Brilliant post.

A part of Calcutta silently crying for acknowledgement and respect.

Exploring Metiabruz — Kolkata’s mini-Lucknow The locality, where the last Nawab of Awadh lived and died, adds a fascinating sub-culture to the story of Kolkata

A first person report on our walking tour in collaboration with CulTre and at Indian Museum, Kolkata led by and supported by Shaikh Sohail has been featured in MyKolkata. Thanks to all participants for joining in. A special thanks to for clicking the photos.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/events/international-museum-day-heritage-walk-at-the-indian-museum-kolkata/cid/1938854

Glimpses from a fun tour with a fun group of friends originally from the city but now living in 'vilayat'. They brought their Polish friend along too.

What's a tour without a lot of fun and some food! Even more so when passing by some truly iconic institutions of culinary heritage of this grand city.
Today morning was spent walking through winding alleys of North Cal and soaking in the Bangaliana. The winter sun added perfect light and warmth!

We are in the press again! So one of our recently got featured in MyKolkata ! Needless to say, we are thrilled!! :-)
Extremely well researched, verified, insightful and fun. Our tours are history and more. Book one today!

Colonial-era heritage and little-known stories of Bengal on a walk down Beadon Street Featuring the home of a famous phanush-maker, the city’s first public playhouse, a library where Tagore was a member and more

With a heavy heart.

All of who have walked with us on the Metiabruz Trail will remember the always smiling and welcoming Saini sahab and his legendary Paan shop. Well, he is no more! We had not visited for a while and got to know only this Sunday that he passed away to a massive heart attack 2 months ago! With him, sadly, also goes away the old world charm and wit of a true Awadhi.

Mr Ramesh Kumar Saini although himself a qualified medical practitioner and well versed with history came from a long line of 'Panwaris' and took upon the shop after his father around three decades ago. His family had been the official 'paanwalah' to the Royal Awadh family back in the days. Ready to engage and converse freely on well read topics around culture and history no matter how busy he is and a living shining example of the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb, Saini sahab will be remembered forever. RIP.

Here is a picture we have of him taken not too long ago by dear friend Subhadip- Indian Vagabond .

An image of what is believed to be part of Shuja-ud-Daula's palace in Faizabad. Flanked by the Saryu, it presents a rare view of Awadh's original capital city but only after the seat of power had already been moved to Lucknow by his son Asaf.

Captured by the adventurous William Hodges during his stay here in late 18th century. Along with other European masters such as the Danille duo and D'Oyly, he produced some of the finest and earliest views of a yet to be colonized, soon to change Indian landscape in its old mystique.

Sign up to the upcoming Metiabruz tales - A lost legacy tour on Sunday 18th for more such fascinating insights and stories.

Thank you all for making our humble and sincere effort a grand success. The feedback, the enthusiasm of all participants and the sheer joy and love we received last few days has been overwhelming. Thank you all.

It only re-affirms our belief, when we come together, we can make it happen. Thanking our co-conspirators Know Your Neighbour and Government Girls Degree College, Ekpalpore.

Sharing some media coverage of the event in leading city dailies.



https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/imageview/416159/182851516/71.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kidderpore-college-students-teachers-uphold-unity-in-food-diversity-with-traditional-dishes/articleshow/95700834.cms

Kidderpore College Students, Teachers Uphold Unity In Food Diversity With Traditional Dishes | Kolkata News - Times of India The Government Girls’ General Degree College in Ekbalpore hosted a heritage food festival — ‘Khana-e-Kidderpore’ — on Tuesday to celebrate the gastro

On Nov 22nd, we invite the city to experience the culture, food and history of our neighborhood. An evening filled with energy and passion, conversations that matter with concerned thinkers and lastly some lip smacking food from some of the best local joints. Hosted and supported by the Government Degree Girls College, Ekbalpore we at Break Free Trails are extremely happy and honoured to play a small part.

Save the date - 22nd November, 2022.

Our image for this season. As the revelry gets quieter and life goes back to the modern mundane, let's give ourselves every chance to celebrate not just our traditions but our history and heritage too.
For it's season soon! Look out for upcoming announcements.
As far as the celebrations are concerned, well...asche bochor abar hobe!

We feel proud to have conducted the "The Greatest Daylight Robbery Walk" led by once again. This is a walk which is a tribute by to those great revolutionaries who conducted the daring "Rodda Arms Heist".

We are thankful to the participants.

A big thanks to family members of revolutionaries for cooperating with us. Thorough planning helped in successfully conducting our longest walking tour.

We wanted this walk to be atleast annual affair. However despite two successful walks in 2019, Covid stopped us from repeating in 2020 and 2021.

Thank you .photography for the lovely photos.

The brilliant sky blue Saturday morning had us walking the beautiful streets around Dalhousie in for yet another edition of .
What made it even better was an extremely active group of explorers from a leading luxury hotel who not only seemed to enjoy their day out but also had a keen sense of history! Here's to more bright days and engaging tours!

Last week was special. We were privileged and honoured to conduct a special tour for visiting senior officials from the Indian Army along with family (one of them being a serving Lt. General!). Comprising of a around and a wind-shield tour touching popular spots in the city...the tour ended at where we met none other than the extremely distinguished academic and a Bose himself, Mr. Sugato Bose, who very kindly took us around!!
Just another day for a tour guide ;-) .

Did a super fun food n history tour with Anusha aka covering some of the most special and strictly vegetarian street snacks along with some not so common heritage hotspots. Walking around the city is always fun when you have the right co-explorer and in Anusha we found a perfect one! Here's to the lady who walked!

The neighborhood in all its charm and chaos as the sun sets to welcome another evening on the busy streets of Chitpore. Tomorrow we will be part of this very scene! All set then?

See you all tomorrow!

All smiles after the tour! Concluded yet another tour with an engaging and informed group. Always great for never ending conversations.

Have you walked with us yet? Look out for the next on our social media handles. Happy exploring.