The famous quote quoted by Indian journalist— Vir Sanghvi, “Calcutta is not for everyone. You want your cities clean and green; stick to Delhi. You want your cities, rich and impersonal; go to Bombay. You want them high-tech and full of draught beer; Bangalore’s your place. But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta.”
The quote states a significant validity for the one who aspires to live a life in Kolkata and it is true even in its basic sense. The city received the nickname ‘city of joy for its soulful manifestation of culture, love, paradox, appreciation, vitality and precisely some amazing sweet delicacies. Kolkata is referred to as a city that upholds a perfect bridge between the old world and the modern one.
The residents of Kolkata might have a sluggish approach to life with a mandatory afternoon nap and lazy Sundays but the overcrowded city and the busy roads will make you learn quite a few things with the art of survival at the end. With limited services offered by travel agencies in Kolkata, you can get a profitable deal that will help you explore the city lights and encounter its elegance. While individual travellers can secure customised offers, group travellers can get desirable deals.
Every street, every corner of the city has long lived stories to tell. The portraits in the wall, The sculptures of legendary humans, The artistic footpaths, The lustring Park Street with fairy lights and The yellow taxies make Kolkata different from all the other metropolitans in India, I believe.
Kolkata has a history of serving as the British capital till 1912 before it was shifted to Delhi. It is also the second-largest city in India in area coverage after the capital city of Delhi. It was a city of prestigious importance and dignity to the British Empire.
If you visit Kolkata for the first time, you are bound to find out that public transport is the lifeline of the city. They are effective and fast, offering est connectivity. From auto-rickshaws to buses, there are a wide number of options which can be availed. If you want to travel back in time, then you can opt for the tram (the cultural heritage of Kolkata), as Kolkata is one of the few cities in the entire world to have this mode of transport.
You might be aware of the Howrah Bridge! And everyone visiting the city is aware of the fact that it is one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world and the only one in India. When in the evening it lights up like a bride, you can see it in its actual glory of Kolkata.
Kolkata is often called the ‘cultural capital of India’. With names like Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa, Amartya Sen and many others, Kolkata is the centre for scholars and artists. You will find elderly men in every para having a meeting in the evenings to discuss idealism and politics. So much for being the cultural capital!
Since Kolkata and intellectualism have a long history, it is only obvious to point out that the National Library of India is the largest public library in the world. And then there is College Street, the second-largest second-hand book market in the world. It is believed that if you don’t find a book in here, it probably never existed!
Of course, there are huge stadiums, one for cricket and one for football, which satisfy every sports lover’s dream. Kolkata is a city that has something for everyone. So whether you are a foodie, a bookworm, haunted with history or just looking for wanderlust, this is the ideal place to be in.
You can visit the city of joy as famous travel agencies in Kolkata have organized incredible deals which are definitely within your budget. So feel the joy of the city of joy and create memories for a lifetime!
Kolkata taught me the art of survival where I got to learn that survival in metropolitan cities is tough but not impossible. The city taught me various life lessons; the hustle and bustle mornings, Overcrowded locals with its diverse affected population. In short, Kolkata makes you encounter the reality of life, you get to know the real faces of people. The city will make you struggle day and night if you are new and someone who shifted here to have a new start.
You might face little difficulty at the beginning but trust me, you’ll start loving the city of joy at the end and will be grateful for the entire process.
Thus, Kolkata is more like a city of realism more than a city of joy to me!
Neha Mandal
Internship Trainee