Kolkata in India: City of Joy

My guest post today by Lyndsey Biddle of Briefcases Direct gives us a taste of Kolkata in India where she lives, a city with it’s own atmosphere and rewards.

Kolkata is one of the largest cities in India, but unlike the other large metropolis, this northeast Indian city, capital of Bengal, has an identity and character all its own. To some travelers, Kolkata (also known as Calcutta) is a praiseworthy treasure trove of culture and worthwhile activities and sights that will be the source of many good memories. To others, the city leaves a lasting impression that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

While Kolkata continues to grow in both population and globalizing trends like the construction of shopping malls, new restaurants and boutiques, the city also clings onto its past, often stunting development. Original taxis from the 1950’s still jam the streets, hand-pulled rickshaws still tote passengers through the cities narrow alleyways, and Rabindra Sangeet, songs by Rabindranath Tagore, are blasted from speakers in the streets. It is these long lasting cultural titbits that have helped me to love Kolkata.

There is also something so nostalgic and warming by the cities pride and love for culture. If you are interested in art exhibits, poetry, classical Indian songs, theatrical performances, traditional dance and the like, you will no end of amusement in the City of Joy. Everyday there are cultural happenings across the city and most are advertised in the local news paper.

If you are inspired by architectural design then you may enjoy a walking tour of the north-central area of the city where original structures built during the British colonization of India are well preserved and offer a pleasing visual change from the otherwise modern and bland apartment buildings that are popping up in newer areas of the city. To take a walking tour of the north central area’s architecture you should take the metro to Central station. Or you can take the metro to Esplanade station and walk past New Market on your way towards Central station.

New Market is a sea of aisle ways leading past shops of every nature. This is the largest in-door market in the city and has been around for quite some time. You can find virtually anything here including sewing supplies, cheeses, clothing and flowers. The porters will cling themselves to your every move, insisting that you let them direct you through the market and to carry your purchases. If you want their help then just give a small tip when you finish shopping. If you don’t want their help then just be determined, tell them so, and try your best to ignore the fact that they will continue trying to lead you and help you anyways. It takes a good deal of patience to tackle New Market but the market is enormous and worth a visit.

Though Kolkata is the culture capital of India, the city can tend to turn a lot of tourists away. The poverty is the first thing you will notice: slums bordering the base of brand new shopping malls, people picking through garbage heaps, naked children with distended bellies. These sights are difficult for anyone to bear. It is one of the biggest negative drawbacks to visiting this city, though you will face poverty wherever you go, in Kolkata the striking mixture of poor and rich will knock you back a few steps.

Regardless, the city is an amazing place to visit and you should not pass it up on your travel plans. If you are interested, you can volunteer during your visit at a number of poverty and wellness organizations across the city like Mother Theresa’s Mother House. Check out opportunities online before you arrive.

Lyndsey writes for Briefcases Direct a website that offers luxury briefcases direct from the manufacturer. Lyndsey is currently living in Kolkata, India and studying the Bengali language in her free time.

Photo credits: Rickshaw drivers by Nicholas, Kids by Nicholas Market by Mirmurr, Victoria Memorial by Rita Willaert

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Friday Photo - community celebrations in India

Today I’m joining in with the Friday photo over at Delicious Baby to bring you a photo from my travels with a story behind it.

Through my church I’m involved in a charity project to support a rural community in India and a couple of years ago I visited the area and saw some of the work being done. Since then a much needed community centre has been built and my friend, the parish priest there, sent me these photos of the grand opening.

This was clearly the event of the year in the village, with church services and events, parades through the village and plenty of general feasting and enjoyment. I loved this photo of the kids doing their own little show - giving it all the energy and enthusiasm of a Pop Idol or X-factor performance.

Meanwhile their mums were also doing a performance of their own, although with a little more elegance and decorum in their colourful Sunday-best saris.

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Friday photo - my Indian sponsor child

Today I’m joining in with the Friday photo over at Delicious Baby to bring you a picture with a story behind it.

I’ve also picked up on the theme of Blog Action Day which this year was on the theme of poverty. I believe that our individual actions can make a tremendous differerence to families across the world and have a ripple effect in inspiring others to do the same. What goes around, comes around as they say and sometimes the difference it makes can be to you too.

This is how I began sponsoring a child in India. An Indian priest, Father Pratap Reddy, visited my church some years ago and made an appeal for people to sponsor the education of children in his parish. We had been blessed with three children and wanted to spread our happiness around a little. We offered to become sponsors and over the years we received pictures and news of Thirumula Sagar and saw him growing up just as our children were too.

Then a couple of years ago I went to India to visit Fr Pratap in his rural village parish and met my sponsor child for the first time. Thirumula Sagar had travelled with his parents and some other families overnight to meet me from their village near Kurnool. We met in the lobby of our modest hotel where they adorned us with flower garlands and we sat around drinking coca cola.

There was the language barrier but we exchanged smiles, photographs and small gifts. As they were leaving his parents fell to their knees in front of me and touched my feet as a sign of gratitude. I felt so moved to realise that for the small price of a meal out each month, I had made such a difference to them by supporting their boy through his education. Believe me, at that moment, my happiness and satisfaction that I could make a difference far outweighed the help I had given them. It was worth every penny.

As they left for the bus station for another long bus journey home, their smiles said it all. But the biggest smile was mine.

You can see all the other Friday Photos at Delicious Baby here and read Debbie’s round up of what other travel bloggers wrote for Blog Action Day here.

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