Cityscapes

THE HEART OF KOLKATA Eden Gardens, along with the Strand and the Esplanade, formed the main recreational area for the English during the Raj. In 1902, the first electric tram car ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore. In 1984, the first underground railway in India, started from Tollygunge to the Esplanade. Today, this locality is one …

A BEAUTIFUL RELIC OF THE RAJ The Strand is the promenade along the river, perfect for a stroll. There is always a cooling breeze, trees shading the walk and some quality street food. Across the Strand stands the Eden Gardens. Stretching over 50 acres, with pathways shaded by huge mahogany, mango and banyan trees, they …

SOME FAMOUS CHA JOINTS Dollyʼs is Kolkataʼs most famous tea shop situated in a corner of the Dakshinapan Shopping Centre in South Kolkata. Set up in 1987 by Dolly Roy ‒ the first-ever woman tea taster of India ‒ the outlet, with a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, serves affordable tea that customers swear by. It is …

PARAMOUNT SHERBETS Paramount, in the College Street area of Kolkata, a stoneʼs throw away from the Indian Coffee House and the Calcutta University in the heart of the cityʼs ʻboiparaʼ, retains an old world charm and has a perfect setting for addas. It devotes itself exclusively to serving sherbets. Established in 1918 by Nihar Ranjan …

Pioneering Education Scottish Church College is the oldest continuously running Christian liberal arts and sciences college in India. It has been consistently highly rated by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, an autonomous organisation that evaluates academic institutions in the country. The college also enjoys the status of ʻCollege with Potential for Excellence’. a quality …

Coffee House Coffee break! Located opposite the Presidency College on College Street, Kolkata, the Coffee House has been for a long time an iconic hangout and a renowned meeting place for intellectuals and students belonging to the University of Calcutta. The prestige of the Coffee House increased with regular visitors such as Satyajit Ray, Amartya …

A SLICE OF HISTORY Dalhousie Square, known now as Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh, is an oasis at the heart of Kolkata. Occupying an area of over two square kilometres, the plaza is ringed by historic architecture and contains the Lal Dighi, or Red Tank, a body of water that reflects the buildings surrounding it. The space was …

BREAKFAST WITH A DIFFERENCE Tiretti Bazaar is one of the few remaining places in Kolkata where you can sample authentic Chinese snacks like steamed pork buns, dimsum and light, subtly sweet, sesame sprinkled deep-fried batter balls. For decades, this was where Kolkataʼs large Chinese community lived and worked. Even though, from the 1960s, the old …

Hooked And Booked! Book lovers of Kolkata flock to the famous College Street, irrespective of occasion or weather. Whether you are looking for schools books and college books on history, biology and mathematics, or if you are searching for a science fiction novel, a love story, the history of music, childrenʼs books, comics, classic literature …