Calcutta (Kolkata)
St. John’s Church is Calcutta’s first Anglican Cathedral and the third oldest Church in the city. Located at the heart of the city the church contains beautiful paintings, stained glasses and marble memorials. The compound also contains several grave and memorials including the grave of Job Charnock, the controversial founder of the city of Calcutta in 1690. Read more…
Ronald Ross, a British Physicain working in the small laboratory of the Presidency General (PG) Hospital discovered that malaria was transfered by female anopheles mosquito. Ross received the Nobel Prize in 1902 and a memorial was erected on the western walls of the PG Hospital. Ross’ discovery and his memorial was the focal point of Amitav Ghosh’s novel Calcutta Chromosome. Read more…
Raj Bhavan, the present residence of the Governor of West Bengal, and the earths-while residence of the viceroy of India was built in 1805 in the lines of the Keddlestone Hall of Derbyshire. Considered as the finest Government House occupied by any sovereign or government in the world. Surrounded by a huge garden is approached by four colossal arched gateways. Read more…
Fanush ~ Paper made hot air balloons:
Fanush, paper made hot air balloon, was once the integral part of North Calcutta (Kolkata) “Babu” Culture. Today the art of Fanush making is a dying art as the new generation has shifted its attention into other sources of entertainment. The Fanush operates in the same principle of a hot air balloon. The air inside the Fanush is heated by a cloth rag ball, attached to the base of the Fanush. The Dutta family of Bholanath Dham still carries out the art of fanush flying on the afternoon of Kali puja. Read more…
Chinese Temple of Tiretta Bazar:
After the daath of Tong Achew, the first Chinese settler of Calcutta. The Chinese moved from Achipur to the centre of Kolkata, where they settled at Tiretta Bazar. Even today Tiretta Bazar has a distinctive Chinese touch and the Chinese breakfast is still available on Sunday mornings. Tiretta Bazar also houses six Chinese Temples, although difficult to spot they are worth a visit. Read more…
Bengalis have never been a warrior race, and a Bengali fighting a war would be one of the last thing one can imagine. Bengalis are rather dubbed as book worms showing their excellence in academic fields. But in the very heart of Kolkata’s academic hub stands a memorial dedicated to the Bengali warriors killed during World War I. The 49th Bengali Regiment was part of the British army in WWI and was mostly posted in Mesopotamia ( present day Iraq). Read more…
Located at the site of the old Fort William, Kolkata GPO is located on the crossing of Netaji Subhas Road and Koilaghat Street. General Post Office (GPO) is one of the famous landmark of the city of Calcutta (Kolkata). Built in 1868 the majestic building was designed by Walter B. Grenvile. Along the eastern staircase of the GPO almost invisible brass plate marks the eastern end of the old Fort William, probably the only remains of the old fort of Calcutta. Read more…
The Chinese settlement of Calcutta dates back to to 1780s when a trader named Tong Achew set up his sugar factory near present day Budge-Budge. The place today is known as Achipur, after Tong Achew. The Chinese soon deserted Achipur and headed for Calcutta (Kolkata), where they are presently settled in Tangra & Tiretta Bazar regions. The Calcutta Chinese community celebrates the Chinese New Year in traditional way complete with dragon & lion dances. Read more…
Writers’ Building is so called because it once housed the clerical and administrative staff (writers) of East India Company. Today it houses the main state secretariat and the office of the Chief Minister. The 150 mts long building occupies the entire nort end of the Lal Dighi (Tank Square). Built in 1777 and the designed by Thomas Lyon the building has undergone several extension and changes over the years. Read more…
Synagogues of Calcutta (Kolkata):
Calcutta (Kolkata) has always been a melting pot of various cultures & religions. Jews were one of the last communities to arrive in Calcutta (Kolkata) but within a short span of time they made their presence felt by controlling a large section of the trade in Calcutta (Kolkata). Once the Jews in Calcutta (Kolkata) numbered 6000 and had an active community complete with Synagogues where various religious rituals were carried out. But the two synagogues, Beth El & Magen David, of Calcutta (Kolakta) still stands. Declared as protected monuments they are looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Read more…
Parsi (Zoroastrian Fire Temple):
Zoroastrianism is a religion based on the teaching of prophet Zoroaster. Founded in the 6th century BC, Zoroastrianism is considered one of the oldest religions of the world. The Parsi first arrived in India well before the birth of Christ and settled in the West Coast of India. About 200 years ago the Parsis first settled in Calcutta (Kolkata). The first Parsi Temple was first set up in 1839 but it was abandoned. The present fire temple of Anjuman Atash Adran was established in 1912 and operates to this day. Read more…
Standard Life Assurance Building:
Although lesser known than its famed counterparts of Writers’ Building, General Post Office (GPO), St. Andrew’s Kirk or St. John’s Church the Standard Life Assurance Building can be considered as one of the finest buildings around Lal Dighi (formally Tank Square). Located at the corner of BBD Bagh (South) and Red Cross Place (formally Wellesley Place) the Standard Life Assurance Building was constructed in 1896 by the famous Bombay based architect Frederick W Stevens, of Victoria Terminus (VT) fame. The building once housed the office of Edinburgh based Standard Life Assurance company. Read more…
St. James’ Church (Jora Girja), Kolkata (Calcutta):
Jora Girja, popularly known as a bus – stop on the Lower Circular Road, is actually a twin spired church on the Name St. James’ Church. Built in 1855 by architect Walter B Granville the Ghotic styled church with pointed arches and richly decorated woodwork has recently been restored and open to public on 11 December 2011. Read more…
All Souls’ Day, Kolkata (Calcutta):
All Souls’ Day is a day when Christian remember their friends & relatives, who have passed away. This comes from an ancient belief that the souls of the dead will return, on this particular day, to have a meal with their family & friends. Candles are lit to guide the souls to their home for the meal. In Kolkata All Souls’ Day is celebrated in Lower Circular Road and Bhawanipur Cemetery. Read more…
St. Mary’s Church (Bangali Cathedral), Calcutta (Kolkata):
St. Mary’s Church was constructed in 1889 and is popularly known as the Bangla Cathedral, as large number of its member belong to the Bengali Protestant Christan community. Located on Elgin Road (Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani) the church interiors contain beautiful stained glass and marble tablets, many of which are written in Bengali. Read more…
Metropolitan Building ~ Whitewa, Laidlaw and Co. to Big Bazar:
On the eastern side of Esplanade stands a spectacular building in Baroque style, complete with domes, pediments, balconies & clock tower. Known as the Metropolitan Building it once housed Calcutta’s (Kolkata’s) leading departmental stores run by the famous Whiteway, Laidlaw and Co. Today the Metropolitan Building is owned by the Life Insurance Corporation of India and the old department store area on the ground floor is now occupied by the Big Bazar. Read More…
Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk ~ Calcutta (Kolkata):
Kelby is editor and publisher of Photoshop User and Layers magazines, president and co-founder of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and is president of Kelby Media Group, an Oldsmar, Florida-based software training, education, and publishing firm. The Calcutta (Kolkata) edition of the Scott Kelby Worlwide Photowalk was lead by Manjit Singh Hoonjan, a veteran tour and photo guide in the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata). Read more…
Bhistis of Calcutta (Kolkata):
During the British rule the bhistis were known for their loyalty and efficiency and have been made immortal in Rudward Kiplimg’s poem Gungan Din. Once an indispensable part of Calcutta’s (Kolkata’s) water supply of both domestic and public purposes today the bhistis are fast vanishing tribe. Today a handful of bhistis operates in a few pockets in Calcutta (Kolkata). Read more…
Nikon School India Photowalk ~ Kolkata (Calcutta):
The pujas are over and the winter chill has already set in and its ideal time for a photowalk in Calcutta (Kolkata). Nikon School India Kolkata photowalk was scheduled at 6:30 am on the 28 October 2012. The meeting point was Victoria Memorial North Gate. The participants consisted of a interesting mix of photographers, starting from first timers to hard core veterans but each carried a Nikon DSLR, starting from low end and out of market models like D60 to the latest high end models of D800. Read more…
Fanush Making ~ Making of paper made hot air balloons:
The Fanush operates in the same principle of a hot air balloon. The air inside the Fanush is heated by a cloth rag ball (locally called Luti) soaked in spirit. The Luti is attached to the base of the Fanush. The Dutts of Bholanath Dham on Beadon Street have kept the tradition alive by flying several different fanushes every year on the afternoon of Kali Puja. In 2012 I was specially invited by Ajoy Dutt to document the entire process of fanush making. Read more…
Myanmar (Burma) Buddhist Temple, Kolkata (Calcutta):
Mentioned by Amitava Ghosh in his best selling novel The Glass Palace the Maynmar (Burma) Buddhist Temple is located on 10 A Eden Hospital Road, next to the horse mounted statue of Rana Pratap, just off the Central Avenue. The two boards on the no descriptive three storied building are the only evidence of the Myanmar (Burma) Buddhist Temple in Kolkata (Calcutta). Read more …
Kolkata (formally Calcutta) once the second city of the mighty British Empire is home to several churches catering to different sects and sub – sects of Christianity. Apart from the well known Protestant and Catholic sects Calcutta (Kolkata) also houses churches belonging to the Orthodox sect including Armenian, Syrian and Greek orthodox sub – sets. This article is a compilation of the the Churches of Calcutta (Kolkata). However the article is not exhaustive and would be updated from time to time. Read more…
Armenian Christmas Celebration, Calcutta:
According to historic records Christians worldwide celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6, till the fourth century. The Roman Catholic Church changed the birth date to December 25 to override a pagan festival dedicated to the birth of the sun. The Armenian Church just kept the original date. Also Armenia happens to be the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion. Read more…
North Park Street Cemetery ~ Lone surviving grave:
Tucked away in the South – Eastern corner of the the Assembly of God Church Tower (AG Tower) complex is a strange circular structure. Supported by six Ionic pillar and crowned with a dome. It is often used for drying clothes and even as a storage space. The structure known as the Roberson Monument is the lone surviving grave of the demolished North Park Street Cemetery. The Mallick Bazar entrance of the Mother Teresa Sarani (formally Park Street and even formally Burial Ground Street) once housed cemeteries on its both side. The cemeteries on the Northern side of Park Street have long been demolished to give space to the ever expanding city of Calcutta (Kolkata) Read more…
Lascar War Memorial, Kolkata (Calcutta):
In Napier Road in Hasting region of Calcutta (Kolkata) stands a towering structure built in the honor of 896 Lascars, who died fighting for the British Navy during the Great War of 1914 – 18 (First World War). The 100 ft memorial built in the Indo-Mughal style has prows of an ancient galley projecting from each side and is capped by four mini minarets and a large dome. Along the facade are undulating lines symbolizing waves. Read more…
Greek Orthodox Church, Calcutta (Kolkata):
The Greek Orthodox Church, looks more like a Greek Temple than a church, with its four Doric columns in the portico supporting the giant triangular pediment. The smart whitewashed facade the Greek Orthodox Greek church stands out amidst the chaos of Kalighat. Although the Greek Orthodox Church has an antique look but it is among the newest of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Churches and was constructed only in 1925. Read more…
Portuguese Church, Catholic Cathedral of Calcutta (Kolkata):
Built in typical Catholic style the Portuguese Church comes in with twin towers which are shaped more like marinates, topped with crowned shaped cupolas. The extended portico is crowned with a triangular pediment decorated with beautiful relief work. The inside is even more spectacular with long corridor leading to beautifully decorated alterflanked with intricately decorated circular stained glass windows. Read more…
Second Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk:
Wikipedia the world largest online encyclopedia runs on entirely voluntary effort. Each major city in the world has a a Wikipedia chapter, who apart from contributing to Wikipedia carry out different activities like Wikiacademy and photowalks. The main objective of Wikipedia Photowalk, officially known a “Wikipedia Takes,” is to build a database of photos of landmarks of the city. The photos can later be used in the relevant articles. Read more…
Armenian Good Friday, Calcutta (Kolkata):
The coffin bearers slowly carried the black coffin, beautifully stacked with flowers outside the small chapel adjoining to the Lower Circular Road Cemetery in Calcutta (Kolkata). Strangely it was not a funeral and nor the black coffin contained any dead body !!!! It was the Good Friday service of the Armenian Christian community at the St. Gregory, the Illuminator Armenian Chapel at Park Circus. Read more …
First World War (WWI) Memorial, Calcutta (Kolkata):
From fallen soldiers of different regiments to innocent victims of mass genocide, Calcutta (Kolkata) houses several memorials in memory of the martyrs of the Great War of 1914 – 18 (World War I). From well known, strategically located towering memorials of British and Anglo Indian soldiers to small, obscure, hidden memorials dedicated to unknown regiments. Calcutta’s (Kolkata’s) First World War (WWI) Memorials not only covers a wide range of forgotten regiments and unknown communities but also a diversified architectural style. Read more…
Toong On Church, Rebirth of a Chinese Church:
Set up in 1924 the Nanking Restaurant is considered as the oldest Chinese restaurant in Calcutta (Kolkata) and probably in the whole of India. But unknown to many the gorgeous Nanking Restaurant housed an equally gorgeous temple in its first floor. The temple dedicated to the warrior god Kwan Ti was beautifully decorated with antique furniture and a sets of weaponry. It has been decades Nanking has closed its doors and a court dispute have kept the building under lock and key. Today largely due to the initiative of Calcutta Chinese of Tiretta Bazar the Toong On Church has opened its doors again. Read more…
Armenian Genocide Day, Calcutta:
The Armenian Genocide also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, traditionally among Armenians, as the Great Crime was the Ottoman government’s systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects from their historic homeland in the territory constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey. Armenians all over the world observes 24 April as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance day. Calcutta (Kolkata), housing a Armenian community for over three hundred years, is no exception. Read more…
Jane’s Walk 2013, East Calcutta Wetlands:
Jane Jacobs saw cities as integrated systems that had their own logic and dynamism which would change over time according to how they were used. With a keen eye for detail, she wrote eloquently about sidewalks, parks, retail design and self-organization. Jane’s Walks are held annually during the first weekend in May. The 2013 Calcutta (Kolkata) edition of the Jane’s Walk was organised by The Telegraph Explore Calcutta Walks, in association with Calcutta Walks and was presented by Prabha Khaitan Foundation. Nine walks was held in Calcutta (Kolkata).” I joined the East Calcutta Wetland walk. Read more…
Old or Mission Church. Calcutta (Kolkata):
Founded by the Swedish Lutheran missionary Johann Zachariah Kiernander the Mission Church was founded in 1770 and happens to be the oldest Protestant Church in Calcutta (Kolkata) and the second oldest (only next to Armenian Church) in the city. The church was completed in 1770. Kiernander himself called the church Beth Tephillah (Hebrew: House of Prayer).But the church was popularly known as the Mission Church and locals called it the Lal Girja, literally meaning the Red Church, because of its brick red finish. Read more…
Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Calcutta (Kolkata):
Located on the Northern end of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Maidan the Glorious Dead Cenotaph is the most well known of the WWI Memorials of Calcutta (Kolkata). Strangely the memorial contains no plaques and commonly and erroneously known as the “Memorial of Unknown Soldiers.” But it once contained plaques with the names of the fallen soldiers, which were later removed to the St. John’s Church. It actually commemorates those Calcutta British and Anglo Indians who gave their lives for King and Country during the First World War. Built in 1924 and designed by architect Herbert William Palliser, the sandstone built memorial loosely resembles the Cenotaph of Whitehall. London. Read more…
Chinese Breakfast, Old Chinatown (Tiretta Bazar), Calcutta (Kolkata):
Its early Sunday morning and sun is yet to come out, but the stoves are already fired up and the morning silence is broken by the sound of the knife hitting the chopping plate. Night owls crawl out of their late night parties and call centre night shifts to rejuvenate themselves with bowls of hot fish ball soups from the road side vendors. Hungry soles huddle around makeshift stall, jostling with each other to grab the day’s first meal.Yes, its breakfast time, Chinatown Calcutta !!!! Read more…
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