Experience Ganges, a bus and cruise tour along Hooghly River

Experience Ganges

3 day & 2 night bus and cruise tour along Hooghly River

Rivers always played an important role in shaping civilizations. The Hooghly River, a distributory of the Ganga (or Ganges), is no exception. The river have played an important role in shaping the history of colonial India.

Experience Ganges Group at Jalashree Floating Restaurant, Chandannagar

Calcutta (now Kolkata), the first capital of British India and the second city of the empire was also established on the Bank of the River Hooghly. It was not only British but other European power also had there presence along the river. This included Bandel (Portuguese), Chinsurah (Dutch), Chandannagar (French) and Serampore (Danish).

Courtallam Waterfalls, spa of south India

Courtallam Waterfalls

Spa of south India

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Located at the southern tip of Western Ghat on the Tamil Nadu – Kerala border this small hill station of Tamil Nadu houses nine waterfalls. The water in the falls have medical values and is known as the spa of south India. This is Courtallam (or Kuttraalam).

Collage of the three most well known waterfalls of Courtallam (Kuttraalam)

Sadly the Courtallam hardly finds a place in the national tourism map, but it is extremely popular among locals. During the monsoon weekends thousand of locals tourist from Tamil Nadu and Kerala visit the place. The local administration and the police have a tough time handling them.

Memorial of Daulat Hossain, Park Circus

Memorial of Daulat Hossain

Park Circus

Shaikh Daulat Hossain the name is definitely unfamiliar. He is no celebrity but a memorial stands in his memory in a remote corner of Park Circus. Strangely the memorial also seems to be have been forgotten. It lies is utter neglect and is heavily encroached upon.

Daulat Hossain Memorial

Shaikh Daulat Hossain was shot dead by dacoits in Park Circus area when he tried to prevent their decoity attempt. He died on the spot on 7^th October 1932 aged only 18.

Border Parotta, a culinary landmark on Tamil Nadu – Kerala border

Border Parotta

A culinary landmark on Tamil Nadu – Kerala border

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Who said, “Tamil food is all about idli and dhosa and is all vegetarian?” Think again! The coastal state of Tamil Nadu has its share of non veg cuisine and the probably the best place to experience it is Border Parotta stall near the small town of Coutrallam. It is not just food but an experience.

Border Parotta, Tenkashi

Coutrallam (or Kutralam) is a small town at the southern tip of Western Ghat. The town is known for its spectacular waterfalls (blog post on Courtallam Waterfall coming up soon) but no trip to Courtallam is complete with a visit to the culinary landmark of Border Parotta in Tenkasi (Google map location) just 5 km away.

Historic Sites of Bardhaman Town

A compilation of historic sites of Bardhaman town

From colossal colonial styled gateways to magnificent Mughal styled mausoleum and from elaborate temple complex to the resting place of the first husband of the Mughal empress Noor Jahan

Clockwise from top left: Curzon Gate, Christ Church, Mazar of Pir Baharam, 108 Shiva Temples, Sarbangla Temple and Nawab Bari

Located about 100 km from Kolkata, the town of Bardhaman predates Kolkata by at least a couple of centuries. It can serve as a interesting day or a weekend trip from Kolkata covering an wide range of historic sites.

Nafar Chandra Kundu Memorial, Chakraberia Road (South)

Nafar Chandra Kundu Memorial

Chakraberia Road (South)

Nafar Chnadra Kundu, the name is quiet likely to sound unfamiliar because he is no celebrity he is just a common man on the street who did something extraordinary 114 years ago (in 1907). Although no longer remembered but his act of extraordinary courage was enough to turn him into a legend and an icon which today’s India needs more than ever.

Nafar Chandra Kundu Memorial

It was the month of May 1907 Nafar Chandra Kundu was walking down the streets of Chakraberia when heard shouts and desperate plea for help. He noticed a small crowd had gathered round a open manhole and the screams came from inside the manhole.

Dansborg Fort, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)

Dansborg Fort

Tranquebar (Tharangambadi), Tamil Nadu (TN)

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Although India has been a British colony for almost two centuries but few pockets have been under the occupation of other European powers. Goa and Pondicherry remained under the Portuguese and French occupation respectively even after independence of India in 1947.

Dansborg Fort, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)

Apart from French and Portuguese the Dutch and Danish also had there share of tiny colonies spread across British India. West Bengal also had its share of European colonies along the River Hooghly

Emden Plaque, Madras High Court, Chennai

The only attack on Indian soil during World War I

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu and WWI Memorial in India

Over a million Indian soldiers served the British Army during the First World War (WWI), which was initially known as the Great War of 1914 – 18. Over 70,000 died fighting in different war theatres spread across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Emden in 1910 (wikimedia commons)

Today numerous meorials and plaques dot the entire landscape of the sub-continent in memory of the fallen Indian soldiers who died fighting for the King of another country in far off lands.

This memorials consists of well known land marks like the India Gate, Delhi or the towering Glourious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata.

They consist of elaborate memorials like the Teen Murti Memorial, Delhi and also include a tiny nondescript plaque on the walls of a health centre in Mehruli region of Delhi

Dhanuskodi, the abandoned town at the end of India

Dhanuskodi

The abandoned town at the end of India

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

A long stretch of desolate sand, with scattered dilapidated structures, flanked on both side with endless expanse of water. On the north is clear blue waters of Bay of Bengal and on the south is the turbulent waters of Gulf of Mannar.

Where peacocks dare! Ruins of Dhanushkodi

This is Dhanuskodi, once the flourishing port and now an abandoned town complete with roofless church, railway stations with rails and schools with out students.

Flamingos and Salt Pans of Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Flamingos and Salt Pans

Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

At glance it seems like endless snow field but the scorching heat will soon take you back to reality and it is not snow but salt. Under the blazing sun, the mounds of blindingly white crystals as far as the eye can see, creates a striking contrast with the deep blue sky in the backdrop.

Flamingos at the salt pans of Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Located at the far south of the Coromondal Cost, Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) is a major port city in Tamil Nadu and home to much of the state’s salt harvesting terrain. This industry is over a century old in these parts.