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Kolkata in Pictures

Sukanya Nath

Last updated: Apr 3, 2017

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They say if you have ever stayed in Kolkata, a part of it always stays in you. Here’s what makes this city special, and what you can never forget, no matter how far away you are:

You will never forget those eternal yellow taxis.

kolkata pictures yellow taxi — Photo Credit: VnGrijl/ Flickr

That feeling of anticipation before Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Bengali calendar.

kolkata pictures durga puja — Photo Credit: Sujato Banerjee

The faint smell of Shiuli flowers and the sound of the incessant dhaak as the city celebrates.

And, of course, the open buffet, prominently featuring the quintessential Kolkata Biryani.

kolkata pictures biriyani — Photo Credit: Insatiablemunch/ Flickr

You’ll never forget the Victorian buildings that hark back to Calcutta’s colonial past—after all, it was the former capital of British India.

The stately St Paul’s cathedral…

kolkata pictures st pauls cathedral church — Photo Credit: Ankitesh Jha

and the iconic Victoria Memorial.

kolkata pictures victoria memorial

You’ll never forget the addas at the famous Coffee House on College Street...

kolkata pictures coffee house — Photo Credit: Soumyadeep Paul/ Flickr

a street that sells everything from John Keats and Hemingway to engineering textbooks.

kolkata pictures park street

You’ll remember Prinsep Ghat, Bollywood’s favourite sunset point. (Remember Yuva, Parineeta, Barfi?)

kolkata pictures prinsep ghat — Photo Credit: Sayan Sadhukan

And of course, the Howrah bridge, always symbolic of Kolkata.

kolkata pictures howrah bridge — Photo Credit: Ankitesh Jha

You’ll never forget how every corner of the city is etched with history and has a tale to tell.

kolkata pictures city — Photo Credit: Sujato Banerjee

And yet, how effortlessly it straddles colonial heritage with modern infrastructure.

kolkata pictures citylights — Photo Credit: Ankitesh Jha

The city has a fascinating charm and a tranquil pace of life.

kolkata pictures streets — Photo Credit: Ankitesh Jha

And, most importantly, you’ll remember that even though it’s often written off as a dying city, there’s no place you’d rather call home.

kolkata pictures boys playing — Photo Credit: Sujato Banerjee

Comments

G R Taneja | on 24 July 2015

That's a delightful write-up on Cacuttal. The colonial architectural heritage is fantastic. I didn't know there is Kolkatta quintessential biryani. That alone sounds like a good reason to go for visit.