Kolkata's vibe is stuck in time, in a good way. Buildings get erected, bridges get made, houses get refurbished, but the feeling you get when you step into the city is always the same - exhilarating, loud, artsy, and old. You'll watch people immersed in the humdrum of city life but still will address your questions with a smile. There's an innate charm to Kolkata, which can only be felt live. And here are ways in which you can make the most out of your stay :
Explore The Food Scene
Pocket-friendly snacks are Kolkata's specialty. It's a metropolitan city, but one that still thrives on simplicity rather than a luxury - and that reflects in the prices. Your taste-buds will go on a trance as you take bits off the food items brought in by the many settlers who moved here during the Colonial era. You'll find a wide range of stalls, tiny restaurants, fancy restaurants - all devoted to the art of food, with a Bengali tinge. From the yummy Kati rolls, a Unique Calcutta style wrap, masala cha, fried fish to mouth-watering sweets - there's a little something for all types of foodies here.
Like It? Cook It!
Once you're done with savoring the different flavors of Kolkata, why not try to cook it? It'll be a precious piece of knowledge you can take back home. Pick up ingredients from the local market, and let a housewife or the restaurant chefs teach you how to whip up a good 'ol Bengali meal. Don't forget the sweets afterward, it's the life of the culinary party! 'Just a note of care - keep your pills ready if you're allergic to something or have chances to get an overwhelmed tummy because of the spices.
Understand The Intersection of Cultures
Many, many cultures have found their way into the city, leading up to the globalized present. It will be fun to take a walk through time to discover the origins and remnants of the different communities who chose to call Kolkata their home.
You'll find the reason behind Chinese breakfast's dominance in Tiretta Bazar, how the Americans built the oldest surviving Christian church, and a walk by the Anglo-Indians, the Muslims, the Marwaris, the Biharis, and many other communities that laid the foundation of Kolkata's diversity.
This is why Kolkata is called the 'melting pot' and justifiably so.
Wander In The Echoes Of Colonial Times
Initially, Kolkata was the capital of the British Empire. They had planned to build 'the second city of the Empire' and hence, you will see the remaining parts of their plan tucked away in various corners of the city. You can walk through the 'European' areas and see the old, tattered, mystical buildings. You'll also get an insight into the restoration plan to bring the valor back to these remaining parts of the Colonial era. The architectural styles used originally will take your breath away. These kinds of walks are really popular as it gives you a good idea about how British controlled Kolkata (then, Calcutta) used to be like.
Pedal Through Kolkata
Before the city arises, put on your shoes and take out your bicycle to venture through an untainted, silent, and pure version of Kolkata. It'll be rejuvenating to feel the morning sun, as you ride by the intriguing localities, colonial areas, the Black Town, the Grey Town, the River, East Kolkata Wetlands, or a little bit of everything. Make sure to dress comfortably, know how to ride a bike (ha!), and let the locals give you guidance from time to time.
Travel Like The Locals
Calcutta is one of the most connected cities in the world and provides you with a wide range of transport mediums. Maybe, you should go old school, and start with trams, which have been around since the 1860s! Then you can hop onto a classic taxi, that'd be an Ambassador and have been serving as taxis in the city since the 1950s. Then if you feel a need for a much more airy medium, go for an auto-rickshaw, which will be a fun ride perhaps layered with music and disco lights.
If you're looking for something much more hygienic, Metro Rail would be an option for you.
Hand-pull rickshaws, bustling buses, lively trains, authentic ferries are some of the other modes you can try if you're feeling adventurous!
Traverse Through The Hooghly Region
How the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and the Statue of Liberty is for New York - Hooghly is for Kolkata. It is a distributary of the Ganges and stitched to the fabric of Bengal's roots.
Millions of people depend on Hooghly for their livelihoods. Wrestlers who exercise on its soft clay, boatmen who help people to get across, the flower sellers who rely on the water to keep their flowers fresh, the boys who use magnets to fetch coins from its bed - the time you spend here will heighten all your five senses.
The cherry on top would be the clay idol makers, Kumartulli, the Howrah Bridge, and the cremation ghats. From life to death, from death to life - you'll feel the different shades of being human in this region.
Kolkata can surprise you at any point. A lot of renowned artists share the same soil of Bengal, and the art of the city reflects in the streets, people, food, and buildings. Get ready to experience the land that primarily worships female goddesses, the land that knows how to live, the land that is humble and prized!