when you are in Kolkata

My office gives a constricted view of the by lanes of Mumbai. The wet street of Mumbai is partly visible and the hang about you can make is by the incessant pour the city witnesses.

There is a tall tree which is visible from the adjoining large glass. The tree is unevenly growing like the Mumbai traffic; it has leaves that are light and furry. I am clueless, if you are expecting the tree’s name. Can’t be a Banyan or Peepal, since I know them really well…

Okay, let’s come back to the weather. This drizzling reminds me of the clammy streets of Kolkata in rains. How I would wish the water on the street to evaporate without leaving a trace, or how I would wrestle my umbrella to keep it upright.

I remember eating at perfectly calcuttan restaurants in these rains. That day also it rained a lot and I wanted to done a Kebab dish at Peter Cat but my South Indian friend suggested Tamarind. He told me Tamarind is one of the rare south Indian specialty restaurants, which serves other cuisines too. Doubting that I would be able to savor my food at such kind of place, I had to lay down my arms for his taste buds. The restaurant is located at Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani.

Ambience of the bistro I must admit was striking. The instrument playing frivolously in the backdrop lit my mood and the scent of food made me ravenous. We ordered Hyderabadi chicken which clearly tasted like one sautéed with Lemon & Ginger. The breads were quite good but the stealer was the Paysam that my friend made me taste.

Kolkata can boast of startling eateries and whether it is rain or heat here are few restaurants you must try when you are travelling to Kolkata:


• Mainland China: I can swear by the exotic Chinese cuisine it serves. It is said to serve the best Chinese and Thai in Calcutta. Undoubtedly anyone’s favorite, if it comes to Chinese. Rice lovers have to try Schezwan rice here.

• Marco Polo: another Chinese restaurant where I had relished eating. My hot favorite hong kong noodles with chicken is a killer.


• Peter Cat: Best thing about the restaurant is its ambience which houses a bar and serves Indian and Continental. You have to try chillo kebabs here. It is supremely Gourmet’s delight. The place’s stylish set up and stucco walls are becoming

• Moulin Rouge: another stealer in Park Street, where you have to go.
• Tangerine: go for à la carte. The French styled bistro looks astounding. I had simple veg food, which wasn’t that good but my friends loved lobster thermidor (however that tasted)


• On track: I would not strongly recommend. Dad and I experienced this restaurant but didn’t like it that much. It is a nice place for kids since it has a different seating arrangement in the form of train, which whistles too.


So that is what you have from my choicest places in Calcutta. But I would still crown the road side joints, puchka stalls, jhal muris and cha over the above. Junk food in Calcutta will win hand down anywhere! The city of joy is a Gourmet’s delight.

kolkata - yeah it is!

While talking to a distant friend (after so long) I was (yet again) reminded the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to stay at so many places in such short period… 7-8 years, 3 places noticeably and inter changeably. My wisdom says people who adapt with different haute couture are pleasant. But what could be an unpleasant stay over a period, turned out to be one of the most riveting experiences. No prize for guessing, it is Kolkata. If you have spent >2 years in the oxford of east and have been in love with each and every moment elapsed why on earth will you even dream of loving an overtly populated, polluted and slothful cal.



It was after I came back to Pune from Cal, that I realized that I missed a lot of things about Calcutta. I missed the then nagging neighbors, the small and narrow street with smell of charcoal emanating from every alcove, the street food, Beethoven’s symphony played at the Minto Park signal, fragrance of bestsellers at oxford book store, the bus/metro/tram ride, the ever shouting bus conductors, the forever cribbing of bongs about Bengal bandhs, traffic, law & order, society rules etc, Christmas celebration, pujo. I used to think that I am never gonna go back to cal, once I move out of here. But now that I get to think about the simple and the concept of life in small packets, so evidently seen in Calcutta, I realize how privileged I was that I had the chance to befriend Calcutta bongs and others.


We live and forget that apart from work and families there are other things we snub. We forget art and literature, quaint paintings, the ever enchanting chords of music, the magic of playing football when it rains and the poetry of Tagore. Calcutta wakes up, works but comes back to its neighbors & friends, dances with friends during Pujo, sings together for a casual antakshari at their society premises, exchange dishes with neighbors, casually visit each other’s place just to say hi, instruct other’s children to become a good citizen, teaches them the importance of kalboisakhi, sings the morning glory with their riyaaj, debates over every issue under the sun and declares bandhs for personal pleasure.


Whether it is the magic of kalboisakhi, pujo, lokhi puja or Christmas; Calcutta looks beautiful. People who hate it for multitude of reasons get used to the finger-licking street-licious food, friendly crowd, the constant cribbing of people, bonhomie of their neighbors, ever bargaining crowd at every corner of street shop to mall, the theatres/plays, book launch, rickety metro ride and celebration of everything which can be happily enjoyed. I missed Kolkata, amidst the sophistry of Pune; eventful and demanding Mumbai; in the void of no nonchalant environment in Delhi.

mid night mass

wonderful evening....

a movie i kind of was waiting 4 so long to watch..and could see it (premiere show) on 24th....lot f idiots went for 3 idiots and i fell in love with aamir khan again..brilliant movie.

post movie it was kebabs at peter cat...hmm lovely food after watchin gud movie is a sure shot delight :)

after eating ít was obviously 'mid night mass'at cal...boy cal looked so colorful and park street was so alive on 24th night n entire 25th....i felt like spending rest of my life in cal ;) i won't, for sure...but that day, i wanted to..

i liked cal..especially park street..that day it was so lovely, like lettuce with lot of mayonnaise...and some nice whipped cream cake, with cherry on top ...wow

this time the air was different..trust me..corners of park street didn't emanate the fragrance of fresh cake or ghetto latte but there was certainly more to it..it was the smell of joy n cheer mixed...everyone looked so happy...cheerful...think santa did something with magic wand...the carol was lovely!

the decor, lights and music was perfect...we were in St.Joseph's (loreto house) at 12 in the night....

24th dec'09 was one of the loveliest day..... merry christmas people!

i don't know if u can like or dislike cal..but for christmas if u wanna make it big, add a digit for cal..ostensibly, lovely place to be..

christmas carol

I am in the city of joy- calcutta...and that too during christmas, when we forget the communist part of this city..... Puddings, fruit cakes, pies, etc- pleasure derived!
I stopped decorating christmas tree after school..cal reminds me of the tinsel town, mistletoe, lights, gleeful sounds, fun in the air, carol in school..ultimate decor. And the aroma of fresh baked cake wafting through...chicken marinated with wine.

can u wrap ur gift in red and green now? shall we trim christmas tree, tailor out the inessential..make spaces to hang the presents...presents???i forgot i had to wrap a few gifts...for the kids staying few blocks away...wrap some chocolates, candies and marshmallow for the kids in my building. their loud jingle bells jingle bells suddenly made me realize the fancies...the carol singing..buoyant spirits, midnight mass, christmas play, chiming church bells...awww it is just wonderful!