Christmas in Calcutta

….is something everybody must do once before they die! Park Street was so beautiful in the evenings; I just HAD to squeal in delight! The lights, the little cafes, including the famous Flury’s and the hipper Street Café were enchanting little dots on the landscape of unending culture and history that the city is. All you gotta do is take one look at the wonders of the Victoria Memorial to realize just how much history and culture the city has passed through its hands.

From its Princes to the British, the Babus to their literary achievements, the strong Marxist leanings to the delectable Bong food! Walking around the city is bumping into one cultural mini-explosion after another. The lack of moral policing (at least for outsiders) makes the place a seriously enjoyable one to kick up your heels and yell Woo-hoo in. The nightlife of the city makes me wonder why Calcutta didn’t earn the reputation of “The city that never sleeps” and what Bombay did to deserve it instead!

The people are really friendly, and if it wasn’t for the bloody language problem, I’m sure I’d have tons of stories for this space. Unfortunately, the best I could do was communicate in smiles and waves, which were almost as well received as actual words. The coffee houses with their embedded aroma of age old intellectualism were my personal favorite, followed closely by the deep sense that heritage seeps from every pore of this city.

So after having spent 4 whole days there, I am naturally an expert on the area, thus qualified to have a list of my own.

So here’s my list of must-do’s when in Cal:
Flury’s for brekker. Every single time. Multiple times even.
Tip: Book a table before landing up there.
Street Café. For their lovely desserts and Jenga!
The Park Hotel. Pick from the 4 nightclubs playing different music in the hotel.
A Bong home. For the food, of course!
Mocambo. Finger-licking, lip-smacking, semi-orgasmic fare. Must, must, must!
Victoria Memorial. If it doesn’t awe and spellbind you, there’s something wrong with you.
Just drive around. Keep the drive down Park Street for the evenings when its all lit up (during Christmas)

Sigh!