Kolkata

City of Joy

By Patanjali Somayaji

Yellow Taxis

In the sea of white and blue that is Kolkata, it is interesting that the yellow cabs have retained their unique look. Its hard to miss the distinct yellow of the local taxis. Flagging a taxi down and convincing a reluctant driver to ferry you is quite a throwback in the era of Uber.

COLONIAL PAST

Many buildings in the older part of the city were built in the Victorian style during British rule.

Across the HOOGHLY

Ferries ply across the mighty Hooghly river, and locals regularly use the slow moving boats. The sedate ferries match the unhurried pace of life in Kolkata and offer a different perspective of the city to a tourist.

TRAMS

Kolkata is one of the few cities in the world, and the only city in India to continue to have a functioning Tram system. Kolkata Trams are the oldest electric tram system in Asia.

Eat your heart out

Fish is a staple of the local diet, and no meal is complete without fish and rice. Vendors dot the city early in the morning as the citizens step out to buy fresh fish.

Kolkata is a paradise for food lovers. Delicious street food is everywhere.

In addition to the abundance of street food, Kolkata hosts a large number of eateries and restaurants, that serve local cuisine like the traditional vegetarian "thali" pictured below.

THE GREAT BANYAN

While all of Kolkata is full of large and beautiful Banyan trees, the Great Banyan at the city's Botanical Garden is a major attraction. This 250+ year old tree covers more than 18 thousand square meters with a circumference of 483 meters. The main trunk of the tree was amputated in 1925 to keep the remainder healthy; this has left it as a clonal colony rather than a single tree.

VIGNETTES

Kolkata is a fascinating contrast of old and new, effortlessly blending the traditional and the modern. In the photograph below, a barber has setup a makeshift salon in the midst of a car park.