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Calcutta or Kolkata is generally associated with poverty, squalor and the legendary works of Mother Teresa. But beyond that is a city which is rarely seen or understood anywhere - whether aboard or in India itself.
The city spreads in a linear fashion along the banks of the river Hooghly. Hooghly is a distributary of the Ganges and most Kolkatans refer to it as the Ganges. Loaded with rich silt and sediment, the river is kind of red. The river was the reason for Kolkata's rise as a riverine port city and it is also a reason for its decline as it needs to be dredged constantly. A new port downstream at Haldia handles a major portion of the trade now.
A lot of the pics are by forumers Timir, Sudipta and Sayanti
If there is a river, then there will be bridges...
The Howrah Bridge - a landmark of Kolkata
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Second Hooghly Bridge - a newer landmark compared to the Howrah Bridge
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Vivekananda Setu is the only rail + road bridge. They are building another bridge next to it (finally).
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The newest bridge - Second Vivekananda Setu will run parallel to it. You can see the construction going on in the above photos.
A rendering of the new bridge under construction.
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Jubilee Bridge
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Plans are a foot to build a new bridge and keep this a heritage structure.
The Kolkata Strand was the road bordering the port. Much of the port structures are gone and Kolkata has finally got a riverfront of it's own - reclaimed from the land freed up by the demoliton of dilapidated old warehouses. Of course a lot more needs to be done. But this an important step.
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Second Hooghly bridge from Kolkata Strand
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The BBD Bagh - a city square is the old commerical and government hub of the city.
The silver domed building is the General Post Office and highrise to the right is the Reserve Bank of India.
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Northern side - Writers' Building is the State Secretariat and the highrise building is the Reserve Bank of India
(India's central bank)
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South of BBD Bagh is the 90,000 capacity Ranji Stadium at Eden Gardens.
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South East of Eden Gardens is Chowringhee.
Chowringhee
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Downtown Kolkata from Second Hooghly Bridge
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A close up
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Some flyovers have been built in the Chowringhee area
The Park Street Flyover on JL Nehru Road
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Underneath the flyover - notice the yellow Ambassador taxis. They are built in a factory not far from Calcutta and the government's protectionist rules have ensured a life long beyond death for these cars. It is now limited to taxis but even that rule is probably to be done away with. They are symbols of socialism gone wrong.
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Also notice Kolkata's tallest commercial building - Chatterjee International Centre, which like Kolkata was falling apart. Till they finally decided to give it a face lift after years of litigation. A glass cladding would have looked good. But this is at least better than what it looked for the last fifteen years. A small sign that Kolkata is changing.
The AJC Bose Flyover is another one built in vicinity.
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School buses !
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Traffic is No Rules Rulez! While more and more Kolkatans are buying cars, scooters and motorbikes, they like their fellow Indians aren't worried about road rules.
Lane markings are few and far between. After all for whom do the lanes toll?
Some photos from Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge)
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The city spreads in a linear fashion along the banks of the river Hooghly. Hooghly is a distributary of the Ganges and most Kolkatans refer to it as the Ganges. Loaded with rich silt and sediment, the river is kind of red. The river was the reason for Kolkata's rise as a riverine port city and it is also a reason for its decline as it needs to be dredged constantly. A new port downstream at Haldia handles a major portion of the trade now.
A lot of the pics are by forumers Timir, Sudipta and Sayanti
If there is a river, then there will be bridges...
The Howrah Bridge - a landmark of Kolkata
Second Hooghly Bridge - a newer landmark compared to the Howrah Bridge
Vivekananda Setu is the only rail + road bridge. They are building another bridge next to it (finally).
The newest bridge - Second Vivekananda Setu will run parallel to it. You can see the construction going on in the above photos.
A rendering of the new bridge under construction.
Jubilee Bridge
Plans are a foot to build a new bridge and keep this a heritage structure.
The Kolkata Strand was the road bordering the port. Much of the port structures are gone and Kolkata has finally got a riverfront of it's own - reclaimed from the land freed up by the demoliton of dilapidated old warehouses. Of course a lot more needs to be done. But this an important step.
Second Hooghly bridge from Kolkata Strand
The BBD Bagh - a city square is the old commerical and government hub of the city.
The silver domed building is the General Post Office and highrise to the right is the Reserve Bank of India.
Northern side - Writers' Building is the State Secretariat and the highrise building is the Reserve Bank of India
(India's central bank)
South of BBD Bagh is the 90,000 capacity Ranji Stadium at Eden Gardens.
South East of Eden Gardens is Chowringhee.
Chowringhee
Downtown Kolkata from Second Hooghly Bridge
A close up
Some flyovers have been built in the Chowringhee area
The Park Street Flyover on JL Nehru Road
Underneath the flyover - notice the yellow Ambassador taxis. They are built in a factory not far from Calcutta and the government's protectionist rules have ensured a life long beyond death for these cars. It is now limited to taxis but even that rule is probably to be done away with. They are symbols of socialism gone wrong.
Also notice Kolkata's tallest commercial building - Chatterjee International Centre, which like Kolkata was falling apart. Till they finally decided to give it a face lift after years of litigation. A glass cladding would have looked good. But this is at least better than what it looked for the last fifteen years. A small sign that Kolkata is changing.
The AJC Bose Flyover is another one built in vicinity.
School buses !
Traffic is No Rules Rulez! While more and more Kolkatans are buying cars, scooters and motorbikes, they like their fellow Indians aren't worried about road rules.
Lane markings are few and far between. After all for whom do the lanes toll?
Some photos from Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge)
