Arunoday - The Rising Sun: Kolkota

The city of joy is a feeling - abode of so many stalwarts....civilisation began and ended with Bengal.

Preferably stay suggested was @ Gariahat/Ballygunge area. Decent locality, most of South Indian people stay in n around. We stayed at the Metropolitant area near Bypass

Places to visit in Kolkata was suggested by Surjith, and started with the first suggestion:

Having met Surjith and family and covered the Science City + Birla mandir on day 1 of the trip i.e. 12th of May, next day as per plan

- Covered Belur math and Dhakshineshwara temple went on Rabindranath Sethu/Howra bridge saw Vivekananda Sethu when returning, Shriya was tired so came back to the hotel room, It was a round about trip starting from one direction and returning from the other. In the evening Jisha took half day and we went to St Paul's Cathedral, saw a show at Birla Museum on space travel matching Shriya's T-Shirt and then went to college street - Indian Coffee House. Got just one book. Did not find many as it was closing down.

Birla Planetarium

Birla Education Trust presented this to West Bengal government in 1929 AD. It provides useful information about our solor system, galaxies, life span of stars, space, planets and other heavenly bodies in the most interactive manner via audio video aids. The air-conditioned viewing hall with a diameter of 23m has a seating capacity of 500. Its astronomy gallery maintains a huge collection of fine paintings and celestial models of renowned astronomers.

Was fortunate to see a show there and have a nap too.

- On 14th of May visited Mother Theresa house, Rabindra Sadan, Marble Palace, Ganesha temple, Bio Garden, saw the great Banyan tree and came back to hotel for night dinner with Sudeep and family to celebrate is birthday.

- 15th May day 5 covered, Alipoor Zoo, Aquarium was hopeless. Alipoor has a big jail and museum of the times for freedom struggle. National library is just at the point end of where the road with zoo on one side and aquarium on the other side was. By Noon Saroja's training was over, and she asked us to comes back ASAP. Evening we went for a walk on Howra Bridge and then went to Howra AC Market

One of the largest and oldest zoo, the zoo has variety of animals, different species of reptiles, cross breeds. During the winters it is a treat for the travellers as birds from many cold countries come here for hibernation.

- On day 6 i.e. 16th May covered Victoria memorial+ Tonga ride , Subash Chanda bose - Netaji museum, Indian Museum slept on grass, shopping books, and cloths, went to new market and came back to keep things in the room. Finished packing my first suitcase.

The Victoria Memorial a large marble monument on the Maidan in Central Kolkata, having its entrance on the Queen's Way is the brainchild of Lord Curzon, a Viceroy of India. It was built between 1906 and 1921 and dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, the Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. Also known as Victoria Palace Kolkata, it is much more than an iconic landmark or a historical building in the city. This magnificent monument cum museum stands as a reminder of the city’s colonial and architectural heritage. Nestled against lush green lawns, this opulent memorial made of marble features Indo-Saracenic revivalist architectural style which displays a blend of Mughal and British elements along with Egyptian, Islamic, Venetian, and Deccani elements. Made of white Markana marble, the edifice has dimensions of 103 meters by 69 meters and reaches up to a height of 56 meters.

In terms of design, Victoria Memorial draws inspiration from the Taj Mahal. It has a main central dome, four smaller domes, high portals, domed chaatris of octagonal shape, domed towers at the corners, and terrace. The Angel of Victory, a 16-feet tall figure, stands on top of the central dome. You can find several allegorical sculptures surrounding the central dome, including Charity, Justice, Art, and Architecture. The North Porch has allegorical sculptures of Prudence, Motherhood, and Learning.

Indian Museum is the earliest and the largest multipurpose Museum founded in 1814 at the cradle of the Asiatic Society of Bengal . The founder curator was Dr Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist. Started with just two galleries it now has six sections with 35 galleries. In 1875 the present Museum building on Chowringhee, designed by W.L.Grandville was completed.

Me slept off in the garden in between there.

- On day 7 took a Tram ride ,went to Botanical Garden for others to see the Banyan tree, Railway Museum, took under ganga metro to Esplanade the main shopping hub place from where got my suitcase.

-On day 8, 18th May had a solo trip to Gangasagar, and while returning heard lot of Calcutta news from the driver arranged by Surjith, saw Ganguly's house, went to Newtown- eco park~7 wonders at gate 4 and sweet trial at Mishti shop in Gate 3 + nazrul tirtha+ wax museum hired a driver for that day.

-19th May, was the final free day being the 9th to explore Calcutta did a lot of shopping + ferry across ganga from Babu ghat+ howrah bridge+ vidyasagar setu+ Princep ghat and had Calcutta food from 6 Ballugunge - through Park street.