"Colonial Calcutta" Kolkata (Calcutta) by Willettsworld

Think of Kolkata, (or Calcatta, as it was previously known until a few years ago), and the first things you’ll probably think about is child poverty, mass population, traffic, pollution and Mother Teresa. To say that Kolkata has its fair share of urbanisation problems is an understatement and your first impressions of the city, like mine, will no doubt be very negative. I arrived here from Varanasi via Bodh Gaya on the train and instantly was bombarded with child beggars and various touts. I have to say that my overall view of the city isn’t a very good one. I arrived feeling unwell and stayed near Howrah Station as I had heard horror stories about budget hotels in the Sudder Street area. The hotel I stayed in was very poor which only impacted my negative thoughts. I decided to move to Sudder Street and looked around a few places which all looked rather grim but at least I would be with fellow travellers and backpackers which were missing where I was staying. The only problem I then had was being able to move hotels as the following day a citywide strike disabled the transportation links so I ended up staying put where I was for a further night. Strikes happen all the time here so be warned that they totally cripple getting around plus hardly anywhere is open. Strangely the strike did have one benefit and that was I could walk around sightseeing without being run-over by Kolkata’s world famous traffic.

Kolkata was the British Raj’s capital city when they first took hold in India before eventually moving to New Delhi. What they built was a spectacular combination of grand colonial buildings, wide boulevards and green park areas. These all remain today but most of the buildings are in a very poor state of repair and the streets around them are pretty filthy. However, the city is going through an economic rejuvenation with new I.T. businesses sprouting up which I hope will provide money for the local government to use wisely in order to clean the city up. If you visit the famous Victoria Memorial you’ll see photo’s of what Calcutta once looked like during the 1940’s and 1950’s – well kept buildings and clean streets. Don’t let me put you off visiting here as there is plenty to see and do and it is a wonderful place to experience everyday Indian urban life.