Kolkata- City of Joy

Aamar Shonar Bangla,

Ami Tomay Bhalobashi...

Calcutta now renamed as Kolkata capital city of West Bengal. Kolkata is a city of dreams, located on the east bank of the Hoogly River. Kolkata is one of the oldest city in India and was the first city where British rulers started the business. They started their company, 'East India Company' in Kolkata.

The main language of the city is Bengali and other languages that are followed here are English and Hindi (to an extent). The year begins with Poila Boisakh that comes on 15th April. The calender followed here is different from English calender. Here, Panjika (bengali calender) is followed and the months are-

Panjika (Bengali Calender)

                                                                   

April- Boishakh

May- Joistho                                                                

June- Ashah

July- Srabon

August- Bhadro

Spetember- Ashshin

October- Kartik

November- Ograhaeon

December- Poush

January- Magh

February- Falgun

March- Choitro

One can see 100 year old buildings all over the streets of Kolkata. Trams running over the roads, Hand-pulling rickshaws, busy market yard from the early morning, heavy crowd on local trains running from one station to the other, sound of conch shells from the temples and so on. The priests being busy in doing all his sacred worships on the banks of river Hoogly. In short, one can feel the freshness of various colors and flavors in the city.

The city tour begins from Howrah Railway Station. Howrah station is the second busiest station in India. It is situated on the west bank of river Hoogly and is linked to Kolkata with Howrah bridge which is an icon of Kolkata. It is the oldest station and largest railway complex in India.

Howrah Railway Station

There are 25 Platforms and 29 Tracks. One can get Auto-Rickshaw, Ferry, Bus and Taxis from the station to any part of the city. Yatri Niwas, rooms are also available for the passengers at the same building of the station.

Yatri Niwas, Howrah Railway Station

Now, while moving towards the city we can see that the city and howrah are connected to each other by Howrah bridge. The most famous bridge in India. The bridge has support only from the two sides. There is no support from the middle of the bridge.The bridge is built on the River Hoogly.

Howrah Bridge

Other than Howrah Rly. Station, there is one more railway station Sealdah from where all the local trains run. Sealdah railway station has two different station. One is Sealdah North and another is Sealdah South.

Sealdah Railway Station

Kolkata is called as City of Joy, where each and every day every moment of life is lived as if there is no tomorrow. As I have travelled in many other parts of India so as per my personal opinion I can say that Kolkata is most affordable city. Affordable in the sense that here one can spend a day at a very low price. Here, believe it or not but the Auto-Rickshaws charge 2.5 rupee which cannot be seen in any other city in India.

Urban Structure...

North Kolkata is the oldest part of the city. It includes areas such as Shyambazar, Shobhabazar, Chitpur, Baranagar and Dumdum. Central Kolkata hosts the central business district containing areas like B.B.D. Bagh Square, General Post Office, Reserve Bank of India, High Court, Lalbazar Police Headquarters and several other government offices are located here. South Kolkata is also an important business hub. It comprises of Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Camac Street, Louden Street, Shakespeare Sarani. 

Maidan, considered to be the "Lungs of Kolkata" is located on the heart of the city and accommodates various sport events and pulic meetings. At the southern end of Maidan, is located Victoria Memorial and Kolkata Race Course. 

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Puri, Orissa... 

JAI JAGANNATHA

  Well from Vedic times, India has always believed in different religion and spiritual matters. That's why I can proudly say that I am an Indian. India is filled with different colors and various festivals that makes the country even more beautiful than a Rainbow.

Puri Beach.

Puri is one of the most beautiful and spiritual place of India located in Odisha (Orissa). Puri is known for its beautiful beaches and Shree Jagannath Ji, that is Lord Krishna. Every year lots of pilgrimates from not only India but also all around the world visit here. The Sea of Puri is considered to be Sacred. It is believed that Lord Krishna had jumped into the sea and that's why one can find the color of the sea to be naturally blue and not due to the reflection of the sky.

Well the journey started on 11th November 2012 from Nagpur. Me and my parents went to Puri in Adi Puri Ahmedabad Express. It takes almost 22 hrs from Nagpur to Puri. We reached Puri at the early morning at 8.00 am on 12th November 2012. The distance between Puri Railway Station and Bharat Seva Ashram is only 2 k.m. The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar.

Puri Railway Station

My mother who already booked a room in Bharat Seva Ashram. Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh (BSAS) is an organisation that runs in the whole country. They work as a charitable trust and provides room facility to the pilgrimates. So, after reaching there and completing the formalities they gave us a single room with all the facilities available. I remember after that a Panda (meaning-Priest, in Oriya priest is named as panda) came to us and tried to convince my parents that he will help us in taking the darshan and bhog prasad. He gave us the time of 12.00 noon.

Bharat Seva Ashram Sangha, Puri.

The Panda came on time, and we headed towards the temple. The temple is hardly 3 Km from the Ashram. One can also take an Auto-Rikshaw or can walk and go. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is dedicated to Jagannath and is located in the coastal town of Puri. The temple is considered to be one of the Char-Dham that a Hindu is expected to make in his lifetime. After standing in the long que under the sun, finally the darshan was started and as soon as our turn came the Panda holded one hand of my mother and I hold the other hand of my mother. My father was holding my other hand. In short, we were walking as a train. Inside the main temple, its very dark too much crowded and slippery also.

Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.

The central forms of Jagannath, Balabhadra and goddess Subhadra constitute the trinity of deities sitting on the bejewelled platform or the Ratnavedi in the inner sanctrum. Idols of Sudarshan Chakra, Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri are also placed on Ratnavedi.

Balabhadra (left), Subhadra (center) and Jagannath (right)

Finally, we completed the darshan and puja parikrama process. Then one has to book the bhog prasad with a particular amout to the temple authorities. The bhog takes quite a long time. The daily offerings are made to the lord six times a day, it includes-

1. Early morning offering in the form of breakfast contains seven items treat.
2. The Sakala Dhupa forms his next offering at 10.00 am contains 13 items.
3. Bada Sankhudi Bhoga forms the next and consits of Pakhala with dahi and Kanji payas. The offering is made in the Bhog Mandapa , about 200 feet from the Ratnavedi.
4. The Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering at the noon.
5. The next offering is made in the evening at 8.00 pm, it is Sandhya dhupa.
6. The last offering to the lord is called the Bada Simhara Bhoga. 

Offerings to the Lord Jagannatha.

Offerings of the Lord in the form of Maha Prasad are carried to the devotees in the clay pots.

After we booked our bhog prasad, we headed towards our room. As we were so tired and I was looking forward to take a snap as soon as possible. In the evening, around 4.00 pm the our Panda brought the prasad for us. As we already finished our lunch, so my mother decided to keep the prasad for the night as a dinner. And we decided to spend some time in the beach and ofcourse the market area. The beach of Puri is located on the shore of Bay of Bengal and is known for tourist attraction and Hindu Sacred Place, as mentioned earlier. The beach hosts sand arts displays, including work by international award winning local artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.

Puri Sand art by international award wining artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.

Puri beach decorated with vintage light post.

After spending some time in the beach, our next plan was to visit the market area. In the evening time, the market was crowded as it was Diwali the next day. Peoples were busy in shopping for themselves and also for their friends and relatives. The market has variety of shops including Handloom dress materials, Handloom sarees, Handicrafts items, Pearl Jewellery shops, and various sweet shops too. All handicrafts items are available at a very reasonable rate but the handloom itmes specially women dress materials, shawls, Sarees ranges a bit costly.
                   

Handloom gift items.

Handloom shirts for men.      

Handloom sarees for women.

After having lots of shopping for our self and our other friends and relatives, we went back to our room and we had the bhog prasad as our dinner and went to sleep. In this way our first day in Puri got over. Next day, it was Diwali. In Puri, Diwali is celebrated as Kali Puja (most important festivals of West Bengal and Orissa). We already booked a cab as our next journey was to visit Chilka Lake.

Chilka Lake, Orissa.

The map shows the location of Puri and Chilka.

Chilka Lake

Chilka lake (Chilika) is a brackish water lagoon spread over the Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam district of Orissa state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of Daya river joining the Bay of Bengal. The Lagoon hostst over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season.

The Chilka is also famous for the dolphins. Tourists from all over the country visit here throught the year. But, the winter period that is December and January is considered to be the most favorable time to visit the Chilka as the migrant birds are can be seen in this period only. The boats are available at a reasonable rates depending on the time and type of sight seeing.Once you start your journey in the lake on a boat which runs on a motor, you will find different vendors approaching to you to sell different kind of gems, stones, pearls, fresh crabs and prawns from the lake. These gems and pearls are available at a very low rates ranging from Rs.10, Rs.50 and so on.

Neelam

White pearl

Sea shells

Fresh prawns from Chilka

Fresh alive crabs

Beautiful view of Chilika Lake

Me with my mother on the motor boat.

Enjoying the pleasant weather  on the boat

After spending the whole day in Chilka, we then were getting ready to go back to Puri and our room. On the way, we had our lunch and we ordered Rice, and freshly made Chingdi macher malai curry (Prawns butter curry). In this way the day was over. But it was diwali and the city was fully preparing for the Kali puja which was to be commenced at a late night.

Idol of goddess Kali in one of the pandals of Puri

Me with Ma Kali

Finally, our vacation came to an end. We were having our train on 14th November 2012 for Nagpur. But in the morning we spend a lot much time in the sea beach and I remember it was really a memorable one.

Me on the beach

My parents standing under an umbrella on the beach

Other tourist enjoying in the sea

And this marked the end of our vacation in Puri. Today also, when i see this pictures the fresh essence of the sweets and cool winds from the sea touches my mind and soul. I am looking forward to visit Puri again if lord Jagannatha calls me. So, friends let me know how did you felt and also feel free to give your precious comments so that I can improve my blog. JAI JAGANNATHA !!!