Is it a Russian palace or a Hindu temple? Experts have differing views regarding the Hansheswari Temple of Bansberia and its architecture, which is rarely seen in any other part of Bengal or India. The Rajbari, which stands next to this temple, is locally known
How can a structure that was meant to be a guest house be so grand? Present-day guest houses in Kolkata would tell a different story, but the Phul Bagh Rajbari, popularly known as Maheshadal Rajbari, looks like an imperial residence in the centre of a
A breathtaking sight in all its faded grandeur may be found in the Howrah region on the eastern banks of the Hooghly. Reaching the 185-year-old Andul Rajbari requires travelling 30 kilometres along the palm tree-lined Andul Road after passing over the Howrah Bridge or Rabindra
A slice of British royalty can still be viewed on a posh lane of Alipore in South Kolkata, the Victorian mansion with a lovely driveway often given for weddings and parties. This happened to be the erstwhile City Palace of the Maharaja of Burdwan. By
TWhen a palace turns into a wonderful museum, harbouring in its depths the royal vignettes of a bygone era, it turns into a treasure trove of marbles, mirrors and exclusive statues. Among the tales of ruins that most palaces of Kolkata have turned to, one
Kolkata witnessed Asia’s first cantilever hanging bridge, a result of the British empire making an effort to turn the city into a trade hub. Though a lot of those facades have been lost over time, Kolkata is still home to some of the erstwhile Raj
The world of cheese desserts is no longer confined to the creamy and cheesy capitals of Europe or the USA. It no longer revolves solely around New York-style cheesecakes or the gooey French cheese fondue. Believe it or not, Bengal’s famous dessert Ras Malai has
Bhakta Toto pioneers the first Toto dictionary, ‘Toto Shabdo Sangraha’ or ‘Collection of Toto Words’ TThe illusive paintings on the rocks of Bhimbetka, the mellowed signs of Harappa or even the gorgeous frescos lighting up the dark caves of Ajanta has a bond of existence –
Gangasagar Mela, Gangasagar, West Bengal The depth of the sunrise could not be fathomed across the vast horizon of the river mouth where only throngs of black and white heads can be seen along with a flush of occasional saffron robes, swaying in the chilling wind
Swami Vivekananda Only the other day a news hit the headlines --- on how a ruckus broke among parents of a reputed city school when a child of ten years had mistakenly shared his non-vegetarian tiffin with a classmate coming from a vegetarian family. The immediate