Avisit to the Alipore Zoo had always been fun for all of us, though the only burning issue for years had been where to park the vehicle. Be it a car, a two-wheeler, or even buses carrying tourists from districts, the entire area surrounding the
If you are lapping up that favourite aloo posto or jhinge posto on a rainy noon with the piping hot bowl of rice, then think about British India and how China tried to stop our favourite poppy entering Bengal’s kitchens. Well, China has turned into
These days, many people are trying to return to their cultural roots. But in the race to keep up with modern times, many Bengalis have slowly drifted away from their own traditions. In today’s world of artificial intelligence and digital life, interest in cultural heritage
Ritwik lovingly called her ‘Lakshmi’ and sometimes ‘Das Kapital.’ Letters would arrive via post from Calcutta, Ranchi, Pune, Delhi… addressed to her in these names. He never stopped writing letters. Despite acute financial stress, his dreams soared in the boundless horizon and he fantasized about
Image Courtesy : West Bengal Heritage Commission The Laxmi Janardan Temple in Santiniketan, built over 350 years ago, remains a remarkable example of Bengal’s rich architectural heritage. The Sarkar family has been the caretaker of this historic 18th-century temple since its inception. What sets the Laxmi Janardan
Not so very long ago, a majority of homes in India would store their drinking water in terracotta (baked clay) vessels. While tradition may have played a role in this practice, another very important aspect certainly was the health benefit of drinking water stored in
It was in 1915, when Tarun Niketan started its journey. Yes, that was pre-independent British India. A century has passed, yet it stands in a corner of South Kolkata that is today inundated with upscale Bengali restaurants from chains like Bhojohori Manna, Oh Calcutta and
Kolkatans have a unique way of looking at life. They are resilient and bounce back from all adversities without complaining and their joie de vivre is food. Yes, the city lives, breathes and certainly eats its food. The past is never disowned when it comes
Historians of North Bengal University have unearthed the fascinating tale of how Darjeeling Mail was once upon a time known as Bullock Train, as it was run by bullocks and at times by elephants during the British era. Darjeeling Mail is one train that is
The endangered art of Serpai carving from Lokpur is making a slow but steady comeback