Published 20:50 IST, December 6th 2019
Want to be a true Kalkatta-wala and soak in the Kolkata culture? Here’s how
Kolkata is called the City of Joy. A city with a soul, it has a lot to offer its tourists. Read on to know how one can experience the true Kolkata culture
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City of Joy Kolkata was capital city of British India, being founded in year 1690 on banks of river Hooghly. While city is a melting pot of cultures, re are some basic qualities that every Kolkata local possess, Bengali or t. Here is a list of things to do while travelling to City of Joy and soaking in best of what typical Kolkata culture has to offer:
Public transport
One is t a true Kalkatta-wala if y haven’t ridden a Tram or Bus. very essence of Kolkata culture lies in that two-bogey vehicle moving at its own pace throughout city. tram line runs from Esplane to Belgachia, Shyambazar, and more. Bus is or public transport that one has to travel in to become a true local. constant calling of conductor for tickets, men shouting at driver to go faster, and that window seat which opens up a whole new world every day gives one a true flavour of city. This is how most of Kolkata locals travel.
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College Street
Does Boi Para ring a bell? Well, that’s College Street in local terms. Here shopkeepers kw more than your teachers and professors. Every local has at least once been to this iconic location, walking along pavements lined with bookshops. One can get books here ranging from Rs50 to Rs2000. most fun part is every book comes with discounts whose amount depends on one’s haggling power. To soak in typical Kolkata culture, College street is place to be.
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Shopping
Kolkata has its own local street markets visited by people all year round-Hatibagan in rth Kolkata, New Market in Central Kolkata and Gariahat in South Kolkata. se places are a shopper’s parise. With items ranging from clos to accessories to crockery to grocery, se markets sell everything and harbours very essence of Kolkata culture. One can bargain as much as y want for haggling is sign of a true local in Kolkata.
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Iconic location
Kolkata has some of most iconic locations which form very soul of city. To have Kolkata culture seep into one’s soul one has to visit Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, go for a walk in Maidan, discover lanes in rth Kolkata, or spend a Sunday evening at Princep Ghat. Most importantly one has to watch cinema and atre at Nandan, for atre lives in every Kalkatta-wala’s soul. Similarly, Christmas remains incomplete if one has t visited Park Street or Jorasanko Thakurbari on Dol (Holi).
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Food
Jhalmuri is native of Kolkata and cheapest means of joy. Fuchka (Panipuri) must be considered less important. One also has to try Chelo Kebab at iconic Peter Cat in Park Street. Providing respite from hours of book-shopping at College Street are iconic joints- Indian Coffee House and Paramount Sherbats & Syrups, latter being visited by people like Netaji Shubas Chandra Bose to Jagish Chandra Bose to Maj Mitra. Cold Coffee and Daber Shorbot are two most sought after items respectively. Last but t least, is Misti Doi and Rosogolla- very heart of Kolkata culture.
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Wardrobe
matter how many dress or miniskirts or jeans and T-shirt one has, y are t a true Kalkatta-wala if y have never donned a saree or a Punjabi on Ashtami. That typical lal par sa saree (white saree with a red border) is a must-have for every woman here. matter how much one loves modernity trition creeps into heart of every local during five days of Durga Puja. This festival captures essence of Kolkata culture like or.
Langu
very essence of Kolkata culture is langu Bengali. Until one utters ‘Da’ or ‘Didi’ or, hear conductor shout aste lies kole bachha (slow down, re is a ly with a kid) one won’t be able to feel like y really belong. sweetest langu in India, one needs to kw basics of Bengali to live here like a local.
13:15 IST, December 6th 2019