Kolkata (Calcutta) Guide

Nelson Mandela once said "Our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our nation". Kolkata, the city of Joy, is known as the culture capital of India, having a rich heritage and having a history of literary stalwarts, intellectuals, writers, artists, performers etc. We have so many historically and culturally significant places hidden in every nook and corner of the city that its becoming difficult to preserve them. It is our responsibility, as citizens, to do something that increases the awareness about these places and the famous people who lived there... and also beautifies the city at the same time. Me posing with one of the CESC Feeder boxes that pays tribute to my Guru the Ace film maker, Story teller and what not... Academy award winner legendary Satyajit Ray.

In the scorching heat of Kolkata summers, when the temperatures hover around 50 degrees, Sharbats and Juices come as saviours... and if they are from Ralli's then its like icing on the cake. I first tasted "Ralli's" Sharbats in the year 2009 when my friend took me to their oldest store on M.G. Road (just below the historical Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat), and from then I have been a fan of the place. Founded in 1898 by Late Shree Ralli Singh Arora , It’s one of those places that has remained unchanged over time, but has built a large customer base due to their consistency, year after year. Late Shree Ralli Singh Arora You always know they’ll deliver top-notch quality. So now on hot summer days when you need a refreshment, head straight to Ralli's (The Punjab Sharbat House). Though the Brand is old but they have evolved with the time keeping the Quality intact...Ralli Singh Private Limited is now also an ISO 9001:2008 & 22000:2005 certified com...

While walking on the streets of south Kolkata near the southern avenue a mural caught my eye. The mural was of a girl running... drawn in a way as if we are looking at her from the top angle. I became curious and went near it and came to know about an initiative to engage the public on the issue of child trafficking using art and technology by a Kolkata based NGO called "Missing Link Trust".

"Sundar Pan Sundar Gaan" (Beautiful Betel and Beautiful Songs) whenever I hear this sentence the first thing that comes to my mind is the "Taj Mahal Pan Shop" near New Market in the ground floor of Futnani Chambers in Kolkata. This shop is famous for two reasons, Awesome Pan and the legendary Bollywood playback singer Mohammed Rafi Sahab's songs. Legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi Sahab; Source: Wikipedia   The owner Mr. Mohammed Muniruddin used to work in Mumbai Film industry in his young age... He met the famous and versatile Playback singer Mohammed Rafi and became his fan... He stayed in Mumbai for 15 years... After coming back to kolkata he joined his father's business and from that day onwards he plays only Rafi's songs in his shop. He wants more and more people to be Rafi's fan. Muniruddin Ji sitting in his Shop; Source: JustDial The Shop is full of photos of Rafi Sahab and the superstar of Hindi film industry Dilip...

If you have been near Elite Cinema, you must have seen a Grand Old Building while going towards New Market... This is the Century Old "Futnani Chambers". Placed in a strategic location, adjacent to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Building and embraced by SN Banerjee Road, Rani Rashmoni Road and Corporation Place. It houses the famous Biryani destination "Aminia". By the way, Aminia's Firni is the best in Kolkata. The Raunak hotel, that was once the well-known night club Golden Slipper, Calcutta’s most celebrated nightclub of the time, is here in this building. The famous "Taj Mahal Pan Shop" that plays Rafi Sahab's songs whole day is also in this building.  I have also written a blog post on " Taj Mahal Pan Shop ". Address of Futnani Chambers : 133/2, SN Banerjee Road, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013 Nearest Bus Stop : Elite Cinema Nearest Metro Station...

As in Bollywood, where we have some very famous Duos like Salim-Javed, Jatin-Lalit, Laksmikant-Pyareylal etc, in Kolkata also we have a very famous Duo whose name is so popular that in North Kolkata there is a market in their name. They are Chhatubabu and Latubabu... the sons of Sir Ramdulal De (Deb Sarkar also known as Ship Sarkar), the pioneer in Indo-US trade and the first modern Bengali millionaire. Chhatu Babu Latu Babu's Royal Mansion; Picture Courtesy Hindustan Times Before we delve into the details of Chhatubabu and Latubabu... let me give you a brief intro of their father Ishwar Ramdulal De... A millionaire by choice and hard work. Ramdulal was born in a very poor family in very helpless conditions. He lost his parents in a very early age. He had to stay with his maternal Grand mother who was a cook in Madanmohan Dutta's (a businessman) home. Since Ramdulal's grandmother was too old and was too poor so it was difficult for her to raise Ramdulal and his y...