KOLKATA — Is it age that makes one go looking at monuments rather than girls when there is some spare time? It’s age, for sure, that makes one say that monuments can, sometimes, be just as pretty. It’s worth a debate.
Just down the corner from Eden Gardens is the Victoria Memorial, built entirely of white marble. From a distance you think you are looking at the Taj Mahal. Then you are told that Victoria Memorial is indeed designed after the Taj Mahal. It is, however, a combination of classical European architecture and Mughal motifs. At close quarters the domed memorial is breathtaking and has a vast collection of pictures, statues, manuscripts and letters relating to Mughal and British times in Bengal. The building, designed by Sir William Emerson, took nearly 20 years to complete and was formally inaugurated it in 1921. It houses 3,000 exhibits in 25 galleries in a chamber beneath the dome. A bronze statue of Queen Victoria sits enthroned in bronze at the entrance wearing the regal Order of the Star of India. There are some excellent original works of art on display. The paintings of India – landscapes and sceneries from all over the country – by Victorian artists Thomas and William Daniells are truly breathtaking. Victoria Memorial is one of the main attractions for tourists in Kolkata. On weekends, people picnic, families meet, and transiting pilgrims bring flowers to the statue of ‘Maharani Victoria’. Two regular sound and light shows both in English and Bengali are held in the evening. Like most tourist places in the country, entry fee to the memorial for Indians is Rs10 but foreigners have to shell out Rs150. Night street IT’S the place to meet and see the glitterati of the city. Although it was recently renamed Mother Theresa Sarani, to all Kolkotans and visitors, it’s still Park Street. And a very long winding road it is. And it’s through Park Street one reaches the quaint old Chinatown. With Park Street being the foremost dining district in town, it’s where everyone who’s anyone in this metropolis heads to. It has restaurants and pubs with names such as Trinca’s, Mocambo, McDonalds, Peter Cat, Flury’s, Bar B Q, Oasis, Olympia and, like the famous one in Paris, the Moulin Rouge. Former skipper Sourav Ganguly has his signature restaurant here. According to hearsay, the food there is nothing to write to mom about. Then there is the Park Hotel, famous for its in-house restaurants and night club, Tantra. Kolkata’s nightlife revolves around Park Street’s nightclubs, pubs and coffee houses. Also there are landmark coffee shops like The Atrium and Barista’s. It is often known by names like ‘Food Street’and ‘The Street that Never Sleeps’. Excuses galore EVEN on a working day, the Eden Gardens saw a fairly large turnout. When Dada (Ganguly) plays, people find enough excuses to stay away from office and the humdrum of daily routine. Women and children form a large part of the spectators. Dressed to the nines and tricolor painted on their faces, the kids hope Dada can make India win. By the look of the match, even 11 Dadas will not be able to achieve that. No result is the most likely result. Cherian Thomas is Sports In-Charge of Khaleej Times.
