Kolkata Tourist Attractions - Places to visit in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial Hall, Birla Planetarium, Indian Museum, Kalighat, Science City, Kolkata Metro, Eden Gardens, Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Mother House, Belur Math shrine, Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple(ISKCON), , South Park Street Cemetery, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, , Birla Temple, Jain Temple few more places..

Places to visit in Kolkata (Calcutta) :

Almostt all the buildings in Dalhouise square(BBD Bagh) which is the central Kolkata, makes one to think that we are yet to get freedom from the British Raj. We can actually wonder if there are one or two such buildings but it irritates you or feels like we are still living in the past or we are still been the slaves if we see every such building is of British style which is poorly maintained, rust filled doors, dark dooms, long iron rusted doors..some exceptional like that of the Writer's building, Governor Bhavan, Indian Museum, Income tax building, NS Road full of Banks, RBI, Governor's and Post offices...

Howrah Bridge: 

Howrah Bridge, located over the Hoogli River in West Bengal, India, is said to be the busiest bridge of the world. It got its name owing to the fact that it connects the city of Howrah to Kolkata. Hawrah Bridge in Kolkata, India, also known by the name ‘Rabindra Setu’, was set up in 1874. It stands on two 270 feet high pillars. Kolkata Howrah Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge that was constructed without using any nuts and bolts. Though, earlier it had a tram route, but presently, it is serving mainly as a Road Bridge. Howrah bridge has got two sister bridges also, namely, Vidyasagar Setu and the Vivekananda Setu that are situated at different points over the hoogly river. This bridge acts as an important symbol of Kolkata.

 The Victoria Memorial Hall (museum): 

-A beautiful marble monument that stands as a symbol of the city in travel guides

Kolkata Victoria memorial hall is a fabulous museum that was established in the year 1921. The credit for designing and drawing the plan for this monument goes to Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects. Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, India is a fantastic place that will take you into the world of past history, where you can view the photos and effigies of prominent personalities, who made an incredible contribution in the glory of India. Today, Victoria memorial is one of the finest art museums in Kolkata. It is a 184 ft tall edifice that was constructed on 64 acres of land. The museum houses a group of mind-blowing figures above the north porch that epitomize prudence, learning and motherhood.

Victoria Memorial Hall - view from north

Victoria Memorial Hall - view from east

Victoria Memorial Hall

Calcutta or Kolkata – an old capital city of INDIA.

'Kolkata' an old capital city of INDIA.

Yamaha nagari Calcutta puri..

namaho hugli howrah varadhi….

Kolkata - the old capital of India, this city has its glory of been the capital..British East India company's capital of India, with Victoria Fort built for the Queen, Writer's Building for Administration, Howrah Bridge for transportation, Tramcars in the road for heritage look, it is still the capital of British Raj in India.

The roads are just wonderful and well-laid without potholes and the entire life in Kolkata, as you will see from a few of the pictures below, revolves around the footpath. Places like New Market (called Burrabazar-is a marketplace, people say it’s a Heart of Kolkata City), which is a very crowded market area that is very old like old city market near Charminar area in Hyderabad.

busy traffic areas on kolkata roads

The crowd and the temperature in this city are so special that it is always high compared to all the other cities in India. The people are friendly, speak Hindi like Bengali.. Polite and courageous, Water flows freely in the streets during the morning and evening which cleans the people, people clothes and also their vehicles! 

streets are busy in the market area

busy market area

It is a wonderful city constantly buzzing with activity. Street food seems to be extremely popular here and at any time of the day one can see people gorging on the puchkas, bhel puris, puri-alu and everything else that are available to eat. People specially recommended tasting puchkas & bhelpuri on the road-side and this was one thing that came as an anti-climax. The Puchka of Kolkata is just the Pani-Puri of Hyderabad and Golgappa as it is called in some other places. The discovery of this was particularly comical in the way I indulged in an animated conversation with the pani-puri fellow on the nomenclature of the dish in various parts of the country.

Them Famous BHEL PURI in kolkata city..

I am confident that Kolkata single handedly allows the Ambassador car to remain in production in India. There are no autos and the taxis (yellow Ambassador Taxies) are affordable and honest. Two wheeler s on the roads are a rare sight.

Yellow Ambassador Taxies in Kolkata city

All in all, I fell in love with Kolkata. I walked great distances in the city on foot and when inevitable I took the metro rail, buses et al. The metro rail of Kolkata is definitely of international standards and super punctual. The TVs fixed on the platforms constantly show either Mithun or Charlie Chaplin stuff. Don't know what they have in common.. wink Wink.

Video Slideshow of Varanasi

Visit my Page Www.facebook.com/nagpoona : Nag’s trip to Varanasi!

Major Attractions of Varanasi (kasi)

Major Attractions of Varanasi-kasi :  Holy River Ganges, Bharat Kala Bhavan, Sarnath, Banaras Hindu University,Ramnagar Fort etc.


Visitors come to Varanasi for a brush with the divine. The most interesting part of the city is its ghats (steps at the water's edge). Take a walk along the river front and watch life flow by. You can also go on boat ride on the Ganges River, preferably in the early morning or at dusk. In the evening, head to Dasaswamedh Ghat for the aarti (prayer ceremony). A look at the burning ghat, where dead bodies are cremated on the funeral pyre, is fascinating. The magnificant Vishwanath Temple, built in 1776, is an important Hindu holy place. Varanasi is also well known for its classical dance and music, and yoga.

Holy River Ganges:

Since Varanasi is mainly associated with Hinduism, temples form the main attraction. The Ganga Ghats (river fronts) are the main center of religious activities and rituals and also form one of the main attractions of Varanasi.

Bharat Kala Bhavan:

Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the BHU campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. The Bharat Kala Bhavan was established in the year 1920 A.D. In the main hall of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand. The figure is said to be of Lord Krishna, lifting Mount Govardhana. Many images in the Bharat Kala Bhavan confirm to the existence of Krishna cult in Kashi in 15th and 16th century.

Banaras Hindu University:

The Banaras Hindu University or BHU is an internationally reputed University and is situated in Varanasi. The great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, founded the Banaras Hindu University in the year 1916. Dr Annie Besant also played an important role in the formation of the BHU. The Banaras Hindu University played an important role in the Indian independence movement. Over a period of time, it has developed into one of the greatest centers of learning in India. The BHU has produced many great freedom fighters and Nation builders. It has immensely contributed to the progress of the nation through a large number of renowned scholars, artists and scientists.

Varanasi Side Trips : -

Sarnath:
A side trip to Sarnath, around 20 minutes from Varanasi, is worthwhile. This is where the Buddha gave his first discourse. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of hectic Varanasi, it's a peaceful place where you can wander around the grassy gardens and ruins of Buddhist stupas. It is worth coming here to compare the different styles of these modern Buddhist temples, which were built by Buddhists from Burma, China, Japan, Thailand and Tibet. Within a peaceful parkland setting, the 5th-century Dhanekh Stupa monuments marks the very spot where Lord Buddha preached his very first sermon. Also from the same era is the Chaukhandi Stupa, while Sarnath's more modern Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple and Deer Park may also be of interest.

Varansi Travel Tips:

The Ganges River is very polluted so it's not a good idea to take a dip in it. If you do go on a boat ride, also avoid getting wet. Varanasi is an excellent place to shop for silk (including saris). However, be sure to check the quality as many items are actually made of fake silk or silk blend. Musical instruments are also a good buy in Varanasi. Watch out for the many scams in Varanasi. A popular one involves someone asking you to donate wood for their funeral pyre -- you'll be paying at least 10 times more than what the wood's worth. Also take care if you go out at night, as it can be dangerous in poor lighting.

Ramnagar Fort:

The Ramnagar fort lies about 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of river Ganga. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. Maharaja Balwant Singh built this fort-palace in the eighteenth century. The fort is built in red sandstone. The Ramnagar fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds and the temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Legends have it that Ved Vyasa stayed here for a brief period.

----For those interested in performing rituals...here is an option for you to download the entire Kashi yatra as n eBook available from the below link:

http://issuu.com/anushankarn/docs/kashi_yatra-ebook/5

happy reading..blog by Nagaraju Poona

Varanasi Kashi Vishwanath Temple Daily Schedules and Timings

Kashi Vishwanath Temple Timings :

2:30 am - Kashi Vishwanath Temple Varanasi opens daily.
Aarati is performed five times daily.

3 am to 4 am - Mangala Aarti
4 am to 11 am - it is opened for devotees to do dharshan.

11.30 am to 12 noon, mid-day Bhog Aarti is done.

12 noon to 7 pm, devotees can worship.

7 pm to 8.30 pm - evening Sapta Rishi Aarti is done. After that devotees can visit till 9.00 pm. 

9.00 pm - Sringar/Bhog Aarti starts. devotees can worship from outside only in this time.

10.30 PM - Shayan Aarti starts

and the Kashivishwanath Temple closes at 11 pm.

Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghats, Varanasi 


Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh ghat, close to Kashi Vishwanath The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at holy Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath temple. It differs from the aartis at Haridwar and Rishikesh in that it’s a highly choreographed ceremony. Although a spectacular must-see, some people consider it to be too much of an artificial and showy extravaganza to have a lot of meaning in a spiritual context.

Aarti Peeth at Varanasi - kasi on beside of river ganga

The aarti is performed on a stage by a group of young pandits, all draped in saffron colored robes with their puja plates spread out before them. It commences with the blowing of a conch shell, and continues with the waving of incense sticks in elaborate patterns and circling of large flaming lamps that create a bright hue against the darkened sky. The movement of the lamps, held in the pandits’ hands, is tightly synchronizing to the rhythmic chants of hymns and clang of cymbals. The heady scent of sandalwood thickly permeates the air.
How to Attend the Varanasi Ganga Aarti

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

People start arriving very early (as early as 5 p.m.) in order to get a good position for viewing the aarti. A novel and effective way of seeing it is by boat from the river. Alternatively, many shops in the vicinity hire their balconies out to tourists. A maha aarti (great aarti) takes place on a particularly elaborate scale in Varanasi near the end of each year on Kartik Purnima..Temple, is one of the prime attractions of Varanasi. It starts just after sunset, with a bunch of young men choreographing to the chantings, holding the lamps.

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

Ganga Aarthi at River Ganga at Varanasi - kasi

happy reading...blog by Nagaraju Poona

Varanasi Kashi Vishwanath temple– Legend couldn’t get older

 Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas(self-manifested lingams) Shrines of Lord Shiva. It is said that the benefits gained by the darshan of other Jyotirlingas in various parts of India, goes to the devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The main deity is known as Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara, which means the Ruler of the Universe. Situated on the western bank of the river Ganges, the temple is visited by millions of devotees to get blessings and devout peace. Kashi Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga Temple is sometimes referred as the Golden Temple because of the 15.5m high golden spire which adorns the temple, similar to the Sikh Gurudwara at Amritsar.

picture courtesy - google

Varanasi is also famed for being one of the Shakti Peethas of India. It is said that the left hand of Sati fell at Varanasi. Goddess Annapurna or Visalakshi signifies the Shakti Peetham here.

picture courtesy - google

The legendary Vishwanath Temple has been rebuilt several times. Like most other temples in and around Varanasi. The original Kasi Viswanath Temple was ruined by Aurangazeb and he built a mosque in its place. The traces of the old temple can be seen behind the mosque. During the 18th century, the present temple was built by Maharani Ahilya Bai of Indore. It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Indore who provided the gold plating on the towers of the temple.


kashi vishwanath temple Architecture

 The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Banaras consists of a mandapa and a sanctum, besides many subsidiary shrines. The sanctum has a linga made of black stone and is set into the center of the floor in a square silver altar. On the southern entrance of the temple, there are three temples in a row one behind the other, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Virupakshi Gauri and Avimukta Vinayaka. There are a group of five lingas enclosed in the temple called Nilakantheshvar temple. Shanishchara and Virupaksha temples are seen just above the Avimuka Vinayaka temple. There is another linga called Avimukteshvara which is seen on the right, near the entrance. Some people suggest that original Jyotirlinga at the place is not the Vishwanatha but the Avimukteshvara Jyotirlinga.

 There is a well called Gyan-Kupor (the well of Knowledge), located beside the temple. Legend has it that when the Shiva Lingam was removed from the original temple, it was hidden in this well to protect it from Aurangazeb.

There are several entrances to the temple, all of them heavily guarded by gun-totting commandos and policemen, turning the whole area into a fortress. Camera and mobile phones are not allowed in the temple premises. There are innumerable shops selling various items for offering to Lord Shiva like flowers, Bilva leaves, milk, Ganga Jal, etc. which you can buy and then deposit your mobiles/cams in the small lockers built in their shops. We kept ours in one of these lockers and proceeded further. After going through multiple checkpoints, we reached the main temple area.

happy reading..blog by Nagaraju Poona

Incredible Varanasi (Kasi) - The Holy City

A Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, North INDIA

Varanasi also known as: Benares and Kasi
History of : 3000 - 5000 years approx
population: 14 Lac

Varanasi or Benares is another sacred Hindu city with a very old history, older than tradition, older than legend, and looks twice as ols as all of them put together - ofcourse there is something special about this city! The ancient name of Varanasi was 'Kasi'. According to the "Vamanm Puran", the Varuna and Assi river originated from the body of the primordial person at the begining of time itself. The tract of land lying between these two rivers got the name Varanasi, is one of the oldest surviving cities worldwide and an important pilgrimage destination not only for Hindus, but for Buddhists and Jains as well.

Varanasi (kasi) early morning river ghats

It is also known as the city of Lord Shiva, the god of creation and destruction, it's believed that anyone who dies here will be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. Even a wash in the Ganges River is said to cleanse away all sins. The cultural capital of India, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is a major center for spiritualism, mysticism, Hinduism and Indian philosophy.

Boats on River Ganga at Varanasi (kasi) ghats

The fascinating thing about this mystical city is that its rituals are revealed openly to along the many riverside ghats, which are used for everything from bathing to burning the bodies of the dead. Yoga, blessings, massages, shaves, and games of cricket are among the other activities you'll find performed along the river edge.

Why Varanasi ? - Well, you need to find it yourself!

How to Reach - Varanasi ..?

Varanasi has an airport (Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport) and is connected by direct flight from major cities including Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport), Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport), Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport), Kolkata (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport), Lucknow, and Khajuraho. Many people choose to travel to Varanasi by train, because Rail is definitely the most cost-efficient mode of travel and the most sought-after by people traveling from various parts of India. It takes a minimum of eight hours from Kolkata, 10-12 hours from Delhi, 22 hours from Mumbai and around 26 to 28 hours from Hyderabad/Secunderabad.( there is only one direct train runs from Secunderabad to Varanasi ). This train starts from Secunderabad and runs daily to Patna via-Varanasi.

Train Number : 12791
Train Name : SC PNBE Express
Schedule : Secunderabad Jn to Patna Jn

Most trains conveniently run overnight. Make sure you book your tickets well in advance especially if you are traveling in the main season (October-March).

Bus services to Varanasi tend to be very slow and uncomfortable, and are generally avoidable. they are a good option if traveling from nearby places of Uttar Pradesh.

When to visit - Varanasi ..?

October to March are the best months to visit Varanasi. This is when the weather it at its coolest. Winters are refreshing and pleasant. The temperature gets uncomfortably hot from April onwards, easily reaching 35 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), followed by monsoon rains from July to September.

Mode of transport with-in Varanasi ..

Traveling within Varanasi, I feel that cycle- rickshaws are the best mode of transport. Though auto-rickshaws, unmetered are also a popular mode of transport. The rates for both of these are negotiable and they are found all over the city. Vehicular traffic is not allowed at the roads leading to Dashashwamedh and other ghats for most part of the day. Around the ghats, walking may often be the fastest mode of commuting as traffic jams are common.

happy reading..blog by Nagaraju Poona