5 hot spots in Kolkata -A must visit

I had been raised in this city. There were some confined zones till where I would stretch my wandering zeal. As a child I still reminisce a few of the hot spots where I used to often visit... a warm winter afternoon, a criss-crossed mat,floral cup cakes, spicy fish fry and “Dum aloo” or the Bengali version “Aloor Dom” and then  we headed on to  the picnic spot at Botanical garden on a weekend or an attempt to find a white leopard inside the rusty cage of Alipore Zoo, sometimes a pony ride near  Victoria, the newspaper wrapped “jhaal muri” or “bhel puri” near park street crossing,  and then may be if Ma permitted was allowed a chariot ride,  “Ma "knew  bargaining tacts,  I often used to say “How green was this place, why can't Kolkata be like this everywhere”, that specific road  could boast of a “clean tag”

So many years have passed thereafter, here  I was with my daughter playing the same role...I tried to explore a few of those places which I had crossed zillion times holding Ma’s hand... but always hummed “Next time" many times  during winter afternoons, I  had poked myself to visit those places but again there were the mundane, the routine ..but now with my 10 year old, I suddenly recognised an  inexplicable travelling spirit. Or  might be a  “Mothers’ super active zeal  had shed off its latent lethargic trend, every visit since then has been a new discovery, an exploration, an experience, a fun stroll..an old city, bits and pieces of new charm amidst the banal,  that's how  this city is unfolding  its many hidden gems, may be or might be my motherly zest, hunting for it ;)

                             Victoria Memorial

Victorios-Victoria Memorial

Victorial Memorial-Located at Qeensway, kolkata-It is the largest marble building bulit in 1906 and 1921. A great tourist spot, established in the memory of queen Victoria

The Entrance-Victoria Memorial

Prinsep Ghat

 "Nouka" ride @Princep Ghat-

Prinsep Ghat is a ghat built in 1841 during the British Raj in India along thebanks of Ganges 

  Boats stand symmetrically, glimmering sunlight explores the vast water body,glistening, shimmering,  the nights showcase faraway lights, the 2nd hooghly bridge all decked up at night. The local boat men are quite well acquainted with  maneuvering skills, a bit of bargaining tact  can save the day.         

Faraway the bridge, local office goers, ferries plying to and fro  

2nd Hooghly Bridge

                                2nd Hooghly Bridge

An evening away from the hustle bustle of the city 

2nd Hooghly Bridge is also known as the "Vidyasagar Setu". It is a toll bridge, acting as a link between different cities of Kolkata and Howrah

2nd Hooghly Bridge

These beauties stand still till they find a friend 

The Boats @Princep Ghat

Indian National Museum is the oldest and  largest museum in India.Founded in 1814 by Asiatic society, it has rare and unique collection of mummies to ancient paintings.The old civilzation, antics of the bygone era,ancient culture, fossils, all preserved -From Darwin to Rabindranath, if you still found history a mysterious reality then this is the best place to be.

Indian National Museum

Indian National Museum

 St Paul's Cathedral

 Peace amidst the chaos

St Paul's Cathedral an angelic catherdral located at the heart of the city is the best place to have a glimpse of Gothic architecture.

Some solitary moments -few minutes of serenity-the confession box-the midnight carol-hymns,sermons or just an elfin nap. You can  soothe every limb here even the mental muscles.

St Paul's Cathedral
To be continued