torsa.in: Marked as the the ‘Town of the Blacks’ in the British era in Calcutta. Shovabazar may be assumed the centre of this area having paras or localities like, Ahiritola, shyambazar, bagbazar, kumartuli, dorjipara, etc., around it and wholistically called as North Kolkata is still alive . Calcutta has been renamed Kolkata on 1st January, 2001. cosmopolition and at the same time nostalgic with old houses built in the linage of Victorian, islamic and Bengal styles of architecture.
English Merchant Job Charnock who was the chief office of the East India Company had anchored his boat at a village called Sutanuti on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly (the Ganges) in 1690 A.D. The place of his settlement is supposed to be somewhere between present day Ahiritola and Sovabazar.
After the decisive win in the Battle of Plassey the British took up their dream project, building of the Fort William in Gabindapur, a neighbouring village of Shovabazar, and the inhabitants thereof were compensated with money and land who grew as the elite section of the then Calcutta with the assistance of the english marchents ande authorities holding power.
A walk through the century old cultural hub of Kolkata is a unique idea to see the old localities of Kolkata and feel the vive of Old mansions, temples, markets, traditional eateries, tea shop adda (gossiping) in the evening, and meet people friendly very much who will assist you to get the northern Kolkata’s spirit.
If your roaming about here takes place in the Durgapuja (festive worshipping of goddes Durga) time, it would really be an experience to remamber for a long time.
You may travel on your own the northern part of kolkata in puja time. There is arrangement for special guided tour also for experiencing Durga Pujas in the area which was marked as Black Town in British era.
Bonedi Bari Durga Puja Walk
Calcutta Walks arranges walks in different parts of Kolkata which have unique and noteworthy cultural and heritage value to understand Calcutta (Kolkata). Calcutta Walks is going to organise ‘Bonedi Bari Durga Puja Walk’ on 11 and 12 October, 24. “Bonedi Bari” is a Bengali term for the traditional aristocratic families of Kolkata. In this walk you will be taken through some of the traditional Bengali home Pujas which have been going on for decades if not centuries. You will see traditional puja rituals and at the same time you will have an idea on the quintessential Bengali para (locality) experience. ‘Bonedi Bari Durga Puja Walk’ conducted by Calcutta Walks will Start at 9am from Girish Park Metro Station Exit Gate 1. This tour would cost INR 5000 per person as a shared / group tour and includes a traditional food at heritage Calcutta Bungalow.
Address to contact for Bonedi Bari Durga Puja Walk : Walking Tours Pvt Ltd, Calcutta Walks, 9A Khairu Place, Kolkata 700072
Contact Nos. +91 85840 33244/ +91 98301 84030 Email: explore@calcuttawalks.com
Photo courtesy: Calcutta Walks
(It is not a promotional write up.)
