Tag: India

For my final day in Kolkata, I decided to escape the noise, pollution and crowds. I went to Kokata’s botanic garden. This was lovely and peaceful. On arriving, I went straight to the Giant Banyan Tree. This 270-year old tree looks more like a forest than a single tree. It was extraordinary. The placard said: … Continue reading / view photos Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden

My next stop was Alipore Jail Museum, which served as a colonial-era prison from 1864. The prison was closed in 2019 and reopened in 2022 as a museum, commemorating India’s struggle for independence. The museum captures some of the conditions prisoners endured. The gallows were a reminder that some were executed for crimes against the … Continue reading / view photos Alipore Jail Museum

I’d not spent much time in libraries on this trip. So I was happy to discover the National Library was in Kolkata. The National Library, a grand colonial mansion, started as the Calcutta Public Library in 1836. It was originally non-governmental, funded by public donations and run by a committee of Europeans and Indians. In … Continue reading / view photos National Library

My final stop for the day was the Indian Museum. This is a cross between the British Museum and the Natural History Museum in London. There’s a lot to see in one visit, especially after you’ve already been to Rabindranath Tagore’s house and the Marble Palace! There were some fascinating exhibits like this 250-million-year-old tree … Continue reading / view photos Indian Museum

After leaving Rabindranath Tagore’s house, I walked to the Marble Palace. After passing security, I made my way to the crowded entrance. People were waiting for someone. After a short wait, a guide appeared. He’d just finished his previous tour. We joined him for a tour and brief history. He pointed out various sculptures in … Continue reading / view photos Marble Palace

Unlike yesterday’s failed attempt, I spent this morning at Rabindranath Tagore’s family home. It was incredibly comprehensive, covering many aspects of his life. The house shows photos and paintings from various parts of his life. Rabindranath Tagore was multitalented. He was a poet, painter, educator, and set up a university. He is one of the … Continue reading / view photos Rabindranath Tagore

On Mondays, museums and similar places are shut in India. Google Maps said the family home of Rabindranath Tagore, India’s winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature, was open. Even better the opening times had been “updated by phone call 5 weeks ago”. When I got to the house, it was shut! It would be … Continue reading / view photos Noisy Kolkata!

After finishing my lunch in the Victoria Memorial, I looked at the map of the self-guided walk. It continued through the Maidan, a popular green space for relaxing. I couldn’t see Fort William in the background because the tree foliage was dense. I caught sight of the Eden Gardens (“Kolkata’s legendary cricket battleground”) before seeing … Continue reading / view photos Colonial Kolkata

Last night, I’d flicked through the recent edition of the Lonely Planet India guide in my apartment. I bookmarked some places in Google Maps. I also took a photo of a self-guided walk. I decided I would follow this walk today. This morning, I walked out of the apartment and through the shoe market. It … Continue reading / view photos Victoria Memorial