BootsnAll Travel Community

hi folks. i know this is not an age-specific question, but salmo helped me realize there are folks frequenting this forum with more experience...i need some help. i always seem to plick the obscure place nobody travels to and thus nobody has written information on. in this case, i may be going to calcutta next january for 3 weeks...when i typed in "calcutta guesthouse" one post came up. now, for an intersting experiement, type in "bangkok guest house" and your computer may just crazh. so, i've heard from 3 collegaues who ave done this trpli in the past,,,but i want to hear from fellow travellers, have you been tocalcutta? what was it like? (noisy, intense, ive heard these things). sutter street, have you stayed there?
thanks for your help
zopa

Zopa

I have never been to "Kolkatta" as its known now but I know it by reputation. Many do visit this city which is India's 4th largest city. They make it a base to go to other places in the east like Sikkim, Dargeeling etc. Its not a very obsure place as I have met many backpackers who have stayed here.

Calcutta used be the capital of the operations of the East India Company which first "ruled" India till the late 1800's. Its the seat of many of the Freedom movements and very famous for Arts and Music.

Check out "Shantiniketan" which was the home of Tagore...a Nobel prize winner for Literature. Its a center of Art, Music, Painting etc etc

I met a lot of backpackers in Asia who had spent lot of time in Calcutta..especially at the Mother Teresa's Missionaries.

Since you have a long time to plan let me know if I can help in any way. I have a very dear friend from Cal who might be able to answer more questions...though he does not live there anymore. Also check out Indiamike.com which might have more info as well.

madhu, i would kiss your bindi right now if you were sitting next to me! thank you. i would very much like to be in contact with your friend, and i will check out the site. actually, we would be vol. with mother teresa's sisters for part of the time we aer there...i did find a touristy type site:

http://www.kolkatahub.com

i did not realize it was on a backpacking circuit, either. i would like to find out more about that...

namaste

zopa

I stayed in a Salvation Army hostel in Calcutta for two weeks, I'm not really sure why.

Its a fascinating city. Many parts of it are desperately poor, yet it seems to have some of the best medical care in India.

There is a Vivikenanda Center in Calcutta, and its absolutely fascinating, with a full explanation of their version of Hinduism.

Don't miss the shoreline at night. At night everyone comes out of hiding in the hot spring and summer months to a vast beach party. Lights are everywhere. Food vendors and amusement stands rule the beach sands as entire families take out their beach blankets and soak up the cool ocean breeze and socialize. Its really fascinating.

Thats the best of what I saw in Calcutta, though I'm sure there is far more. I wouldn't know. I spent most of my daylight hours avoiding the brutal Indian summer heat.

'Lonely Planet' have an 'Indian Himalaya' guidebook out, with plenty of info on Kolkata hotels & guesthouses.

There are 2 areas in the city to stay:

1. BBD Bagh / Dalhousie Square (Great Eastern Hotel / Newmans Bookshop, & Central Guesthouse) &

2. Chowringee (which has about 3 dozen hotels & guesthouses): Oberoi Hotel, Centrepoint GH, YMCA etc. What budget are you looking at? 5 star, 3 star, or budget? Sudder Street appears to be the backpacker HQ.

something else to shout from the bna cyber rooftops: i got invited today to go to Calcutta in January as the leaderYES! on a service learning trip.

i am so happy i could just

I think that you need a valet.

The best way to explain it is this. First off, a worker at the Embassy said Calcutta is "a low grade assault on the senses". Secondly, if you are willing to work two years in Calcutta at said embassy, the government will give you your preference wherever you want to go after serving your time.

Mother Theresa's volunteer work would be a good reason to go, I would imagine. Other than that, I have heard it is one tough place.

Zop

Don't let anybody scare you...India can be a toughie.unless you go once you will know whether you will fall in love with India or hate it!

I will keep my ears and eyes open and check with friends if they know somebody locally who works at the center.

Also make sure you plan to leave Kolkatta to go to Sikkim....I might actually go to India in Jan if I don't go this October.

quote:

India can be a toughie.unless you go once you will know whether you will fall in love with India or hate it!

While this is undoubtably true, the difference between Calcutta and the rest of India is substantial. It is the most difficult part of India. I would highly recommend going to the country, but really not spending too much time in Calcutta. It would be akin to going to a restaurant that most have had a bad meal in just for the sake of seeing if you like the food!

I actually quite enjoyed Calcutta. I am going to disagree with the people who are basically saying it is the armpit of India. Sure it has its tough spots. And, yes, I got food poisoning there and was completely out of it for 2 days. And I also had the most prolonged confrontation with a cab drive I have ever had anywhere. But Calcutta, as a whole, perfectly manageable.

quote:

it is the armpit of India. Sure it has its tough spots. And, yes, I got food poisoning there and was completely out of it for 2 days. And I also had the most prolonged confrontation with a cab drive I have ever had anywhere.

Talk about "glass half full"!

quote:

Originally posted by static:

quote:

it is the armpit of India. Sure it has its tough spots. And, yes, I got food poisoning there and was completely out of it for 2 days. And I also had the most prolonged confrontation with a cab drive I have ever had anywhere.

Talk about "glass half full"!

indeed!
i think that the armpits of most places tend to be the most interesting. i mean, who the hell wants to see shiny monuments and sweeping vistas when you can see a slice of life. i will now list some armpits that i have enjoyed:

New Jersey (all parts)
Alajalita, Costa Rica
Coauhila, Mexico (along border)
Ontario, Canada


zopa

quote:

i think that the armpits of most places tend to be the most interesting. i mean, who the hell wants to see shiny monuments and sweeping vistas when you can see a slice of life. i will now list some armpits that i have enjoyed:

New Jersey (all parts)
Alajalita, Costa Rica
Coauhila, Mexico (along border)
Ontario, Canada

And don't forget anywhere, NC Especially, that Duke place.

I'm sure you will find what you are looking for Zopa.

Its the land of Tagore. A poet and writer he won the Nobel Prize for Lit way back when.If you have a chance pick up some of his work that has been translated.

Also the Bengalis (folks from this area) are very fond of music and art. One of the biggest names in Bengali Cinema is Satyajit Ray...he got a lifetime award at the Oscars.His movies are non commercial dipictions of normal life.

Also they love to eat sweets...Bengali sweets are to die for...yumm..nothing beats a good Rasagoola!!

I'm sure if you get out of the city you will see some amazing sights..maybe you can check the Sunderbans...its a Tiger Santuary.

quote:

Originally posted by static:
I think that you need a valet.

quite.

http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/FramerT_MAG.aspx?Stat...=2K7O3RBQ95I8&DT=ALB

http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/FramerT_MAG.aspx?Stat...=2TYRYDWOXEJR&DT=ALB

Some Pic's of Calcutta...

okay, here's the situation. i am not in charge of planning this trip. other people are. is this insane?


December 28 and departure date in January 12.

The cost per person including the room and roundtrip airport transfers is:

$750 single
$505 per person triple

yes, that is us dollars.

quote:

nothing beats a good Rasagoola

Words to live by.

Hey Zopa, see you in India. If Sikkim is far out, you must at least go to Darjeeling. It is a typical Indian hill station, Sikkim is def the best.