Landing at Kolkata, air filled with a sense of newness and joyful spirit.

I chose October the month to travel. A bit cold and many things to experience in this particular month in the city.

My itinerary wasn’t planned. Just a train from New Delhi to Kolkata- the Howrah Rajdhani Express. The 17-hour journey was tiring yet itself an experience. I met people each with different language and accents discussing the politics of India, playing card games, singing glories of their city and state. A tray with warm milk/coffee/ tea (choose any or all ), cashew nuts packets, pakora, chocolates, sandwich and Indian sweet. Well, this was jus the breakfast!

The twinkling of lights from distant villages of Uttar Pradesh with the smiling attendants serving tomato soup and Indian food- potato vegetable, rice, chapati. I slept right away.

Noisy stations, a cup of hot Indian chai, warm toast -The perfect beginning to the new day.

Getting down from the train I could see swarms of people walking and porters running and requesting the travellers.

The next thing was to decide the transport.

Buses
Ambassador taxis
Exciting trams
Human-pulled rickshaw
Underground metro

All above that for me was Auto-rickshaws. The rickshaw ride through the narrow dusty and busy road was a perfect insider for the city.

STAY

If go by my word- stay at Sudder street, Dharmatala, New market, Park street. Simply because located in the centre and near to the popular attractions of the city. The city has many hotels and guesthouses.

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My stay was at The Fairlawn. A cheap but worth and greener option. Welcoming owners and journey of the family-run hotel could be seen in the framed photos.

Eat

Eat what the Bengalis eat. That was my motto in Kolkata. Like each Indian state, Kolkata is no different. I jot down and made sure not to miss any delicacy. Here is the list of food some of what I ate and some which are still on my bucket list. Remember to carry water with you every time you eat at the street joints. Bengali food is made with love and spices. Special mention for the sweets.