I was last in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) about ten years ago, visiting it twice. I enjoyed myself very much there, visiting my diplomatic friend Mimmo. I met lots of very nice and friendly people. Some of us are still in contact today. It was a fantastic experience. The city though doesn’t offer too much for the tourist to see. Located in the Gulf of Bengal it was very important in colonial times.
Job Charnock, an agent of the English East India Company, is generally accredited with founding Calcutta in 1690. Some years later the company constructed Fort William nearby to defend the city. After some battles the British took full control of the area and Calcutta replaced Madras (now Chennai) as the centre of the East India company’s activities in India around 1772.
For most of the nineteenth century Calcutta was the biggest and most prosperous British colony. The British constructed some very beautiful palaces and they lived a very pleasant life there. Delhi was designed the new capital of India in 1911 and became the most important place for trade until independence.
Along the Esplanade you can visit the elegant town hall designed by John Garstin, constructed in 1813 and later restored. Some of the more impressive buildings in Kolkata today include the Supreme Court, the Raj Bhavan (residence of the governor of West Bengal) started by the viceroy Lord Curzon, the Writers building, the General Post Office and St. John’s church.
Visit the Indian Museum, which has some interesting objects. It was founded in 1814 and was the first museum in the Asia-Pacific. Visit also the Victoria Memorial, built in white Indian marble, from Rajasthan, (similar to the marble used for the Taj Mahal). It was built between 1906 and 1921 as a memorial following the death of Queen Victoria. St Paul’s Cathedral, whose construction started in 1839, was the first overseas cathedral of the Church of England in the British Empire.
If you want to go shopping, go to the New Market. I bought very nice cashmere shawls, stones and silver jewellery there. Also Indian jewellery from the shop of my friend Raj Mathani, with whom we went to a very nice Indian wedding, had my extraordinary experience in the cinema, went to discotheques, cocktail parties, and had an excellent time in Kolkata together with my friends Mimmo and Rafael. Lots of laughter and fun. I would like to thank Avik and his wife Raki for their enormous hospitality together with Govind Sha, who has the most beautiful fabrics in India.
Visit the Kalighat Kali Temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali (the patron of Kolkata). You can find it in the Kalighat neighbourhood close to the two wealthy residential areas of Alipore and Ballygunge. If you would like to see animals from the area go to see the Zoological Garden in Alipore. It has been open since 1876.
If you are in Kolkata during September or October be aware that the city will be paralyzed at some stage by the celebration of Durga Puja. Also avoid the city when there is any important cricket game in the Eden Gardens, which also paralyzes the city.
I always remember visiting a palace. I don’t remember its name. It was owned a noble in the area. At the time I visited it was in very bad shape but had a fascinating lobby. Maybe today it is a very nice hotel. I went with my friend Rafael to visit it. The enormous internal patio was a cage for birds. Dozens of them were flying around. It was incredible and is still in my mind. María Teresa of Calcutta was born in Albania, joined the congregation of the sisters of Loreto, was sent to Darjeeling. After seeing the poverty of Kolkata she founded the Missionaries of Charity, helping mostly the people that were dying. In 1979 was given the Nobel Prize and in 2016 she was canonized. You can visit her mission.