No other Metropolitan city in India conjures up past urban memories quite like Calcutta does, its squalour and decay notwithstanding. Which makes for eminently fascinating walks through its distinctly dissonant neighbourhoods. Here are some (more!) evocative street scenes from the ‘City of Joy’ that was once upon a time, a ‘City of Palaces’!
Early morning fog:
The contrasts of ‘White’ Calcutta
A mansion gone to seed………the story of Calcutta!
Belying the promises of political propaganda
And Mother Teresa’s enduring legacy of compassion
Click here If you are (still) game for more from Calcutta.
The Urge To Wander 
The photographs are so representative of the place… felt like walking around with the photographer.
Thank you for reading and for your lovely comment!
I belong to Kolkata. It is my city. I carry its cultural, literary and culinary legacy with me. I shifted to Hyderabad one year back. I miss Kolkata at times. I felt very sad in Hyderabad during Durga Puja last year. Your sensitive post made me feel nostalgic. Thank you! Hope, you will like to read the story of my connect with Bengal & Kolkata http://www.sliceofreallife.com/2012/10/17/my-connect-with-bengal-story-of-cultural-and-emotional-bonding/
Lovely photos of Kolkota street scenes Madhu. Anything Kolkota gets a thumbs-up from me. 🙂
Thank you for your amazing inspiration of Calcutta in India, we are travelling into Delhi In January and visiting India for 2 and a half months, we haven’t booked any tours, seeking all inspiration and going to places we can enjoy the culture and do some yoga! If you have anything else you would recommend please get in touch. Happy travels to you xSN
In retrospect I realize that I should have visited Kolkata when I was in India… (and the South of India too).
Cal, for all it’s decay had an appeal that is hard to describe. You might have enjoyed it Cardinal.
This post took me back to that wonderful city where I learned to love and forget.
I love These Pics. Amazing Kolkata! I am scrolling this page over and over 🙂
As you know Madhu, I love your people pictures as each one tells its own story – these were lovely
Great choice Madhu. I especially love the decaying mansion – somehow the one capture says it all!
Beautiful photographs, Madhu. The last one invokes both sorrow and hope. A powerful photograph.
Beautiful captures of various flavours of the city Madhu.
Nice captures. Would love to stroll the streets of Calcutta someday.
Fascinating insights into a city with your wonderful images.
A wonderful gallery of pics, Madhu. My son had to go to Calcutta on a business trip, and he was so shocked at the squalor he saw in some areas, even though he was born and brought up in Africa. It’s so sad to see how run down some of the once majestic buildings have become. Yes, that last pic is very moving, but so is the second one.
These photos are fabulous Madhu especially the first shot.
Hi Madhu, I had bookmarked this from the time I got the mail notification – was caught up with so much work that I couldn’t hop into the post. Now I don’t know whether I should have or not. I am so so nostalgic – it’s beautiful – and I seem to know each and every corner of the city! I will go through all the Kolkata posts, at leisure. This is one indulgence, that can’t be hurried!
I love taking walks with you, through your lens the world is incredible.
Wonderful capture … and I imagine this a city that never sleeps.
Oh they still have the Ambassador taxis!!! Love it! I can remember travelling the roads with way over capacity people squashed inside at breakneck speed on bald tyres. Great entertainment. lol
Madhu, your thought-provoking images, coupled with your insightful captions, truly create such an educationally rich story for someone who has never traveled to this part of the world. Long after reading this post, I will remember “Mansion gone to seed” and “Mother Teresa.” Powerful images.
to me, this incredible city will always make me think of Mother Theresa and Dominique Lapierre…
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have a great weekend and an optimistic week! cheers, Mélanie
I enjoyed looking at your shots Madhu – interesting. They show both the Calcutta of the past as well as the present day city. How glorious it must have been in its heyday.
I love this city. It is where my mother was born and I was the first in my family – and only one to visit it again after she left with her parents in 1947. So many places and streets she knew so well as a child were still there. It is a wonderful place 🙂
It is such a fascinating city. Someday I’ll go and see all the places in your photographs. 🙂
I last saw Calcutta (I notice you refer to it as Calcutta too!) in 1975. The Metro that everyone raves about was being excavated then. The Calcutta of our young days was indeed a magical place. Your photos of it now are beyond beautiful.
Nice photos Madhu! I’d love to go there too!
The first picture with the fog is really eyecatching if that is the right word… very atmospheric 🙂 great pictures
osadharon images and lovely captions.
Lovely images, I love exploring through your lens. Thank you
Wow! That first picture – a real throw back. The subsequent ones do not exactly bring one to 2014!
That mansion promises many possibilities.
And the mother’s compassion – that’ll be wrenching for any parent.
Peace,
Eric
Walking the streets “with” you is such a pleasure, Madhu. Thank you for sharing. I’ve seen sites such as: Humans of New York, Humans of Paris, etc. Have you thought of doing something similar?
Calcutta seems to be a study in contrasts, Madhu, as are your beautiful photographs.
your photos are moving, as always Madhu, we did not see Calcutta, although we were there at the airport briefly so I appreciate your views … my favourite is the first … it looks like early morning on a busy road
Our younger daughter was in India some years ago and loved it. So many contrasts there as you emphasize in your photos. Thanks for taking me around. There’s such a mix of beauty, poverty, decay and hope.
janet
Great gallery, Madhu….really shows the diversity of the place
I really like how you have captured some of the personality of what looks to be a very complex city. You are inspiring me to do more street scenes.
Each picture tells a story–a wonderful series, Madhu. The captions added depth.
Nice variety of shots.
Thank you Bob. Didn’t recognise your new avatar!! 🙂
I don’t know how you do it every time Madhu…but each photo evokes an emotion, and Gilly is right, the last one IS heartbreaking
Wow, what a fantastic gallery … just as I would image Calcutta streets to be … Thanks for taking me to India. The early morning fog is magical. Have a pleasant weekend now. *smile
Thank you for coming along Viveka. A lovely weekend to you too 🙂
Oh dear I dared to post one photo of India!
Your last shot is heartbreaking Madhu.
That was a sad, but inspiring scene Gilly. Loved all your choices, Delhi in particular 🙂
Great pictures. Thanks for the visit to Kolkata. We didn’t get there on our trip.
Your are most welcome Anne.
Your captions gave depth to the photos (and Calcutta), Madhu. 🙂
Thank you Imelda.