East India Visit-Kolkata and Haldia

East India Visit-Kolkata and Haldia

Finally my dreams of visiting East India came true with my official trip planned for both Kolkata and Haldia. It was a 4 day trip with 3 days in Kolkata and 1 day in Haldia and I was pretty much excited about it. In fact one of my schoolmate commented on it saying “My gastronomic journey has begun which I planning to make it true”.

My flight was at early morning 5.30am and I had to get up at 2 am but it was not difficult as I hardly slept the night off. Reached Kolkata at 7.30 am and by the time I could reach office was at around 9.30 am. It is a wet Kolkata at this time which I came to know will remain the same till September. Its just raining, raining and raining nonstop from morning till evening with thunder and lightning adding to the touches. In fact the first day of our arrival, there was heavy thunder and lightning near the office which actually made me jump literally in my seat. Kolkata roads are typically flooded and more of water clogging and the Government needs to do something about it. Also the traffic jams are worse which reminded me of Bangalore.

My experience in Kolkata was not so good in terms of meeting people in the sense I was completely fooled from the time I arrived in the airport and hiring a private cab which charged me triple than was actually the bill. Also while visiting one of the famous Kali Ghat temple, the local people who promise to get you direct darshan also charged me more. Ideally I would not have minded standing in the queue if I was not getting late for the office. I learnt one thing that you need to know someone locally to take you around the local places. It will definitely help.

But when it came to tasting the local cuisine, I enjoyed every bit of it. My friend had suggested a few places in Kolkata as a must try but I could try only one place –Arselan’s Biryani and Mutton chop which was good . So was Ilish mach( fish) which is prepared in turmeric and Pomfret Masala and Pomfret Fry. Local food is rice and fish curry along with Dal.. My friend also suggested Peter Cat’s- Chelo kabab which I thought will try but there was a huge waiting queue outside skipped the plan. Maybe anybody else planning can try it out along with the other dishes- shiraz’s -,biryani, Tengra - chinese,  chicken bharta at Dhaba, Rezala at Zeeshan, Mishti  Doi ( Sweet curd which I tried but did nt like) .There are lots and lots of local joints - Amber, Oh Calcutta, Mocambo, etc etc. Besides local Phuchka ( Panipuri) and Jhalmuri ( Bhelpuri).Of course how can i forget Rasgulla whcih is really yummy. One will also find lots  of Gupta and Brother joints here.And of course people here are used to eating sweets in the morning only. Simply enjoyed the local food.
Cotton is cheap in Kolkata .Hence picked up sarees and Dress materials in abundance.

Kolkata to Haldia is  some 2- 2 1/2 hours jouney by car. Haldia  is a small place not much to see.On the way to Haldia and back was able to view the Hooghly 2 and Howrah bridge which is an architectural marvel in itself. Also was able to pass through the Mother Teresa home. If had time and no rain would have planned to visit at least .

Short Trip To Mangalore

Short Trip  To Mangalore

Had a chance to visit Mangalore on an official trip . The weather in the morning itself is very hot and humid. One can literally have a sauna bath here. Luckily was able to finish off my work by 6 pm and because had a train to catch at 9 pm thought would spend the time in the beach. My colleague took me there. The beach is called Thanner Bhavi . The place was not very crowded and quite clean and well maintained now.  I enjoyed the short break, with the cool evening breeze, a sharp contrast to the very humid, sweaty afternoon .Loved walking bare feet on the wet sand, and watching the waves hitting the sand and washing away the footprints I had made. I spent some time sitting there eating pachori- which are small cubes of raw totapuri mangoes mixed with salt and red chillies and onions , with the perfect backdrop of a full moon night with an orangish glow and a cool breeze blowing . Till it was time for me to make a move to the station.

Glass Paintings- ( Pls check my page - www.facebook.com/sweetkalps786 )

Floral Designs

Floral Designs

Floral Designs

Floral Designs

                            Baby KrishnaRajasthani Girl

 Lord Ganesha

 Lord Ganesha

 Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha

Trip to Anantapur –Leepakshi Temple

Trip to Anantapur –Leepakshi Temple

It all started when my colleague came and asked me to accompany her to Anatapur as it was a colleague wedding. I kept asking for time as I had to attend the wedding of another of my ex colleague wedding and I was waiting for a confirmation of my friends who were a part of the group attending the wedding in Channapatna. Finally at 6 pm I yes to her as the gang that was supposed to accompany with me backed out and I really was in no mood to go alone and thought it would be a good idea to know my current colleagues as well as there were 9 of us from various department who were a part of the group. 

 

I packed my things for a day and waited for them to pick me up . Anantapur from Bangalore is around 185 kms and it took us some 4-5 hours to reach he place. We left Bangalore at about 4 pm and reached by 8-9 pm. We stopped in between for a tea break and of course for some photo session to capture those moments. The wedding was on the next day  at 7.40 am followed by reception at around 12 pm. We attended both and left back to Bangalore. On the way we decided to stop at Leepakshi which is a small village in Mandal in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh. Lepakshi is culturally and archaeologically significant as it is the location of shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra which were built during the Vijayanagara Kings' period (1336–1646). The temples are the location of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings and Kannada inscriptions. Near the temple complex is a large granite Nandi bull.

 

 

The Shiva's bull Nandi is a granite monolithic sculpture on the main road of Lepashki approximately 200m from the temple. It is 4.5m high and 8.23m long making one of the largest Nandi in India. The sculpture has been positioned so that it faces the shivalinga which is shielded by a large serpent inside the temple. The Nandi wears a kaasu malai, a bell chain, earrings and other jewellery. Legend has it that the Naga of the Nagalinga was carved out of a single stone by sculptors while they waited for their mothers to prepare lunch. 

 

The weather in Anatapur is extremely hot which was obvious as it is in Andhra Pradesh. The main temple inside is a cave like thing which has all idols of gods. The temperature inside is so humid that that you get completely soaked in sweat. Its as if you have had a sauna bath. But the idols and the sculptures inside and outside are definitely worth the visit. 

Was glad to have missed out my ex colleague wedding to attend my current colleague wedding  J.