STREETOMANIA – THE SEVEN STREET WONDERS OF KOLKATA

COLLEGE STREET

College Street (Bengali: কলেজ স্ট্রীট) is a -1.5 km long street in central Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. The road stretches approximately from Mahatma Gandhi Crossing to Ganesh Chandra Avenue in Bowbazar; it has derived its name from the presence of many colleges, institutions, and housing. Indian Coffee House, a café that has been a meeting point for different intellectuals of the society where art, culture, politics, and literature were being discussed and debated for long periods.
But besides all this college street is famous for Book Stores. Innumerable numbers of small and big bookstores enthralled the entire length and breadth of the area, giving it the nickname of BoiPara( the Colony of Books). Many book kiosks sell out new and old books; along with it the top-notch of the Bengali Publication Industry- Ananda Publishers, Deys Publishing, Rupa, and Co. Mitra & Ghosh- has eked out a memorable portion of the entire canvas. It is the largest second-hand book market in the World and the largest book market in India and collectively boasts of a collection of almost any title ever sold at Kolkata.

PARK STREET

“The street that never sleeps” or “the food street” is the other pseudonyms of the famous Park Street, one of the most important hubs of the “City OF Joy”. Although it might have lost its glitz and glamour as in the various pockets of the Metro, new hubs of getting entertained have ruptured; but park Street still holds an important Hall of Fame in the good book of every globe trotters who step out into the City. Formerly known as the Mother Teresa Sarani, and still, earlier Burial ground Road was earlier a street that runs through the Deer park of Sir Elijah Impey, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Kolkata from 1773 to 1789.
St. Xaviers Collge, Asiatic Society, Assembly of God Church school, ‘Park Plaza’ Office, Queen’s Mansion, Park Mansions, housing both Kolkata Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata and Alliance Française du Bengale, The Park Hotel are some of the notable structures, institutions, and remnants of British Raj architectural heritage that enthralls the area. The place is being adorable decorated during the time of Christmas, Diwali, and New year still now and people from various corners of the State gather over there to get cherished.

BALLYGUNGE CIRCULAR ROAD

Renamed as Pramotesh Barua Sarani, the doyen and legendary icon of Bengali Cinema is one of the most crucial roads of South Kolkata. It starts near Ballygunge Science College, then passing through landmarks like Tripura House, St. Lawrence High School, before meeting Gurusaday Dutta Road. A large military camp, also known as the Ballygunge maiden Camp is located on the North-Western stretch of the road. The place is also been the residents of famous personalities Like—Suchitra Sen, Aswika Kapoor, – the only Green Oscar holder from the part of the subcontinent, and the recent critically acclaimed Director Aditya Vikram Sengupta, who’s “Asa Jaowar Majhe” has been a notable film of the present decade. The place also has some renowned food shops, which delight the taste buds of Food connoisseurs across all ages.

LINDSAY STREET

Named after the famous British Officer Robert Lindsay, the name of Lindsay street is synonymous with New Market and its adjoining areas. Although most of the inhabitants of the “ City of Joy” known the road by its earlier name, it been recently named as the Neli Sengupta Sarani- to honor the English lady Neil gray, who after coming in touch with Jyotindramohan Sengupta, became so much impressed with India’s culture and struggle for freedom – who was also put behind the bars by the British Raj. In the eras of the ’80s and ’90s when Kolkata was not infested with the sprouting of Shopping Malls, the taste of Foreign Brands, Lindsay street served as the mediator in bringing forth an entirely new gamut of class iconoclasm.
It will always be remembered as the road that harbors some famous iconic structures like the New Market, Globe cinema Hall, New empire among others. The place also boasts of being the torchbearer of showing two films back to back in the year 1922, when Lumier Brothers first stepped into the city, with the new Magic, which is known as “Cinema”. Although the New Market area might have lost its past glory of glitz, glamor, and the decaying din and bustle; but it still holds an Immortal identification which will be carried over for years to come.

MIRZA GHALIB STREET

A street of multilayered, multi-cultural, and cosmopolitanism is what can be termed of Ghalib street. That was formerly known as the Free School Street, which connects the Surendranath Banerjee Road( janbazaar) with Park street. Antique shops, Mughal cuisines, old book stores –the place has a feel which is very much Unique in its aura. The famous Urdu poet, Mirga Ghalib sahib, showed the interest of residing over here when he came up to the City in the year 1828, February 20th- an arduous journey which he took upon to settle down some of the disputes with his pension papers- was intoxicated with the flavor and spirit of the City. Though a Kaleidoscopic vision of the present look and feel of the Mirza Ghalib Street it appears to be crammed with shops of all kinds, housed in all sorts of structures- few historical in its look, a couple recently built, all in a desperate need of sprucing up. It might be treated to a person who is coming down from the Middle-East with the shabby, dilapidated look of the Sadder Street

SHAKESPEARE SARANI

Earlier named as the Theatre road, Shakespeare Sarani came into formation in the year 1964 to commemorate the fourth birth centenary of the legendary playwright Willam Shakespeare. It is considered to be one of the busiest roads of the “City of Joy”, where very many commercial establishments, shops, business enclaves, and also the first AC shopping mall of the metro came into existence.

CHOWRONGHEE ROAD

Without much arguing, it can be said that one of the most important roads. before the coming of the British was this road; it acts as a connecting road between the villages of the Kalighat area and the Chowranghee area, which was named as such after the profound Hindu mystic saint, Chowranginath of the Nath sect. then after the road was renamed after our first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. The road connects from the eastern fringes of the Esplanade southwards up to the extent of Lower Circular Road in the city of Kolkata.
Chowringhee Road, Kolkata is a perfect destination for a great time with our dear ones. There are very many ways to imbibe and get drenched in the attractions of this popular tourist spot. With so much to lure our senses and offer recreation at its best, get drenched in the spirit of adventure that we get to explore at Chowringhee Road, Kolkata. Enjoy together all the points of popular interest and bring back several memorable moments. Chowringhee Road, Kolkata is not just the place for sightseeing, but it also enables you to steal a self-indulgent moment for yourself as well. World standards, extraordinary architecture, innovative layouts, and well-thought execution make the place a highly coveted point of tourist interest. Carrying a camera is an essential need for visiting the place; as the wonderful and enthralling picturesqueness of the place gave ample opportunity to rejuvenate the photographer in us. For exploring interesting themes, fabulous designs, colorful landscapes, amusing characters, ambient music, props, and merchandise available in nearby stores- all under a single umbrella. An ideal place to get absorbed in a fun and frolic mood with one’s kids and family.

Writer: Shubharun Chatterjee