Kolkata - 2020-21 Winter Diaries - Part 1
The pleasant weather in winter is the perfect getaway time for nearby day trips without the hassle of sweating like summers. Mentioning a few noteworthy visits made during the winter months of December 2020 to February 2021
Trip - 1: Hanseswari Temple, Imambarah, Surya Kumar Modak, Denmark Tavern
Hanseswari Temple
It was a pleasant Saturday morning of January 2021 we set out for our first destination, the
Hanseswari Temple in Bansberia. It took us almost 2 hours to reach from Kolkata. The Delhi Road is in such great condition to drive on these days by taking the diversion to right from Dankuni Toll Plaza. The morning session of the temple closes by 12 noon and we still managed to reach by 11-40 inspite of a 15 minute halt at the Magra railway crossing. The overbridge is still under construction. The place has a big designated paid parking lot and to reach in the final leg make sure to ask locals rather than blindly trusting Google Maps.
The Hanseswari Temple
Flower Bouquets for offering in Prayers and Worship
Inside the Hanseswari Temple
Ananta Basudeba Temple beside Hanseswari Temple
Imambara, Hoogly
Our next stop was the
Hoogly Imambara, only 20 minutes away. We skipped on our way the Bandel Church since it was still closed for outsiders. Parking is in front of Imambara only and locals are managing it (against printed bills). Among other things here, make sure to reserve your breadth for climbing the 179 steps to the top of the clock tower.
The Imambara
Spiral stairs to the clock tower
The Clock Tower mechanicals, taken through the glass panes
View from top of the clock tower
The river of the the Imambara, there is English inscription of Koran on the wall and also a Sundial
Inscriptions on the wall of the Imambara facing the Ganges
View of the Ganges from the back of Imambara
Denmark Tavern
Leaving Imambara around 2 pm we drove straight to our final stop of the day,
Denmark Tavern of Serampore. A 235 year old heritage building converted into a wonderful river facing hotel cum restaurant by the Park Hotel Group. We did make a stop at
Surya Kumar Modak while on our way to Denmark Tavern, make sure to try their famous Jolbhora and TinKanya.
Even though we reached Denmark Tavern by 3-15 pm, we got our turn for the table only around 4-30 pm owing to the afternoon rush. Add the slow service which resulted in our lunch to be completed only by 5-45 pm. Of course if someone wants to venture outside there is ample Ganges facing parks just in front of this to make passing your waiting time a breeze.
The waiting room at the Denmark Tavern
At the Dining area
Ganges view, from one of the river facing parks in front of Denmark Tavern, you can sit and relax with pastries from the Flury's outlet beside Denmark Tavern
From the road beside Denmark Tavern, cars are parked here, limited car parking
Our Crysta parked beside Denmark Tavern
The Chinsurah and ChandanNagar belt is a historical chain from the Mughal, Dutch and French colonization era. One can hence also cover the Armenian Church, Tomb of Susanna Anna Maria (based on whom the bollywood movie Saat Khoon Maaf was inspired), Zafar Khan Ghazi Mosque, Chandan Nagar Strand, Mayurpankhi Ghat, Chinsurah Ghorir More (Clock Tower). In fact recently a floating restaurant named Jalasree has also been inaugurated at Chandannagar.
Trip 2: Khirai Valley of Flowers
We visited this place around mid December 2020, being only 85 KM from Kolkata, located along both banks of river Congsawati, below the Railway Bridge is the massive
Khirai flower cultivation area. There is limited parking and the actual full bloom season is early January. Yet highly enjoyable area and a photographer's heaven. We found the owner cum gardeners protecting their own cultivation from unwanted damages by visitors and they are also helpful in explaining variations along with how they are nurtured should you be interested in buying a few saplings, prices can vary, from cheap to being quite pricey. One more advice, there is a tricky diversion from NH-6 near Panskura which we missed and Google took us to a very scary road, so better to ask locals when approaching Panskura.
At Khirai Flower Valley
The Railway Bridge is just adjacent, so acts as a good landmark
We bought some saplings from them, they duly explained to us the directions to plant and nurture, some price negotiation is possible
Trip - 3: Shyam Sundar Mistanna Bhander, Baharu for the famous Nolen Gur & Joynogor Moa
An ideal Bengali does not consider the winter to be complete without tantalizing their sweet tooth over nolen gur (Date jaggery) and the products that come based on it. I still recall from my childhood days how abundant was the use of Gur in everything as the regular sweetener and never was sugar used, even while making tea.
This winter we visited one of the most notable shops named
Shyam Sundar Mistanna Bhander at Baharu, easily spotted on GMaps and its dead accurate location wise. It is around 42 KM from Kolkata and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to reach based on traffic, taking EM Bypass and then Kamalgazi Flyover and Baruipur Bypass is recommended. There is ample parking on the road in front opposite to the playing ground. Their most famous offerings are Moa (the ever original, Joynagar er Moa), Gur and Murki.
This January we were here during a visit to our ancestral house which is a few KM from there. The Moa was preordered for them to make special ones with higher concentration of Gur than the ones on regular sale. We also got a few sealed bowls of their famous Nolen Gur.
The Famous ShyamSundar Mistanna Bhander
Moa is still traditionally shaped with bare hands
Specially ordered Moa by us, being readied for delivery
. . to be continued