Indian Tea in Kolkata

Indian Tea in Kolkata — A unique journey by mr.hotsia

Kolkata, often still called Calcutta by many, is a city that I, mr.hotsia, must say has a charm and vibrancy distinctly different from anywhere else in India. This city is located on the banks of the Hooghly River in West Bengal. It is one of India's largest cities, perfectly blending history and culture. After immersing myself in the lifestyle here, I understand why Kolkata was once the capital of India during the British colonial era.

The first thing I clearly felt was the bustling life of this city. Although there are more than 4.5 million people in the main urban area, and over 14 million including the suburbs, this does not make the city feel overly crowded. Kolkata still firmly maintains its unique identity, both in colonial architecture and the diversity of people from various ethnicities and religions.

Transportation and Accommodation in Kolkata

Upon arriving in Kolkata, I chose to stay atHotel Victerracewhich is a hotel costing about 1,000 baht per night. Traveling from the hotel to key spots like Victoria Memorial is convenient. However, a small warning: in this city, most cafes and restaurants open late, around noon or 1 PM onwards. If you want to find something to eat early in the morning, you might have to rely on tea and small snacks sold by street vendors instead.

Regarding transportation within the city, traditional taxis often charge excessively. Therefore, I recommend usingUber Taxiwhich is more popular and safer. Another thing I learned is that having a 3G or 4G SIM card purchased at the airport makes communication and information searching in this city much easier than relying on hotel WiFi, which is often slow and unstable.

Morning Markets and Street Life

One of the unforgettable impressions I have from Kolkata is the morning market, full of color and vibrancy.Kolkata Morning MarketCompletely different from any morning market I've visited before, here you will see vendors carrying heavy loads on their heads skillfully, like scenes from a film capturing traditional lifestyles. I took a bus aimlessly and got off to stroll around this market with great enjoyment, not forgetting to observe their fast and sharp fish-cutting knife skills that almost made me nervous.

Besides the market, the streets of Kolkata are filled with interesting street food stalls, especially the roti dipped in flavorful curry that I tried.Roti dipped in curry, a street stall in KolkataThis is something I must say has an extraordinary taste. Those who love spicy food and aromatic spices will definitely love it here.

Food and Dining in Kolkata

I usually advise not to expect restaurants to open early in Kolkata, as most start service around 1 PM and close late at midnight. Breakfast here mostly consists of hot tea by the roadside with some small snacks. For other meals, restaurants range from street stalls where you sit on the ground to formal seating places. Signature dishes include beef curry and roti eaten skillfully by hand mixed with rice.

For those staying in hotels, most offer in-house dining services, allowing you to order food to your room, which is very convenient. I personally used this service several times to avoid the hassle of going out to eat at night.Read more about food and dining in Kolkata

Overview and Impressions from mr.hotsia

Kolkata is a city that I, mr.hotsia, see as lively and full of charm waiting for travelers to truly explore. The city's antiquity blends perfectly with modernity. English-style architecture still stands alongside fresh markets and street food stalls filled with the aroma of spices and the chatter of people.

If you want to experience Kolkata in depth, not just the tourist spots, I recommend taking a walk in the morning market or even tasting street food here, as that is the true heart of this city. And don't forget to prepare your transportation and accommodation well to make this trip enjoyable and smooth.Read backpacking stories in KolkataPreparation before departure

For videos I, mr.hotsia, made about Kolkata, you can watch hereIndian Tea in Kolkatawhich will help you see the real atmosphere and sounds of life in this city more clearly.