I was spending two weeks in Kolkata and had to take my father for a post surgery check up before heading out of the city for a weekend trip to Taki. With an enthusiastic thumbs up from the doctor , we were all set to drive to Taki - a sleepy little village on the banks of the river Icchamati, a few hours away from the city. I had cajoled my parents, aunt and cousin for the trip which I thought would be a welcome change from the humdrum of our daily lives. Bordering the two nations of India and Bangladesh , Taki was once home to the phenomenally wealthy Zamindars or landlords of Bengal. While now mostly in ruins , it offers a glimpse into the long bygone era. We left Kolkata in the morning and soon reached the highway. The expected 2 hours drive turned into a longer one thanks to a stranded truck which blocked access and we had to take a longer detour to reach the Sonar Bangla resort. Situated right on the banks of Icchamati , its a pristine getaway - all my cajoling for a weekend trip bore fruit as I saw all of them beaming at the sight of the clear blue skies and the river flowing through , despite the sweltering heat. We quickly freshened up and spend time on the river bank before returning back to our rooms for a sumptous lunch and reserving a boat for a tour of the river in the afternoon. The river tour was definitely the highlight of the trip - separating the borders of India and Bangladesh , the gushing river is lined with lush greenery on both sides of the river bank. One can also see the river branching into tributaries - one heading into Bangladesh and the other heading into Sunderbans. During the Durga Puja , idols from both the countries glide on boats to the centre of this river , where they are immersed together. After the boatride , we spent the evening over tea and adda and retired to our rooms after dinner and a walk in the resort property. We left for Kolkata back the next morning with a bunch of fond memories.
For the remaining time in Kolkata , the Bangalorean in me was holed up inside our home, wary of stepping out in the sultry Kolkata heat , until a bout of rainshowers brought down the temperatures. I headed out for a run one early morning and enjoyed the lush greenery along the running route at Rabindra Sarovar lake. I decided to head out to explore one of the oldest heritage buildings in Kolkata on Strand Road - Metcalfe Hall. Named after Charles Metcalfe , the then Governor General of India , the building is an actual replica of the Towers of Winds in Athens, Greece and faces the Hooghly river. It also houses a unique museum called Ami Kolkata ( I am Calcutta) which displays the vibrant artistic , literary and multi cultural heritage of the city which has thrived across the years.It was a visual treat to walk through the galleries and a reminder to the rich history and culture that the city holds within itself.
