Friday, July 8, 2011

Rediscovering Kolkata (Part 1: Victoria Memorial)

Calcutta was the city I was born in. I spent about a decade there before moving to Munger and then Delhi owing to dad's tranfer and my higher education. And Kolkata is the city I now visit a couple of times in a year to meet my family and to relax. (I still prefer the name 'Calcutta' though.) The city has changed over the years like all other cities, but it is still slow, lazy and still beautiful. It has some great heritage bulidings built in the British era. I always admired them but this time I decided to permanently store their beauty through my second set of eyes, my camera.

So I ventured out in the middle of the intermittent rains with my camera hanging around my neck and an umbrella in my hand to rediscover the City of Joy! I have to admit that I could barely capture 25% of the city's beauty because I was awetsruck by my first destination, the Victoria Memorial and spent most part of the day, doing one of the two things people go there for (making memories through making out or photographs). So this post is entirely dedicated to Victoria Memorial.

A Little Bit of History.. (Courtesy: Wiki)
The Victoria Memorial, officially the Victoria Memorial Hall, is a memorial building dedicated to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid down in the year 1906. The monument was intended to serve as a tribute to the success of the British Empire in India.

The design of the structure represents a fusion of British and Mughal architecture. White Makrana marbles were used in the construction of Victoria Memorial Hall and the building was inaugurated in the year 1921. The massive hall is 338 feet (103 m) by 228 feet (69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet (56 m).

Now Lots of Pictures!!
1
2

3.Victoria Memorial against the clouds

4.View from the Balcony
5
6
7

8.The Other Side

9. Enjoying the Rains and the Pebble Walk

10. The Garden 
11

12. King Edward VII Arch

13. King Edward against Victoria's Fairy

14. Every Cloud has a Silver Lining :)

Hope you enjoyed these and tell me the one you like the best!

27 comments:

PeachesandBlush said...

You really need to take up photography
I cant believe the first two pics were yours !!!

Hungover on Fashion said...

:) Don't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment :) I choose the latter though..

MakeupbyEesha said...

Lovely pics. You must take up photography seriously. I loved the silver lining of the clouds, the Victoria Memorial and the landscape, just everything. :)

Ayushya said...

Nice pics baby

EVE-O-LUTION said...

wowwwww absolutely beautiful!!!
got to visit Calcutta!!!


-Bee
http://beautyandeverythingelse.com

FashionPhD said...

Fabulous pictures! I prefer cal too.
My grandparents live there and i went back after almost 10 years recently..it seems like nothings changed tho.Its all so..still. dont think thats too good a thing! but u made it look MUCH better in the pictures

Hungover on Fashion said...

Thanks everyone..
@Classy&Fab: Yes, the city is slow and laid back..(I won't say still). Where else would you get holidays due to strikes..I know that's not exactly a good thing, and hoping it will catch up some day..

Nivedita said...

The photos are really beautiful. Rather what I said is an understatement. They are BEAUTIFUL. You are here!! wow. Hope to see more photos of Kolkata. You should think of converting your blog to photography blog seriously.
Btw, let me add to this history. Nandalal Basu was one of the first freedom fighters in India and also from Bengal. he was sentenced to death. The hanging took place where the building is right now ( there was no permanent construction in its memory . o course that would not have happened during the days of the Raj)

Anonymous said...

Great piece of work..liked the 10th one..the tree with the spikey hairstyle..truly deserves to be on a fashion blog :)

whengeekmetchic said...

I've been to Calcutta just once but sure was a hell of an trip ;)
walking through Victoria memorial was indeed a pleasure...
btw love the last pic..the silver lining is beautiful :)

Hungover on Fashion said...

@Nivedita: I really don't know how to convert this blog into a photo blog NOW after 5 months! And starting another one will be rather difficult. May be I should just change the name..Any suggestions, what I should do? I am definitely much more passionate about photography than make-up..
And yes, thanks for adding that piece of history..

@Anonymous: That was a subtle taunt I have to say :) But the very fact that you're still looking at them and also appreciating them makes you interested in them despite the blog title :) :)

Shruti said...

I have never been to Kolkata. No wonder I had no idea whatsoever. Thank you for the beautiful pictures..

SinFoodie said...

Awesome photos Debleena!! So now we have two good photographers in the family!!

Anonymous said...

That was neither supposed to be anonymous nor a taunt..had chosen for the google account option to submit the comment..but was never asked for it.
Maybe the anonymous thing made you think it was a taunt :)..but seriously really good pics

-manas

Hungover on Fashion said...

@Manas: Well din't know that was you :) :) I generally am a little suspicious about anonymous comments :) :)

@Everyone: Thanks again :)

Nivedita said...

Now you have got me into soup. Because i really like your fashion articles as well as the photgraphy. I think you could add something more to the blog title and do what you have been doing. I enjoy both. So can't ask you to do only one out of the two

Shobhini said...

Nice pics Debbie!! You are a pro :)

Shobhini

Hungover on Fashion said...

@Nivedita: Well then you've made it simple for me..I just continue writing, yes will add something to the 'about me' section etc..may be a line below my blog title :)

@Shobhini: Great to hear from you!!! Thanks!

Ikya said...

Such pretty pictures! I used to cross Calcutta as a kid when we lived in Tezpur and Guwahati.. Tenga and Tawang. We would have to stay at Calcutta an entire day almost to catch a flight to Guwahati and go anywhere else!:P Such a long story I told:P I love the placeee!!! You make me want to go! :D

Rekha said...

Lovely pics.. I have never been to Calcutta.. after seeing ur pics me planning for a trip :D Calcutta looks very beautiful thru ur lens :) Following you :)

-Rekha
http://makeupnbeautyreview.blogspot.com/

Hungover on Fashion said...

@Ik: I understand the nostalgia, when we see some of the places we live in or visited as a kid..I have posted some more snaps :)

@Rekha: Yes, you should plan a trip..it's a pretty city..

Ikya said...

:) waiting for those pictures to open!

Ankita said...

Wow, Brilliant photography!! U make Cal look like London ! :D

Hungover on Fashion said...

@Ankita: Haven't been to London and now I wanna go to see if it looks like this :)

Unknown said...

damn i like all the photos..you are getting really good at taking pictures! nice work.

cactusandcucumber.blogspot.com

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best hotel management colleges in Kolkata said...

Liked all of your pictures. Very well clicked. keep up the good work.