Kolkata is a city that I just simply love. I could go on and on shooting in any part of Kolkata. However for the kind of photography that I do, I like the streets. They are always so full of character. There is never a dearth of subjects, and each one has its own characteristics. On the numerous occasions that I have visited there, I have had a chance to shoot quite a bit. Here are some of the things that I think Kolkata is incomplete without.

The trams

A photographer’s paradise… One place where one can never get tired of shooting! Its a wonder as to how long will these trams remain in function! They are very much in function and is jam packed at times! Even though its slow, one wonders what makes it the preferred mode of transport for the hundreds of people daily..

The Hand Pulled Rickshaws

These hand pulled rickshaws have been the face of Kolkata for long… the very sight of this reminds one of the novel City of Joy… Of late the government has issued an order to ban these hand pulled rickshaws. There are a group of people who are against this mainly for the reason that it will cause mass unemployment… currently there are around 10 thousand such rickshaw pullers there… Some also feel that this is actually a good thing in the crowded city of Kolkata and a welcome thing from the pollution that has been a characteristic of the city.

The street children

There are so many children like these on the streets of Kolkata… they are indeed nice as subjects to shoot and perhaps the most easily available.. but after a while they start to haunt you.. the poverty.. the conditions in which they live… they things they do .. like begging.. looking for food.. not knowing when their next meals would come from.. or perhaps just sleep on the pavements.. hoping for a better tomorrow…

The footpath dwellers

The number of families stranded on the footpaths of Kolkata is just uncountable… There are always so many of them on the streets.. and it appears that their drawing , study, bed room are all on the footpath. The number of such families keep increasing due to people flocking to the city from nearby towns, villages and states.

The earners of the footpath

On the footpath, its their office. They sit there whole day.. wait for customers.. eye each person passing by .. and then leave for the day.. to come back the next day….

The Yellow Taxis

This is one thing that you can never miss in Kolkata. They are everywhere…! The Ambassadors taxis! One of the most comfortable vehicles to travel by! And with the FM radio on full swing, no ride across the city seems to be boring!

The Tea with the daily News

When was the last time you actually saw the newspapers on the walls for a community… when was the last time you actually sat with friends at a chai stall reading and discussing about the latest news… politics.. cricket.. unions..

The Howrah Bridge

The symbol of Old Kolkata…and perhaps Kolkata’s most photographed monument.

The Street side Chowmein and Roll stalls

Its a wonder as to how the stomach never gets spoilt! These stalls are there at almost all areas of the city! Oh BTW the rolls and Chowmeins and the chicken chillies here are very tasty and cheap too!

The Victoria Memorial

In houses one of the largest painting exhibitions of the Indian History with artifacts from the historical India. The architecture is indeed marvelous and amazing!

And above all.. Cricket!

Where else but in Kolkata! The Cricket fever is always at a high here! No matter how the country’s team performs… the streets have always been and will be a playground to millions!

Well.. This is one place where I could go on and on shooting.. and run out of films/ memory but never out of subjects! An ancient city with a touch of modernity! Though one may not see the glimpse of the modernity in these photographs. One other trip will cover that aspect of the city. I just love the place anyway!