Kolkata – Sudder Street
Sudder Street was home for Bill and me in Kolkata. It’s known by some for its cosmopolitanism and vibrancy and by others for its tourists and budget hotels. We stayed in the most idiosyncratic hotel, The Fairlawn, a garden oasis.
The Fairlawn was built in 1783 and has welcomed many famous guests. Vi Smith (in the background) presides over it now. The garden area and dining hall are downstairs with guest rooms and the lounge on the second floor.
Some pictures will be blurry because camera lenses fogged up moving from air conditioned rooms to the humidity of Bengal in monsoon season.
After an English breakfast we left our oasis and pushed through the sultry air out on to Sudder Street.
Impromptu shrines to Hindu deities alternated with images of Mother Teresa and modern technology.
From Sudder Street Bill and I explored Kolkata to move beyond the stereotypes of “The City of Joy” and the city of Mother Teresa and find the beating heart of a great and timeless city.
The Fairlawn was actually featured in the movie “City of Joy” as well as where the author lived.
Bill
Hooray! We’ve been hoping to travel with you again!
Wow!! Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures! We love to travel!!
nice posting
nice collection
Bengal had a great poet “Rabindra Nath Thakur (Tagore)” winner of nobel prize in poetry for geetanjalee. He wrote one of his best poetries “Nirjharer Swapnabhanga” – based on the sunrise in his one stay at a house of sadar street.
i have seen my kolkata by your creativity,you are tooooooooooooooo nice as my kolkata
Sudar street is totally different from any other place in Kolkata, previously this place was the paradise of the anti social elements such as drug addict, eve teaser, snatcher etc. now a days because of the hotels and may shops this place is becoming popular to the local peoples. Till then because of foreign tourists the suppliers of drug and the street girls are often found to waiting for their target.
I request every foreign tourists not to take Sudar Street as a part of the Culture of Kolkata. Because Kolkata is said to be the cultural capital of India.
Thank you so much for sharing this auspicious picture to us. I love sudder street and its around very much.