Kolkata, famously called the city of Joy, is part travel destination and part home for me. The reason being that while it’s my parents’ city of origin, it’s not mine. So, even after coming here for years for holidays (more like on summer vacations), I still find so many things here to discover, re-discover and experience as a traveler.
My year end holiday plans (of going to Goa or Thailand) got dampened a bit when I suddenly got deluged with work and the husband had a conference to attend instead. But for a traveler, every dark cloud has a silver lining and in our case the silver lining was that the conference was in Kolkata.
So, it was one week Christmas break in Kolkata to end the 2012 year travel with!! However, planning a holiday last minute has its share of stresses, the biggest one being arranging for that big A, called air ticket!!…we had almost a heart attack looking at the steep rates of the airfares. Thankfully, as always, it was MakeMyTrip to the rescue and we got good prices for one week return trip deal from Air India.
So, we landed up in Kolkata, 2 days before Christmas and had a lovely one week with family and friends. It was full of so many different experiences that I felt I should write a separate post on each experience, however, this post is about all the things I did over the wonderful week of Christmas break 2012 (and detailed posts shall follow).

The fun started with wonderful Christmas celebrations at Park Street, wonderfully lit up roads, Christmas carols and everyone in revelry; we had lots of fun walking, clicking photos and eating yummy food at Park Street.

Ofcourse, we also did what all travelers do when in Kolkata, visit Victoria Memorial. It is truly an amazing monument and every time I visit, I get nostalgic; it’s got so many wonderful memories of my childhood trips here.


St. Paul’s Cathedral (another staple of travelers) was buzzing with travelers and on Christmas eve, it was a different experience for sure!!

The Botanical Gardens was one place, the husband was most excited to visit and boy was it fun!!! After a long time I visited this place with mum (and the husband ofcourse) and the husband was gobsmacked on seeing the Great Banyan Tree at the garden.

Apart from all the places we visited, it was really meeting up with family and my cool (and fashionable) gang of Kolkata bloggers, which was the most memorable experience of the whole trip.Kolkata turned out to be really a City of Joy for us after all J
Here’s me and the cool blogger girls of Kolkata, they were such wonderful charming and loving hosts 🙂

It was a pleasure to play shopping host to you 😛
I read your very interesting post on sarees and saw your wonderful photos. You may like to read my blog-post 'Wonder In Six Yards- Sarees to Sinnies' dated 12.02.2011
'Anonymous' above is 'The Gardener'
Awesome clicks, brings out the joy of the occasion… Hope ul like this too Christmas eve in Kerala "http://www.ajeethboaz.com/2012/12/27/christmas-eve-kerala-2012/"
Enjoyable time indeed….. Thanks for such a nice portray of the event and place…..
http://debnature.blogspot.in
Enjoyed your post very much. I worked at Kolkata for one year. The wife and I visited most of the spots of interests but somehow could not make it to the Botanical Garden. In my school-days, I had read about this ancient banyan tree. We hope to visit and see it someday.
BTW, I like the photo at the top of this page. I have got a similar photo of mine in front of McDonald's in Singapore when visited our daughter.
Lovely images from your trip to Kolkata. Sounds like a lovely way to spend the holidays! I enjoyed your post and photos. Happy New Year!
Wow! I've always wanted to visit Kolkatta during Navratri season. Christmas also seems to be fun there!
Hey Sushmita,
I like the new look and congratulations for the domain name! Kolkata is a great city, I love the food. 🙂
I can only imagine how much fun it would be to drive under the lit up streets! Happy New Year 🙂
great post & blog! Maybe we follow each other!? Let me know 🙂 Greetings http://www.yuliekendra.com
you all look awesome..great photos of cal..
Your pics reflects true spirits of city of joy
colorful and nice 🙂
This piece makes me wanna fly back to Kolkata as I really haven't seen enough of this city. Nice post. I hope to read more of your "adventures" and discoveries from this city. 🙂
Great captures from Kolkata.Your cool bloggers gang look ecstatic & wonderful.
The fotos say it all.. you had a good time then 🙂
Bikram's
Lovely pics and account of your trip to Kolkata
Judging by the photos, it looks great:)
nice decorations!
girl ! you always have so much fun!!!
<3
This Kolkata meet seems to be all over the place. By the way, this is one heck of a wonderful blog. You have a new follower! 🙂
This Kolkata meet seems to be all over the place. By the way, this is one heck of a wonderful blog. You have a new follower! 🙂
Love the photos of all of you together – a big bunch of girly fun!! I'd love to visit Kolkata some day, it's a city that's always intrigued me 🙂
Awwwww…pleasure was all ours! Even I was at Park Street on Christmas! Please come back soon. It was so much fun with you!