Most of all we liked Kali Temple, it was so unusual for us, there were a lot of people because of it was Sunday, holiday for everyone. Everything were very colorful, a lot of flowers, women in different saris... it is difficult to describe)))
When we entered the Temple, we met one man, we introduced himself like priest and was very kind to us, told us about traditions and showed most important places. There are only one place where it is possible to take photos, near the holy place - it looks like swimming pool, near the swimming pool there are a statue of Vishnu and all people come there praying, swimming. We were given flowers and put them to the statue.
After we were offered to give some money for charity...))) and of course they expected from us amount of money starting with 1000 Rs, but we told them that we didn't have so many and gave them 100 Rs. It is also because of before us there were Russian guy Sergey and he gave for charity 2500 Rs. hehhe))) but it is doesn't matter how much you will give for poor people, right?)))
There were so many poor people, it was difficult to observe... (( But for these poor people in the Temple they prepare vegetable and non-vegetable food. Everyday they kill in the Temple 25 goats and prepare dishes for poor people... And I asked why someone eat meat, someone dont, this man told me that the lower people (from the lower casts) eat meat and they (priests, for example) eat only vegetables and rice... It is strange all there selection on different casts and lower people, higher people, I can't it understand... Is it so that everyone is equal before God??!! may be I will understand the sense of it all later???!!! will see...
After we went to see the surroundings, had a lunch.
Then we visited park - Eden Garden. There are also next to this park the most important place - Stadium for cricket - Eden Gardens is a cricket ground in Kolkata. It is the home of the Bengal cricket team and the the Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders. It is the largest cricket stadium in India considering seating capacity.
So I can't stop wondering how beautiful and different Kolkata is, how many cultural and very traditional places here!!!))))
Now I understand why Kolkata has been nicknamed City of Palaces. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built all over the city.
During the British colonial era from 1700–1912, when Kolkata was the capital of British India, Kolkata witnessed a spate of frenzied construction activity of buildings largely influenced by the conscious intermingling of Gothic, Baroque, Roman, Oriental and Islamic schools of design. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French.
The buildings were designed and inspired by the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Babu (literally, a nouveau riche Bengali who aspired to cultivation of English etiquette, manners and custom, as such practices were favourable to monetary gains from the British).
Today, many of these structures are in various stages of decay. Some of the major buildings of this period are well maintained and several buildings have been declared as heritage structures. Conservation efforts are patchy and are often affected by problems of litigation, tenant troubles, ownership disputes, old tenancy laws and a lack of funds.
I am happy that we are exactly in Kolkata.
How want to know more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Places_of_interest_in_Kolkata#Bridges_of_Kolkata
