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Foodie Western India

The cafe scene in Darjeeling

Cafes in Darjeeling

As beautiful a place Darjeeling is for the nature lovers, it can also be seen as a foodie’s paradise if anybody wants to look at it that way. Everybody knows what exotic taste the home grown tea from here possesses. Other than the very delicious street food, carrying all the Bengali flavour, there are many different cafes in the city that are amazing. The new ones are opening up every day and it becomes hard to choose the best ones among them. But we have given it a shot and here is the list of top 5 cafes in Darjeeling that you must visit in order to satisfy your taste buds.

Gatty’s Cafe

Located on the famous Dr. Zakir Hussain road, this lounge cum cafe offers a lot of things to the visitors. From the shows of international and Indian cinema, delicious tea, some live music combined with some great food; this is one in all deal. From the homemade Indian cuisines to the international items such as pasta, sandwiches and pizzas, the place serves everything and as long as you stay here, there will be no moment of boredom. The great crowd in here makes the experience all the more vibrant.

Sonam’s Kitchen

Also located on the Zakir Hussain road, a few metres away from Gatty’s cafe, Sonam’s kitchen is also one other crowd puller in the place. The city is known for the tea, but the coffee right here in this little cafe will make you forget that fact. The coffee in your mouth is all you feel. They have an interesting collection of books and they deal mostly in the fast foods and stuff, but healthier and delicious to their core.

Foodsteps

The waffles and pancakes that are being served here are so delicious that people don’t mind standing in the lines to get their turns. The breakfast here along with a great cup of coffee is inhumanly tasty here. The different variety of the tea that gets served here reminds you very well of what this place is famous for. The waffles, grilled sandwiches and multigrain breads are the highlights of the vivid menu that includes purely vegan dishes. The Foodsteps is located at the Nehru Road.

Kunga’s

If the craving for some local food takes over, do visit Kung’s cafe located at the Gandhi Road. Deals mostly in the Tibetan meals, the noodles and the steamed momos here are just pure delicious. While Ranbir Kapoor, the bollywood actor, was shooting for his movie Barfi here, it is said that he fell in love with the food here and visited at least once a day despite the busy schedule.

Hot Pizza Place

HD Lama Rd is not known for so many good cafes but this one is an exception. Deals in Italian cuisines mostly but you can find almost anything here. Pasta, Panini, sandwich and noodles are the highlights of the restaurant and there are so many different varieties of pizza that one can get lost in all the taste and brilliant baking aroma.

Frank Ross Cafe

One of the very few restaurants in Darjeeling serving both the non veggies and the vegetarians alike is Frank Ross Cafe which happens to be located on the Mall Road. The global menu includes the native Indian dishes along with the international ones. A perfect amalgamation of class and style can be found here.

Revolver

As unique is the name of this cafe cum restaurant, so is its class. The gun themed place is sort of a museum for the tourists. Beetles are the biggest inspiration for the name of the place as it’s named after one of the most popular song from the rock band. Pancakes, mashed potatoes and soups along with a lot other items are the biggest highlights of the place. The cafe is located at Gandhi Road behind Union Chapel.

So these are the top 7 cafes one must visit during their next trip to Darjeeling. Delicious bites, piping hot coffee and friendly services in these cafes is sure to leave all the foodies in awe.

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Corporate Outings Travel Trends

Some great and enchanting weekend getaways near Kolkata     

Kolkata weaves a magic of surprises with it the offering of a unique cultural heritage. It exudes an aura of British Indian era through an array of timeless landmarks sketched in its heart. The city of palaces is surrounded by exotic destinations unfolding unforgettable experiences for their travelers.

Apart from the historical treasures in its heart, the subcontinent’s London boasts some of the best getaways in the country. We have compiled you a list of these hot getaways from Kolkata.

Digha, West Bengal, 171 km from Kolkata

Regarded as the Beach Town of West Bengal, Digha is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal.. The town is visited by thousands of tourists from the state for its exotic beaches and scenic views. This destination is a hot favorite amongst families looking to spend some quality time together.

This beach town blends a diversity of major attractions. From religious temples to untouched beaches to research centers, there is a variety on offer for people of all age groups.

Sundarbans, West Bengal,125 kms from Kolkata

Regarded for the largest mangrove forest in the world, Sundarbans is a UNESCO heritage site. The site turns out to be one of the best getaways for people looking for some peace, natural beauty, and dynamic flaura and fauna. It is a wildlife sanctuary that is home to over 400 Royal Bengal Tigers and 30,000 spotted deer.

The site is shared by both India and Bangladesh. One of the best ways to explore Sundarbans is by exploring the site. From roaring rivers to wildlife safaris, the experience of being in Sundarbans is mind boggling.

Santiniketan, West Bengal, 179 kms from Kolkata

Santiniketan is mainly popular for being the home of Rabindra Nath Tagore. It has now been converted into a university called Visva Bharati University. It is a small town right in the heart of Birbhum district.

This university was established by the father of Rabindra Nath Tagore. The university got popularity for spreading a different the concept of education in the country. This town has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal. It combines the art and exotic locations like no other spot in the country.

Shankarpur, West Bengal, 161 kms from Kolkata

The world is currently noticing a surge in synthetic pools made out of natural beaches. However, Shankarpur is one of the most precious luxuries you can ever have when it comes to the thrill of beaches. The best part about being in Shankarpur is that you get a chance to explore the pristine surroundings with a tinge of sun dipping in the sea.

Situated right in the heart of East Medinipur district of West Bengal, Shankarpur is a hub of isolated beaches that gives you the luxury of scenic beauties, calmness, and introspection.

Bishnupur, West Bengal, 150 kms from Kolkata

Often regarded as the town of terracotta temples, Bishnupur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal mainly for its art, handicraft, and architecture.

This small town in the heart of West Bengal boasts a historical heritage of the country. It presents a mystique aura around its arts, culture, architecture, and music. You can feel it all in the music and Baluchari Saree of the town. Some of the most popular temples of the town are Jorbangia Temple, Rasmancha Temple, and Shyamrai Temple amongst many other.

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Architectural North east

Spectacular teracotta work of Temples in Bishnupur

Bishnupur is in West Bengal and got its name from Lord Vishnu of Hindu Mythology. Known for its traditional architecture, it has brilliant terracotta temples with detailed and intricate work. While in Bishnupur, I had planned a list of temples to see and while talking to the locals, I got to hear the story behind the terracotta temples. Turns out, back I 18th century the Malla Kings decided to build these temples but fell short of stones. Such grand beautiful shrines that people adore till date was a result of a scarcity of stones.

As I arrived at Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport in Kolkata, I took a bus to Bishnupur. The lodgings were also available at a fair price and the room was comfortable. Travelling around Bishnupur was also easy as we found auto rickshaws everywhere.

My first stop was Rasmancha and as soon as I entered the place, I was in awe. The whole temple had a single chamber and passageways surround it. Just the Terracotta work would make you marvel at its beauty. I was glad to have hired a guide who gave us a back story about the temple and the Malla Kings. Since photography is allowed, I ended up clicking many pictures but no picture would be able to justify the actual experience of being there.

The next stop was Madan Mohan Temple. This temple was also beautiful with stories of Ramayana inscribed on the terracotta tablets. A mixture of stone and terracotta work with its flat roof giving it a Bengali touch, this temple was a true work of art. Nearby, the guide showed us a Peepal tree which had a trunk that looked like Lord Ganesha.

Then we went to Jor Bangla Temple. The structure of this temple is unique as it looks like two adjoined huts. There is terracotta work both on inner and outer walls of the temple and there are scenes of Krishna Leela and other normal life workings of that era inscribed in it.

We then moved on to Radhashyam temple which is just close by. The dome shaped structure and laterite stone give it an Islamic style. We kept reveling in the beauty of these temples and then moved on to the next one.

We did the Pooja in Mrinmoyee temple and I bought a few handicrafts as souvenirs from the shops outside. They displayed horses with terracotta work and other such items. The next temple is a real jewel-like its name suggests. The Panch Ratna Temple had terracotta work on all its wall panels and there were scenes of Radha and Krishna on it. The Ras chakra was the most beautiful and detailed work I saw. We entered through a triple arched entrance and that in itself was a wonderful experience.

There was also a cluster of 7 different temples that we saw but then my excitement got the best of me and we went over to the most popular temple of Bishnupur, the Chinnamasta temple. There is a famous canon called ‘Dalmadol Canon’ nearby and it is believed that Lord Madan Mohan fired it himself once to drive away attackers.I also saw the sarees that had been weaved so beautifully with different patterns that were actually stories from Hindu epics. From pallu to the end, it told a mythological story. I bought some more stuff from shops here too because the work was just so beautiful that I could not resist.

Bishnupur is a beautiful place with many other sites to see such a Bishnupur Museum, Garh Darja and Pathar Darja. It just isn’t a place that you can finish seeing in one day. I took my time exploring each site and it was a marvelous experience.

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