Kumartuli Artistic Trip

Location:Kumartuli, North Kolkata.

Time to Visit:Open from 8 A.M - 9 P.M.

Preferred Timings:Any time convenient to you, although afternoons should be avoided.

Admission Fee: Nil

How to Reach: Local buses, mini buses and metered taxis are readily available from various parts of the city. One can also avail the charming Kolkata tramcars.

Photography / Video charges: Nil.

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah.

Nearest Metro Station:Belgachia.

Nearest Functional Metro Station:Belgachia.

Nearest International Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Time required for sightseeing:About 2 hours.

You will not find Kumartuli in any tourist brochures or pamphlets but it is a place worth visiting. Kolkata is known the world over for being an artistic place and a visit to Kumartuli which lies hidden deep inside a colony of North Kolkata reveals just that - a mecca for artists.

To reach Kumartuli, you will have to shed your inhibitions as far as your perception of hygiene is concerned because you will be overwhelmed with dirty drains, garbage littered everywhere and the foul stench that emanates from the garbage. The lanes and alleyways are narrow and full of potholes.

But once inside, a fascinating world of art and sculpture opens up in front of your naked eyes. Every lane and by lane of Kumartuli will have houses which have been converted into platforms where artists work round the clock to develop clay idols of the deities of the Hindu pantheon like Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Ganesha etc.

The best time to visit Kumartuli is in the months of August-September, when the artisans are busy making idols of Goddess Durga. The all important Durga Puja is normally celebrated in the month of October and the city of Kolkata simply goes berserk during the Pujas.

The intricate art of clay idol making wherein sticky clay, straw and rice husk are used in proportion, requires a high degree of craftsmanship. This fine art has been mastered by the artisans of Nadia district in Bengal who have made the dingy alleyways of Kumartuli their second home. The artisans of Kumartuli have the surname "Pal" or "Mallakar" and they are the best in business as far as clay idol making is concerned.

The process of idol making at Kumartuli follows a well-defined process. It all begins with a small ceremony wherein prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha. With the ceremony over, it is now time for some serious work. Intricately cut straw is harmoniously blended with sticky clay and rice husk and carefully applied on the straw frame. Once the clay dries up, another round of coating, this one much finer than the earlier one is applied to smoothen the rough edges. Once the clay has dried up completely, its time for the finishing touches. Color is applied which is followed by fine polishing of the surface.

The entire process culminates with the painting of the eyes of Goddess Durga, which requires deft touches with the brush and this task is normally assigned to the most skillful artisan. The idol is now complete in all respects and the community puja organizers come to take possession of the gorgeous idol with just a couple of days remaining for the mother of all festivals - The Durga Puja.

Special Event / Annual Event:

Durga Puja and other Hindu festivals.

Nearby Tourist Attractions:

Pareshnath Jain Temple, Jorasnko Thakur Bari, Nakhoda Mosque.

Nearby places to eat

The Chowringhee-Park Street-Esplanade stretch is by far the most happening place in Kolkata and a wide variety of restaurants are located here where you can truly indulge in mouthwatering Bengali, Mughlai, Chinese, Italian and continental spread. A visit to Tangra, Kolkata's version of Chinatown is especially recommended which is an exclusive Chinese bastion in Kolkata and lots of authentic Chinese restaurants are available here. The Chinese delicacies available at Tangra are lip smacking good.
As far as traditional Bengali dishes are concerned, Peerless Inn and Oh! Calcutta are great options. Aminia, Rahmania and Shiraz are fabled for their Mughlai spread. Mainland China, Marco Polo, Chung Wah and Golden Dragon offer delicious Chinese cuisine. Drop in at Domino's at Russel Street and Pizza Hut at Camac Street for Italian delicacies.
Celebrity restaurants like Indian Cricket icon Saurav Ganguly's signature restaurant-Saurav's- The Food Pavilion is a top draw.
Barista, Café Coffee Day and Flury's are irresistible as far as beverages are concerned. A visit to Flury's is highly recommended which is one of Kolkata's most enduring Raj era restaurant. The ambience is very British and the service is of a very high standard.

Nearby shopping venues

Kolkata is a shopper's delight. The Park Street-Esplanade stretch has all kinds of shops selling everything from Tibetan Thangkas to Ray Ban goggles. The stretch from The Oberoi Grand located in Esplanade to Park Street is one of the most fashionable places to shop. The flea market is especially very popular with tourists. Baluchuri sarees and Vishnupur clay idols vie for attention alongside up market brands like Nike, Addidas, Westside and Pantaloons.
For handloom and handicraft items, The Cottage Industries Emporium at Chowringhee is well worth a visit. You could also explore New Market, Vardaan Market at Camac Street, Central Cottage Industries Emporium at 7, J. L. Nehru Road, Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan at 24, Chittaranjan Avenue, Priyadarshini at 14/C, Lindsay Street and Manjusha at 8/2 Jagamohan Mullick Lane, Barabazar. All of them offer a fabulous shopping experience.