India: Exploring Poverty Stricken Calcutta

For 139 years, Calcutta was the second largest city in the British Empire. The Victoria Museum, a large, white domed building in the city, holds artifacts from this era of Calcutta's history. The city is currently the capital of West Bengal and is inhabited by close to 15 million people. With this distinction came a name change as well, Kolkata replaces the former Calcutta.

The Maidan, a 9.5 acre central park, is a former British military encampment. It is now a less than pleasant view of humanity, filled with pollution from taxis, diesel trucks, and automobiles. But the main attraction offered by the city is the Kali Temple where blood sacrifices are still performed today. The temple is filled with tourists, those coming to pay homage, and anxious tour guides. Beside this attraction, is another spot frequented by visitors, the hospital of Mother Theresa. Here, visitors are permitted to tour the hospital established by Mother Theresa and her order of sisters, still an active medical establishment. Tours are available to explore the outskirts of Calcutta and a respectable subway system exists in the city. Dalhousie Square, in downtown Calcutta, is surrounded by banks and government buildings, as well as the East India Company, established in 1690.

Though Calcutta is not the perfect picture of a tourist destination, it houses many sites and remains an image of the human condition. There are many sights and sounds to be explored in this former British ruled city. The challenge is finding the beauty of Calcutta that is often overlooked.