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TODAY'S INSIGHT
Planning a break from monotony? Now what, thinking where to go?
If you are one who just wants to go everywhere and wish to explore as much of the world as possible. Let’s make it easy for you by giving you a brief glimpse into the “City of Joy – Kolkata”.
Kolkata has something for everyone from art, literature, history, religion, spiritualism, sports, food, and more that can be said to be the perfect amalgamation of old-world charm and modern India. Every street in this city has a story that will mesmerize and charm you. Being one of the largest cities in India, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. It is located on the east bank of the Hugli River. After Mumbai and Delhi, Kolkata is the 3rd most populated metropolitan in India. Mainly, the industrial revolution in India started here. During British rule and the Indian Independence Movement Kolkata/Calcutta was the nucleus. This compelling history, beautiful attractions, and mouth-watering traditional Bengali food are all that make the city a perfect tourist destination.
Though you must have a list of places to visit ready yet we will quickly take you through some of the popular ones:
Despite so many attractions in the city, certain landmarks become the identity of the entire city. The gateway of Kolkata - Howrah Bridge or Rabindra Setu, is one such iconic structure that due to its beauty and majestic appeal has been the face of Kolkata for centuries. Built across the Hooghly River, it is the sixth longest and fourth busiest cantilever bridge in the world with over one lakh of vehicles and millions of commuters passing through every day. Don’t miss getting a complete view of the bridge through a boat ride on the Hooghly River.
A must-visit place in Kolkata, the Victoria Memorial is one of the most glorious monuments of India. Representing the resplendent and majestic British architecture which stands as a real icon of the city. It is constructed with beautiful white marble on the Maidan in Central Kolkata and is dedicated to Queen Victoria, Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. Spread across acres of land, this opulent white marble structure is surrounded by well-maintained gardens. The huge fortress has 25 galleries that feature portraits, sculptures, stunning architecture, arms, and armor.
A visit to this planetarium will be worth remembering for the science enthusiast and believer in God. Constructed in 1963 adjacent to St, Paul’s Cathedral now serves as a museum. A series of shows are organized wherein numerous scientific theories and discoveries are displayed which explain the complex world of planets, galaxies, solar systems, and life cycles of stars.
An ideal place to visit for nature lovers. Built across a huge area, the area has various beautiful gardens like fruit, tea, rose, butterfly, etc. The most important attraction is the replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World built across the park. A lake surrounds the park and the boat ride is a must-try.
Located in Kalighat Kolkata, it is one of the most important 51 Shakti Peethas. The temple is 300 years old and the structure of the temple was completed under the patronage of Sabarna Roy Chowdhury in 1809. Atmaram Brahmachari and Brahmananda Giri were the two saints who created beautiful and unique Idols of Kali with the touchstone. Goddess Kali is said to be the divine protector of Earth so do take the blessings as they will give you strength and courage to face all odds.
Best time to visit
If you are planning a trip to Kolkata then the best time will be between October to March. October and November come with an autumn season with clear blue skies, though the weather remains warm and humid you can be a part of Durga Puja, the largest and craziest festival of Bengali. December to March brings the winter season when it is cold and less humid and it is the time when the largest Kolkata Book Fair is held in January.
Where to stay?
Where to stay keeps you worried before and while you travel?
A variety of hotels are spread all around the city out of which one will be of your choice and fit into your budget.
Hotels near New Town and Chinar Park will be a great option if you want to stay somewhere near to the airport or the stay near Esplanade, Sudder Street or Park Street will be great if you wish to enjoy the local market and things around the city.
What to Eat?
We are sure that you must have heard about maach –bhaat, Roshogullas, Mishti Doi, and Sandesh, so get ready to satiate your taste buds with the magic of Kolkata’s cultural inventions. Endless surprises are waiting for you right from the starters to the main course followed by the desert. The city offers culinary treats and for sure you can’t just have one.
So whenever you are in Kolkata on a trip, make sure you go out and relish the authentic flavors of the ages-old Bengali delicacies. Bengali cuisine isn’t just fish and rice there is a fabulous vegetarian spread and an amazing range of sweets available which are the hallmarks of the cuisine.
The new ingredients that are added, subtracted and different cooking techniques set the cuisine aside from any other. The city cuisine is well-known for its exquisite tastes so one by one let’s take you through the lip-smacking full-course meal of Kolkata:
Without any doubt, this is a perfect treat for seafood lovers. When combined with rice it makes the staple of Kolkata cuisine. Every Bengali non-vegetarian restaurant will have this on the top of their food menu. This traditional dish is a spicy fish curry made along with potatoes & tomatoes, usually seasoned with onions, ginger, garlic, and turmeric.
This dish is the traditional add-on at every Bengali restaurant and home. It is one of the most popular dishes which is made with banana flowers and coconut. “Mocha” is a Bengali flower that after being cleaned properly is pressure cooked and later the spices are added which gives the dish a relishing flavour.
Popular across the country as one of the best Bengali desserts, Sandesh is made from milk or cottage cheese and sugar which is molded into a variety of shapes like circular discs, and balls. This buttery desert puts a perfect end to the main course of traditional Bengali cuisine.
The food and culture of Kolkata speak a volume about it. So why wait longer? Start planning your next trip to the beautiful “City of Joy” – Kolkata.
TODAY'S INSIGHT
Once you have shortlisted a few buyer’s agents, the harder task is now to finalize one. Asking these questions can help with finalizing one:
Do you pocessesses valid licenses to operate in this area?
Under Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) 2016, it is mandatory for every real estate agent to get a registration certificate and license. In addition, a state can have additional license requirements for real estate agents to provide their services or run their business in the state. So, first make aware of such license requirements for real estate agents in your state so that you can verify if the real estate agent you are interviewing processes those licenses.
How long the person is in the market and how many property deals the person has closed in the past?
Experience matters in the real estate business. An agent with good knowledge of the market in your area can negotiate better with the seller and finalize a better deal for you. Also, an experienced realtor can take you to the front of the line when multiple buyers want the same house. Request a few names of the clients who recently purchased property with them, and contact those customers to ask about their experiences.
What strategy will they use to find the house, what will be their role after purchase is complete and what will be their style of communication?
It’s important to know how much time they will dedicate to find the house and how often you will hear back from them. Are you going to work directly with them and their assistant? What will be your work after the purchase is completed? A good buyer agent, even after property purchase is completed, helps further to connect with a good contractor/ handy-man to get property ready for you to move-in. So, the answer to these questions will give a good idea of their working style and if that suits your needs or not.
How is the agent going to make sure that the property seller and the property itself is genuine?
There are few ways to make sure that the seller is the genuine owner or has rights to sell the property. Buyers agents are usually well connected with municipal office employees and quickly able to find out about the status of the property. They should make sure there are no active loans on the property and the owner has the original deed of the property. If you are planning to take a loan to purchase the property, they make sure the property is free from any restrictions which prevent you from getting a loan. For example: Usually banks don't provide loans on property built on farmland.
How much will they charge or what’s their commission?
There is no written regulation over the charges of a Real estate Agent, but usually realtors have commission based charges. The most common fee that has been observed is 2% of the property closing cost. But the commission can vary anywhere between 1% - 4%. So, here negotiations skills can help you to fix the commission amount that best fits your needs.
Working with a realtor is an extremely personal journey. You have to be able to share all your wants and needs and have them guide you with their years of experience with the real estate market. Buyer agents cared for your needs like family, pointed out things good and bad, made the entire process really smooth for you. So, it's very important that you ask the right questions and only after being completely satisfied with their responses, you finalize one.