bhot bagan

stevec · Aug 1st, 2009, 11:57

What can people tell me about Bhot Bagan in Howrah district? It reads as a fascinating place. I'd love to see photos! Also similar sites in Howrah - a part of Kolkata I have only been through to go somewhere, and always felt I was missing lots.

vko · Aug 1st, 2009, 13:28

I lived most my early life in Kolkata but can't place it. Let me ask around and get back to you.

stevec · Aug 2nd, 2009, 06:14

Bhot Bagan was a garden and monastery set up for Tibetans in the time of Warren Hastings, under the direction of a gosain called Purangir. I have seen references to it as still existing. There's a Bhot Bagan Lane somewhere not far from the river in Ghusuri, Howrah. Near the river would be the right area.

vko · Aug 2nd, 2009, 10:47

Sorry, other than an article in online edition of Telegraph I couldn't find anything. My family and friends in Kolkata haven't heard of it either but it surely exists as the article points out. I know the Ghusuri area in Howrah as my Dad used to work there but don't know where exactly Bhot bagan is. Should be easy to find as Ghusuri is not too big.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/107100...ry_8395374.asp

vko · Aug 2nd, 2009, 11:20

I located Ghusuri on Google maps but not many labels so no idea where exactly Bhot-bagan is. I did see a few addresses with "bhot bagan lane" in Wikimapia. Are you travelling there? It should be easy to find if you reach Ghusuri from Howrah and ask the local rikshaw wallahs. Sounds like an interesting place, never knew there was tibetan monastry in that area - wonder if its still in a working condition or just shambles. Below is the link for map Ghusuri on Google maps, quite high res but not many labels:

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&ie=U...0.02738& z=16

stevec · Aug 2nd, 2009, 15:02

Hey Vikas bhai - thanks for the info. It's really nice of you to go to so much trouble - I really appreciate it. Yes, I'll be back in Kolkata. There's just so much amazing hidden stuff there. I really enjoyed going up the GT Road to Hugli last September, because of the things no one gets to see, especially industrial archaeology. A chance to go through some of the closed-down jute mills would be great - and why is there no Hind Motor tour? The Ambassador is one of the great world cars!

vko · Aug 3rd, 2009, 09:46

Hey NP. It's my pleasure talking about these places. I have very fond memories of Kolkata and around (afterall I grew up there) so talking about places nobody generally cares about was a pleasant surprise. As you said, the Industrial area is just amazing if you look at it from historical POV. I once had a chance to visit a closed down Jute mill in Rishra (Hoogly Dist). I used to practically spend my holidays at the various Plastics factories my father worked in as technical consultant. There is a lot of good stuff to see, learn and appreciate (if we keep the industrial norms and safety standards aside for a while). I've seen low-tech rolling mills at night - a scary sight! You are right about Hind Motor - it must make a great tour but I never got a chance even with a relative working there (now retired). I found the ship-cutting yards in Khidirpur docks to be very fascinating. Well I was just 10 yrs Old then, dunno how it works nowadays. You almost always need to know someone, who knows someone else, to make these trips possible. And yes, passing that occasional Rs. 10/20 note across the gate works too.

brishti · Aug 3rd, 2009, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevec

and why is there no Hind Motor tour? The Ambassador is one of the great world cars!

calcutta - amby valley ?

it would seem the city has only ambassadors plying her roads!!

umm - and steve - its bhoot - oo as in too.
never heard of the place - hope you get to locate it.

:brishti

theyyamdancer · Aug 3rd, 2009, 15:24

I have never heard of this place either. But I found this quite interesting article:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/107070...ry_8014799.asp

JuliaF · Aug 4th, 2009, 01:40

Thanks for that interesting article theyyamdancer

I was in Murshidabad last year and really liked it, with the beautiful wide river. I'm starting to think about exploring some of the other riverside towns in West Bengal now. Must do more research, I suppose there must be a whole lot of good stuff in the Telegraph archive.

It's funny the connections across indiamike, and how you wouldn't know what's being discussed by the thread title - I was just reading a discussion about Bahadur Shah's last journey in the GB Road thread too!

kausiks · Aug 4th, 2009, 12:16

Thanks all, specially stevec, for this interesting topic. I was not even aware of its existence

I have asked a few people who live in that area and some of them have heard about the place. It exists. So it will be able to track the place without much problem. I will update in this thread once the place is identified.

brishti · Aug 4th, 2009, 13:41

great link, yyam - thank you

this is a great thread - thanks steve - having said that, i'm going to digress a little
there are them oooold zamindari houses and PWD bungalows, all over bengal - which the locals say are haunted.
Each haunted house has a fascinating tale to tell...
it'll be great, if we could compile a list on this thread about them places + tales AND give steve the info he is looking for.

just a suggestion.

:brishti

Aug 1st, 2009, 11:57	#1
stevec Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: eureka nsw australia Posts: 25	bhot bagan What can people tell me about Bhot Bagan in Howrah district? It reads as a fascinating place. I'd love to see photos! Also similar sites in Howrah - a part of Kolkata I have only been through to go somewhere, and always felt I was missing lots.

Aug 3rd, 2009, 15:24	#9
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	I have never heard of this place either. But I found this quite interesting article: http://www.telegraphindia.com/107070...ry_8014799.asp __________________ "Wandering seemed no more than the happiness of an anxious man." - Albert Camus

Aug 4th, 2009, 12:16	#11
kausiks Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 307	Thanks all, specially stevec, for this interesting topic. I was not even aware of its existence I have asked a few people who live in that area and some of them have heard about the place. It exists. So it will be able to track the place without much problem. I will update in this thread once the place is identified. __________________ The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.

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Aug 1st, 2009, 13:28	#2
vko Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hyderabad-Secunderabad Posts: 474	I lived most my early life in Kolkata but can't place it. Let me ask around and get back to you.

Aug 2nd, 2009, 06:14	#3
stevec Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: eureka nsw australia Posts: 25	Bhot Bagan was a garden and monastery set up for Tibetans in the time of Warren Hastings, under the direction of a gosain called Purangir. I have seen references to it as still existing. There's a Bhot Bagan Lane somewhere not far from the river in Ghusuri, Howrah. Near the river would be the right area.

Aug 2nd, 2009, 10:47	#4
vko Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hyderabad-Secunderabad Posts: 474	Sorry, other than an article in online edition of Telegraph I couldn't find anything. My family and friends in Kolkata haven't heard of it either but it surely exists as the article points out. I know the Ghusuri area in Howrah as my Dad used to work there but don't know where exactly Bhot bagan is. Should be easy to find as Ghusuri is not too big. http://www.telegraphindia.com/107100...ry_8395374.asp

Aug 2nd, 2009, 11:20	#5
vko Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hyderabad-Secunderabad Posts: 474	I located Ghusuri on Google maps but not many labels so no idea where exactly Bhot-bagan is. I did see a few addresses with "bhot bagan lane" in Wikimapia. Are you travelling there? It should be easy to find if you reach Ghusuri from Howrah and ask the local rikshaw wallahs. Sounds like an interesting place, never knew there was tibetan monastry in that area - wonder if its still in a working condition or just shambles. Below is the link for map Ghusuri on Google maps, quite high res but not many labels: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&ie=U...0.02738& z=16

Aug 2nd, 2009, 15:02	#6
stevec Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: eureka nsw australia Posts: 25	Hey Vikas bhai - thanks for the info. It's really nice of you to go to so much trouble - I really appreciate it. Yes, I'll be back in Kolkata. There's just so much amazing hidden stuff there. I really enjoyed going up the GT Road to Hugli last September, because of the things no one gets to see, especially industrial archaeology. A chance to go through some of the closed-down jute mills would be great - and why is there no Hind Motor tour? The Ambassador is one of the great world cars!

Aug 3rd, 2009, 09:46	#7
vko Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hyderabad-Secunderabad Posts: 474	Hey NP. It's my pleasure talking about these places. I have very fond memories of Kolkata and around (afterall I grew up there) so talking about places nobody generally cares about was a pleasant surprise. As you said, the Industrial area is just amazing if you look at it from historical POV. I once had a chance to visit a closed down Jute mill in Rishra (Hoogly Dist). I used to practically spend my holidays at the various Plastics factories my father worked in as technical consultant. There is a lot of good stuff to see, learn and appreciate (if we keep the industrial norms and safety standards aside for a while). I've seen low-tech rolling mills at night - a scary sight! You are right about Hind Motor - it must make a great tour but I never got a chance even with a relative working there (now retired). I found the ship-cutting yards in Khidirpur docks to be very fascinating. Well I was just 10 yrs Old then, dunno how it works nowadays. You almost always need to know someone, who knows someone else, to make these trips possible. And yes, passing that occasional Rs. 10/20 note across the gate works too.

Aug 4th, 2009, 01:40	#10
JuliaF Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Co Cork, Ireland Posts: 351	Thanks for that interesting article theyyamdancer I was in Murshidabad last year and really liked it, with the beautiful wide river. I'm starting to think about exploring some of the other riverside towns in West Bengal now. Must do more research, I suppose there must be a whole lot of good stuff in the Telegraph archive. It's funny the connections across indiamike, and how you wouldn't know what's being discussed by the thread title - I was just reading a discussion about Bahadur Shah's last journey in the GB Road thread too!

Aug 4th, 2009, 13:41	#12
brishti disMember Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 3,687	great link, yyam - thank you this is a great thread - thanks steve - having said that, i'm going to digress a little there are them oooold zamindari houses and PWD bungalows, all over bengal - which the locals say are haunted. Each haunted house has a fascinating tale to tell... it'll be great, if we could compile a list on this thread about them places + tales AND give steve the info he is looking for. just a suggestion. :brishti