New Years in Kolkata

matei · Dec 14th, 2007, 15:29

Am considering to spend new years in Kolkata or any nice place nearby.Have chosen the place basically as its the closest city from where i am and dont have time to go to far off places this time.Can anybody suggest what to do there and where to go.

Thanks
Matei

jyotirmoy · Dec 14th, 2007, 16:15

Park street is the place where all the action is.

matei · Dec 14th, 2007, 17:18

thanks for the info.Any special programme in town during that time.What else can one expect besides the normal party scenes in Park Street.Any special band or group playing in town at that time.Would prefer a more queiter scene than the disco types or are there places out of town where special progamme is being organised.

Judi · Dec 14th, 2007, 20:52

You could always apply for temporary membership of the Tollygunge Club and join in their New Year's Eve festivities. These usually consist of a band and various singers with dancing, plus and excellent dinner on the lawns of the club: great fun if you prefer something quieter than downtown Kolkata.

matei · Dec 16th, 2007, 11:51

Judi..........Thanks for the reply.Spending the new year's eve at the tollygounge club sounds good. Any idea on the eligibility in getting a temporary membership.

beesakopie · Dec 16th, 2007, 14:13

Matei,

The tollygunge club has a website here :

http://www.thetollygungeclub.com/home.htm

However, it doesn't mention much about membership. They have however left an address with a phone number - it might be a good idea to contact them directly :

Tollygunge Club Ltd.
120, Deshapran Sasmal Road,
Kolkata-700 033, India.
Phones : (91-33) 2417 6022; 2472 8754/8755; 2473- 2316
Telefax : (91-33) 2472 0480, 2473 1903
E-mail : tollygungecl@dataone.in

Apparently they are having a live band from Bombay : "Lynx" with a buffet dinner. Reservations open till the 29th dec!

Have a blast!

Judi · Dec 16th, 2007, 23:07

Hi Matei .... I see you have already been given the info I was going to post!!!!!

I know that you get temporary membership automatically if you stay there overnight, and I think if you call or email the room reservations as a first stop, they might be able to help you, even if you are not intending to stay there.

machadinha · Dec 16th, 2007, 23:08

It's blurdy expensive and exclusive too or so I heard, am I wrong?

jyotirmoy · Dec 16th, 2007, 23:20

Not really

machadinha · Dec 16th, 2007, 23:35

Not really expensive & exclusive, or not really wrong?

Judi · Dec 17th, 2007, 02:28

Well ..... that entirely depends on what you call 'expensive'

So it might be expensive and exclusive, or you mightbe wrong !!

An overnight stay is, on average, 2600 rupees per room. For a stay in a club which has several restaurants, bars and cafes, set in 100 green acres, with golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming polls and other sporting facilites, I don't think this can be called 'expensive'.

Any private club is, by its very nature, 'exclusive'

Matei, if you would like further information (or at least, my experiences and opinions) on the Tolly, send me a pm and I will gladly let you know what I think.

machadinha · Dec 17th, 2007, 04:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judi

Matei, if you would like further information (or at least, my experiences and opinions) on the Tolly, send me a pm and I will gladly let you know what I think.

I was actually hoping to entice you to provide something similar for the board. Apparently I didn't entice hard enough

From my '93 LP: "For an idea of how the other half lived and played in the days of the Raj, the Tollygunge Club is a wonderfully relaxing place to stay... [Tolly] is now the playground of the city's elite... As a foreign visitor, so long as you telephone, fax, or write in advance... you may stay there and are given temporary membership allowing you to use the facilities. Guests are expected to be reasonably tidy but jackets and ties are not necessary..." Etc., room prices at the time listed as Rs. 450-1000 with no taxes attached, pretty fair indeed.

Hence my inquisiteveness I guess, also with a view to can resident Kolkatans or other Indians just wash up and get temp. membership just like that.

beesakopie · Dec 17th, 2007, 14:07

I remember that the tea plantations crowd (Managers, wives and family) inevitably landed up in Tollygunge once a year ... around December. There used to be a round of golf - the so called "Merchants Cup" (an allusion to the tea merchants active in Assam) and a maha ceremony / gala party to end the (planting) year.

I do not know if such a "bandobast" is still being held (I doubt it) among the planters community...

I should imagine that temporary membership is open to all and sundry, and as Judi writes, is provided when one takes up lodgings at the club.

Judi · Dec 17th, 2007, 15:43

Mach .... you did entice me, but I put up fierce resistance because I have written soooo much about the Tolly on this site before, that I reckon people must be tired of me banging on about how good it is!!!!!

I don't think 'locals' can get temporary membership - I think that you have to be from 'out of town', although I don't know that for sure. However, I do know that anyone can apply, and if you are staying at the club membership comes automatically. Yes, it probably is 'exclusive' in that permanent membership is very expensive (but then, that is the case of most golf clubs all over the world, I think) but sometimes a bit of the high life can be a real treat.

We stayed there initially as my husband had visited when he was a child and wanted to go again on his first trip back to India for 50 years. We were utterly charmed! The facilities, sporting and eating, are first class, and the place is a quiet oasis away from the madness that Kolkata can sometimes be. However, whilst it is beautifully appointed, it is by no means First Class Luxury, and doesn't claim to be so - just comfortable and welcoming. Also, we found it the best place we stayed in India for meeting local people! Unlike many other hotels which cater primarliy for tourists there tend to be very few overseas guests so, in contrast to our stay at the Fairlawn Hotel where we only met foreign travellers, we mixed almost entirely with locals.

I don't know if the Tea Planters in general still meet there, but on our second visit we met the wife of the Secretary to the Assam Tea Council whilst walking in the grounds - and she promptly invited us to stay with them .... an invitation we have still to take up, sadly!

The club is host to many diverse events, and when we were there a couple of years ago it was the International Junior Equestrian Championships ('junior' being under the age of 30, I believe!. The show jumping was good, but the memory that sticks in my mind strongest is the sight and sound of teams of four horsemen charging down the course tent-pegging!

Redolent of an earlier age - and very, very exciting!

Mmmm - it's been too long since I've been back

I must try get there again before too long.

machadinha · Dec 17th, 2007, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judi

but I put up fierce resistance because I have written soooo much about the Tolly on this site before

Er, yes, should have figured

Fine write-up all the same, thanks

Sounds nice; note to self: Lay aside some cash on next visit.

Dec 14th, 2007, 15:29	#1
matei Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MIZORAM Posts: 11	New Years in Kolkata Am considering to spend new years in Kolkata or any nice place nearby.Have chosen the place basically as its the closest city from where i am and dont have time to go to far off places this time.Can anybody suggest what to do there and where to go. Thanks Matei

Dec 14th, 2007, 20:52	#4
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 458	You could always apply for temporary membership of the Tollygunge Club and join in their New Year's Eve festivities. These usually consist of a band and various singers with dancing, plus and excellent dinner on the lawns of the club: great fun if you prefer something quieter than downtown Kolkata. __________________ It is better to light a candle than complain about the darkness.

Dec 16th, 2007, 23:08	#8
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	It's blurdy expensive and exclusive too or so I heard, am I wrong? __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Dec 14th, 2007, 16:15	#2
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,621	Park street is the place where all the action is.

Dec 14th, 2007, 17:18	#3
matei Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MIZORAM Posts: 11	thanks for the info.Any special programme in town during that time.What else can one expect besides the normal party scenes in Park Street.Any special band or group playing in town at that time.Would prefer a more queiter scene than the disco types or are there places out of town where special progamme is being organised.

Dec 16th, 2007, 11:51	#5
matei Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MIZORAM Posts: 11	Judi..........Thanks for the reply.Spending the new year's eve at the tollygounge club sounds good. Any idea on the eligibility in getting a temporary membership.

Dec 16th, 2007, 14:13	#6
beesakopie Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wallis and Futuna (Republique Francaise) Posts: 82	Matei, The tollygunge club has a website here : http://www.thetollygungeclub.com/home.htm However, it doesn't mention much about membership. They have however left an address with a phone number - it might be a good idea to contact them directly : Tollygunge Club Ltd. 120, Deshapran Sasmal Road, Kolkata-700 033, India. Phones : (91-33) 2417 6022; 2472 8754/8755; 2473- 2316 Telefax : (91-33) 2472 0480, 2473 1903 E-mail : tollygungecl@dataone.in Apparently they are having a live band from Bombay : "Lynx" with a buffet dinner. Reservations open till the 29th dec! Have a blast!

Dec 16th, 2007, 23:07	#7
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 458	Hi Matei .... I see you have already been given the info I was going to post!!!!! I know that you get temporary membership automatically if you stay there overnight, and I think if you call or email the room reservations as a first stop, they might be able to help you, even if you are not intending to stay there.

Dec 16th, 2007, 23:20	#9
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,621	Not really

Dec 16th, 2007, 23:35	#10
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	Not really expensive & exclusive, or not really wrong?

Dec 17th, 2007, 02:28	#11
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 458	Well ..... that entirely depends on what you call 'expensive' So it might be expensive and exclusive, or you mightbe wrong !! An overnight stay is, on average, 2600 rupees per room. For a stay in a club which has several restaurants, bars and cafes, set in 100 green acres, with golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming polls and other sporting facilites, I don't think this can be called 'expensive'. Any private club is, by its very nature, 'exclusive' Matei, if you would like further information (or at least, my experiences and opinions) on the Tolly, send me a pm and I will gladly let you know what I think.

Dec 17th, 2007, 14:07	#13
beesakopie Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wallis and Futuna (Republique Francaise) Posts: 82	I remember that the tea plantations crowd (Managers, wives and family) inevitably landed up in Tollygunge once a year ... around December. There used to be a round of golf - the so called "Merchants Cup" (an allusion to the tea merchants active in Assam) and a maha ceremony / gala party to end the (planting) year. I do not know if such a "bandobast" is still being held (I doubt it) among the planters community... I should imagine that temporary membership is open to all and sundry, and as Judi writes, is provided when one takes up lodgings at the club.

Dec 17th, 2007, 15:43	#14
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 458	Mach .... you did entice me, but I put up fierce resistance because I have written soooo much about the Tolly on this site before, that I reckon people must be tired of me banging on about how good it is!!!!! I don't think 'locals' can get temporary membership - I think that you have to be from 'out of town', although I don't know that for sure. However, I do know that anyone can apply, and if you are staying at the club membership comes automatically. Yes, it probably is 'exclusive' in that permanent membership is very expensive (but then, that is the case of most golf clubs all over the world, I think) but sometimes a bit of the high life can be a real treat. We stayed there initially as my husband had visited when he was a child and wanted to go again on his first trip back to India for 50 years. We were utterly charmed! The facilities, sporting and eating, are first class, and the place is a quiet oasis away from the madness that Kolkata can sometimes be. However, whilst it is beautifully appointed, it is by no means First Class Luxury, and doesn't claim to be so - just comfortable and welcoming. Also, we found it the best place we stayed in India for meeting local people! Unlike many other hotels which cater primarliy for tourists there tend to be very few overseas guests so, in contrast to our stay at the Fairlawn Hotel where we only met foreign travellers, we mixed almost entirely with locals. I don't know if the Tea Planters in general still meet there, but on our second visit we met the wife of the Secretary to the Assam Tea Council whilst walking in the grounds - and she promptly invited us to stay with them .... an invitation we have still to take up, sadly! The club is host to many diverse events, and when we were there a couple of years ago it was the International Junior Equestrian Championships ('junior' being under the age of 30, I believe!. The show jumping was good, but the memory that sticks in my mind strongest is the sight and sound of teams of four horsemen charging down the course tent-pegging! Redolent of an earlier age - and very, very exciting! Mmmm - it's been too long since I've been back I must try get there again before too long.

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