Kolkata Chaos & Curry Dreams: 1272175 & 1356045686 (Seriously, What Do Those Numbers Mean?)

okay, so i’m still buzzing from kolkata. like, properly buzzing. i’m pretty sure my internal clock is permanently set to 3 AM now, thanks to the sheer energy of the place. i landed, checked my phone - 1272175 and 1356045686 flashed up. no idea what they are, probably some random numbers my phone decided to throw at me. felt very…kolkata. chaotic and inexplicable.

I’m a street artist, you see. I wander, I sketch, I occasionally get chased by security guards. Kolkata was…a lot. The colors! The sounds! The smells! It’s a full-sensory assault in the best possible way. I spent most of my time just wandering around *Park Street, sketching the trams and the people. Seriously, the trams are a work of art in themselves.

The weather? I just checked and it’s…a humid hug right now. 18.67 degrees Celsius, feels like 17.45. Pressure’s at 1015, humidity’s a solid 33%. Basically, you’re gonna sweat. Embrace it. It’s part of the experience. I’m not kidding, I felt like I was living inside a sauna, but a really interesting sauna.

I stayed in a tiny guesthouse near College Street. It was…rustic. Let’s just say the plumbing had a personality of its own. But the chai was incredible. Seriously, the best chai I’ve ever had. I’m trying to recreate it at home, but it’s just not the same. It needs that Kolkata magic.

Someone told me that if you want to avoid the worst of the tourist traps, you need to head towards Shobhabazar Ghughudanga. Apparently, it’s where the locals actually live. I didn’t quite make it there, but I did stumble upon some amazing little shops selling hand-painted pottery. I bought a bunch of mugs. My apartment is going to look like a very chaotic art gallery soon.

I overheard some drunk advice at a roadside stall - apparently, you have to try the mishti doi from Baghbazar. “It’ll change your life,” the guy slurred. I’m not sure about that, but it was pretty darn good. Sweet, creamy, and utterly delicious. I’m already planning a return trip just for the mishti doi. Check out some reviews on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298302-Activities-Kolkata_West_Bengal.html

I also heard a warning from a local woman - “Don’t trust anyone who offers you a ‘special deal’ on silk. It’s probably fake.” Wise words. I stuck to the government-run shops for my souvenirs.

If you get bored, Dhaka and Chennai* are just a short train ride away. I considered hopping on a train to somewhere new, but Kolkata had me in its grip. I needed to soak it all in.

My gear list for this trip was minimal: sketchbook, pencils, a very battered camera, and a whole lot of bug spray. Seriously, the mosquitoes are relentless. I also packed a universal adapter - essential for keeping my phone charged so I could document the madness. You can find some good deals on travel gear on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=travel+gear&find_loc=Kolkata%2C+West+Bengal.

Pro-tip: Learn a few basic Bengali phrases. Even just “hello” and “thank you” will go a long way. People really appreciate the effort. Also, be prepared to haggle. It’s part of the culture. And don’t be afraid to get lost. Some of the best discoveries happen when you’re wandering aimlessly. Check out some local forums for more tips: https://www.indiMike.com/forums/forum/11-west-bengal/.

Honestly, Kolkata is not for the faint of heart. It’s chaotic, it’s overwhelming, it’s…perfect. It’s a place that gets under your skin and stays there. I’m already dreaming of going back. And I still have no idea what 1272175 and 1356045686 mean. Maybe that’s just part of the Kolkata mystery.

Kolkata Chaos & Curry Dreams: 1272175 & 1356045686 (Seriously, What Do Those Numbers Mean?)

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About the author: Adrian Cole

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