Princep Ghat – Heritage through the lens….

Princep Ghat is name of the one of the many beautiful Ghats built during British Raj, along the river bank of Hooghly and on its bank on Kolkata side. The Prinsep Ghat was built in 1841, in the everlasting memory of James Prinsep who was an extraordinarily brilliant researcher and at one point of time served as the honorable Secretary of the hallowed Asiatic Society. All the royal British entourages used the Princep Ghat jetty for embarkation/disembarkation

When Kolkata was under British rule, the City of Joy underwent a massive beautification drive. Along with regal buildings and well laid out roads, the erstwhile British administration found the idea of beautifying the Kolkata riverside to be an enchanting concept. The meandering Hooghly River which flows perennially through the heart of Kolkata has not only facilitated an efficient water transport system, but also the ghats that have been built at strategic locations along the river’s flow, provide the people of the city with vantage points to appreciate the beauty of this mystic and holy river. Six sets of Ionic pillar hold up this airy gateway to the city, which is just as grand as Bombay’s Gateway of India, with a dramatic setting and exudes the same spirit as Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. It is truly an admirable structure which acts as a water entrance to the city.

“I have  shot Calcutta over a period of few months which I think is not enough to discover the multiple aspects of the city , but about one thing I'm convinced that is there is a certain paradox  in the city , many people critically says that it is a "dying city " yet  there is so much life , I'm not philosopher or a literary person but these are my view & what I have felt while  photographing  the various aspects of the city , there are certain aspects which are  quintessentially Calcutta, Princep Ghat particularly.” Says Ipsita Mukherjee, photographic journalist interning at Kolkata.

Princep ghat is now a photographer’s paradise. Be it the main architectural building or the awesome Vidyasagar Setu that makes for a great kaleidoscopic view. At the Strand, by the jetty, capturing the city through their lenses, many professional, amateurish photographers with their camera are seen to hop into a country-made boat available at Princep Ghat and go on a voyage along the meandering river. A boat ride along the Hooghly River is one of the most pleasant ways of exploring the subtle charms of Kolkata’s riverside. Great rivers have spawned great civilizations and as the gentle Hooghly River makes its stately way through Kolkata, it will cast a magic spell upon one. When the golden sun bids adieu for the day, the Prinsep Ghat wears a whole new garb. When the lights come on, the look of the place will ignite within one a sense of deep romance and aesthetics. This spectacular sight is sure to leaves one speechless. Its surroundings too will never cease to impress one. “I am barely a photographer myself, though I like taking a nice shot here and there, but one does not have to be one to realize that the Jetty is a Photographer’s Paradise! Amazing images especially during sunset — the blue-orange skies and the boats, ferries and other navy ships I spent a good 2-3 hours there and what I also realized was that the cross-section of people that visit the place make it a Macrocosm of Kolkata and truly expresses the city that Kolkata is, all-encompassing.” says 28 years old Gourav Banerjee IT Professional.

Kolkata has been nicknamed the City of Palaces and also the City of Joy. City of Palaces comes from the numerous palatial mansions built all over the city and City of Joy comes from the lively and friendly and loving behavior of all the citizens all over the places making the city more lively and enjoyable.

Kinkini Bhattacharya

PGPMC

2nd sem