Kolkata was once a place where you could find all types of horse carriages.
There were the Broughams of the rich and aristocrats pulled by magnificent horses, there were also those rickety ones that took passengers pulled by skinny horses ever reluctant to move. Rail passengers took the carriage running along Harrison Road (Now Mahatma Gandhi road) to reach Howrah station.
You could see veiled Muslim ladies getting in to carriages with windows closed at Rajabazar. School children commuting between home and school. Many a lovers had their first kiss within the confines of a horse carriage shut out from public eye while being driven around thru quaint streets.
With time and the complete take over by the automobile these carriages faded out of Kolkata scene. It is but natural that the carriages were fine pieces of craftsmanship. It is such a pity that today in the guise of modernity we have had to axe these wonderful non-polluting vehicles.
But all is not lost. In Kolkata, the traditional colonial hangover is still very much alive and the horse driven carriages are available at Maidan and they are designed like chariots, having leather cover convertibles. They are also quite spacious and can easily accommodate 5 to 6 passengers.
A journey through the lush green expanse of the Maidan and the majestic Fort William close by is a virtual treat as the horses chug your carriage rhythmically through the wide-open streets.
Today, the horse driven carriages of Kolkata are strictly meant for tourists and keeping that in mind, the municipal authorities have earmarked the Maidan-Fort William circuit to be the most appropriate route.
An early morning ride in the winter through the mists is an unforgettable experience.
Lisa Lawrence
PGPMC
2nd sem
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