I first visited Kolkata in early 2025 as a counterpoint to the month I had stayed in Mumbai prior. When rolling my suitcase past rickshaws and men in gamchas, I felt I had entered another world entirely.
It’s a city with a story around every corner. Step out from the front door and walk randomly in any direction without a plan and you'll be guaranteed to stumble upon an interesting scene. As in the case for most of South Asia, the warmth welcome you feel from the locals energizes you to keep working even as the heat and honks would drain you otherwise.
I've been back three times since and plan to return regularly. As a subject for street photography, Kolkata demands your fullest attention but it never disappoints in rewarding your presence. From the morning mist in the green space of Maidan to tungsten lit card games in dark alleys. From clay-pot served chai in morning markets to fan-powered colonial beer havens. The city is embedded in mystery and life.
I have published stories from Kolkata and elsewhere, check it out on my Substack.
