How the old houses of Kolkata are learning to stand on their own feet
The Times of India Mumbai|November 13, 2022
Old Kolkata houses that are neither heritage buildings nor supported by conservation grants are finding novel ways to raise money for their upkeep.
How the old houses of Kolkata are learning to stand on their own feet

 Some with picturesque interiors are rented out for photo and film shoots, or have been turned into cafes and heritage homestays.

At the 200-year-old Barrister Babur Bari in Beleghata, a pillared courtyard, arched corridors, red-oxide floors and slatted French windows transport you to a bygone age. While developers have had their eyes on it for years, 79-year-old Nandita Basu is determined to keep the house intact.

"This house is an emotion for us. We have many memories connected with it," says her daughter Krishnakali. When her father passed away in 2017, developers approached them with offers to buy. Their co-owners were also eager to sell, but mother and daughter had other ideas. "We decided to open an Instagram page and rent out the house for photo, film and web-series shoots.

We now have a healthy number of bookings," says Krishnakali.

They had to go through two difficult years to get here. During the pandemic they dug into their savings to repair and maintain the house. Krishnakali says they are now ready to collaborate with people interested in converting the house into a homestay.

Big Financial Commitment

"This is like preserving a white elephant," says Sayan Bhanja, who has renovated his mother's ancestral house at Gopal Bose Lane in one of Kolkata's oldest neighbourhoods. Owners of old houses know that feeling well because they are constantly spending on repairs-repainting walls, plugging leaks in ceilings, and fixing broken plumbing.

Denne historien er fra November 13, 2022-utgaven av The Times of India Mumbai.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 13, 2022-utgaven av The Times of India Mumbai.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE TIMES OF INDIA MUMBAISe alt
US soccer scrubs Islamic emblem from Iran flag
The Times of India Mumbai

US soccer scrubs Islamic emblem from Iran flag

The federation said in a statement Sunday that it decided to forego the official flag on social media accounts to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2022
Pyar Ke Saat Vachan Dharam Patnii begins on TV tonight
The Times of India Mumbai

Pyar Ke Saat Vachan Dharam Patnii begins on TV tonight

What happens when kismet takes over the lives of two couples belonging to two different sections of society?

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Arijit serenades music lovers in Mumbai
The Times of India Mumbai

Arijit serenades music lovers in Mumbai

Arijit Singh casts a spell with his voice

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2022
ARGENTINA LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
The Times of India Mumbai

ARGENTINA LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Messi's Strike Rattles Mexico And Lusail, Brings Team Back From The Brink

time-read
4 mins  |
November 28, 2022
Costa Rica come alive
The Times of India Mumbai

Costa Rica come alive

Los Ticos Stun Japan With Late Fuller Winner

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Morocco's moment under the sun
The Times of India Mumbai

Morocco's moment under the sun

Inspired Atlas Lions Shock Belgium For First WC Win In 24 Years

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2022
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, SOAR
The Times of India Mumbai

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, SOAR

Athletics Icon Usha Set To Become First Woman President Of IOA

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2022
Industry body calls for slower rate hikes
The Times of India Mumbai

Industry body calls for slower rate hikes

CII Asks RBI To Moderate Pace Of Raising Repo As Global Woes May Impact Growth

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2022
The Times of India Mumbai

Insurance reforms may see PE funding surge in sector

Irdai Raises Investment Cap, Allows PEs To Be Promoters

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Cut ties with child-killing regime, Khamenei's niece tells world, held
The Times of India Mumbai

Cut ties with child-killing regime, Khamenei's niece tells world, held

Iranian authorities have arrested a niece of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after she recorded a video describing the authorities led by her uncle as a “murderous and child-killing regime”.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022