How the old houses of Kolkata are learning to stand on their own feet

Old Kolkata houses that are neither heritage buildings nor supported by conservation grants are finding novel ways to raise money for their upkeep.

 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.