A quick glance at Dumdum, North Calcutta

Dumdum has a very historical heritage, and enjoys a good position in contemporary history of Bengal. For any resident of Kolkata or the surrounding areas, it has a good set of tourist hotspots, as well s good staying facilities. While otherwise very crowded and burdened with a steady, endless stream of autorickshaws, trucks and cars moving in and out of Kolkata through the Jessore Road, Dumdum can be a bliss to walk in during the quiet hours of the day.

Netaji Subhasu Bose International Airport

Located in the extreme north of Kolkata, Dumdum is well-connected to Howrah station, the Central Avenue, BBD Gardens and almost all places of Kolkata. Buses are frequent, and autorickshaws are always running to and fro between the Nagerbazar highway and Chiria More.

Historical attrctions

Dumdum Barracks: The historical residence of Mangal Pandey and his legions, this is the place which can rightly be called the birthplace of the first war of independence, or the Sepoy Mutiny, of 1857 against the British empire. The adjoining road has been named 'Mangal Pandey Sarani; in the honour of the first martyr of the Indian cause. Although the road is broken, and many of the buildings are nowadays used by the Jessops' Factory & Co., this place is still a good destination for students and educators of history. 

But it is simultaneously true that nothing of historical relevance can be found in the region today, other than some old buildings and a few statues. 

Cultural Centre, Dumdum, under construction

The Gora Bazaar: Named after the Goras or 'far-skinned' soldiers of British army, the Gora Bazaar has always been a booming market, that continues to meet the basic needs of the local people today. An important commercial centre and a meeting ground of different goods and commodities from the 24 Parganas and Bardhamaan, Gora Bazaar is otherwise little better than more other similarly constructed markets in all cities across India. 

The Dumdum Central Jail: A historical construction erected more than 100 years ago, the Dumdum Central Jail compound still features some of the oldest towers in contemporary Kolkata. 

Clive House: The famous residence of the infamous Lord Robert Clive, the tormentor of India, Clive House is located near 68 R.N Guha Road, North Dumdum. A number of ghastly rumours float in the air about the place, giving it a chilly reputation, which is otherwise baseless. 

Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport: Named after Netaji Subhash Bose, the foremost warrior of the cause of Indian independence, the Dumdum airport is the major airport facility in entire eastern India.

Central Dumdum, on the night of Diwali

Government

Dumdum is governed by the Dumdum Municipality, and is considered a special zone adjoining to the metropolitan city of Kolkata. The Police stations are situated in and around central Dumdum, and multiple smaller Police Installations can be seen allover the region. 

Life and culture

Like most other parts of North Kolkata, Dumdum shares a common 'Calcuttan' Bengali culture. One of the major problems in and around the region is the tremendous inflow of refugees from the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. In many streets across Dumdum, the 'Bangaal' version of Bengali can be heard more often than its western and more refined counterpart. 

Decorations, on the day of Diwali

Otherwise peaceful and simple, growing effect of globalization has affected Dumdum to a great extent. Tourists from allover India and the rest of the world can be frequently seen moving around the locality. 

Most major festivals of the Bengalis, including the Durga Puja, the Kali Puja, the Saraswati Puja and Diwali are celebrated in Dumdum. The decorations during the Diwali can rival that of any civilized part of the world. 

Transactions are usually held in peaceful manner. One can find a good bargain in the Station Bazaar, by the side of Dumdum Cantonment station. Other than Gora Bazar, the Nager Bazar and Satgachir More also provide high-tech goods and resources. Offices and hubs of Airtel, Tata Docomo, Reliance and most telecom companies are concentrated around the Satgachi More, in the southern part of the region.