#strand road

[janemacneil]

Dock Worker, Strand Road, Liverpool, October 2022 

[dopescissorscashwagon]

Simply stunning colours and reflections featuring Ireland’s Eye this morning. Taken from Strand Road, Baldoyle shortly before sunrise.

📸 by @AnnBruen

[janemacneil]

The Rubber Duck Hotel, Strand Road, Liverpool, October 2022

[cumbriacrack]

Vehicles damaged on Carlisle street Police are investigating criminal damage to vehicles along Strand Road, Carlisle which happened at around 4:30am on Friday the 22nd of March Full story: https://www.cumbriacrack.com/2019/04/17/vehicles-damaged-on-carlisle-street/

[ricounterwegs]

II – Goldener Fels, Bago und Yangon

Nach dem wirklich fantastischen Tag der Motorradtour, war das nächste Ziel etwas enttäuschend. Es ging zum goldenen Fels auf den Berg Kyaiktiyo. Wer an einem der heiligsten Orte für myanmarische Buddhisten Spiritualität vermutet, wird aus meiner Sicht komplett enttäuscht. Der Ort am Fuß des Berges besteht fast ausschließlich aus Souvenirläden, Restaurants und Reisenden. Diese werden über umgebaute LKWs mit Sitzbänken auf der Ladefläche in Massen auf den Berg gefahren.

Die Fahrt selbst hat wirklich großen Spaß gemacht, da es etwas von einer Achterbahnfahrt hat und beeindruckend ist wie schnell die LKWs nach oben düsen. Ist man allerdings oben angekommen so wird man wieder von Restaurants, Souvenirläden und vielen Reisenden umgeben. Neuerdings fährt sogar eine moderne Seilbahn von einer Zwischenhöhe auf den Berg (erste Seilbahn Myanmars)! Als Ausländer zahlt man – wie oft in Myanmar – einen vergleichsweise hohen Eintritt, welcher sich in diesem Fall aus meiner Sicht eher nicht gelohnt hat. Man sieht einen runden goldenen Felsen mit einer kleinen Stupa oben drauf und jede Menge Touristeninfrastruktur ringsherum.

Endziel des Tages war Bago. Der Ort ist nichts Besonderes und eher wie eine Vielzahl der Orte recht schmutzig. Die Straßenränder sind wie leider häufig in ärmeren Ländern Asiens voller Müll. Die Flüsse durch die Dörfer und Städte sind wohl mehr Abwasserkanal als Fluss und der Verkehr brummt und hupt an jeder Ecke.

Von Bago folgte die erste Zugfahrt in Myanmar nach Yangon. Diese Stadt wird zwar sicher auch keine Sauberkeitsauszeichnung erhalten, ist aber dennoch eine Reise wert. Alte britische Kolonialarchitektur trifft auf alle möglichen Kulturen (vor allem buddhistische Orte, aber auch Kirchen, Moscheen und Hindutempel prägen das Stadtbild). Die Straßen sind voller Leben und an jeder Ecke wird etwas verkauft. Man kann stundenlang ohne die geringste Langeweile das bunte Treiben auf den Straßen beobachten. Die Stadt ist zudem relativ grün. Mitten im Zentrum am Unabhängigkeitsdenkmal befindet sich ein großer Park und im restlichen Stadtgebiet befinden sich einige Seen und Parks. Highlight war für mich der Besuch der Shwedagon Pagode. Diese hat mich wirklich durch ihre Größe und Schönheit für einige Stunden in Ihren Bann gezogen und beeindruckt. Ein riesiges Gelände mit hunderten von kleinen Tempeln mit verschiedenen Buddhas und natürlich als Highlight eine fast 100 Meter hohe Stupa welche – zumindest im oberen Bereich – mit echtem Gold und Juwelen bestückt ist.

Ein weiterer schöner Ausflug ging mit der Fähre für knappe 10 Minuten mitten aus dem Herz der Stadt auf die andere Flussseite. Entfernt man sich dort etwas von der Anlegestelle befindet man sich in schon fast dörflicher Umgebung. Dieser Stadtteil wird sich wahrscheinlich irgendwann in den nächsten Jahren sehr stark verändern, da eine Brücke geplant ist.

Die Entwicklung welche Myanmar seit der Öffnung vor rund 6 Jahren erfahren hat, ist dabei kaum vorstellbar. Neben den offensichtlich positiven Änderungen wie des fast dauerhaft vorhandenen Strom- und Internetzuganges, ist die Verschmutzung leider auch nicht ausgeblieben. Sowohl der Reiseführer als auch einige Reisende konnten mir bestätigen, dass es beispielsweise bis vor sehr kurzer Zeit noch unmöglich war überall Geld abzuheben. Einheimische haben zudem berichtet, dass Handys mit so hohen Anschaffungskosten verbunden waren, dass nur wenige hochrangige Personen eins besaßen.

[yangonarchitecture]

This view along Strand Road would not be possible anymore given the recent addition of a pedestrian overpass in front of the Myanma Port Authority building. While those on foot can now cross the street much more safely, its visual impact is scarring. What do our readers think?

[greenjaydeep]

Strand Road

Near Prinsep Ghat

What started as an effort by the Lottery Committee in the early 1820s to develop the banks of River Hooghly went on to become Strand Road – one of the most exemplary roads in the city and one of the best south-north thoroughfares. It runs along the Hooghly bund, from Hastings all the way north past Nimtala Ghat. S. W. Goode in Municipal Calcutta states, “The actual construction of the road appears to have begun in 1828, the work being financed by public subscriptions, raised in the form of shares, which were repaid with interest from a toll levied on passengers and vehicles at the bridge across the mouth of Tolly’s Nullah. The cost was estimated at 1.5 lakhs.” It might interest you to know that the Strand Road was thrown open to the public free of tolls on August 21, 1828, following a donation of the sum of Rs. 25,000 by Agah Kurbulli Mahomed towards the improvement of Strand Road.

Brian Paul Bach in his book Calcutta’s Edifice states, “Along some of its west central core route, street-side Calcutta is shown at its best. The vividness of the scenes, the business-like nature of the bustle, the river and massive godowns that line one side, serve to remind us that this is Calcutta’s first and official waterfront. Everything that is original about the city is here: international trade, river transport, coolies, a fort, temples, bathing and burning ghats. Strand Road is the instrument which ties them all together.”

Strand Road has a distinct character of its own. It is rich in history and takes pride in being the home to several interesting and unique monuments. A few of the “must-sees” on your visit to Strand Road are the Prinsep Ghat, Gwalior Monument, Metcalfe Hall, State Bank of India’s building, Millennium Park and Floatel.

SBI Building

By far, Prinsep Ghat is one of Kolkata’s oldest recreation spots which is a marvellous place for tourists to watch Kolkata life pass by gently. On the distant horizon, the magnificent Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu makes for a kaleidoscopic vignette. The Prinsep Ghat was built in the everlasting memory of James Prinsep who was an extraordinarily brilliant researcher and, at one point of time, served as the honorable secretary of the Asiatic Society. The Gwalior Monument is an octagonal cenotaph about 60 feet high, crowned with a bronze dome cast from guns captured from the enemy. It was erected in 1847 by Lord Ellenborough, Governor-General of India, in memory of officers and men who fell during the Gwalior Campaign in 1843. A few steps up north from the Gwalior Monument would bring you to the Sea Explorers’ Institute. This has for long been the centre for maritime training, research and exploration offering courses in seamanship, marine awareness and kayaking. As you continue on your journey northwards, you will find the State Bank of India building to your right. This grand structure boasts of outstanding architecture especially where the central part of the frontage thrusts forward, forming an unexpected, built-in porte cochere. Parts of the building extend back to 1806. Its present elevation dates from the Curzon years and is consummately Curzonian as well as Edwardian in its demeanour. The Calcutta Swimming Club is another important landmark on Strand Road. The club was founded in the year 1887 by the Late Walter Davis, a partner of Hamilton & Company. This is one of the elite clubs of Kolkata.

The Millennium Park is another great place to visit on Strand Road. It is situated on the bank of the Hooghly. Formerly a riverside park was present along the Strand Road. On December 26, 1999, a stretch of landscaped gardens along the river was presented to the city. Christened the Millennium Park, it has come up at the site of the old abandoned Calcutta Port Trust warehouses. One of the true gems of Strand Road is the Metcalfe Hall.

It is a heritage building situated at the junction of Strand Road and Hare Street in the heart of the city’s business district. It is reflective of the British imperial architecture at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was built between 1840-1844 based on the design of the city magistrate, C.K. Robinson and named after Sir Charles T. Metcalfe, the Governor-General of India, in honour of his efforts towards a free press. During your visit to the Strand Road you can dine at The Floatel.

This is India’s only floating hotel upon barges which has been conceived, designed, constructed and built in Kolkata. The warehouses situated at intervals throughout the stretch of Strand Road are also worth a notice. Their design and architecture are essentially British and are reminiscent of some of the early British masonry works. And while we are talking about Strand Road, how can we not mention the Babu Ghat?

It is a truly unique place in its own right. It has so much character. It encompasses the spirit of the city. On a Sunday morning one can see hundreds of people gathering here to take a dip in the holy river. Babu Ghat is also a destination for those who come here to perform the last rites of their near and dear ones. And we are sure you are aware of the ‘power massage sessions’ which, for decades, have been one of the specialties of this ghat. One really has to experience to understand it! You must also drop by the Jagannath Ghat flower market.

This market holds the distinction of being the largest flower market in eastern India. Some varieties of flowers are also exported offshore. Scoop which most Kolkatans on the other side of 30 and beyond knew it as “Gay Restaurant”. This was one of the most chilled out zones long before the concept of coffee shops and the lounge bars came up in the city. This place also served piping hot French fries and pizzas by the river side, long before the foreign fast food chains showed up in this city. Today, despite a name change, the place is as popular as ever. Imagine biting into a yummy As You Like It or a Pink Affair and watching the sun go down.

A visit to Strand Road during dusk is a must! The sun set has never looked more beautiful than it does at Strand Road when the retiring sun bids adieu for the day and sets against the backdrop of the flowing river. When the golden rays of the sun touch the surface of the water, it seems as though it is looking for shelter in the heart of the river for the night, only to rise again from its depths the following morning. This is yet another “lifetime experience”! The meandering Hooghly River which flows perennially through the heart of Kolkata has not only facilitated an efficient water transport system, but the embankments or ghats that have been built at strategic locations along the river has provided the people of Kolkata with vantage points to appreciate the beauty of this holy river. Hundreds of Kolkatans visit Strand Road everyday either for work or pleasure. Numerous couples are often found occupying the benches by the ghats. During the evenings, elderly people are seen exchanging anecdotes. Some busy denizens are seen walking by in haste on their way to work pausing momentarily as if to pay homage to the beauty that lies all around Strand Road. We had an awesome experience re-visiting Strand Road and re-discovering a heritage that we have otherwise always taken for granted. ( WITH INPUTS FROM RENOWNED HISTORIAN P.T.NAIR)

[julesmcdeephotography-blog]