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Kolkata /koʊlˈkɑːtɑː/, formerly Calcutta /kælˈkʌtə/, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly river, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port as well as its sole major riverine port. As of 2011, the city had 4.5 million residents; the urban agglomeration, which comprises the city and its suburbs, was home to approximately 14.1 million, making it the third-most populous metropolitan area in India. As of 2008, its economic output as measured by gross domestic product ranked third among South Asian cities, behind Mumbai and Delhi. As a growing metropolitan city in a developing country, Kolkata confronts substantial urban pollution, traffic congestion, poverty, overpopulation, and other logistic and socioeconomic problems.
In the late 17th century, the three villages that predated Kolkata were ruled by the Nawab of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. After the Nawab granted the East India Company a trading license in 1690, the area was developed by the Company into an increasingly fortified mercantile base. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah occupied Kolkata in 1756 after company started evading taxes and due to increasing militarization of the fort, the East India Company retook it in the following year and in 1793 assumed full sovereignty after Mughal governorship (Nizamat) was abolished. Under East India Company and later under the British Raj, Kolkata served as the capital of India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. The city was the centre of the Indian independence movement; it remains a hotbed of contemporary state politics. Following Indian independence in 1947, Kolkata—which was once the centre of modern Indian education, science, culture, and politics—witnessed several decades of relative economic stagnation. Since the early 2000s, an economic rejuvenation has led to accelerated growth.
As a nucleus of the 19th- and early 20th-century Bengal Renaissance and a religiously and ethnically diverse centre of culture in Bengal and India, Kolkata has established local traditions in drama, art, film, theatre, and literature that have gained wide audiences. Many people from Kolkata—among them several Nobel laureates—have contributed to the arts, the sciences, and other areas, while Kolkata culture features idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close-knit neighbourhoods (paras) and freestyle intellectual exchanges (adda). West Bengal's share of the Bengali film industry is based in the city, which also hosts venerable cultural institutions of national importance, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum and the National Library of India. Among scientific and technical institutions, Kolkata hosts the Agri Horticultural Society of India, the Geological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, the Indian Science Congress Association, the Zoological Survey of India, the Institution of Engineers and the Anthropological Survey of India. Though home to major cricketing venues and franchises, Kolkata differs from other Indian cities by giving importance to association football and other sports.
In the floating villages of Tonlé Sap, the water isn’t just a place to fish—it’s a home, a road, and a way of life. While the stilt houses tower above, adapting to the lake’s rising and falling waters, small boats like this one are essential for daily routines—whether it's fishing, trading, or simply getting around.
It’s a world where life flows with the rhythm of the water, and every journey, no matter how small, is part of the lake’s ever-changing story.
Bhaktapur is a city where time seemed to have stood still. The 2015 earthquake caused extensive damage to the historic structures, including temples and traditional Newari buildings. Even the renowned Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a major tourist attraction, suffered substantial destruction. The lives of the local residents were deeply affected, with loss of life, injuries, and displacement being the tragic outcomes. The cultural and economic facets of the city were also heavily influenced, as tourism played a crucial role in Bhaktapur's income. When we were there in April 2023, we were impressed by the progress that has been made to restore and rebuild all damaged structures. As we ventured through the winding narrow streets that guided us towards the famous square, we were just like in Lalitpur and Kathmandu impressed by the intricate carvings adorning the wooden buildings and the vibrant energy of local life. I tried to capture some candid street shots, freezing fleeting moments in time that revealed the very soul of this extraordinary place – Bhaktapur, Nepal
the groomer works with a calm, practiced ease, his colorful apron catching the soft light while the dark curls of the dog settle beneath his hands. the room glows with gentle turquoise tones, turning this small act of care into a warm fragment of everyday craft and character.
Beyond the bustling streets of Siem Reap, life takes on a different rhythm. On Tonlé Sap Lake, homes float, boats serve as daily transport, and the water is both a lifeline and a way of life. A glimpse into the everyday reality of Cambodia, where tradition and resilience go hand in hand.
Tonlé Sap Lake, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Lately my daily routine has been working for Amazon as a Receiver at the dock in Inbound. Pictured here a Buckeye buck.. Sharpie , box cutter and safety vest. It gets pretty physical on the dock. But I look at like I am being paid to work out. :)
In Bhutan, young boys from impoverished families willingly enter monastic life to alleviate their families' burdens. By joining a monastery, they gain access to essential provisions such as food, education, and healthcare, which not only secure their future but also facilitate their spiritual growth. Nevertheless, this decision comes at the cost of a conventional childhood filled with play and enjoyment. Despite the sacrifices, their unwavering devotion and hope for a better future keep them steadfast in their commitment to the monastic path. I was fortunate to be granted permission to capture poignant images of these young monks at Paro Dzong, the administrative seat of Paro district in Bhutan. During my time there, I immersed myself in documenting their daily routines, hoping to portray their lives with authenticity and sensitivity. Towards the end of our session, I gathered the young monks in the income hall of the main prayer hall, where I invited them to join me for a group portrait - Paro Dzong, Paro, Bhutan.
Bhaktapur is a city where time seemed to have stood still. The 2015 earthquake caused extensive damage to the historic structures, including temples and traditional Newari buildings. Even the renowned Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a major tourist attraction, suffered substantial destruction. The lives of the local residents were deeply affected, with loss of life, injuries, and displacement being the tragic outcomes. The cultural and economic facets of the city were also heavily influenced, as tourism played a crucial role in Bhaktapur's income. When we were there in April 2023, we were impressed by the progress that has been made to restore and rebuild all damaged structures. As we ventured through the winding narrow streets that guided us towards the famous square, we were just like in Lalitpur and Kathmandu impressed by the intricate carvings adorning the wooden buildings and the vibrant energy of local life. I tried to capture some candid street shots, freezing fleeting moments in time that revealed the very soul of this extraordinary place – Bhaktapur, Nepal
One of my daily routine tasks every winter evening is to put rolled oats to soak in milk for the following morning's breakfast porridge.
Seen here under that rather yellow light of our kitchen.
the thermos gives him away. not a tourist, not a visitor. just someone who has learned that the first train is the quiet one, that the red frame fits through the doors if you angle it right, that coffee from home tastes better than anything the station sells. he steps up without looking back. the city waits on both ends of the line.
Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, a buzzing hub for travelers and culture lovers. But just beyond the city’s lively streets, another world unfolds. Exploring these outskirts offers a glimpse into local life, where wooden stilt houses, open fields, and dirt roads tell a different story of Cambodia.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
From this panoramic view, it's easy to see how Tonlé Sap Lake is more than just water—it’s a lifeline. Boats come and go, people wade through the shallows, and tuk-tuks wait at the riverbank, all part of the daily rhythm of Cambodia’s stilt house villages.
The lake’s ever-changing waters dictate the pace of life here. Whether fishing, trading, or traveling, everything revolves around the rise and fall of this vast freshwater ecosystem. It’s a world where land and water blur, creating a unique way of life found nowhere else.
I have been wanting to try some 'splash' photography for a while now and this week's Macro Monday challenge provided the perfect opportunity as my daily routine starts with a bowl of cereals covered in ice-cold milk!
Technical: I poured milk into a 9-inch square, deep-sided dish to a depth of about 1/2 inch. I poured about a glass of milk into a small sandwich bag and suspended the bag above the dish and then poked a small hole into the sandwich bag to begin the stream of drips. My first attempt at poking a hole was a bit of a disaster as I was a tad over-zealous in the 'poking' and managed to push the pin right through the bag thereby creating a hole on both sides, which was also too large, and resulted in two streams of milk pouring onto the kitchen worktop and making quite a mess; luckily Mrs R was out for the afternoon! My second attempt was more 'delicate' and resulted in a single, smaller hole from which the milk dripped rather than poured. These drips were too fast to start with but slowed to a steady (and predictable) rate after a few moments (set up and camera / flash settings inspired by watching a YouTube video featuring Gavin Hoey - very helpful and saved me LOADS of time in wasted effort!). I had my off-camera flash positioned above the dish and bounced onto a white floor tile erected behind the milk dish to back-light and freeze the motion. The flash was set to 1/16 power. Then it was a case of trial and error with a hit-rate of about 1 in 4 keepers. This one I liked because it filled the frame and had some nice contrast and shapes.
Happy Macro Monday, everyone.
Photos taken on a train between Ghent and Brussels capture reflections and blurred autumn scenery, blending reality and imagination. The stillness of the commuter and moving landscape felt unified. While the world sped by, inside the train, everything was calm, paused between departure and arrival.
Here we go - over the fields and far away !
Early morning routine, when enjoying our Dorset holiday.
A cold February morning in Ghent, under the Vlaamsekaai bridge along the kleine ring, where cyclists push through the chill on their daily commute. The early light, the long shadows, and the textured walls make for a perfect monochrome moment.
Ghent, Belgium
An elderly man with a backpack and cane walks through a busy urban street, surrounded by buses and cars.