Mother Teresa Sarani

Park Mansions on Park Street

Mother Teresa Sarani, formerly Park Street and still often called by that name, and originally Burial Ground Road, is a street in the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. The street runs through what was a deer park of Sir Elijah Impey, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Calcutta from 1773 to 1789, hence the earlier name. Its latest name was given by Kolkata Municipal Corporation in honour of Mother Teresa.

Location and importance

The Park hotel

Park St. - Loudon St. crossing

In the 1970s and 1980s much of Kolkata's night life took place at Park Street. Many noted musicians had played at popular night spots such as Trinca's, Blue Fox, Mocambo and Moulin Rouge. Even before that, in the1940s, 50s and 60s Kolkata's prolific night life was centred on Park Street. The Park Hotel chain started with the opening of its first hotel, the 150 room, The Park on the fashionable Park Street on November 1, 1967.^[1]

Park Street remains Kolkata's foremost dining district, with many restaurants and pubs. It is often known as "Food Street" and "The Street that Never Sleeps".

This road originates from Chowringhee Road (J L Nehru Road) and connects to Park Circus 7 point crossing in a south eastern direction. The portion of Park Street between Chowringhee Road and Mullick Bazar has been one of the city's attractions for years. Several important roads originate from/intersect at Park Street in the northward & southward directions, namely Russell Street, Middleton Row, Camac Street, Wood Street, Loudon Street & Rawdon Street towards the South and Free School Street, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road towards the North. Park Street also intersects AJC Bose Road at Mullick Bazar crossing and eventually goes to Park Circus from where other major roads such as Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Darga Road, Park Circus Connector etc starts and connects to important areas such as Ballygunge, E M Bypass, CIT Road Kolkata.

Park Street has many notable showrooms, and several notable buildings such as the Asiatic Society, St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, a Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the South Park Street Cemetery has cenotaphs and tombs of prominent figures from the British Raj era and Kolkata's Armenian population.

Park Street has been the recreation zone for Kolkata people since the British era. However, in the last 20 years, many new restaurants, malls, 5-star hotels and nightclubs have opened in other areas of the city and Park Street has lost much of its earlier attraction as being the numero uno entertainment hub of Kolkata. However, it is still one of the prime commercial and entertainment zone of the city. Park Street is traditionally decorated with lights on Christmas Day and New Year's eve.

Landmarks

St Xavier's College

'Park Plaza' office at Park St. - Camac St. crossing

Park Street is filled with landmarks. Some prominent ones are

• Asiatic Society
• The Park Hotel
• Apeejay House, HQ of Apeejay Surrendra group
• Queens Mansion
• Park Mansions
• Park Plaza
• Park Centre
• St. Xavier's College, Calcutta
• Seventh-Day Adventist Church
• Assembly of God Church school
• Mercy Hospital
• South Park Street Cemetery

The Park hotel houses several specialty restaurants, lounge bars & nightclubs such as Roxy, Aqua, Atrium, Tantra, Zen, Someplace Else.

Restaurants

Karnani Mansion houses several restaurants

• Olypub
• Trinca's
• Blue Fox
• Mocambo
• Peter Cat
• Waldorf
• Golden Dragon
• Magnolia
• One Step Up
• Marco Polo
• Flame 'n' Grill
• China Bistro
• Moulin Rouge
• Bistro by the Park
• Bar-B-Q
• Sourav's
• Shiraz
• Oasis
• Kwality
• Peiping
• Silver Grill
• Floriana
• Yo China
• Maple
• Flury's
• Starlit Garden

Fast Food Chains

• Mcdonalds
• KFC
• Barista
• Cafe Coffee Day

Someplace Else

Main article: Someplace Else (Kolkata)

Someplace Else throbs with performances by the best live bands of Kolkata every day, promising different kinds of music. Established artists share the space with aspiring performers. Raw passion here translates into exciting notes and drinks. An ever-evolving night spot has been in fashion for over 15 successful years.^[2]

Someplace Else logo

Day	Bands
Monday	Monday Blues
Tuesday	Krosswindz
Wednesday	Hip Pocket / Pseudonym
Thursday	Span
Friday	Hip Pocket / Insomnia
Saturday	Guest band / Saturday Nite Blues
Sunday	Orient Express / Crystal Grass

References

1. ^ "The First Lady of boutique". Express Hospitality (Indian Express Group). 16–31 March 2006. http://www.expresshospitality.com/20060331/hospitalitylife03.shtml. 
2. ^ "Someplace Else, Kolkata - Rock Bands". The Times of India. Jun 25, 2011. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050723/asp/calcutta/story_5018749.asp. 

External links

• Park Street History
• Article on South Park Street Cemetery

See also