CR Park is a quaint little locality established post-independence, home to the refugee families from east Bengal. Since then, it has become the beating heart of Bengali culture in Delhi.
Navigating through CR Park might not be easy for a first timer but we’ve got it covered. Here are a few things that make CR Park the Kolkata of our very own capital city.
CR Park is known across the city for selling all possible varieties of fish. The moment you enter the market, there are gleaming pieces of Ilish {Hilsa}, Katla {Bengal Carp}, Rui {Rohu} and other seafood like tiger prawns, lobsters and crabs. The mixture of smells and sounds here bears an uncanny resemblance to the city of Kolkata.
Where: Market No. 1 and 2, CR Park
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Even though most of the street vendors and shop owners know how to speak Hindi, they are slightly more accustomed to speaking in Bengali. In fact, if you converse with them in their mother tongue, it helps to build a friendly rapport with them which goes a long way. But don’t fret if you don’t know how the jargon, just call them ‘dada’ or ‘didi’ and it might land you a few extra phuchkas without shelling out any extra money.
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Established in the 1970s, this temple is located in the centre of CR Park, on a hillock. Originally built as a Shiva temple, it now houses Goddess Kali in the main temple, and Lord Shiva and Radha Krishna in the two adjacent ones. The temple complex is used for hosting the annual Durga Puja pandal, various cultural programmes and melas that happen from time to time. Kali Badi also houses a library which includes several ancient texts giving an insight into Bengali culture.
The one things Bengalis love doing the most is indulging in some adda, better known as an area to chill or just the act of lounging. Come evening and you will see a bundle of activity everywhere on the streets and in the markets. The sight of people sipping on chai in small clay cups while discussing worldly happenings and watching some intense carom matches will instantly transport you to the lanes of Kolkata.
There are several food items which are typically found in a Bengali household, so in case you need to stock up on them or want to be introduced to them, the locally run shops at CR Park are the places you should visit. Starting from Kashundi {a tangy mustard sauce made from black mustard seeds} to Gobindobhog rice {a special variety of rice used to make kheer or khichudi} or some muri {puffed up rice crisps used to make jhalmuri aka bhelpuri}, you’ll find it all.
Where: Any of the grocery stores in Market no. 1, 2, 3 or 4