Take the narrow lane just off Baghbazaar Street and, if you look closely, you'll see this huge mansion standing at the end of it behind thick foliage, shrubs and trees. This is Basu Bati at 65/2 Baghbazaar Street, an intrinsic part of Bengal's history that was home to one of the first families of the city - brothers Nandalal and Pashupati Basu, who, along with their older brother Mahendra Lal, were believed to be descendants of Dasrath Basu, the first person known to have had the surname 'Basu' that now happens to be a common Bengali last name.
The architecture isn't colonial despite being from that era. Rather, it's a blend of Bengali and Islamic influences often seen as a rebellious act against the British. The Basu family was known for its contribution to the fight against colonial rule.
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