Chinatown

Less than 500m south of Old China Bazar lie the scanty remnants of Kolkata's ragged little Chinatown. Most Chinese have since moved away, and at first glance the area looks pretty unappealing. But if you wander up Damzen Lane you'll find two Chinese Temples (one now used as a local school) and a somewhat decrepit gateway - built big enough for the family's domestic elephants. Just off the main road Chhatawali Gali (Lushun Sarani), notice the sad ruins of the once-grand 1924 Nangking Restaurant.

To get a closer look you'll pass an extensive shoulder-high garbage heap. But it's more than garbage. At closer inspection you'll see that Kolkata street-folk have burrowed homes right into it. Very humbling.