The capital of India, during the colonial era, Kolkata was considered the getaway to India. Years down the line, this Indian megalopolis is home to more than 15 million people. Popularly known as the cultural capital of the country, this old-world city has undergone numerous changes in terms of economy on the past two decades. The city’s landscape underwent a revamp as Information Technology forayed into the market. Emergence of multinational companies saw the rise of business parks housing world-class office spaces. This was the time when the city’s realty market witnessed a boom.

Rising income as a result of economic growth resulted in improved lifestyles. Which in turn the saw an explosion of the residential realty segment of the city as well. Several areas began to be targeted by investors and end-users for the purpose of property investments. Of late, the regions that have come up in the city’s realty market happens to be the suburban areas—like Behala and Garia in south Kolkata  have recorded a huge property boom.

Behala Realty Market—an Overview

Behala happens to be the one of the oldest residential area of the city. The area is also a significant industrial zone where manufacturing units like plastic recycling, chemicals, metal plating and galvanizing are stationed.

Encompassed within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) only in 1984, today, Behala counts the largest suburban agglomerations of the city of Kolkata. Due to its strategic location and well-connectivity with the rest of the city, the neighbourhood has become one of the preferred realty destinations of Kolkata and one can find some of the best apartments located in Behala.

An end-user can choose from a plethora of options available in Behala’s realty market— rights from flats to independent houses, penthouses, and commercial assets to retail segments like shopping malls are obtainable in the region. The robust social infrastructure comprising hospitals, schools and colleges accentuates the area.

Accessibility and Price Trends

Strategically located, Behala is extremely well-connected to the rest of the city. Neighbourhoods like BBD Bag, Sealdah, Park Street, and Gariahat can be covered easily through various modes of transport—both private and public. Moreover, the Sealdah Railway Station and the Kolkata Suburban Railway Station are barely 45 minutes’ drive. This is not all. The anticipated metro railway extension of 17 kilometers, other social infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and the closeness of establishments like the Indian Institute of Management, Joka (Calcutta) have boosted the realty market of this south Kolkata neighbourhood.

Keeping in mind the realty boom of the area, the government of West Bengal has already laid the plan to open up an IT park in the south-western suburbs of the neighbourhood.

With such mammoth developments all around, the property prices in Behala has received a shot in the arm. Within a year the property prices recorded a 7% hike. The average price of a 2 BHK flat in Behala way back in 2010 was quoted at INR 2000 per square feet. Today the same property will come at a cost of INR 3300 per square feet (as of March 2013). An end-user will have to fish out at least INR35 lakhs in order to buy a 2BHK flat in Behala in the present scenario.

Several new residential projects with state-of-the-art architecture are coming across the neighbourhood. These projects promise to offer the ultimate luxury lifestyle to meet the growing demand of the end-users. Developers and builders like Godrej, NK Realtors, and Unitech Groups have invested in area. Others like Ambuja Realty are also looking forward to capitalize on the Behala property market.

Because of its moderately priced lifestyle and upcoming real estate, Kolkata has always been a safe haven for investments with assured returns.

The post The Behala Real Estate Market – an Overview appeared first on Dzhingarov

Dream destination for mountain biking enthusiasts

Mountain biking enthusiasts find Yungas as the best biking destination since it is beautified with 64 kilometers stretch of downhill riding area just only with a single uphill section. Its narrow hairpin curves, striking downhill routes, awe-striking dreadful ditches are just ready to give cold shivers at sight and horrible dreams.

Attraction leading to my experience…

If Amazon is known for its dark forest ranges and unknown fears, Yungas Road is a terrible competition for its dense ditches that are terrifying yet attractive enough to draw numerous visitors in the pretext of holidays. Its beauty has often defeated the terrifying monster of deadly ditches, which are restricted by Bolivian Government. It runs in the Bolivian Andes (70 km towards Coroico) and connects to the capital La Paz, along with the 3600m & 800m gulfs in the deep regions of Yungas in Amazonian Rain forests.

Fatal accidents at Yungas …

El Camino de la Muerte (Spanish meaning “Road of Death”): Visible reminders in this road can also make you memorize the wrecked cadavers of Lorries, trucks and bus perishing several lives with deadly accidental strokes. In this deadly valley, accidental incidents are recurring and some memorable ones are:

1)     The Bus tragedy in July 1983, C. P. Inde, the tourist bus driver accidentally drove his bus to the edge killing almost 200 people at the highway.

2)     The famous biker’s tragedy in 1983 took 2 lives while they were chasing the hurdles of Yungas road to win the competition.

3)     In 1994, about 26 vehicles slipped from the narrow roads of Yungas Road and several were died.

Yungas (Photo credit: Attraction Voyages Pérou & Bolivie)

4)     In 2006, a bus plunged off from the mountain roads killing 29 people while making road to another vehicle at its way. And many more…

Bolivian Government has typically tried their best to improve the road condition in order to respect the attraction which pulls several tourists to this place.

Best time to go

The Yungas Road is open for all but at own risk. May-July serves as best time to visit this place for security reasons as settled by the Bolivian Government.

Bragging Rights:

La Paz Bolivia: Hairpin curves and striking downhill roads are known for their attractive wisdom to pull thousands of visitors every year.

Cost: Bolivia Travel costs vary from operator to operator but initially it stands around US$20 for the ultra-budget travelers whereas mostly it takes about US$30 to US$50 per day. Car rentals and private accommodation can increase the costs up to US$200 per day.

Insider tips:

1)     Apt place for the mountain bikers, adventure lovers and trekkers but highly available with permission (by Bolivian Gov.). Often these roads are not apt and so Government denies the permission for the safety of its tourists.

2)     You will have to carry luggage bags while journeying to this place as it’s quite a low-temperature area to chill your bones.

3)     According to reputed tour travel operators, May-July is the best time to visit La Paz, Bolivia, South America.

The post Adventure travel tips for deadly Yungas valleys appeared first on Dzhingarov