Manage episode 492484599 series 3628895
Join Meghdut on the MCRA Podcast as he walks through the layered streets of Kolkata—this time through the eyes of Chelsea McGill, founder of Immersive Trails, a storytelling-driven heritage tour company redefining how we experience the city. In this episode, Chelsea shares the journey of building Kolkata’s most thoughtfully curated walking tours—tours that go beyond guidebooks and tourist checklists, diving deep into forgotten histories, lived memories, and the city’s architectural soul. With a background in research and a deep love for oral narratives, Chelsea explains why human connection trumps audio guides, and how ethical tourism must be rooted in truth, empathy, and respect for local communities. The conversation takes a critical turn as they explore how outdated heritage laws are ironically causing Kolkata’s architectural treasures to vanish, and why “preservation” needs to make room for “adaptive reuse.” They also reflect on the global potential of Durga Puja as a cultural landmark—and why AI, with all its data, still can’t replace the intimacy of a walk through lived history. Watch the full episode to discover Kolkata’s stories beneath the surface—and how walking through its lanes might just be the most powerful way to keep its spirit alive.
25 episodes