Saktigarh Land of Langcha

Team Chronicle

As you drive on NH-19 you don’ tneed a milestone to tell you that you have arrived at Saktigarh. The long rows of shops on both sides of the highway selling the local signature item langcha are enough to indicate your arrival at the ‘Land of Langcha’.

The shops on NH-19 were originally located on GT Road, where Saktigarh is actually situated. Since the construction of the new NH-19 bypassed the original Saktigargh, the shops shifted to this village called Amrah, popularly known as Saktigarh.

So, when the sales dipped with the newly-built highway, enterprising sweetmeat makers thought of shifting here to cater to those frequenting NH-19. And going by the way their businesses have grown – there are some 30 shops in this 250 metre long stretch – ajudicious move by all means. Coupled with the promise of clean toilets on a highway which does not have a single restroom, this has become an unofficial stopover for all vehicles, be it the state run long distance buses or chauffeur driven luxury cars or the self-driven smaller ones.

As far as names are concerned, each one is preceded by the signature sweet, langcha followed by either Ghar, Bhavan, Mahal, Haat or Bajaar. However, they do sell other sweets too along with Sitabhog, Mihidana or cold drinks, like any other establishment on the roadside but true to their names the elongated syrupy langcha easily takes precedence. Coming to the actual sweet, this

deep-fried, dipped in syrup delicacy is said to have been named after a crippled British officer just like another deep fried sweet- Ladikeni owes its name to Lady Canninng.

Procedure
Langcha is made of dough of chhena (cottage cheese), khoya (thickened milk) and maida (flour). The langchas are then fried in batches in ghee for about 30 minutes. After it gains the right tinge of brown upon frying, it is poured in a sugar syrup just thick enough to absorb it and this renders the langcha tender and soft till it’s very core.

Prices
The langcha sold in these shops are priced according to their sizes. The regular one, priced at Rs 10 is said to be of lower category and made of less chhena mixed with maida and khoya. The medium sized ones, priced at Rs 15 is of better quality and made of more chhena and ghee. The largest, available at Rs 20 each, has greater quantity of chhena and ghee.

Saktigarh’s Speciality
The unique feature of langchas from Saktigarh is its texture. While the sweet is hard on the outer shell, it is tender inside. Much like the primary ingredient in all forms of food across the world, water is a very important factor in the process of making langchas. And majority of shop owners say that the ground water available at Saktigarh is ideal for the preparation of langchas which makes the taste unique.

Shops
While there are many shops boasting originality, ‘Langcha Mahal’ is the original and the oldest shop here, located midway on the lane heading towards Calcutta. Originated 130 years ago on GT Road by late Kanai Lal Dutta, this shop shifted operations to the National Highway close to 18 years ago when the new road came up.

With classic songs of yester-year star Uttam Kumar playing in the background, Sunny Dutta, the current owner running the shop said “We take deep pride in being the pioneers of the ‘Saktigarh langcha’. In 1962, Uttam Kumar had visited our shop. Even today our quality is the best for which over the years we have built a bond with our customers.”

There are close to 30 shops in a span of 250 metres at the ‘langcha stretch’. While newer, more modern shops have come up with fancy branding and other culinary choices, the ones just by the highway are more in number.

In all, stopping by for a quick bite of langcha at Shaktigarh is more of a custom to indulge your sweet tooth than a hunger call. So the next time you are on NH-19 you know just where to stop by.