Kolkata (Calcutta) was the capital of the British India till 1912 and still has a Victorian imprint on its structures and streets. The splendid buildings of Kolkata evoke a flavour of the Raj. Notable among these are the Writer’s Building – the seat of government, the silver domed General Post Office and St John’s Church, which has a memorial to the city founder Job Charnock. |
A walk along the city streets will take you on a journey through time. The stern old buildings in the midst of new and more colourful ones, tell you the story of the generations gone by and more to come. A hub of activity in the fields of arts, music, theatre and sports, the city prides itself on the many luminaries it has sent forth.
Kolkata has a vast expanse of lawns called the Maidan, bordered by the Hooghly river at one end and the elegant boulevard, Chowringhee, at the other. At the northern end of the Maidan is Shahid Minar, a 48 column structure erected in 1828 in an intriguing combination of Turkish, Egyptian and Syrian architectural styles. |
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Around the Maidan are landmarks like St John’s Church, Eden Gardens, which has a cricket stadium to seat 100,000 people, Royal Calcutta Turf Club and the magnificent Fort William, still out of bounds for visitors.
Lying to the south of the maidan is the imposing white marble Victoria Memorial, built by the Britsh in 1921 , modelled on the Taj Mahal. It is a treasure trove of Raj Relics, with tree lined walks and houses a number of statues and busts of Queen Victoria and other eminent people. To the east of Victoria Memorial is St Paul’s Cathedral, with impressive stained glass windows. |
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The National Library in Belvedere House, has the largest collection of books (one million) in India. The Indian Museum is a fine example of Italian architecture. The mummy kept here is a special attraction. The Botanical Gardens have a great variety of flora and fauna. A great attraction here is the 200 year old Banyan tree with a circumference of over 400m. The Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu Bridge frame the skyline of the riverfront. Enjoy a cruise on the river in a panshi. Nearby is the General Post Office, a magnificent specimen of Edwardian architecture. Closeby is the Writer’s Building, a massive Gothic structure with ionic pillars. A day at the Science City is a ‘Must’, with a space theatre, space flight simulator, recreated Jurassic Forest and much more. |
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In North Kolkata is Tagore House, the birthplace of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, now a centre for Classical Fine Arts. Don’t miss the Marble Palace at Chorbagan, now a museum. Or take a tram ride along Red Road, with the green expanse of the Maidan around you.
Visit Mother Teresa’s tomb at the Mother House, and see the many homes set up, such as Nirmal Hriday (home for the dyeing), Shanti Nagar (for lepers), Nirmala Shishu Bhavan (children’s home).
In the North-West corner of the Maidan are Eden Gardens, dotted with beautiful shrubs and trees and intersected by winding paths and a Burmese Pagoda set in a small artificial lake . Alongside is the world famous Eden Gardens cricket stadium, where international test and one day matches are held. |
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The lakes within the Zoological Garden are a favourite retreat for migratory Siberian birds. Don’t miss out on the Horticultural Garden, venue for exotic plant and flower exhibitions. Also Rabindra Sarovar, a park with a central lake and venue for rowing regatta events.
North of Kolkata is Belur Math, built to look like a church, temple or mosque from different angles. It is the headquarters of the famous Ramakrishna Mission. An important temple is the Kali Temple at Kalighat, next to Mother Theresa’s Home For The Destitute. |
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Among many religious places to visit are the Nakhoda Mosque, modelled on Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, Armenian Church, St Andrew’s Church, Jewish Synagogues, Parsi Fire Temples, Pareshnath Jain Temple, Japanese Buddhist Temple. |
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