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Kolkata
| Sunderbans
| Darjeeling
| Kalimpong |
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Area : 187 sq.
kms.
Altitude : 5.8 mts.
Languages : Bengali, Hindi, English
Best Season : October-March
The intellectual capital of India, Kolkata is a fascinating amalgam
of life’s the cradle of literary renaissance and Indian nationalism.
Kolkata is also the largest metropolis in India. It is a city known
for its crowded slums, traffic jams, floods and frequent power cuts
as much as for its excellence in art, literature and culture.
Kolkata, on the Hooghly, retains the aura of days long gone, weaving
the past and the present, the intense and the fun loving into a
charming fabric. The city is vital, volatile, over-populated, the
largest metropolis in the country. It is a city if strange paradoxes
and one that leaves an indelible impression on the visitor. Imperial
edifices, teeming bazaars, gardens and golf courses, shanty towns,
museums and elegant hotels, the muddy Hoogly river winding through
the city, the mournful boom of boats on the river, the cantilever
Howrah Bridge spilling over with traffic- these are some of the
images that form the exciting collage that is Kolkata.
The Ganges is still the inspiration, as it was to Job Charnock, the
east India company agent who reached the shores in August 1690 and
found the city. He established a small trading post in the estuary
of the river Hoogly. It grew to become the capital of the British
Empire in India.
Kolkata is the gateway to eastern India. A city with a rich
heritage, bustling streets and bewildering variety of facets. It is
cited as the Mecca of the east. From October to March, Kolkata wears
a radiant look. Sunshine, mild winter, lights, colours, fairs,
festivals, galas and excursions, mood is infectious and the spirit
sweeping.
Kolkata to millions is the proud cultural and intellectual capital
of India with an outstanding contribution to the arts, science,
medicine and social reform in its past, and a rich contemporary
culture life. Home to four noble laureates- Ronald Ross,
Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, this is the
nerve centre of intellect and human values, where many modern
movements began in art, cinema and theatre, science and industry.
India’s quest for freedom too began here.
Yet for its 13 million inhabitants Kolkata is truly an Indian city,
as the annual Durga Puja, the most important Hindu festival in West
Bengal, vividly demonstrates. Kolkata is unique in peculiar way, as
the contrasting elements maintain their distinct individuality. Ever
since it’s founding, Kolkata has always been a land of religious
superstition and social awakening. The city has witnessed numerous
social and political revolutions. For all its literary, religious
and cultural excellence, Kolkata is also an important industrial
city, where the hand-drawn rickshaw of yesteryears and the
ultra-modern underground metro train still co-exist.
Places of attraction :-
Maidan Ventures:
Come step into the corridors of Kolkata’s charm. A walk along
Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set to unravel the rare beauty
of this city. Across the road sweeps a huge lush green open parkland
called the Maidan. It is bordered on the side by the river and on
the other by an elegant boulevard the Chowringhee. Many of Kolkata’s
main landmarks are located around it.
Fort William:
After the defeat in 1756 the British built a new massive fort on the
site of the village of Gobindapur. Designed to be impregnable it was
roughly octagonal about 500 mts. in diameter large enough to house
all the Europeans in the city in case of an attack. Built by the
British in 1773 the fort was named after King William III. Fort
William is now the headquarters of the Indian army’s Eastern
command. Water from the river Hoogly was channeled to fill the wide
moat and the jungle around it was cleared to give a clear field of
fire which later became the maidan. Surrounded by a deep 15 mts.
wide moats the Fort William is an irregular octagon enclosing an
area of 5.2 sq. kms. The fort is still in use today and visitors are
only allowed inside with special permission. Even the trenches and
deep fortifications surrounding the fort’s massive walls seem to be
out of bounds.
Chowringhee (Jawaharlal Nehru Rd):
This is the city’s main thoroughfare with shops hotels, offices and
residential buildings. You can still see some of the old imposing
structures with pillared verandahs though modern high-rise buildings
have transformed the skyline of this ancient pilgrim route to
Kalighat. Crowded with cinemas, restaurants office blocks and
shopping centres, Chowringhee is the best-known road in Kolkata. It
was once part of an old pilgrim route to Kalighat filled with garden
houses and residences of leading Englishmen.
Victoria Memorial:
Dominating the view from the Maidan is the Victoria Memorial India’s
finest tribute to the memory of the Raj. Built of white marble in a
curious blend of Italian Renaissance-cum-Saracenic style the
memorial was designed in Italian Renaissance-Munhall style by Sir
William Emerson. Comparable only to the Taj Mahal in its pristine
beauty the memorial was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921.Set
amidst vast lawns and greenery the Victoria Memorial contains a
wonderful collection of Raj memorabilia and Queen Victoria’s
personal belongings.
Notable among the collections are a musical grandfather clock Queen
Victoria’s piano and desk books portraits and many other things. The
building itself is surmounted by a huge crowning dome on top of
which is the 5 mts. tall bronze statue of Victory designed to
revolve on its base. The extensive gardens surround the building. A
seated bronze Queen Victoria dominates the approach while a marble
statue stands in the main hall where visitors sometimes leave
flowers at her feet. Many busts of assorted British nobility can
also be found here. The building is illuminated in the evening; the
musical fountain is a special draw. Two regular sound and light
shows are shown in the evening. Timing: 10.00 am to 5.00pm.Closed on
Mondays.
Race Course:
The adjoining Race Course was built in 1819 and is one of the best
in the east. It is the scene of much gaiety especially during the
winter seasons.
Birla Planetarium:
Adjacent to the Maidan is the Birla Planetarium the largest
Planetarium in Southeast Asia. Situated close to the crossing of
Theatre Road near the Government of India tourist office this
planetarium is also one of the technically most advanced in the
world. The single-storied circular structure of the buildings
closely resembles the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi. Daily shows are held
in English Hindi and Bengali as the Planetariums gigantic projector
recreates the night sky. Stars planets and heavenly bodies come into
view as the background lecture explains and guides the astronomical
tour. The planetarium also has an astronomical library and art
gallery.
Shahid Minar:
Originally built in honour of Sir David Ochterlony who led his army
to victory in the Nepalese War (1812-1814) this 48.15 metre monument
on the maidan was named Shahid Minar in 1969.The column is an
interesting combination of different architectural styles-a Grecian
pillar on an Egyptian plinth crowned by a Turkish cupola. An
excellent view of the Maidan and Kolkata city can be had from the
top of the monument. Permission to ascend the monument may be got
from the Police Headquarters, Lal Bazar. The monument got its
present name after independence in honour of the martyred freedom
fighters. Shahid Minar today is an important landmark in Kolkata and
popular venue for open-air meetings and processions.
Raj Bhavan:
At the northern end of the Maidan towards the river Hoogly is the
Old British Government house now called Raj Bhavan. Built in 1803
and modelled on Lord Curzon’s home Keddleston Hall Derbyshire,
England, this is now the official residence of the Governor of
Bengal. This beautiful building built in 1803 is considered to be
the best example of Georgian architecture in the nation. The
interiors of this 137 room palace are lavishly decorated with
antiques and art pieces collected by the viceroys who resided here.
Among the objects of interest here are the busts of Caesar a pair of
Egyptian sphinx sculptures the throne of Tipu Sultan and a wrought
iron lift which is now operated by power. There are many rare works
of art and other interesting items. Entry is restricted.
Town Hall:
A walk across is the Town Hall. It was built in 1813 in Doric style
of architecture. It is now the city Magistrate’s Office. The old
Town Hall has been converted into a museum.
Kolkata High Court:
Between the Town Hall and the Strand is the Kolkata High Court the
venue of many a legendary legal battle. Completed in 1872 the Gothic
architectural style is an impressive replica of the Town Hall of
Pyres in Belgium .The building has a small tank of gold fish with a
fountain at its centre, marvelous columns, capitals and a 60 mts.
tall tower.
Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu):
Kolkata’s most famous landmark the Howrah Bridge on the Hoogly is a
modern engineering marvel. This unique cantilevered bridge made up
of more than 2590 metric tonnes of high tensile steel connects
Kolkata’s main railway station on the Howrah side of the river with
Kolkata proper. Opened in 1943 the 71 feet wide of bridge can
accommodate eight lanes of traffic two footpaths and a confusing
medley of vendors handcrafts and herds of cattle.
Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hoogly Bridge):
The longest cable-stayed bridge in Asia is the Vidyasagar Setu. It
was opened to traffic in 1992. It connects the twin cities of
Kolkata and Howrah and is capable of handling around 85,000 vehicles
everyday on its lanes. The bridge also has an air-conditioned plaza.
Dalhousie Square:
It was the administrative centre for British India. On one side is
the General Post Office a majestic specimen of Edwardian
architecture. It is built on the site of the original Fort William.
On the other side stand Writer’s Building a massive Gothic structure
with lion pillars and still the house of political power.
When Kolkata was the administrative centre for British India BBD (
Binoy Badal Dinesh) Bagh was the centre of power. On the north side
stands the huge Writer’s Building dating from 1880.The East India
Company’s writers have now been replaced by modern-day West Bengal
government employees.Until it was abandoned in 1757 the original
Fort William stood on the site of the present day post office. For
stamp enthusiasts there is a small philatelic museum next door to
the main post office on BBD Bagh.On Strand Road North is the
dilapidated Silver Mint opposite the Master’s House built at the
same time.
The Writer’s Building designed by Thomas Lyon as the trading HQ of
the East India Company was refaced in 1880. It is now the state
Government Secretariat.
Mission Row is Kolkata’s oldest street and contains the Old Mission
Church built by the Swedish missionary Johann Kiernander.
Jorasanko Tagore House:
This rambling red brick structure on Chitpur Road was the ancestral
home of the poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. The Rabindra
Bharati University and the Rabindra Bharati University and the
Rabindra Bharati Museum are also located here. The state government
has now taken over the building and the Rabindra Bharati Society
conducts various cultural activities here. The Rabindra Bharati
University is devoted to dance, drama, art and music-fields in which
Tagore has made an indelible mark. The Rabindra Bharati Museum
nearby was initially the residence of Tagore and it deals with the
life and time of the great poet. The building with its turrets and
pediments closely resembles a Scottish manor.
Marble Palace:
The marble palace situated off Chittaranjan Avenue on Muktaram Babu
Street has a rare collection of antiques of artistic and historic
value. About 5 kms northeast of Dalhousie Square is the magical
palace, a fine example of wealthy Bengali’s home in the 18th and
19th centuries. Built by Raja Rajendra Mullick in 1855 the interior
of the palace is truly astounding as almost 90 varieties of marble
are used on floors, wall panels, tabletops and statues. The garden
surrounding the palace is filled with fountains busts and statues of
Roman gods and goddesses.
National Library:
The building housing the National Library was originally the
Belvedere House the residence of British viceroys when they visited
Kolkata. The National Library is today the largest and most
important in India in terms of books and quality of literature. It
contains a mammoth collection of more than 8 million books 2000
manuscripts 700 periodicals and all published material in India.
Formerly the official residence of the British Lieutenant Governor
in Bengal this stately mansion has a splendid gateway of three
arches crowned by the sculpture of a Royal Bengal Tiger. The
Viceroy’s Ballroom is now the main reading room and the 100 feet
long centre table is a special attraction here. The National library
is today the largest and most important in India in terms of books
and quality of literatures.
Timings: Weekdays: 9.00 am to 8.00 pm Saturday Sundays and
Public Holidays:10.00 am to 6.00pm.
Metcalfe Hall:
Located at the junction of Strand Road and Hare Street this building
once housed the Imperial Library which has now been shifted to
Belvedere in Alipore. Designed after the Portico of the Temple of
Winds at Athens the building with its ornamental basement and tall
columns closely resembles a Greek temple. Metcalf Hall was erected
to commemorate Lord Metcalf and his efforts towards emancipation of
the press.
Mother Teresa House:
Once Kolkata’s living legend Mother Teresa is today after her
passing away in 1997 an international figure. The first of Mother
Teresa’s home is Nirmal Hriday “the place of pure heart”. Begun in
1952 this long low structures near the Kalighat temple is a home for
dying destitute. It is open to anyone who needs help and most
significantly the building has no door.
At Titagarh is the Home for Lepers where a large number of leprosy
patients are this attended on by nuns trained specially for this
kind of work. The Missionaries of Charity is a new order formed in
1950 by Mother Teresa. Their vow ‘to give whole hearted and free
service to the poorest of the poor’ was put into action with the
setting up of several homes.
Science City:
Science city is located on Kolkata’s eastern metropolitan by pass.
This 21 century marvel of science communication and environment is
the first and only institution of its kind in India. Spend a day
here and you won’t regret it. Pick your special thrill at this
exposition park. A space theatre, space flight simulator recreated
Jurassic forest, aviary, butterfly corner and much more! It is the
pride of the people of Kolkata that has opened the gateway to the
next century. It is open to the public everyday from 9 am to 9 pm
even on public holidays.
Nicco Park:
Nicco is situated at Salt Lake. This amusement park is the
Disneyland of West Bengal with a variety of unusual games and rides.
The river cave ride is the latest addition and is the only one of
its kind in this part of the world. The park is open to the public
from 10am to 8 pm everyday during the winter and 11 am to 9 pm
everyday during the rest of the year.
Millennium Park:
Superbly situated on the banks of the Hoogly River (on Strand Road
South opposite the Shipping Corporation of India building) and with
a terrific view of the Howrah Bridge this park is a glorious place
to kick back and observe life on the river. It’s especially
beautiful at sunset. It has children’s playground and kiosk
Metro Railway:
A jewel in the crown of Kolkata is Metro Railway. India’s first
underground tube railway connecting the southern end of the city
Tollygunge to northern end at Dum it covers a distance of 16 kms
divided into 17 stations in only 33 minutes. With its clean
surroundings prompt and consistent service it offers a comfortable
journey to hassled and harassed office goers.
A Cultural Feast
Kolkata Museums :
Kolkata preserves her history in many museums. Apart from the
Victoria Memorial, the Indian Museum and the Marble Palace, Asutosh
Museum at Calcutta University, is the prominent one to visit, which
has a collection of art objects with an emphasis on Bengali folk
art. The Birla Industrial and Technological Museum and the Birla
Academy of Art & Culture has a good collection of sculptures and
modern art. The Nehru Children’s Museum at Rabindra Bharati
University and a small Postal Museum next to the General Post
Office. Cima Gallery at Sunny Towers, 43 Ashutosh Chowdhury Avenue.
The gallery displays contemporary art and is open 11am to 7pm daily,
except Sunday.
Indian Museum:
The Indian Museum on Jawaharlal Nehru Road has been aptly named, for
it is indeed an eye-opener to the country’s rich culture and
civilization. Formerly known as the Asiatic Museum, this museum was
founded in 1814 with just two sections-on archaeology and zoology.
The museum built in the mid 1870s, is a fine colonial building
housing an impressive collection. The entrance hall is dominated by
an original Mauryan lion capital, India’s national symbol, and the
archaeological gallery houses the Barhut Gateway, a massive
structure decorated with a bas-relief depicting the life of Buddha.
It has the best collection of Pala statues in the country and the
art collection has many fine pieces from Orissan and other temples.
It also has superb examples of Buddhist Gandharan art-an interesting
meeting point Greek artistry and Buddhist ideals that produced
Buddha images and other sculptures of great beauty. The art and
textile galleries are worth a look. This Victorian Romanesque style
building, now houses 40 galleries containing more than 1,000
separate exhibits classified under six main sections namely-art,
archaeology, geology, anthropology, zoology and economic botany.
Unfortunately, the natural history collection, while being vast, is
disintegrating and exhibits are coated in dust. The museum is open
from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
Academy of Fine Arts:
The Academy of Fine Arts on Cathedral Road contains an impressive
collection of Indian art and manuscripts. Established in 1933, the
collections here include contemporary Indian art, medieval Bengal
and Indian textiles, miniature paitntings, manuscripts and personal
belongings of Rabindranath Tagore. The academy also has an exclusive
artist’s studio and it conducts regular cultural shows in its
auditorium.
Asiatic Society:
The oldest literary and scientific society in Kolkata is the Asiatic
Society, is regarded as the cultural window between the East and the
West. Founded in 1784, the headquarters of this society is situated
in a busy corner of Chowringhee and park Street. Besides publishing
the Bibliothica Indica text in Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic, the
society’s activities also include translating and publishing
Buddhist Sanskrit literature. The rooms of the society contain
valuable works of art, including original paintings by Reubens,
Guiles, Reynolds and others. The library also has an interesting
collection of manuscripts, copper plates, coins and engravings. The
Ashokan Rock edict is a unique item here.
The Green Belt Maidan:
It is dotted with colourful maidan clubs, and is a hub of diverse
activities.
Maidan Ventures:
Come step into the corridors of Kokata’s charm. A walk along
Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set to unravel the rare beauty
of this city. Across the road sweeps huge lush green, open parkland
called the Maidan. It is bordered on the side by the river and on
the other by an elegant boulevard, the Chowringhee. Many of
Kolkata’s main landmarks are located around it.
After the events of 1756, when Sirja-ud-daula sacked the town, the
British set out to replace the original Fort William, in the Maidan,
with a massive and impregnable new fort. The area closed around the
fort became the Maidan, 3 kms in length and over 1 km.in width, the
rambling green is the ‘lung of Kolkata’. 200 years ago, the Maidan
was still covered in dense jungle. This huge green expanse stretches
3 kms north to south and is more than 1 km wide.
The stream known as Tolly’s Nullah, a racecourse and the Victoria
Memorial are also found there, while Raj Bhavan overlooks from the
north. In its stands several clubhouses provided tennis, football,
rugby, cricket and ponds,trees, musical fountains even crown green
bowls. This is perhaps the largest urban park in the world.
Thousands of people pursue diiferent interests-their hobbies-from
early morning yoga exercises, riders, model plane enthusiasts,
weekend cricketers and performers earning their living, to big
political meetings.
Eden Garden:
The Eden Garden, located in the northwestern corner of the Maidan,
were laid out in 1835 by the Eden sisters. Well-equipped with all
the latest facilities, the cricket stadium here, has one of the
finest cricket pitches in India. Eden Gardens is filled with
beautiful trees, shrubs and winding pathways. The sparkling
fountains and lush greenery make the gardens a cool haven in summer.
A Burmese pagoda, an indoor stadium and a large artificial lake with
boating facilities are some of the added attractions here.
Zoological Garden:
Established in 1876, the Kolkata Zoo sprawls over 41 acres and is
the largest and one of the best in Asia. Located amidst
well-maintained lawns, plants and trees, the zoo houses a wide
variety of animals, birds and reptiles including the Royal Bengal
Toger, white tiger and cross-bred lions and tigers. The zoo lake is
visited by migratory birds during winter. An exclusive reptile
house, aquarium and children’s zoo are the added attraction here.
Horticultural Garden:
Just north of the zoo on Alipore Road are the pleasant and quiet
Horticulture Gardens. The lush environment is also the venue for
exotic plant and flower exhibitions. This is open 6 to 10 am and 1
to 5 pm daily.
Rabindra Sarovar:
A park and picnic spot with a central lake and overhanging trees.
This is a lovely picnic spot, which was formed by combining the two
lakes of Dhakuria and creating a beautiful sward of green around the
lakes. Swaying palms, which adorn the banks, add to the beauty of
the lake. Rabindra Sarobar is a perfect gateway from the crowded
Kolkata city. The regatta events in rowing are held here. Other
lakeside attractions are a public swimming pool and a Japanese
Buddhist temple. A tiny island at the southern end of the lake is
joined to the main land by a suspension bridge. To the northeast is
the famous Rabindra Stadium where many sport competitions are held.
The Spiritual Sojourn
Tryst a with Faith :
Kali Temple at Kalighat:
This famous temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and was built in
1809 in the typical medieval Bengal style of architecture. It is
believed to be the actual temple from which Kalikata took its name.
According to legend, when Shiva’s wife’s corpse was cut up, one of
the fingers fell here. Since then it has been an important
pilgrimage site and is always extremely busy. Kali represents the
destructive side of Shiva’s consort and demands daily sacrifices. In
the morning, goats are slaughtered to satisfy the goddess’
bloodlust. A large number of devotees visit the temple on festive
occasions such as Bengali New Year (April) and Durga Puja
(October-November).
Dakshineshwar Kali Temple and Belur Math (12 kms):
Across the river and north of Belur Math is this Kali temple where
Ramakrishna was a priest, and where he reached his spiritual vision
of the unity of all religions. The temple was built in 1847 and is
surrounded by 12 other temples dedicated to Shiva. Located at the
extreme north of Kolkata, Dakshineshwar is famous for its group of
thirteen temples which were built in 1855 by a rich widow named Rani
Rashmoni. The largest of these temples is dedicated to Kali, and the
rest to Lord Shiva Known here as Dakshineshwar. The 12 spined Kali
Temple, with its large portico and paved court, stands atop a flight
of steps. This temple is frequented by devotees throughout the year.
Across the river stands Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna
Mission. The monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony.
Paris Fire Temples:
They cater to the religious needs of the prominent Parsi religious
needs of the prominent Parsi community of Kolkata. They are located
on Metcalf Street and Beliaghata.
Japanese Buddhist Temple:
It is located on the banks of Rabindra Sarovar.
Pareshnath Jain Temple:
This temple, in the northeast of the city, was built in 1867 and
dedicated to Sheetalnathji, the 10th of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras.
The temple is an ornate mass of mirrors, coloured stones and glass
mosaics. It overlooks a beautiful garden in Shyambazar. It is open 6
to 11.30 am and 3 to 7 pm daily. |
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