The bustling city of Calcutta or Kolkata as it is known nowadays has many interesting places to visit due to the fact that this city was where the British East India Company first established their base in the Indian subcontinent. The capital of the British during the colonial era, Calcutta has it own unique culture and heritage making it a city quite unlike any other in India. Some important places to visit in Calcutta include;
The Victoria Memorial
Built in 1912 in memory of Queen Victoria, the Victoria Memorial is one of the most exquisite buildings in India. Inaugurated by the Prince of Wales, this memorial is constructed of white marble and is one of the most beautiful legacies of the British rule in India. Converted into a museum, this memorial houses are large bronze statue of the late Queen, as well as many beautiful paintings, manuscripts, and other objects and memorabilia of historical value from the British Raj.
Surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, brass canons, wrought iron street lamps and a stunning fountain, this memorial is a ‘must see’ when visiting Calcutta.
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum situated on Jawaharlal Nehru Road is considered to be the largest and oldest museum in the country. Constructed in 1874, this museum is a sight to see as its Italian architecture is quite stunning. Housing an original Lion Capital, the national symbol of India, the Indian Museum has a rare and precious collection of ancient artifacts from all over the world. The museum itself is divided into 6 sections; art, archaeology, anthropology, geology, zoology and industry.
Of the many antiques that can be found in the museum, there is an ancient mummy, a collection of meteorites, a selection of prehistoric fossils and a superb art collection from across the country.
Eden Gardens
Located in the North West corner of the city, Eden Gardens was built to resemble the Garden of Eden. This beautiful garden is dotted with lovely flora and fauna and has a large artificial lake here as well. Also home to the world renowned Eden Gardens cricket stadium, which is the largest stadium in Asia, this garden is a treat to see when in Calcutta. Located close by to the gardens is the Hoogly River.
Birla Planetarium
One of the largest planetariums in the world, the Birla Planetarium is located near Victoria Memorial on Kolkata's Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. This planetarium has regular space shows in both English and Hindi and takes its guests on a spectacular aeronautical of the universe with the help of a huge projector. A great place to take the family on an education field trip, the planetarium also conducts courses on astronomy and planetarium sciences.
Howrah Bridge
Built in 1940, the Howrah Bridge is one of three bridges that cross the River Hoogly and connect Calcutta to Howrah. Also known as Rabindra Setu, this bridge has the distinction of being the busiest bridge in the world as it is open to traffic 24x7 and caters to over 100,000 vehicles and pedestrians a day. A modern engineering wonder, the Howrah Bridge is 450 meters long and is built without any pylon in a single span.
Kali Mandir
Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali, who is the goddess of destruction, Kali Mandir was rebuilt in 1809 on the site of an older temple. This temple is an important Hindu pilgrimage site and lends its name to the old village of Kalikata which in turn gave its name to the city we now know as Calcutta. Also known as Kalighat, according to legend one of Kali’s fingers fell here after it was cut off by Lord Shiva. A very busy temple, many poor and underprivileged people often come here as they get food for free. Sitting right nest to Mother Teresa's Hospital for the Dying Destitute, this temple is open for one and all.
Belur Math
Lying north of the city on the banks of the River Hoogly is Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. Constructed in 1899, the Belur Math houses a structure that was designed to be a church, a mosque and a temple. The Ramakrishna Mission are followers of Ramakrishna, an Indian philosopher in the 1800’s who preached about the unity of all religions. Open daily from 6.30 to 11 am and from 3.30 to 7 pm, admission to the Belur Math is free is a definite must see when in Calcutta.
The Botanical Garden
The second largest botanical gardens in the world and the largest in Asia, the Botanical Garden of Calcutta is spread over a vast expanse of 273 acres on the western banks of the River Hoogly. Laid out on 1787 by Col. Alexander Kyd of the East India Company, this garden houses rare trees from Nepal, Brazil, Penang, Java and Sumatra and has more than 30,000 different varieties of trees and plants grown here. Also found here is a 200 year old Banyan tree that has a circumference of 330 meters which makes it the largest in the world. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, this garden provides a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of Calcutta city life.
Besides the above mentioned places there are many other interesting places to visit in Calcutta such as St Paul's Cathedral, BBD Bagh, Fort William, the Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St. John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan and the Town Hall.
