Kolkata

Places visited by me @ Kolkata

Howrah Bridge

It is one of three bridges on the river Hooghly and is the most famous symbol of not only Kolkata but also West Bengal.
    Until 1943, the Hooghly River was crossed by a pontoon bridge which had to be opened to let river traffic through. There was considerable opposition to construction of a bridge due to fears that it would affect the river currents and cause silting problems. This problem was eventually avoided by building a bridge that crosses the river in a single 450m span - there are no pylons at all within the river.
    The cantilevered bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, is similar in size to the Sydney Harbour Bridge but carries a flow of traffic which Sydney could never dream of .It is the busiest bridge in the world. It's intriguing to stand at one end of the bridge at morning rush hour and watch the procession of double-decker buses come across. They heel over like yachts in a heavy wind due to the weight of passengers hanging onto the sides. In between  are lumbering bullock carts, hordes of bicycles and even the odd car. The ferries running from below Howrah Station are a more convenient way to cross the river and give you a good view of the bridge.

Central Park - Banabitan

Central Park situated in Bidhannagar is the second largest open field in the city of Kolkata after the Maidan.
This park is easily reachable from the Karunamoyee bus stand in Salt Lake. On the roads surrounding the park are the buildings where the West Bengal government has relocated many government departments. A favorite hangout for lovers.
It recently expanded in 2005.

Nalban Boating Complex

Located in the heart of Salt lake city (a satellite township) just 12 kms. away from central Kolkata, Nalban is a beautiful picnic spot for families who would want to spend a few hours in the quiet greenery, away from the busy city. The main attraction of the place is the four hundred acre picturesque lake with various kinds of boating facilities like paddle boats, shikaras and rowing boats. A unique added attraction is the newly installed hovercraft.


City Center

City center is a shopper’s paradise, what with the myriad brands and designer stores enthralling the area. Located in Salt Lake area, the place is always buzzing with energy. It offers a complete package, with something for everyone. Be it your mommy, your teenage sister or even your friends, there is something for everyone. The place is always bustling with vigor and intensity. Apart from the stores, City Center has a multiplex, multitude dining options and live performances as well.

Writers Building

The construction of Writers building began as early as in 1690. It got its name owing to the fact that it served as the dwelling place for the junior writers of the East India Company. The original Writers Building of Kolkata, India did not have any architectural beauty. It was on the same site that another Writers' Building was created later on. This Gothic structure came into existence during the tenure of Lt. Governor Ashley Eden (1877). The present Calcutta Writers' Building is located at the northern end of Dalhousie Square. Today, it serves as the Secretariat of West Bengal Government. This gigantic building is also known as 'Mahakaran', where all the important documents and other records of the West Bengal Govt are preserved.

Vidyasagar Setu

Vidyasagar Setu a golden Gate Bridge look alike, 2kms downriver, was completed in 1994. It is a modern day engineering marvel and is the largest cable stayed bridge in Asia. The bridge connects the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah. It was built at a cost of Rs. 388 crores. Unfortunately it is not making the big difference that was envisaged, as the approaches are too narrow to to handle the amount of traffic that use bridge, and plans for widening the road are slow in implementation.


Dakshineshwar Temple

Built by Rani Rashmoni in the 19th century; very revered and dedicated to Goddess Kali. The holy Ramakrishna Paramhansa - the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, worshipped the Goddess here, it is place of pilgrimage for many. The Dakshineshwar Temple complex comprises an imposing Central temple and a group of 12 Shiva temples. Recommended to visit in the very early morning or late afternoon; Timings: 6 am - noon, 3.30 pm - 9 pm, Daily

Belur Math

North of the city, on the west bank of the Hooghly River, is the headquarters of the Ramkrishna Mission, Belur Math. Ramakrishna, an Indian philosopher, preached the unity of all religions. He died in 1886, and his follower Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. There are now branches all over India. Belur Math, the movement's international headquarters, was founded in 1899. It is supposed to represent a church, a mosque and a temple, depending on how you look at Belur Math is open daily from 6.30 to 11 am and from 3.30 to 7 pm, and admission is free.
    The Mission's Institute of Culture, which has a library, reading rooms and lecture halls, is in the south of the city near Dhakuria railway station.

Bally Bridge

Bally Bridge which is popularly called Vivekananda Setu or the Willingdon Bridge, serves both rail and road. Located at a distance of 10 km from Kolkata, Bally Bridge stands across the Hooghly River and is known as the 2nd Hooghly Bridge.

Bally Bridge connects Kolkata’s Sealdah Station to Delhi via the railways and Barrackpore Trunk Road on the side of Kolkata to Grand Trunk Road on the side of Howrah. Thus, it is an important link to the National Highways NH –2 that connects to Delhi and NH – 6 that connects to Mumbai. Entrepreneur Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan and contractor Kutchi Mistri constructed the Bally Bridge, which was completed in 1932. Every girder on the Bridge has the nameplate of its builder.

The length of this Bridge is 880 m, which were constructed to create a rail cum road link from Calcutta to near and far areas. The closest railhead from this location is the Dakshineshwar Railway Station and from here tourists can visit the Temple of Dakshineshwar along with 12 other Shiva temples.

Indian Museum 

This museum was established in 1878 on Jawaharlal Nehru Road. The museum is built in Italian architectural style and is considered as the largest museum in the country and one of the best in Asia. The largest museum in the country, the museum has six sections: Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industry (economic botany). From the Egyptian mummy to the skeleton of the whale and some rare statues; the museum has every thing. One of the rooms has a collection of meteorites. The museum also has a unique fossil collection of prehistoric animals which includes a giant crocodile and a huge tortoise. The art collection has many fine pieces from Orissa and other temples and superb example of Buddhist Gandharan art.

Birla Planetarium

Birla planetarium of Kolkata, India is one of the largest museums in Asia. It came into existence in the year 1962 and the credit for establishing this wonderful center of science, communication & environment goes to Birla Education Trust. It is situated at the Eastern metropolitan bypass of Calcutta.

Birla planetarium provides a parlance where astronomical presentations take place. It provides useful piece of information about our solar system, galaxies, life span of stars, space, planets and other heavenly bodies in the most interactive manner via audio video aids. Usually the lectures are given in English, Hindi, and Bengali and occasionally in Oriya, Tamil & Gujarati.

Calcutta Birla planetarium is a single storied circular edifice designed in the typical Indian style. It is a must see place for those interested in astronomy. Its astronomy gallery maintains a huge collection of fine paintings & celestial models of renowned astronomers. It enables you to explore science outdoors.

St Paul's Cathedral

Built between  1839 and 1847, St Paul's Cathedral is one of India's most important churches. It's east of the Victoria Memorial at the South end of the Maidan. The steeple fell during an earthquake in 1897 and was redesigned and rebuilt. Inside there's some interesting memorials and stained glass, including the west window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. It's open to visitors from 9 am to noon, and from 3 to 6 pm. Sunday services are at 7.30 and 8.30 am, and 6 pm.

Victoria Memorial

Calcutta Victoria memorial hall is a fabulous museum that was established in the year 1921. The credit for designing and drawing the plan for this monument goes to Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects. Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, India is a fantastic place that will take you into the world of past history, where you can view the photos and effigies of prominent personalities, who made an incredible contribution in the glory of India. Today, Victoria memorial is one of the finest art museums in Kolkata. It is a 184 ft tall edifice that was constructed on 64 acres of land. The museum houses a group of mind-blowing figures above the north porch that epitomize prudence, learning and motherhood.

Maidan & Fort William

After the events of 1756, the British decided there would be no repetition of the attack on the city and set out to replace the original Fort William, in the Maidan , with a massive and impregnable new fort. First they cleared out the inhabitants of the village of Govindpur and in 1758 laid the foundations of a fort. Around the fort a huge expanse of jungle was cut down to give the cannons a clear line of fire but, as usually happens, the fort has never fired a shot in anger.
    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.
    The area cleared around Fort William became the Maidan, the 'lungs' of modern Kolkata. This huge green expanse stretches three km north to south and is over a km wide. It is bound by Strand Rd along the river to the west and by Chowringhee Rd, lined with shops, offices, hotels and eating places, to the east. The stream known as Tolly's Nullah forms its southern boundary, and here you will find a racecourse and the Victoria Memorial. In the north-west corner of the Maidan is Eden Gardens, while Raj Bhavan overlooks it from the north.

Citizen's Park

The city of Kolkata is full of community parks and gardens. Amongst the many gardens in the city, Citizen’s Park, which is situated near Victoria Memorial, is surely a praiseworthy effort by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, to make the city appear more organized and beautiful. It was inaugurated by the eminent politician Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, on 8th May, 2005. The park is extremely beautiful and well maintained. It is a very nice place for spending time sometime in solitude, amidst natural beauty.

At dusk, Citizens Park looks extremely beautiful, due to the colorful lights adorning its premises. People come here in groups for jogging, morning and evening walks and small get-togethers. The park is spread over an area of about 11 acres.

It is very famous for its dancing fountain that operates every evening, at the time of dusk. Citizen Park also has an open air gallery, some military hardware, fighter and bomber aircraft, canons, armored vehicles, and tanks. The gallery depicts the story of the birth of Bangladesh, from Pakistan.

Rabindra Sadan

Situated on the southeast corner of the Maidan. The Rabindra Sadan is the seat of Bengali - culture where every evening, drama cultural programmes & exhibitions are held.

Nandan             

Nandan is the first multiplex of Kolkata. It is still regarded as one of the finest movie halls of the city. The Kolkata International Film Festival is hosted at Nandan and its adjoining halls. It is often said that being the land of Ray and Ghatak, Kolkatans breathe cinema.

For movie buffs, it is a venue to watch world cinema and network with intellectuals. People of all age groups crowd here to spend time watching films or a road drama. Quintessential Bengalis debating over Eisenstein’s montage or Godard’s Breathless is a common scene here.

Kolkata Metro           

The Kolkata Metro is India’s first underground Metro railway. It extends over a length of around 25 km, starting from Dum Dum near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport and ending at Kavi Subhash station at New Garia. Initially, the length of the railway route was some 17 km and ended at Tollygunge. Later, it was extended to another 8 km, till New Garia Station. This fast and efficient metro railway covers almost all the densely populated areas of Kolkata, in very less time.

The metro railways cover important areas like Shyambazar, Sovabazar, Girish Park, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Chandni Chowk, Esplanade, Park Street, Rabindra Sadan, Kalighat, New Garia and others.

Each metro rail is capable of carrying around 2558 passengers and is equipped with advanced technology. It offers services at an interval of 5 to 15 minutes and its prime concern is the safety of the passengers. For the convenience of the travellers, most of the stations are equipped with escalators and cooled air is forced inside the metro for proper ventilation.


Kolkata Race Course

Kolkata served as the centre of British residence in the past. Gradually, the British also developed several means of amusement and sports in the city. One such spot is the Kolkata Race Course, which was developed by the British in 1820. Even today, it is one of the largest horse race venues in India. Many significant and prestigious events are held here on a regular basis. In fact, the race course is a very popular place amongst the elites of Calcutta.

Other than being known for sports events, Kolkata Race Course is also known for its wonderful surroundings and peaceful atmosphere. Located near the Victoria Memorial, in the heart of the city, it is an unmistakable sight for any tourist. Since its development, this race course has been maintained by the Royal Turf Club of Calcutta. Since its inception, it has been attracting locals as well as the tourists coming to the city.

The races at Kolkata Race Course are held basically from the months of July to September and November to March. Generally, these races are held on Saturdays and other public holidays. The important racing events that are regularly organized here include the Queen Elizabeth Cup & the Calcutta Derby. Apart from being used for races, the race course is also used for polo matches. It is surely a must-visit place in Calcutta.