INTERESTING
PLACES
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Kolkata
the magical city of joy, in spite of her much censured images
of squalor, poverty and urban disasters, still conjure up
the characteristic charm of the distinctly Bengali soul.
With
its teeming humanity ,chaotic streets and the crumbling
remnants of colonial heritage, Kolkata is the friendliest
and warmest metropolis any human on earth knows of.
The Adda culture at Coffee House in North, casual and hip
gathering at Madox Square in South, Natok (theatre) at Academy,
strolling at Outram Ghat, Film Fest at Nandan, all are indispensable
ingredients of a Bengali life.
Being the celebrated place of depth and contrast, mystery
and the bizarre- she has borne the finest of political activists
, poets and artists .
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NORTH
KOLKATA
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The
North of Kolkata is home to several aristocratic households
of Kolkata , commonly named as "Bonedi" houses,
or houses of the formerly landlords or Zamindars of Kolkata
and also the proverbial "rajbaris".
Many
of the palatial mansions of the yesteryears are unfortunately
dilapidated, speaking of the downward spiral of the fortunes
of the rich, sauve and aristocrats of the city.
But
still, in spite of the ruins, North Kolkata has managed
to sustain its aristocratic dignity and aura till date,
rising like a phoenix from the ashes of ruin and decay.
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Paresnath
Temple
This
Jain temple is situated at the Badridas Temple street. The temple
is dedicated to Sitalnathji, the 10th of the 24 Jain tirthankaras
(perfect soul). Its structure has mirror-inlay pillars, the windows
made of stained glass and the marble floors has a floral design.
The dome of the temple is gilded. The chandeliers here were brought
from Paris and Brussels in the 19th century. Its garden has blocks
of glass mosaics and European statues, painted with silver paint |
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Marble
Palace
The
Marble Palace, on Muktaram Babu Strret, was built in 1853 by Raja
Rajendra Mullick and holding a rare, unique and priceless collection
of Oriental and Western Artefacts.
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Joarashanko
ThakurBari
Built
in the 18th century by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, the famous philosopher
and grand father of the celebrated poet, thinker and cultural icon
of Bengal, Rabindra Nath Tagore, the Jorasako Thakur bari is one
of the most talked about historical and cultural buildings that
Bengal has ever produced .
Several
buildings in this complex including the legendary Art & Cultural
of VishwaBharati University contribute in making the building one
of the most brilliant remnants of the Bengal's cultural heritage.
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ShovaBazar
Rajbari
The
Rajbari of ShovaBazar, North Calcutta, proverbial for the celebration
of the traditional Durga Puja, is a mansion marked with aristocracy
blended with royal grandeur.
The
house has been an ancestral cultural legacy of the Deb family, heralded
by Raja NabaKrishna Deb.The first Durga Puja of this house dates
back to the year 1757, and it is said to celebrate the victory of
Lord Clive in the battle of plassey.
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NORTH-EAST
KOLKATA
The
North- East of Calcutta, mainly comprising of Bidhan Nagar &
Salt Lake, is a neatly planned urban area falling squarely in
the outskirts area of main Kolkata. Concieved by the former Chief
Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy and named in his
honour, it is more famous as the Salt Lake City because it was
built by filling up salt lakes.
Initially planned by a Yugoslav architect, the Salt Lake of today
is divided into several blocks and sectors spreading around a
hexagonal central park. The beauty of Salt Lake lies in its tree-lined
roads, and it's ample open spaces and parks which together contributes
in making it one of the best localities of the metropolis.
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Sector V – The Electronic Complex
Sector
V actually constitutes the commercial hub of Bidhan Nagar housing
multiple MNC Companies like The Cognizant Technologies Solution,
The Webel House, The IBM Complex, The Bengal Intelligence Park etc.The
Infinity and SDF Buildings, The two palatial office complexes from
the heart of sector V, with their splendid look, speaking of the
glamour and grandeur, the luxury and lure of corporate complexes
Government
Offices
In
Salt Lake, there are various State and Central Govt. offices like
the "Purta Bhavan", the "Bikash Bhavan",the
"Mayukh Bhavan" and the "Bidyut Bhavan"etc.,shifting
their base from Central Calcutta to Salt Lake, to reduce the pressure
on the central Calcutta Region. |
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Educational Institutes
Campuses
of Jadavpur University, National University of Juridical Sciences,
Indian Institute of Information Sciences, Salt lake Engineering
College, National Institute of Fashion Technology and National Institute
of Fashion Design, College of Leather Technology, Bhavan's College
of Communication and Management.
Research
Centres
S.N.
Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Variable energy Cyclotron. |
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Nicco Park
Popular
amusement park of Saltlake with a variety of entertainment rides,
games and theme based extravaganza.
There is the water park Aquatica , the heritage village Swabhumi
across the EM bypass, the eastern zone cultural centre 'Aikataan'
and India's largest stadium complex the Yuvabharati Krirangan or
the Salt Lake Stadium with a capacity of 1 lakh 20 thousand audience
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| Science
City
One of the major projects to shape up in the bypass area
and the largest of it’s kind in India is Science City showcasing
latest scientific wonders including a view of marine life. |
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Central
Kolkata
The central Kolkata is an amalgamation of most of the heritage buildings,
office areas and market complexes of Kolkata, shaping it as the busiest
centre of seething mass activities, including business and commercial
activities and spirit of the shoping spree of the whims and fancies
of the Bengalis. |
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The Maidan
Referred to as the lungs of Kolkata Maidan has an huge
green expanse of India's most scarcely found commodity i.e, open
space. Projects are on to save and adorn it with modern amenities.
South
Park Street Cemetery
This
cemetery is situated at the Park Street. It was constructed in
1767 to accommodate the large number of the British people who
died for their country. There are many heavily inscribed head
stones, pyramids, urns and obelisks.
The tombs of Col Kyd , Sir Thomas D'Oyly, the British Member of
Parliament in early 18th century and Sir Willam Jones, the founder
of Botanical Garden and the great oriental scholar can be seen
here.
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Fort
William
The
most imposing feature of Kolkata's architectural heritage rebuilt
in 1758 after the original fort was destroyed. The surrounding area
creates a celestial, lushes green body of visual pleasure.
The
glory in which so many of bask today. History says that the fort
was initiated as the defence area of the British to fire guns freely.
But while even a century later, no single shot has been fired from
the fort, the administration took pains to plant lush green trees
and mark the regeneration of maidan, the pulse of the throbbing
life of Kolkata.
Eden
Gardens
The
north east section of the Maidan houses the famous cricket ground
which has captured the frenzies of the cricket lovers in and around
Kolkata. Replete with a combustion of cricket buffs, pastoral lands,
musical fountains and early morning yoga session in the gardens,
it is a dream place for every Kolkatan. |
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Victoria
Memorial
This
is one of India's most beautiful monument built between 1906 and
1921 on the lines of white marble. It stands on the southern side
of the maidan (ground) near Jawaharlal Nehru Road.
All
monuments of this memorial were designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal
style and build of white marble from Rajasthan. The memorial was
the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901, felt that his lately
departed Queen Empress, required a suitable monument to her memory.
It
took 20 years to build at a cost of 10 million rupees. The Prince
of Wales formally inaugurated it in 1921. Set in beautiful garden
grounds, the Victoria Memorial houses a large bronze statue of the
Queen Empress Topped with a moving angel this memorial faces the
Calcutta Maidan.
The
statues of Motherhood, Prudence, Learning, Art, Justice, Architecture
and Charity are brought from Italy. It also has a 5 meter tall bronze
winged figure of Victory, weighing 3 tons. It houses paintings,
manuscripts including a piano played by the late Queen, and other
objects of historic value in its Museum and Art Gallery.
Two
regular sound and light shows are held in the evening. It is Open
March to October from 1000 to 1630 and November to February from
1000 - 1530. Closed on Mondays. |
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St. Paul's Cathedral
St.
Paul's Cathedral is 3 km from BBD Bagh. The Cathedral measures 71m.
in length 24m. in width the spire rising 60m. high. The interior
has exquisite scriptural scenes. Above these are the two Florentine
frescos.
In
the centre of the eastern sector is the magnificent alter piece.
The massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop
Wilson, and the western window are of special interest. The candlelight
service on Christmas eve is a moving experience.
Portuguese
Cathedral
The
Cathedral was founded in 1797. The building cost for the Portuguese
Cathedral was borne by two Portuguese noble-men. The entrance leading
to the portico is paved with gravestones. Behind the altar, there
are the figures of Madonna and Child. The remains of the first archbishop
of Calcutta lie below the altar.
Shahid
Minar
The
minar, a significant landmark of the northern prt of maidan, was
built in 1828 in honour of Sir David Octerlony who led the British
forces to the glory of victory in the Nepalese war. Renamed as Shaheed
Minar in memory of India's martyrs, the monument is built in Egyptian
base with a Syrian column and a Turkish copular crown. |
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Birla Planetarium
The
eastern side of the maidan of the Chowringhee area holds the largest
planetarium of India. With its spectacular view of the stars, it
is a virtual heaven on the land of Kolkata modeled after the Buddhist
Sanchi Stupa.
The
Oberoi Grand Hotel
The
proverbial landmark of the esplanade area, the Oberoi Grand stands
as an epitome of royalty, luxury, aristocratic grandeur and style
of Kolkata. Movie theatres like the good old Metro, Elite, Roxy,
the luscious and glamorous New Empire, Light House, and Globe, the
deliciously cozy ice cream parlour Scoop add to the hustle bustle
and urbane glamour of esplanade. |
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Raj
Bhawan
Beyond
the Esplanade East, the Raj Bhawan or the Governor's House, formally
the official residence of the viceroy's during the British Rule
and built between 1799 and 1803 is the largest residence in Kolkata
with 137 rooms.
Akashbani
Bhawan
Turning
west from Raj Bhawan, the offices of the AIR, named as Akashbani
Bhawan stands as the numerous assets of Kolkata's arena of mass
communication. Named by none other than Asia's first Noble Prize
winner and our dear Rabindranath Tagore, the Bhawan is a pivotal
centre for promoting the cultural performances for which Kolkata
is legendary in the global socio cultural circuit.
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SOUTH KOLKATA
Zoological
Gardens
Opened
in 1876 by the Prince of Wales, the Zoological Gardens is a very
significant place of interest, especially during winter, spreading
over an area of 41 acres.
Taj
Bengal
Across
the zoo, stands the Taj Bengal Hotel, with its aristocratic aura
and splendid charm, attracting millions of visitors globally with
its captivating decors and fabulous hospitality management.
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National
Library and Belvedere House
A
little ahead of the zoo, stands the the grand building of the celebrated
national library, definitely a very important place of interest
for students and researchers of all topics across the world.
The phenomenal Belvedere House, which was used to serve the Viceroys
as their residence during the tenure of Calcutta as the capital
of British India, is a place which attracts a thousands visitors
all over the country.
Kalighat
Temple
Further
south in the neighbourhood of Kalighat stands one of the 51 PITHAS
of Hinduism, the temple dedicated to goddess Kali and constituting
one of the major pilgrimage centres of Kolkata. |
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