Kolkata
is the city of Joy, Contrast and Culture. Once it was the capital of
British India till 1912, and now the city is the capital of West
Bengal. A visit to this cultural capital of India may bring visitors
to be in touch with combination of a rich 300 years old history,
heritage and vibrant modern life & culture of different
communities.
In the year 1687, Job Charnock - an English trader and agent of
East India Company, set up a trading post in the Sutanati village on
the east bank of the river Ganges along with two adjoining villages
"Gavindapur" and "Kolikata". Gradually this
small trading post started growing as an important business hub and
soon become the gateway to the mystic east. In 1696 the old Fort
William was constructed and those three villages were united to the
city of Calcutta which played a significant role in shaping the
centuries of Indian history.
In these three hundred years, the Kolkata has grown from a mere
fishing village to one of the largest modern and culturally rich
cities in the world where many modern movements began in art, cinema
and theater, science and industry, retaining the aura of the past.
A tourist envisages Calcutta in different hues and colours. The
city offers beauty and history entwined in culture and heritage.
Calcutta is a city of contrast, medley of present and past, old and
new, science and history, culture and entertainment, malls,
multiplexes and old markets, flyovers and dirt stricken roads, high
rises and slums. And the beauty of the city lies there.
Main Places
Of Interests :
Howrah Bridge
One of the prime historical landmarks of the city, the Howrah
Bridge is a stunning 2115 ft wide cantilever bridge connecting
Kolkata with Howrah across river Hoogly in a single span. Opened in
1943, this is one of the busiest bridges in the world.
Flower Market
This unique wholesale market of flowers is situated in the bank of
river Hoogly near the famous Howrah Bridge. Every morning this
market fills with range of colorful flowers from the different parts
of Kolkata and the suburbs.
Heritage Buildings of BBD Bagh
Dalhousie Square was created in the heart of the imperial capital
of Kolkata and after independence in 1947, it was renamed after
three martyrs of the freedom movement - Binoy, Badal and Dinesh.
In 1885 queen Victoria took over the administration of India form
the East India Company and Kolkata became the capital of British
India and this place remained the nerve centre of power till 1911
when the capital was shifted to Delhi.
With a huge tank in the centre, there are around 15 historic
colonial buildings surrounding this City Square. On the Southern
side is the "Raj Bhavan", now the Governor House, built in
Georgian style of architecture.Close to the Raj Bhawn you can see "St.
John's Church" - the oldest Church in Calcutta. Then there are
Assembly House, Kolkata High Court and The Town Hall. The High Court
is a unique specimen of Gothic architecture which was completed in
1872. The Town Hall was built in 1813 in Doric style of architecture
and now is the City Magistrate's House. On the western side of the
square stands the magnificent white domed General Post Office and
next to which is the Reserve Bank of India.
The entire northern side of the square is occupied of the by the "Writers
Building", which was originally built as the residence of the
writers or clerks of East India Company and is now the
administrative head quarter of the Government of West Bengal.
Shahid Minar
The history of Shahid Minar dates back to 1828, which was
originally built in the honor of Sir David Ochterlony. He had led
his army to victory in the war against Nepal. It was known as
Orchterlony Monument before being renamed in 1969.
Indian Museum
Established in the year 1814, this is the oldest museum in India.
It has some of the rare collections of archaeological importance. It
is spread out over an area of 930 sq. m. A multipurpose and multi
disciplinary institution of national importance, the museum is the
largest repository of artifacts in India.
Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial, was conceived by Lord Curzon to commemorate
the British Empire at its peak. Western architectural style is
predominantly seen in this heritage site, designed in Italian style.
The domes, designed by Sir William Emerson, resemble Mughal
architecture. It was built between 1906 and 1921 and took 20 long
years to complete. This majestic white marble structure at the
southern end of the Maidan is surrounded by sprawling gardens.
St. Palls Cathedral
The St Paul's Cathedral was built in 1847. It is one of the most
impressive religious landmarks in the city. The interim of the
church is a feast for the eyes, with excellent floral designs on the
walls. Beautiful architecture and exquisite mural painting captivate
the beholder. The life and work of St. Paul is vividly described in
pictures.
Kalighat Temple
Built in 1809, Kalighat temple is an ancient centre of Hindu
pilgrimage and regarded as one of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India.
The architecture of the temple is of typical medieval Bengal style.
Godess Kali represents the destructive side of Siva's consort and
goats are sacrificed to satisfy the goddess's blood lust.
Birla Temple
Birla temple is also one of the major attraction for tourists in
Kolkata. The architecture of the temple drawn mainly from the
neighboring state of Orissa. The marble structure with very high
quality Rajasthani engravings . It is a splendid and imposing
structure in white and attracts huge crowds.
The Missionaries of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity was founded by Mother Teresa in 1950.
The mission of the charity is to work for the salvation and the
sanctification of the poorest of the poor all over the world. Today
the Charity runs several homes around the city such as Nirmal Hriday
for moribund patient, Nirmala Sishu Bhawan for the children and
Shanti Nagar for the Lepers. In 1979, Mother Teresa received the
Nobel Prize for her great dedication to the dying and destitutes.
Mother joined her god on 5th September 1997.
Marble Palace
Constructed by Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur in1835, The Marble
Place is a unique example of architecture where 90 different types
of Italian marble had been lavishly used to complete its
construction. One can also see the rare collections of antiques,
curios, status and paintings inside the Palace. The Palace houses
the private collection of Raja Rajendra Mullick in an ornate and
expansive house.
Tagore's House & The Rabindra Bharati Museum
Situated near Girish Park on Chittaranjan Avenue, Tagore House is
the ancestral home and birthplace of world-renowned poet
Rabindranath Tagore. The Tagore's house is one of the renowned
centers for Indian dance, drama, music and other arts. North of BBD
Bagh, it houses an impressive museum and university for fine arts.
The Rabindra Bharati museum within the walls of Tagore House,
highlights the Bengal renaissance of the nineteenth century.
Jain Temple
Located in the busy Shyambazar area of North Kolkata, the temple is
nearly 150 years old and is dedicated to Sital Nath, the 10th of the
24 Jain Tirthankars or prophets. The temple was built in the year
1867.
Kumartuli - The Hindu Religious Idol Market
Kumartuli is the hub of the potters and clay idol-makers of
Kolkata. The potters work here to create all type of idols and
images of various gods and goddesses for different Hindu religious
festivals round the year.
College Street Book Market & The Indian Coffee House
Kolkatans are well-known for their passion for books and this area
is a treasure for the book lovers of the city, you can find of them
every day spending hours browsing through the loads of new books or
bargaining for buying a second hand one. College Street - a stretch
of narrow road between Mahatma Gandhi Road and Bowbazar in North
Kolkata is indeed an exceptional market of old and new books. Some
of the Kolkatas most renowned academic institutions like Kolkata
University, Presidency College, Kolkata Medical College and Sanskrit
College are also located in this street.
Apart from this unique market, the prime attraction of the
College Street is the "Indian Coffee House". Also known as
"Albert Hall", this is the most favorite gathering place
for the writers, intellectuals, artists and students for many
decades. Casual chatting for hours about any issue is the most
favorite social activity of any Bengali and here in this large
historical and legendary café, entire day you can find
hundreds of Kolkatan's are busy discussing about their favorite
issue over a cup of coffee.
Dakshineswar Temple
This temple of Goddess Kali is situated 20 Kms North of Kolkata, on
the bank of River Ganges. Across the river, the visitors can get a
glimpse of Belur Math. The temple was built in the year 1847. The
central shrine in the temple complex is dedicated to the goddess
Kali.
It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage where Sri. Ramakrishna
Paramhamsa lived inside the colossal kali temple and offered
prayers.The main temple is called the Navaratna Temple. There is a
silver lotus with a thousand petals and Goddess Kalis statue is
placed on the flower, standing on the prostrate body of Lord Shiva.
A temple dedicated to Rani Rasmoni has later been added near the
entrance.
Ballur Math
Ballur Math is the international headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission
which was built in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda. The Belur Math stands
testimony to the various architectural styles of Indian religion.
The architecture of Belur Math combines the features of a church, a
temple and a mosque, to embody the spirit of religious harmony.
Don't miss the evening ritual here which culminates is a grand,
soul-stirring prayer.
Botanical Gardens
Kolkata's Botanical Gardens is a respite from the choking noise and
crowds. Spread over an area of 273 acres, the gardens were founded
in 1787 and extend along the west bank of the Hooghly River. It was
in these gardens that the Assam and Darjeeling teas were first
developed. The prime attraction is a 250-year-old banyan tree,
offering plenty of merciful shade with a circumference of 400m
(1300ft).
The Zoo & the Horticultural Garden
The National Library maintains Zoo and Horticultural Garden in
Kolkata. Orginally it belongs to the Society started by Baptist
Missionary William Carey in 1820. A flower show is held every year
in this garden in the month of February. The Zoo dates back to 1876
and is spread over 16 hectres.It is home to a variety of birds,
reptiles, tigers and mammals.
Things To Do :
Sunset Cruise on River Ganges
The History of Kolkata fast started in 1687, when end Job Charnok
fast arrived at the east bank of river Ganges. The river is still
the lifeline of the city and one of the best ways to observe the
history, heritage and the vibrant modern life and cultures of
Kolkata is to sail down. One can experience a sunset cruise either
by a manually oared country boat or by motorized boat and explore
the past and the present of this 300 years old city.
Kolkata Walk Tours
Kolkata has a treasure of heritage, heritage & culture.
Exploring this 300 years old modern city on foot is an exciting
experience. The Idea is to closely observe and learn about the
culture, life and the distinct architectural heritage of Kolkata. We
have put together a unique rage of walk tours covering the best of
Kolkata which includes the Heritage Buildings of Dalhousie Square,
Howrah Bridge to Flower Market, and walking down the College Street
book market along with the lanes and by lanes of North Calcutta. You
might also experience a small Tram Ride along with a hand pull Rixo
Ride during your walk tour to have an in-depth idea of our society
and culture.
Attraction :
Hand Pull Rixo
Rickshaws (or rickshas) are a mode of human-powered transport: a
runner draws a two-wheeled cart, which has seats for one or two
persons. Rickshaws were mainly used in Asia, but nowadays they are
outlawed in many places and have been replaced by cycle rickshaws
and auto rickshaws. The term 'rickshaw' is today commonly used for
those vehicles as well, but this article deals exclusively with
runner-pulled rickshaws. The word "rickshaw" originates
from the Japanese word jinrikisha, which literally means "human-powered
vehicle." Around 1880, rickshaws appeared in India, first in
Simla and then, 20 years later, in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Here they
were initially used by Chinese traders to transport goods; in 1914
the Chinese applied for permission to use rickshaws to transport
passengers. Soon after, rickshaws appeared in many big cities in
Southeast Asia; pulling a rickshaw was often the first job for
peasants migrating to these cities. In China, rickshaws were banned
after the Communist takeover in 1949 and presently in Kolkata,
Government is planning to prohibit this age old transportation
system.
Calcutta Tramways
Calcutta Tramways was the first organized mass transport in
Kolkata. As a trading and business centre in the service of British
investors and businessmen the town of Calcutta was developing fast.
The first tramcar rolled out on 24 February 1873 on the streets of
Calcutta, with horse driven coaches running between Sealdah and
Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar and Dalhousie Square. Registered in
London, the Calcutta Tramways Company came into existence in 1880.
In 1899 the proposal was accepted and by 1902 the electrification of
the Calcutta tramways was completed. In the same year, the first
electric tramcar was introduced in the Kidderpore section. Though
decommissioned in some part of the city, electric trams are still
one of the means of traveling between places within the city. They
move slow on the laid tracks in traffic jammed streets, but they are
environment friendly.
Festivals and Food
The main festivals here is Durga Puja apart from this some other
festivals are saraswati Puja, Bhai Fota, Kali Puja, etc.that are
celebrated with great fervor and joy. Kolkata serves some delicious
and exclusive sweets like Sandesh, Roshogulla, Misti Doi and of
course fishes, that are a staple diet of people of Kolkata
Culture and Community
Some of the popular Languages spoken here are Bengali, English and
Hindi. Kolkota in the contemporary India is better known for its
flashy crowd at park street, or for the rich culture that is
reflected through the red bordered saris of women or through the
intricately embroidered Kurtas of men. The residents of Kolkota are
proud of their culture and even after continual infiltration of
western culture they have retained their originality.
Travel Information :
Connectivity
Kolkata is connected by domestic air flights to other major Indian
cities. It is also connected to the major cities of the world by
international flights like British Airways, Singapore Airlines, KLM
etc. As far as its connections to other laces in India is concerned,
Indian railways provide a fantastic network of trains. Within the
city itself, Kolkata has virtually all the different modes of
transport - trams, buses, rickshaws, metered taxis, minibuses,
Metro. The Metro, India's first and Kokata's pride and joy, provides
a clean, fast and efficient way to get around.
Altitude & Climate
Chart Altitude: 5.8 meters. Climate (deg c): Summer- Max. 41.7,
Min. 38.1. Winter- Max. 29.3, Min. 9.6. Rainfall: 158 cms June to
Mid September. Clothing: Tropical.
Places
to see
