Kolkata City Travel
The largest metropolis in India, Kolkata is a vibrant
city on the move, volatile and unpredictable. The Gateway to India, till 1912,
and the capital of the Raj in India, it still bears the Victorian imprint
on its streets and structures. A city just about ready to burst at the seams,
Kolkata is home to more than 10 million people. The Ganges (called the Hooghly
in Kolkata) is still the inspiration, as it was to Job Charnok, East India
Company agent, who reached the shores in August 1690, to found the city. Kolkata,
after London, was the British Empire’s second city.
Kolkata, on-the-Hooghly, retains the aura of days long gone, weaving the past
and the present, the intense and the funloving into a charming fabric.
Home to four Nobel laureates - Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa
and Amartya Sen, Kolkata 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 began here.
Kolkata is the gateway to Eastern India. A city with a rich heritage, bustling
streets and bewildering variety of facets. From October to March, Kolkata wears
a radiant look. Sunshine, mild winter, lights, colours, fairs, festivals, galas
and excursions, the mood is infectious and spirit sweeping.
It is the commercial nerve-centre of the East, with major industrial plants,
textile mills and corporate units. Regal edifices, grubby alleys, bustling bazaars,
elegant hotels, people from all walks of life - Kolkata has it all.
The city is a hub of fervent activity in the realms of music, theatre, arts,
and sports. Kolkata has always prided itself on the many luminaries it has sent
forth, be it Tagore, Satyajit Ray, or Mrinal Sen. The intense dedication to
the arts manifests itself in a plethora of festivals, dance, music performances
and other cultural events. The Kolkatans are also famous for their all-consuming
passion for sports, especially, football and cricket.
Places of Interest
Birla Planetarium : Only the second of its kind in the commonwealth
and similar to that in London. Regular astronomical shows are presented here
with commentaries in different languages. Shows are held on all days excluding
Mondays.
Kalighat : According to the legend, when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s
body was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Rebuilt in 1809, this is an important
shrine of Hindu Shakti worship. The temple is in the southern part of the city.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple Belur Math : Built in 1847, on the banks of
the Hooghly, north of Calcutta, the temple is associated with Shri Ramakrishna,
the eclectic 19th century saint who revived Hinduism during the British Raj.
Across the river stands Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. The
Monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony.
Indian Museum : Built in 1875, it is an impressive building in the Italian
style of architecture. This is the largest museum in the country. The Museum
has six sections : Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industry
(Economic Botany).
Shahid Minar : The monument is situated on the ‘Maidan’ and was
built in honour of Sir David Octerlony who fought the Nepalese War (1812 - 1814)
to victory. The 48.16 metre tall monument has been named Shahid Minar since
9th August, 1969.
Eden Gardens : Named after Lord Auckland’s sister, this picturesque
garden has a tiny Burmese pagoda set in a small lake. It also houses Calcutta’s
Cricket Stadium.
Howrah Bridge : A miracle of engineering skill, the Howrah Bridge is
a huge cantilever bridge supported by two piers 270 ft. high from the road level.
The span of the bridge between the piers is 1,500 ft while the total distance
between the two sheet anchors is 2,115 ft. There are eight vehicular ways and
two footpaths on the 71 ft. wide bridge.
Marble Palace : Situated in an artistically laid-out garden, the place
is full of rare collection of antiques of immense artistic and historical value.
Wonderful curios, china and a couple of paintings by Rubens are only a few to
mention of the spectrum of attractions of the palace. The Marble Palace is situated
on Muktaram Babu Street, off Chittaranjan Avenue. Open on all days except Mondays
and Thursdays.
Zoological Garden : Covers 16 hectares of land and built in 1876. The
lakes within are a favourite retreat for migratory Siberian birds.
Horticultural Garden : The lush environment is also the venue for exotic
plant and flower exhibitions.
