Some are saying Kolkata while some says Calcutta or Kalikata! Yes, you heard it right. But don’t confuse all are same. So, let’s say Kolkata, also called The City of Joy. Before going to tell you the Best places to visit in Kolkata, I am going to share its history, geography and cultural enrichment that will reflect its impotence.
Kolkata is the birthplace of many scholar, Writers, poet, Economist, artist, Scientist, Doctors and of course the Freedom fighters who sacrificed their life to make India Independence from British rule.
Kolkata was the capital and colony of British east India Company from 1773 to 1911. During this period, they have built a number of monuments which shows engineering marvelous of British. Apart from British rule, many constructions have done by Mughal Rulers, French and Dutch colony.
We will discuss all the major Best places to Visit in Kolkata one by one. Before going ahead, one thing you should know about West Bengal is that, it has all types of weather, Landscape, Vegetation, Flora & Faunas. Bengal has Costal area, sea beaches, Plateau areas, Rainforest, Mangroves forest, Plain land made by rivers. Now, it’s time to know the Best Places to Visit in Kolkata.
- Howrah Bridge : India’s 1st cantilever bridge made by British in 1936, Over the Hooghly River. It took 5 years to complete and opened in 1943, February 3rd. It connects two cities Howrah and Kolkata. In 1965, Indian Government changed the name from Howrah Bridge to Rabindra Setu in tribute to Rabindranath Tagore. Its length is approx. 700 meters and width are approx. 30 meters, that allow nearly half million vehicle per day and also pedestrians same in number. This bridge never take rest. Those who has arrival or departure from Howrah Railway station, they can enjoy crossing over this bridge.
- Victoria Memorial: Victoria Memorial is another marvelous example of British Engineering that is dedicated to Empress Victoria. It took almost 15 years to complete and opened for Visitors in 1921. After the independence, Government of India announced Victoria Memorials as a Museum. There is also a beautiful Gardens and Pond inside its premises. It is Located in Maidan area, Near to Esplanade.
- Kalighat: A religious Pilgrims of Hindu belongs to Goddess Kali situated in Bank of Canal Adi Ganga, earlier Bagirathi. This is among 51 Shakti pith of Goddess Sati. Everyday thousand of devotees visit to offer their prayers. People of Bengals believe Maa Kali Protects them from Evil and give positive energy to fight against Bad people. Maa Kali also considered as Dakshina Kalika who has the power to change the death or can we can Master of Death.
- Dakhineshwar Kali temple: Another Old Kali temple in Kolkata in bank of River Hoogly or River Ganga. This is in Howrah division of Greater Kolkata, which was founded by Rani Rashmoni, a Philanthropist, in 1855. A part from of the Idol Bhavtarani, there are also 12 Identical Shiv lings, one Radha-Krishna temple and one Ramakrishna Pramahans temple housed inside the main compound. Thousands of Tourist Come to visit and take bath in Holy Ganga river. This is also Listed in Best places to visit in Kolkata.
- Princep Ghat: It was simply a River Ghat of Hoogly before British East India Company Built a Palladian Porch structure in memories of James Prinsep in 1843. It is Located near to famous Babu Ghat. One can also reach by train from Sealdah. The View of Prinsep ghat became more attractive after the construction of Vidyasagar Setu Bridge over Hoogly River.
- Kumartuli: Kolkata is Famous festivals and each festival has a different God or Goddess and for this that have separate idols made of sand and soil. So Kumartoli is that place where traditional potters’ lives and give a face to idols. This locality is more than 300 years old. Now a days it becomes a manufacturing hub and some potters also exports Idols to other counties.
- Esplanade: Esplanade or Dhurmotollah, is the Heart of Old Kolkata from where you can go any part of the city. This area is famous of window Shopping, Local Footpath markets, Local food and to see the old Building made during British rule.
- Birla planetarium: Birla Planetarium is the second largest in the world which was established in 1963 by ML Dalmiya and Company. It is also Known as TaraMandal that offers students and researchers to work over more than 100 astronomical projects. One can watch film shows related to celestial bodies in different languages.
- Alipore Zoo: Let’s go to another Best Places to Visit in Kolkata and that is Alipore Zoo or Calcutta zoo which is Oldest Zoological park established by British in 1876. It spread in approx. 50 acres of land having more 1500 different animals and species.
- Writers Building: Writers building made by British in 1777, which is now secretariat of state west Bengal. Earlier it was used for Junior Clerks of British east India Company then after Independence This Building served for Chief Minister of west Bengal till 2013.
- Botanical Garden: Botanical Garden or Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden is Established in 1787 by Robert Kyd, any army officer of British East India. According to Botanical survey of India It has approx. 12,000 different trees and plant spread in 270 acres. Jagdish Chandra Bose was associated with may research and he had proved that Plats also have feeling, emotions and they also cry if we harm the. So, in the honor of Jagdish Chandra Bose Botanical Garden got its new name in 2009 as AJC Bose Botanical Garden.
- Eco Park: Eco Tourism Park is situated in New town area that offers variety recreational and adventures activity like, Boating, Cycling, Running, Jumping. Apart from that you can also enjoy ecological zones, and Replica of seven wonders of the world Monuments like, Tajmhal, Pyramids, Petra, Great wall of China. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister of west Bengal Mamta Banerjee in 2012. Don’t forget to go Best places to visit in Kolkata.
- Indian museum: The Indian Museum or Imperial Museum at Calcutta is the Ninth Oldest Museum in the world which was founded in 1814. It is major attraction of tourist who want to see the Indian art, archeology, anthropology, Geology, Zoology etc.
- Wax Museum: Mother Wax Museum is situated in Newtown, established in November 2014. It has more than 50 Wax statues including, Amitabh Bachhan, Shahrukh khan and other famous personalities of india and the world.
- Mother Teresa House: A sacred place Christian situated in AJC bose road in Taltata, Kolkata when Mother St. Teresa buried inside the House. She was not less than God for Poor and street living poor and devoted her whole life into spreading real meaning of life and religion by uplifting orphans and old people life. It is open from Monday to Saturday between 10 Am to 9 Pm.
- Eden Garden: It was the first officially declared cricket ground of India before independence built in 1864. Earlier it was largest cricket ground in the world in terms of seating Capacity more hundred thousand and that’s why people called Mecca of Cricket. There are many winning stories of India against many counties had been written here. It is also the home ground of Sourav Ganguly the former Captain of Indian cricket team.
- Neta Ji Bhavan: The ancestral house of Great Indian freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose situated in Bhowanipore area of Kolkata is Called NetaJi Bhawan which is managed by Netaji research Bureau. Presently it became a memorial and research Centre to the life of Netaji.
- Kolkata Metro: India’s first underground Metro Rail was constructed in Kolkata in 1972 but it was purposed before 50 years ago in 1920’s. The first line was operated between Netaji Bhawan and Esplande.
- Belur Math: Belur Math is center of Ramakrishna Movement which was founded by Swami Vivekanda who was the chief disciple Swami Ramakrishna Parmahansa. It is situated near bank of river Hoogly in Belur provision.
- Tipu sultan mosque: It is the famous mosque in Kolkata situated in Esplanade which was made in the memories of Tipu Sultan, who was the ruler of Mysore.