Kolkata, the ‘city of Joy’, is a city with rich cultural
heritage and age old traditions. The state of West Bengal is popular for
its contribution in various fields like literary works, music, dance
etc. Kolkata happened to be one of the first British colonies in India.
The British influence can be seen in its architecture and monuments
which dates back to the British era. The soul of the city lies with its
historic buildings and monuments. To truly experience Kolkata you need
to explore the ancient architecture and historic places. That’s the best
way to see the true image of the ‘City of Joy’.
Major tourist attractions of Kolkata:
Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial was built in the memories of Queen Victoria
after her death in 1902. it was opened to general public in the year
1921. The magnificent building was designed by William Emerson, a famous
architect of that era. The cost of construction that time amounted to
Rs.10.5 million which was voluntarily donated by British and Indian
people. Inside the Memorial there are various painting of the Royal
British families, royal and historic artifacts, lithographs and
documents of the historical interests. Today the monument is a major
landmark of Kolkata.
Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge of Kolkata is also known as Rabindra Setu. The Howrah
Bridge of Kolkata is the busiest bridge in the world. The bridge caters
to about 1,00,000 vehicles and uncountable pedestrians. The bridge is
450 meter long and it stands over Hooghly River without any pylon. The
bridge is the best example of the 20th century engineering techniques.
today it is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Kolkata.
Birla Mandir
Birla Mandir across the world are known for their fabulous
architecture and clean surroundings. The Birla Mandir of Kolkata stands
at and elevation 160 ft above the ground. The construction started way
back in 1970 and it took 26 long years to complete it. The gates were
opened for general public after the completion of the temple in the year
1996. The estimated total cost of construction is Rs.180 Million. The
whole temple is built in white Marble and is spread over 44-katha of
land. The Birla Temple is popularly known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir.
Dakshineshwar Kali Temple
As the name says, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The
construction of the temple started in the year 1847. The founder of this
temple is Rasmani, the queen of Janbazar. The temple is located on the
banks of Hooghly River. The main deity of temple is Bhavatarini who is a
form of Devi Kali. It is believed that the person who worships Devi
Bhavatarini, will overcome all his sorrows and problems. The temple is
spread over 25 acres of land that includes the temple premise and the
surrounding gardens.
Marble Palace
Earlier the palace was known as the “Palace of Art”. The Palace was
built in 1835 and was a private possession of Zamindar (Land Owner) Raja
Rajendro Mullick. The palace is situated in the congested part of the
city. The palace showcases art forms from Italy, Netherlands, England
and other European Nations. The Palace is now known as Marble Palace
because the interiors of the palace are made from marble. The palace has
idols of Buddha, Christ, Christopher Columbus, Virgin Mary and various
Hindu Gods.
Fort William
The Fort is named after King William III of England. Fort William was
constructed in 1781 to mark the victory of Robert Clive over Sir David
Ochterlony at Plassey. The large patch of garden that surrounds the fort
is called the maidan. The Maidan is 3 kilometer long and 1 kilometer
wide. It is the largest urban park in Kolkata. Within the Fort’s premise
there lies a church, cinema, boxing stadium, market, football ground,
post and telegraph office, swimming pool and firing range.
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum at Kolkata is the oldest museum in India built back
in 1814 by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, who used to be a botanist from
Denmark. The Indian Museum is the largest museum of the country and
ninth oldest regular museum of the world. The museum exhibits collection
of antiques, mummies, Mughal paintings, skeletons, fossils, ornaments
and armor. It was shifted to the new building in 1875. The building was
designed in Italian architectural by Walter B Grawille. The museum was
open to general public in the year 1878. The museum is divided into six
main sections as Zoology, Industry, Geology, Archeology, Anthropology
and Art, the museum has over 60 galleries.
South Park Street Cemetery
The South Park Street Cemetery was constructed way back in 1767. It
was built in order to accommodate British Soldiers. The cemetery is one
of the oldest burial grounds of the city. The cemetery has big headstone
that dates back about a century and give it an ancient look. The calm
surroundings of the cemetery are really enjoyable.
Writers Building
The Writers Building, during the British Rule, used to be the junior
servants (the clerical and administrative staff) building. The junior
servants then were called writers hence the name came into existence as
“Writers Building”. Today the Building is house to the Secretariat of
West Bengal Government. It is a massive red color building situated at
the BBD square of Kolkata which is the heart of the city.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The St. Paul’s Cathedral is built on the basis of Indo-Gothic
architectural style and was designed by Major William Nairn Forbes. The
foundation of the building was laid in 1839. It took eight long years to
complete the construction. The main building was destroyed twice
because of the massive earthquakes and was rebuilt. The last time it was
destroyed in 1934 and was re-built on the lines of the Bell Harry Tower
of Canterbury Cathedral.
delhitourism.com
bestindiatourism4u.blogspot.com
kolkatanetwork.com
dli.ro
tripsguru.com
wikipedia.org
kolkataguide.starjili.com
kolkata.cityseekr.com
panoramio.com
populartemplesofindia.blogspot.com
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