The best dose of Indian culture! If that’s what you are on the lookout for whilst on vacation, then Kolkata is the destination for you! One of India’s famous tourist attractions known for some spectacular monuments, this charming city, formerly known as Calcutta is said to have something to offer every kind of tourist visiting it!
Delighting one and all is the magnificent Victoria Memorial, a majestic structure designed by Sir William Emerson in the early 20th Century. Set amidst spectacular gardens, this stunning monument built in white marble is said to be modeled on the Taj Mahal and is known to house some breathtaking statues that were brought in from Italy. This beautiful heritage building along with the Howrah Bridge is often seen representing the face of the city is and known to be captivating at nights and under floodlights!
At 705 meters long and 97 feet wide, the Howrah Bridge a cantilever truss bridge, constructed without the use of nuts and bolts, is nothing short of an engineering marvel! One of the busiest in the world it has been nicknamed the ‘lifeline’ of Kolkata and is one of the cities identities!
Also connecting Kolkata to its twin city is another engineering marvel, the Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the 2nd Howrah Bridge, built to reduce the vehicular traffic on the Howrah Bridge. Standing on four pylons, this bridge is 457
meters long, 115 meters wide and is supported by 121 cable wires.
It’s the second largest in Asia, while it is India’s largest library housing nearly two million books and over half a million manuscripts and documents! The National library of Kolkata considered an institution of national importance under the ‘Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India’ is a treasure trove containing rare collections of books, lelall tters by noted personalities, periodicals from the 19th century, and more.
The first of its type in India, also said to be the largest in Asia, the MP Birla Planetarium in Kolkata is a must; not just for those interested in celestial bodies but for all tourists visiting Kolkata. Courses here range from Post-Graduate Diploma course in Astronomy and Planetarium Sciences and M.Phil course in Astronomy and Planetarium Sciences. Free lectures conducted in the evenings include a wide range of topics from eclipses to life forms in the universe, galaxies to telescopes and more.
Another prominent attraction of Kolkata is its Eden Gardens, which has been witness to some of the finest cricket played in India. The oldest and finest cricket playgrounds, it definitely is a must visit whether you’re an avid cricket fan or not.
Art lovers here’s something for you!… The stunning Marble Palace is not just known for its arts, sculptures, paintings and more but also for a zoo that houses some rare birds. Found here are also original pieces from celebrities such as Van Goyen, Rembrandt, Reynolds and more.
Another first of its kind in India and Asia, the Zoological Garden in Kolkata is one of the oldest and largest zoos in the country housing some rare species of birds and wildlife. Besides playing a successful role in breeding the Manipur Brow Antlered Deer, a species almost extinct, it was also one of the first to breed Litigons and Tigions. The variety of rare species housed here makes this attraction a delight for children of all ages.
A land of many museums, some prominent ones here include the Rabindra Bharti Museum, also known as ‘Jorashanko Thakurbari’. A museum of major significance it houses original paintings and photographs of Rabinath Tagore, as well as personal belongings of other famous personalities.
Gurusaday Museum, is known to house crafts from across the state including paintings from the Kalighat School, Dhokra crafts, sarees of Bengal, terracotta works.
Some other significant monuments here include the Writer’s Building which served as an office for writers of the British East India Co., Birla Industrial Museum, Raj Bhavan etc…
Standing at approximately 48 meters, the Shahid Minar literally translates to ‘The Tower of the Martyrs’, is indeed a stunning tower lighting up Kolkata’s night sky. Formerly known as the Ochterlony Monument it was constructed in 1948 to by Sir David Ochterlony to commemorate his win during the Nepal War. A perfect blend of Egyptian, Syrian, and Turkish engineering, a climb up this tower provides tourists with a bird’s eye view of the city.
Kolkata is also known to house some beautiful gardens, the Botanical Garden covering about 110 hectares is a one such garden that has a large variety of trees, plants and flowering shrubs, some nearly extinct species. Besides this also found here are over 2.5 million dried plant species from various parts of the world. Another attraction here is a tree (Ficus Bengalhensis) said to be nearly 250 years old; this magnificent tree is over 98 feet high, with a circumference of nearly 1,300 feet.
The brainchild of the National Council of Science Museums, Science City provides not just fun but is a wonderful learning experience for one and all. Some sections here include the Science Park, Dynamotion, Space Odyssey, Ropeway, Dinosaurs Complex, Life Science Corners and the Toy Train.
Other interesting recreational parks include the Nicco Park, the first amusement park in the world to be certified with an ISO 9002 certification from a well known European Certifying Authority; Millennium Park is an amusement park for kids of all ages, its main aim being to promote tourism and enjoy the beauty the river provides.
Swabhumi is not only one of India’s finest heritage parks, but also a great place to pick up some splendid ethnic arts, crafts and designer wears. Being India’s cultural capital no trip to Kolkata is complete without a trip to the Rabindra Sadan,a premier venue for ‘Bangla’ theatre and other cultural activities, where one can enjoy dance, dramas, exhibitions and more.
For the spiritually inclined there’s Belur Math, Armenian Church, Dakshineshwar Temple, Nakhoda Mosque, St. John’s Church, and plenty more! Last but not the least is the ‘Missionaries of Charity’ set up by Mother Teresa whose mission is to care for the unwanted, sick and dying.
One of India’s most amazing cities, it is a shopper’s paradise with just about anything found here. Take time out to visit the New Market, one of Kolkata’s most renowned markets. Other shopping areas include Park Street, the fashion street of the city, Chowringhee Rd for its roadside vendors that sell just about anything!
A foodie’s ultimate destination, it is said foods here are discussed just about as passionately as Leftist ideologies and Tagore, so make sure to indulge and try something new in this land of maachh and bhaat!
Come Durga Puja and this place is one of the best destinations in the country to be visited, so start making your travel plans today! For this is a city that offers the best of it all, from old world charm to magnificent monuments for a city that never ceases to amaze its tourists,try Kolkata!
