Kolkata Must Visit Places – City of Joy
Kolkata Must Visit Places – In a previous post we have given information about- How to reach there; How to get around Kolkata; What is the best time to visit there; A few things you should be aware of while visiting Kolkata; in detail. Now, here we will inform you about all the tourist places to visit in Kolkata.
A part of the city is the old and decaying one trying to hold on to its past. Here the roads are congested, houses are old and joined to others and there are numerous alleys and boulevards. This part is the older Calcutta. The other part is the swanky modern one with flyovers and malls and modern offices and apartments – the new Kolkata.
Here we go!
Victoria Memorial
Another relic of the British Raj in India, the Victoria Memorial is in the heart of Kolkata, in West Bengal. The construction of this white marbled opulent structure was in memory of Queen Victoria- to celebrate her 25 years of rule over India. It is almost a replica of the Victoria Memorial in London. Victoria Memorial is an iconic structure that is synonymous with the city of joy! It is one of the best places in Kolkata.
The surrounding of the memorial is by a lush green and well-maintained garden, which spreads over 64 acres and has numerous statues and; sculptures in it. A sixteen-foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted on ball bearings at the top of the memorial. It serves to heighten the overall appeal and grandeur of the entire complex. Victoria Memorial is breathtaking and marvellous, especially at night, when it is illuminated. The Sound and Light shows that take place in the evening are an added delight, and a must watch. The place is a must visit for people to wish to relive the essence of the Victorian era. It is the best tourist place in kolkata.
Garden- 5:30 AM to 6:15 PMGallery- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day (except Monday and national holidays.)
Garden- INR 10Museum – Indians: INR 20 Foreigners: INR 200School children up to 12 years age in uniform and army personnel in uniform- Free
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Fort William
The mighty edifice of Fort William is situated in the city of Kolkata, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. Built in 1696, the fort- named after King William III; and was the first stronghold of the British in the country. The majestic building is set out over 70.9 acres and; embellished with hundreds of arched windows that look out over lush green gardens. Meticulous stonework adorns the surface of the building and it took as long as ten years to reach completion. However, it was soon realised that the building had a few loopholes, and; a construction of a new octagonal building whose foundation was by Sir Robert Clive.
Over the course of its existence, Fort William has served several purposes, each of which was in stark contrast to the other. Initially, it comprised wings; and an inner bastion where prisoners were hauled which is why it was known as ‘the black hole of Calcutta’. Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army; and has a capacity of accommodating up to 10,000 army personnel. It also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. Army troops and their relatives are the only people who have access to the fort’s interior. However, you can visit the palace for its stunning architecture.
The fort is now under the authority of the Indian Army. At present, the fort has many modern-day facilities. It offers to its residing members a swimming pool, firing range and a boxing stadium. It is large enough to house nearly 10,000 interns; and is a major resource for the Indian Armed Forces.
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Dakshineswar Temple
Another famous and revered temple of Kolkata, Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one of the oldest in Kolkata. The founder is Rani Rashmoni in 1855, Ramkrishna Deb, the highly revered religious ascetic used to be the main pandit of Dakshineswar Temple. Dakshineswar Temple is located about 20 km from central Kolkata at the banks of the Hooghly River. On the opposite bank of the temple is the famous Belur Math. Belur Math is famous in Kolkata. Dakshineswar Temple receives a lot of visitors almost every day. You can visit the Temple and Belur Math together. Ferry services are available from Dakshineswar Ferry Ghat to Belur Math Ghat. It is one of kolkata popular places. Kolkata is famous for its tourist places.
Morning- 6am to 12:30pmEvening- 3 to 8:30pm
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Belur Math
Belur Math is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission and represents the idea of Universal faith. The mind behind Belur math was Swami Vivekananda, the famous disciple of Sri Ramkrishna. Sri Ramkrishna- took the message of Hinduism to the western world. Belur Math is also located on the banks of the Hooghly River and symbolises the unity of religion. Belur Math is quite a serene place where you can spend some time sitting and meditating. The peace in the Belur Math campus would be quite a pleasant experience.
The temple complex also houses a museum and several other affiliated educational institutions. Evening Aarti takes place at 5:30 PM. Aarti songs sung are hymns of praise to Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi. The Aarti here is different from those at other places of worship since one is expected just to sit and meditate. There is no religious offering made. There are several travel places in Kolkata (Kolkata me ghumne ki jagah).
April to September- 6:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PMOctober to March- 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
April to September- 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PMOctober to March- 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
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Howrah Bridge
An iconic landmark of Kolkata, Howrah Bridge is a massive steel bridge constructed over the Hooghly River. Howrah Bridge was the third-longest cantilever bridge at the time of its construction, but now it is the sixth-longest one. Renamed as Rabindra Setu on June 14, 1965, after the name of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The bridge forms the gateway to Kolkata connecting the city to Howrah Station. It carries daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles and countless pedestrians and is as historic as it is grand. The bridge is 1528 feet long and 71 feet wide. If you are coming to Kolkata by train, you might have to cross the Howrah Bridge to enter Kolkata. You can get a great view of the iconic bridge from a boat ride on the Hooghly River.
The opulence of the bridge, however, comes alive in the night time as it is all lit up. You can also take a ferry ride as it runs between Kolkata and Howrah, from the launch ghat. The view of the city from the ferry, especially in the night, is priceless, to say the least. There are a total of 8 lanes of strand road, bicycles, and pedestrians. What makes this bridge unique is the fact that it was built without a single nut or bolt; and is held together by rivets. One of the best things to do in Kolkata is visit Kolkata tourist place (Kolkata mein ghumne ki jagah) Howrah Bridge. It is a kolkata famous place.
Birla Planetarium
Birla planetarium is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. Situated in the city of joy- Kolkata, Birla Planetarium is a magnificent edifice set up by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2nd July 1963. It is one of the three planetariums present in India. Also known as Taramandal, the Birla Planetarium regularly holds many shows; and programs in various languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, and other regional languages. In addition to being a planetarium, Birla Planetarium also has an electronics laboratory; and an astronomy gallery that has a collection of paintings and astronomical models.
A visit to the Birla Planetarium is an exciting way to ignite your interest in science and the motion of planets. People, especially astronomy lovers, arrive from all over the world to experience the amazing shows organised here. A Kolkata trip includes a tour of the planets, where interesting details about them; and the other fascinating celestial bodies present in our universe are discussed. Silence rings loud while the show goes on, which is a testament to the mesmerising effect of the shows here. Pictures of famous astronauts and other celestial bodies are on display in the hallway. One can have a look at them after attending the show.
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Indian Museum
Indian Museum is the largest and oldest multipurpose museum not only in India but also in the Asia Pacific region. In Kolkata, it is fondly known as “Jadughar”. The Museum contains a collection of contemporary as well as old paintings, Buddha relics, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. The museum also has a rare collection of antiques, ornaments, fossils and skeletons and many more. Currently, there are 35 galleries in the museum. Categories of galleries are namely Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Economic Botany. For those inquisitive about history, there is also a library and bookshop present within the museum premises. With its splendid collection, the museum takes you back in time to witness our fascinating past. This museum is kolkata famous museum in Kolkata.
March to November- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PMDecember to February- 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Indian visitor- INR 10 per headForeign visitor- INR 150 per head
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Kalighat Temple
Kalighat Temple is one of the most revered temples of Kolkata and Goddess Kali is the guardian deity of the city. It is a saying that the name of the city has been derived from Kalighat, but this fact is historically inaccurate. It is a belief that Kalighat Temple is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas of Hinduism. The right foot of Devi Sati fell here while the Rudra Tandava of Lord Shiva. The idol inside the temple is of black stone. An interesting feature of the Goddess Kali of Kalighat temple is the long protruding tongue, made of pure gold. The Kalighat Temple is always busy with devotees flocking down to offer their prayers and seek blessings from the divine Goddess.
Be careful of your belongings while you visit the temple. Buy Puja offerings from the vendors only if you wish to pay offerings inside the temple. All priests who are women as the temple commemorates Kali femininity. Unlike most temples, there is no daily worship or food offering (Bhog).
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Dalhousie Square
Kolkata is a city of many firsts. It was the first city in India to have a Page 3 newspaper. It was the first city in India to have an authentic Italian restaurant (not your Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Huts), the city was the first to have a metro line as well. And many of these firsts bear testimony in the Dalhousie area.
The Dalhousie Square area was known as the “White Town” during the British era. After the Battle of Plassey, the British shifted the capital of Bengal to Calcutta; and built it with the aim of making it the “Second City of the Empire”. They were successful and it is evident by the presence of several colonial architectures in the Dalhousie Square area. Walk by the Raj Bhavan, explore around the GPO, peek into the Company stables and rest your feet by the Lal Dighi. You can also visit the St. John’s Church area as well. And while you walk along the area, listen to the interesting tales from the past.
Marble Palace Mansion
The Marble palace near the Chorbagan in North Kolkata built in 1835. Famed for its art collection of masterpieces by Reuben and; paintings by various renowned international artists such as Reynolds, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. The Kolkata Palace also boasts of a Zoo with different rare birds and animals.
Mother House
The Mother House is the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity. The house served as the Mother’s residence since1953 till her death in 1997. You can visit the tomb and a small museum displaying her personal belongings. The members of the Mother House provide free services to the ones stricken by poverty. The house has about 4,500 members of the congregation. It is commonly known as Sisters who have selflessly devoted their lives to serve the poor and the needy ones. Their service and kindness have won many hearts, and today several branches are running all over the world serving the ones who are in need.
The missionaries provide free services to people in need regardless of their religion. They help the sick, poor, disabled, mentally challenged, ones who are dying, former prostitutes, addicts, homeless, victims of natural disasters; and the epidemics, orphans and street children. They also run soup kitchens and schools to educate poor street children.
There is a reservation of an area in which the followers pay their respect to Mother Teresa. Here, one can find an exhibition that displays her work through photographs, awards and articles. There is a display of some of her belongings like her sarees, sandals and bags. This is where Mother Teresa began her service to mankind, and this is where it ended. In her lifetime, she created a community that continues to serve the needy ones selflessly. One visit here to pay respects to Mother Teresa is a must.
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Visit Kolkata once and have a Kolkata city tour. As these are the best places to visit Kolkata. Visit wonderful kolkata attractions to explore the beautiful kolkata. In Kolkata there are various unique places to visit in kolkata. The article above mentions all about Kolkata.