KOLKATA CITY GUIDE
A
300 year old city…The birthplace of poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath
Tagore, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Jagdish- Chandra Bose and
Subhash Chandra Bose, the great freedom fighter… The city which boasts of the
Howrah Bridge, 467 m long and the only bridge of its kind in Asia… The city of
enchanting monuments, interesting museums, lavish mansions and friendly
people…
Welcome to kolkata, the largest city of India and the capital of West Bengal.
kolkata was the capital of India under the British until they moved the capital
to Delhi in 1911. It is said that kolkata received its name when Sati killed
herself by self-immolation after her father insulted her husband, Lord Shiva.
But Lord Shiva arrived a little too late, after his wife’s body was already
burning. He took the body from the fire and started his dance of cosmic
destruction. The other gods wanted to stop his dance and they requested Lord
Vishnu to convince him. Lord Vishnu cut Sati into 51 pieces and made Shiva to
stop the dance. It is said that Sati’s toe fell at Kali Ghat in the south part
of kolkata. Therefore, the city was called Kalikata and later kolkata.
The city has a checquered history.
Initially, the British established a trading post here in 1690 under the
leadership of Job Charnock. During 1715, the Mughal ruler in Delhi granted the
East India Company permission to have a trading post here. In 1756, the Nawab of
Bengal, who ruled from Murshidabad, about 200 kms north of kolkata, attacked
the city. In 1757, Clive retook kolkata and made an agreement with the Nawab.
Later in 1757, the Nawab became friendly with the French, which helped lead to
the Battle of Plassey, won by the British. kolkata became the British Capital
of India in 1772. Many Bengalis became leaders in the Independence movement,
which helped lead to the decision to move India’s capital to Delhi in 1911.
Maidan
and Fort William
Situated near the river Hoogly, this is one of the biggest parks in India. It
covers an area of 3 sq km. On the west of the Maidan is Fort William. Since,
the fort is presently used by Indian Army, you need special permission to enter.
Eden Gardens
A Burmese pagoda set in a small pond is a special attraction of this scenic
garden, a favourite spot among the local people.
Victoria Memorial
This is a memorial dedicated to Queen Victoria, built between 1906-21. The architectural
blend of this monument is interesting. Mughal domes in tandem with Sarcenic
and Renaissance styles. There is a very interesting museum in the memorial with
over 3000 exhibits, including the Queen’s piano and study desk. It is open daily
from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm, except on Mondays.
Saint Paul’s Cathedral
This church has an aesthetically appealing construction with props to match
stain glass windows, florentine frescos, grand altar, a gothic tower and a profusion
of grandeur. It is open from 9.00
am to noon and from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
Nakhoda Mosque
This huge red sandstone mosque was built in 1926 to accommodate 10,000 people.
Marble Palace
Located on MG Road, you can check out this palace for its opulence. This palace
was the home of a rich Bengali landlord in the 1800s. There are some important
statues and paintings on display. There are also beautiful chandeliers, European
antiques, Venetian glass, old pianos and blue china vases which will give you
an idea of the lifestyle of the rich in the 1800s.
Paresnath Jain Temple
This temple, built in 1867, is ornately decorated with Venetian glass mosaics,
chandeliers from Paris and Brussels, a gilded dome, stained glass windows and
mirror inlaid pillars. It is open from 6.00 am to noon and from 3.00 pm to 7.00
pm.
Belur Math
The Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, which was founded
in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna. The temple here, built
in 1938, is a mixture of Hindu, Islamic and Christian architectural styles.
It is opened from October to March from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and
3.30 pm to 6 pm and from April to September from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and from
4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Located on the east bank of the Hoogly, this is the Kali temple where Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa was a priest and where he realized the unity of all religions.
Kali Temple
This interesting temple, 6 km south of Sudder Street, is dedicated to Kali,
the patron goddess of kolkata. Kali means "black". The tongue of the
deity of Kali drips with blood and she wears a garland of skulls. Kali is the
destructive side of Lord Siva’s consort, Parvati. The present temple was built
in 1809 on the site of a much older temple. It is open from 3.00 am to 8.00
pm.
Mother Teresa’s homes
A visit to this place will give your kolkata visit a new dimension. Located
near the Kali Temple, the place is a home for hundreds of destitutes and "the
poorest of the poor" - to quote Mother Teresa herself. You may help the
needy by your contributions.
Botanical Gardens
Acres of greenery, rare species of plants and trees, flowers in bloom, peaceful
surroundings…a perfect way to spend an evening in communion with nature. Situated
on the west side of the river, the garden has the second largest banyan tree
in the world-spread over 10,000 sq. mts and with a 420 mtr trunk, approximately.