A Guide to the Memory Lanes of Kolkata
With the former capital of the Indian subcontinent in colonial era, being heralded as ‘The City of Joy,’ Kolkata is one of the most bustling, cheery, rich yet nostalgic cities in India. With an abundance of sweet shops that sell some of the most delicious delicacies to being a haven for the history buff with its sprawling colonial manors and marble columned heritage monuments, the city has something for every taste. For travellers and hitchhikers who want to get a glimpse of the sunset of British empire, Kolkata is the sojourn.
We have listed here the top 15 places to visit in Kolkata while you are on a trip to the quaint city of Kolkata
Top 15 places to visit in Kolkata
The Indian Museum
If you are curious to know of the bygone days of our origin, this place is definitely your aim. It is the official museum of the city of Kolkata with marble balustrades beckoning the traveller to rest awhile before engaging with the more cultural aspects of the city. A visit to Indian Museum Kolkata will expose you to an exciting collection to boast of with an Egyptian section to boot along with the terracotta figurines which were found all over Bengal and reflect the history of the city.
It was founded in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal to further historical studies into the world of India and to help historians and sociologists get an inkling of the country that they were dealing with. The building is in almost spick and span condition with care taken of the gardens and the archaeological objects. A Dutch botanist started the museum under the British, called Dr Nathaniel Wallich.
Victoria Memorial Hall
When Keats uttered his memorable line, “A Thing of Beauty is A Joy Forever”, he might have seen British gardens along with stately architecture. The building as it is called in Kolkata to be the white building with the fairy at the top is one of the gorgeous examples of colonial-era Indo Western architecture with Grecian columns and a massive statue of The Queen in front, with beautiful gardens to boot all around. Ideal for a picnic near water, the grounds are open to the public and so is the museum inside.
The inside is sparkling and boasts of a vast collection of paintings with one painting that covers from floor to ceiling and is a rarity for a museum. There are swords, daggers and snuff boxes belonging to the Mughals and the British on display along with some rare handwritten Persian books.
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Lord Curzon funded the construction of this memorial which was constructed in the then-popular yet the unique architectural blend of the Mughal and the British Edwardian styles. It is also the space for the Kolkata Literary Festivals that take place every year usually during the winter months. Enjoy a taste of the colonial-era life with a ride in one of the several horse-driven carriages just waiting outside to cater to passengers.
The Howrah Bridge
Zooming past over the Howrah Bridge has been a constant source of enjoyment for even the native folk of Kolkata, let alone tourists. The bridge is central to the heart of the city with the river flowing underneath, giving glimpses of the lives of the boatmen, fishers and the ferry takes passengers way down. The aesthetic quality of the bridge can be seen from the beautiful photographs that it provides to shutter happy tourists from all over the world. Furthermore, your trip to Kolkata cannot be complete without whooshing over the bridge in a traditional yellow taxi or the ever-present General Motors masterpiece that still runs all over the city to retain the past and let it breathe in the fast and new life of the old city. The sixth-longest cantilever bridge in the world, the Howrah Bridge is one of the most important places in Kolkata.
Mullik (Malik) Ghat Flower Market
As a cultural tourist who wants to see a portrayal of the daily lives of the ordinary people of the city of Kolkata, dropping by the flower market at the 130-year-old Malik bazaar is one of the most bizarre and chaotic experiences that you will ever encounter. The Flower Market has hundreds of people selling flowers of different colours and fragrances for the lover, the devotee and the mourner. It is a conglomeration of everything that Kolkata stands for and provides a beautiful opportunity to see how the city functions at an idle yet boisterous manner, with traders selling, shouting and buyers haggling for the best at the lowest.
The assimilation of such a plethora colours is breath-taking and sends tourists on a spree to click as many pictures as possible. You can occasionally spot sellers sitting on the stone steps of the ghats and making garlands out of marigold flowers. The market is filled with sacks that have in excess long garlands of marigolds, yellow, orange and brown, traditionally used in Hindu devotional rituals. However, the occasional roses are sensational as they are vivid.
Mother House
If love, piety and care met their confluence in a single person, it was Mother Teresa. The epitome of selfless motherly love, Mother Teresa or Saint Teresa of Kolkata was the founder of the Missionaries of Charity. She dedicated her life to serving the ill and the castaway people of Kolkata. The institute has her grave, her bedroom and a tiny museum to show her simple life. It displays objects like her handwritten letters, spiritual books, saris, sandals, and her beloved crucifix. Get some time off the humdrum and bustle of daily life and put your mind to peace in this place for meditation and warmth, to contemplate on the transient nature of human life.
New Market or Lindsay Street
Shopaholics, here’s your chance to shop till you drop, and that too at surprisingly affordable prices. New Market is a historically significant place to visit in Kolkata for shopping, built during the colonial period in 1874. This sprawling arcade is home to more than 2,000 stalls, categorically put together in lieu with the type of objects sold. This place has almost everything, and the tourist has only to ask. The site is also well known for the brick buildings and the age-old Aminia restaurant, heaven for Mughlai cuisine and the Jewish bakery shop called Nahoum’s that has been catering to people since forever.
Park Street
The most famous street in all of Kolkata, Park Street (formally called as Mother Teresa Sarani now) is for the clubbing tourist with its promise of entertainment, restaurants, and old historic landmarks. This star-studded street was home to India’s first nightclub and has been the focus of Kolkata’s nightlife since the glorious days of the 1960s. Home to the jazz clubs of Moulin Rouge and Trincas, it will definitely transport you back to the era when the musicians crooned, the wine flowed, and enjoyment was endless.
Birla Planetarium
Prepare to get stunned by one of the most astounding marbled dome structures in Kolkata. It gives out the promise of a star-studded afternoon, taking one on an escape to outer space, with the night sky being shown through projectors and guiding voices, while the amphitheatre is dark yet so beautifully lit with stars. An informative and entertaining space, the planetarium is suitable for children as well as for people who love astronomy.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
One need not be a Christian to visit this cathedral. The St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the very first architectural marvels commissioned by the British Empire in India. This gigantic cathedral was initially known for its gothic style of architecture and is one of the most awaited Kolkata sightseeing places. The interior of the cathedral has the flag emblems initially from the time of the British empire with the names of the different states then. The gardens are also remarkable for walks.
Jorasanko Thakur Bari
Culture connoisseurs, here’s an awe-inspiring legacy to enrich your imagination and intellect. The house of the thakurs to whose family the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore belonged is now a museum that also serves as the Rabindra Bharati University. A sprawling mansion well maintained gardens and literature mark it as a must-visit spot.
College Street
Also called the Boipara (the zone of books), this is the book lover’s paradise with rare and captivating books in tiny stalls all over the place. It has old book shops in pristine antique condition, the well-reputed Presidency University, Hare School and several other colonial colleges all around. College Street is also home to some of the oldest cafes near about like the Indian Coffee House, Paramount and Putiram’s. Stop by for a delectably hot breakfast meal of kachuris and potato curry. For Kolkata visit in one day, this destination should definitely be in your bucket list.
Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens is the largest stadium in India and second in the world. Visit Eden Gardens Kolkata to get a stupefying and electric ambience. The empty grounds roar to life when the fans stand up and cheer for their favourite cricket teams, and it is at that moment a spectacle to watch.
Rabindra Sadan
Rabindra Sadan and the region around it is the art lovers’ bounty. It has everything from fine arts to the theatres to photography to the excellent movies. The art galleries have paintings by Indian maestros, and new contemporary artists on display and Nandan has all the recent plays to watch with affordable ticket pricing.
Alipore Zoological Garden
The Alipore zoological garden is the best place among Kolkata tour destinations to look at beautiful animals and have a little picnic. It is undoubtedly one of the perfect places to go to in Kolkata with family and friends. Children especially enjoy looking at the various games of the animals.
Fort William
Called after King William III, this fort is one of the oldest buildings of the British Presidency in India. The defence is located on the River Hooghly’s eastern banks and is a major attraction for tourists in Kolkata. It is currently the headquarters of the Army and a spectacle during Independence Day on 15th August.
Before we take our leave, let us inform you about the origin behind Kolkata’s title of “City of Joy”. The real faces of Kolkata are its warm-hearted people, with radiant smiles on their faces as they receive you to their beloved city with open arms. Prepare to be amazed as you stroll down the labyrinthine alleys of Kolkata or ride the city’s own Hogwarts Express, the tram, a train on the road. You will occasionally be halted for a delectable treat of street food, or if you have a friend who resides here, a taste of the authentic Bengali cuisine to fill your taste buds with ingenious flavours. Hence, do not hesitate and pack your bags to prepare for a quintessentially Kolkata tour experience.
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