Places to visit in the city Kolkata
VICTORIA MEMORIAL - Kolkata
 Victoria Memorial is a huge white-marble structure and
the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India.
Built by Lord Curzon in memory of the popular monarch,
Queen Victoria, it is a wonderful example of the Western
style of architecture. The structure, which is now floodlit
in the night, gives a fascinating site. It has been now
converted in a museum that houses the most impressive
collection of memorabilia from the days of Raj. The manuscripts,
paintings and sculptures here are outstanding.
INDIAN MUSEUM - Kolkata
Indian Museum, built in 1874, has a beautiful structure.
The oldest museum in India, it houses a rare collection
of artefacts. The entrance to the museum has an original
Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India. The museum
is open all days of the week except Monday, from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
FORT WILLIAM - Kolkata
 Fort William was constructed in 1781 after the unfortunate
happenings of 1756 in which many British soldiers with
their families were killed by Siraj-Ud-Daula. Large area
around the village of Govindpur was cleared to construct
this fort, which for some time also lent its name to the
city. The fort is still in use and visitors are allowed
inside only after getting special permits. The area around
the fort is a very large patch of green known as the Maidan
(ground). The Maidan is also known as the lung of Kolkata
and stretches 1 km in width and 3 km in length.
EDEN GARDEN - Kolkata
 Eden Garden, located in the northwest corner of the city,
is a small and pleasantly laid-out garden. Once the gathering
place of the social elite of Kolkata, today it houses
the renowned cricket ground by the same name.
BIRLA PLANETARIUM - Kolkata
 Built by the Birla Education Trust, this single-storeyed
circular structure is one of the largest of its kind in
the world. The central dome of the planetarium, with a
diameter of 27 m, is an imitation of the Buddhist stupa
at Sanchi. Regular shows are held here both in English
and Hindi.
KALI MANDIR - Kolkata
Also known as Kalighat, the Kali Mandir is dedicated
to Kali, the Goddess of destruction. This is the temple
from which the old village Kalikata took its name, which,
in turn, also gave the city its name.
HOWRAH BRIDGE - Kolkata
 Howrah Bridge
is an excellent example of engineering techniques of the
early 20th century. The whole bridge is 450 m long without
any pylon in the river. The bridge also has the distinction
of being the busiest bridge in the world catering to around
100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians.
DALHOUSIE SQUARE - Kolkata
Renamed Binoy Badal Dinesh Bagh (also BBD Bagh), Dalhousie
Square is the hub of West Bengal/’s administration and
commerce. This is the site of all the important government
institutions of the state. This is the place that houses
the now famous Writer/’s Building (clerks were known as
writers in the British India) and the old Fort William.
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL - Kolkata
Consecrated in 1847, the St. Paul/’s Cathedral was the
first cathedral church in India. It is an imposing structure
built in the Indo-Gothic style. The cathedral is more
than 60 metres high, nearly 80 metres long and 25 metres
wide, with the distinction of displaying the first stained
glass window in the city. It has many paintings depicting
biblical scenes and a small library of antiquarian books.
MARBLE PALACE - Kolkata
 Built by Rajendra Mallik, the Marble Palace displays
the art forms of Italy, the Netherlands, England, and
other European nations. The interior of the palace—the
floors, walls, and tabletops—are all made of marble. Formerly
known as the Palace of Arts, it was named the Marble Palace
by Lord Minto.
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