Heritage Places in Kolkata
Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial is a beautiful heritage monument standing tall with pride amid lush green lawns.
Victorial Memorial today is the most important landmark in the city of Kolkata. Driving or walking past this splendid monument, Victoria Memorial is hard to miss. Standing close to Maidan on Queen’s way, Victoria Memorial beckons the tourists to visit and appreciate its beauty.
Built in memory of Queen Victoria, Victoria Memorial houses many galleries displaying traces of history. While many galleries in Victoria Memorial are worthseeing, the Kolkata Gallery deserves special attention with the history of this metro city on display.
Victoria Memorial was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1901. The concept of Victoria Memorial was conceived by Lord Curzon, in 1905, who went on to build many splendid monuments during British Raj. The construction of Victoria Memorial was completed in 1921.
This beautiful white marble structure with domes bears a resemblance to the famous Taj Mahal built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Around the Victoria Memorial
As you step out of Victoria Memorial’s North Gate and cross Queen’s way to hit the hawker-lined footpath, you witness a beautiful play of musical fountains dancing with pride.
Extend your gaze a little far and you see a 3 km long huge ground called ‘Maidan’.
If you happen to visit Victoria memorial on a weekend you will see thousands of children playing cricket or football.
Along the footpath are a number of hawkers selling street food, ice creams, balloons, toys etc.
Closeby, at the end of the Queen’s way towards the right, is one of the world’s largest planetariums, Birla Planetarium.
Close to the Victoria Memorial’s East Gate is the Cathedral of St Paul.
Down Southwards on the Cathedral Road is the Academy of Fine Arts which is bustling with activity on most of the days.
Fort Williams
Not very far from Victoria Memorial is the Fort William which is still an army Cantonment. Being so, Fort William is not open to tourists and can only be driven or walked past.
The Fort William we see today is not the original Fort William. The original Fort William was where, stands the building of GPO today. It was the old Fort William that was captured by the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daula and where the infamous Black Hole incident of Calcutta had occurred.
Later, realising the need of a more secure and stronger fort, the British built another fort and named it Fort William again. The new Fort William was built with various security measures including including a large moat all around which was fed by the water of closeby Hooghly River.
Also, Maidan, where lies the heart of the children who come to play cricket here, once existed a village called Govindapur, which was flattened to give clear view of enemy to English soldiers and clear shot to the British cannons.
Raj Bhavan
Moving North from Eden garden are a number of historical buildings, a few of which are important tourist attractions while others are in use by government so under restricted access.
Like Raj Bhavan is the official abode of the governor of West Bengal. This historical building was built in 1803 by Lord Wellesley as The Government House which later became the ruling chair of the viceroy of India. Post-independence it became the official residence of governor of West Bengal.
Raj Bhavan compound spans an area of about 27 acres which is bounded by six gates 1 in North, 1 in South and 2 in each of East and West. One can take splendid views of Raj Bhavan from North and South Gates. Photography from outside the gate is permissible however the entry is restricted.
Town Hall
Another stately building close by is the Town Hall. Constructed in 1814 with a fund raised from public lottery, Town Hall was built as a place for social gatherings during the British Raj.
Town Hall, Kolkata, has been a witness to a number of historical events both pre and post-independence. This two storied building was built in Doric style of architecture and was used for social gatherings, balls, concerts and meetings during British era.
It was here in Town Hall that AJC Bose conducted his experiment on wireless communication before public in 1898.
Post-independence many prominent Indian figures like Amartya Sen and Gordimer delivered lectures here.
Town Hall Kolkata was renovated in 1990s after eminent figures raised demands for its restoration. Post renovation Town Hall came out even better with Kolkata Museum on its ground floor and the first floor being used for cultural functions, exhibitions, lectures, seminars or even felicitation of Nobel Prize winners.
BBD Bagh (Binoy, Badal and Dinesh Bagh) or Dalhousie square
Moving further North from Raj Bhavan is one of the oldest areas of Kolkata called BBD Bagh or Dalhousie square. BBD Bagh is a square area with a water body called Lal Dighi at its centre. Since the existence of Lal Dighi can be traced back to the settlement of Armenians, that is, before Job Chanock’s arrival, it’s evident that Lal Dighi is one of the oldest areas of Kolkata.
Originally called Dihi Kolkata, area was named as Dalhousie square during the British Raj and was later renamed as BBD Bagh after three Indian freedom fighters Binoy, Badal and Dinesh who fought an intense battle with a police contingent and killed the notorious IG prisons, N.S.Simpsons in the nearby Writer’s Building. BBD Bagh area is surrounded by many important buildings.
Writer’s Building
Towards the North of BBD area is the historic Writer’s Building where the Indian freedom fighters Binoy, Badal and Dinesh, assassinated the notorious IG of prisons, N.S.Simpsons.
Writer’s Building was built in 1777 as an ordinary barrack like structure for the clerks of British East India Company, hence its name, the Writer’s Building.
Writer’s Building was later renovated in 1889, and adorned with Corinthian-like Renaissance façade, when it was to become the seat of British power in Bengal. Today, Writer’s Building is the seat of State Government of Bengal and hence, entry to Writer’s Building is restricted for visitors.
G.P.O
G.P.O (General Post Office), Kolkata, is a heritage building situated right in the heart of BBD area. This is actually where the original Fort William stood and the Black Hole incident of Calcutta took place.
The present building of G.P.O was built in 1864, in Victorian style, and stands tall with pride flaunting its impressive golden dome. G.P.O, Kolkata, today is an important landmark in the city and also lures tourist with its philatelic museum.
Amongst the many other buildings around the area those of historical significance are The Treasury and St John’s Church.
National Library
The city of Kolkata is home to a prized possession, the National Library of India. Spread across 30 acres of Belvedere Street estate, National Library is located near Alipore Zoo in Kolkata.
National Library, India, is the largest library in the country. National Library has a vast range of books, estimated at about 2.2 million, in Indian regional and foreign languages.
National Library India is run under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. National Library is assigned the task of collecting, publishing and preserving the printed material produced in the country.
National Library is also home to many rare books, manuscripts and microfilms. Though the rare ones cannot be taken home National Library provides reading facility for the same.
National Library also owns a rich collection of Indian official documents from the days of East India Company and receives all newspapers and periodicals in Indian languages. And this is not all! There is an extensive collection of maps from 17th century onwards.
Management of such a vast collection must have been quite a task till 1988 when the modernization and computerization of the library began.
Membership of National Library
National Library offers three types of membership - Reading Room Membership, Lending Membership and Daily Card Membership.
Reading membership
National Library has various dedicated reading rooms for reading members. Rare books, manuscripts, Indian and foreign documents are not lent and can only be read there and returned.
Reading membership charges: Free
Reading membership age limit: 18 years
Application procedure: Fill a prescribed form with a recommendation
Note: No formal membership is needed for children. Books from children’s library are not lent out. Children can simply sign in a register and avail reading facilities.
Lending membership
Under Lending Membership one can borrow a book for a period of 14 days which can be extended for another 14 days by phone, by post or personally.
Lending membership charges of National Library: Nil. However, one has to deposit 1 and a half time of the price of the book borrowed, which will be returned at the time of cancellation of membership.
Note: A fine of INR 1 per book per day is charged for late return.
Interestingly, residents of cities other than Kolkata can also borrow books from National Library through post. In this case, postal charges for both ways are to be paid by the borrower. National Library sends books through VPP and the books are to be returned by the borrower only through registered post.
Daily Card Membership
Those visiting or in need of reading membership for just couple of days or so, may ask for a Delhi membership card at the reading room.
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War Memorials
Rohilla Monument
Rohilla monument is on the premises of St. John’s Church. This 200 years old monument was built to commemorate the soldiers killed in the war against the Afghans in 1793.
General Abercromby had led the British forces in the Second Rohilla War in which 25000 Rohilla soldiers were killed.
The memorial is 15 metres high with a hemi-spherical roof which rests on 12 pillars. The plaque placed near the base of the memorial commemorates the soldiers killed in the Afghan war.
Glorious Dead Cenotaph
Glorious Dead Cenotaph lies just a few hundred meters from the famous Eden Gardens, in the Maidan area next to Indira Gandhi Sarani.
The memorial was built to commemorate the British soldiers who laid down their lives during the World War I (1914-1918).
The structure of Glorious Dead Cenotaph, Kolkata, is a replica of the Cenotaph in White Hall, London. This sandstone monument has a brick pattern with ‘The Glorious Dead’ inscribed on its eastern side.
The original brass plaques bearing names of the soldiers were removed in 1959 and moved to St. John’s Church.
Gwalior Monument
Gwalior Monument is built like a viewing gallery on the Hooghly riverfront, just about hundred metres from the Prinsep Ghat and next to the bathing ghat.
The Hooghly riverfront is popular with morning walkers and area is packed in the evening with a large number of families and young couples although the gates of the monument remain locked.
Gwalior monument is also known as Ellenborough’s folly. This octagonal shaped cenotaph is about 60 feet high. Adorned with a bronze dome, this memorial was built in 1847 by the then Governor-General of India, Lord Ellenborough, in the memory of the officers and men who died during the Gwalior War in 1843.
Interestingly, the bronze used to build the dome came from the bronze of the guns and cannons captured from the Marathas in 1843.
The memorial was designed by Colonel H Goodwyn of Bengal Engineers and constructed by Jessore and Co.
Armenian Genocide Memorial
Armenian Genocide Memorial is located in the premises of Armenian Church, Barabazaar. The memorial was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the genocide of Armenians which took place at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.
The Armenian community built the memorial in 1465. As per historical records, 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1918.
The first Armenian settlers came to Bengal in the 16th century. A small Armenian community still lives in this metropolitan city of Kolkata.
Bengali War Memorials
The Bengali War Memorial is on College Street, located at the entrance of the east gate of College Square. The memorial is built in the memory of the Bengali warriors who laid down their lives fighting for British during the World War I.
The pillar has the inscription ‘In memory of member of The 49th Bengalee Regiment who died in the Great War, 1914-1918, To the Glory of God, King and Country.’
On the other three sides, the names, ranks and districts of the soldiers are inscribed.
Lascar War Memorial
Lascar War Memorial was built in the memory of 896 Lascars who lost their lives during World War I. Lascars were sailors from Indian subcontinent employed on European ships.
Lascar War Memorial is a hundred feet tall monument situated on Napier Road near Prinsep Ghat. William Ingram Keir who also designed the Khidderpore Bridge designed this monument.
Mr William Ingram also designed the Shibpur Bengal Engineering and Science University. Visitors to the memorial are allowed in the morning hours.
