Places To Visit In Kolkata

The city of Kolkata which has been honoured with various titles like ‘The City of Processions’ and ‘The City of Joy’ offers a plethora of places of interest to the visitors, most of which lie on the east bank of the Hooghly River.

Hooghly Riverside

A great place to start Kolkata tourism is the riverbank along the Hooghly River. One may start tourism in Kolkata from the Prinsep Ghat where a memorial built in memory of James Prinsep, a versatile English officer, stands tall and floodlit.

Prinsep Ghat was constructed in 1843, that is, during the Colonial period. Today it is one of the most visited ghats in Kolkata by both localites and tourists.

Prinsep Ghat is a great place to start the morning walk. The serene Hooghly riverside, is the ideal place to start your day when the city is just picking up the pace. In the evening it is bustling with activity and has a different charm altogether.

Lovers sit hand-in-hand, groups of boys just hang around, a few come for evening walk while others come to sit by the river and have some quiet soulful time. One can also go for boat ride in the Hooghly.

Closeby is a jetty called Man-O-War jetty commemorating the importance of the port during World War II. Man-O-War jetty is used primarily by Indian Navy and is not open to the tourists.

Moving ahead along the Hooghly Riverside are a number of ghats like Jagannath Ghat, Outram Ghat, Baboo Ghat.

Of these while most ghats were built by or named after the rich zamindars during the British Raj, Baboo Ghat near Eden Gardens is of special interest as it is named after Baboo Rajchandra Das, a rich landlord during the British Raj and husband of Rani Roshmani.

Rani Roshmani was a daring, independent and fierce but at the same time generous and fair woman who took charge of the family business after her husband’s demise.

Her stories of valour and brave acts against the British are well-known and retold of which the favourite remains of when she took a bold step to help the local fishermen regain their livelihood when the British had imposed taxes on fishing in the waters of the Hooghly.

Cleverly Rani Rashmoni leased a part of the Riverside and bounded it with massive chains barring the East India Company’s ships from sailing along the river. This forced the British to cancel the taxes.

Rani Rashmoni was a great social worker and founded the Dakshineshwar Temple which is one of the popular tourist places to visit in Kolkata today.

Ghats are best visited in the mornings or evenings when devotees are seen offering their prayers & offerings. The floating lamps add to the mesmerising view of the overbridge, an impressive giant suspension bridge named Vidyasagar Setu.

Vidyasagar Setu

Vidyasagar Setu was named after country’s great freedom fighter and education reformer, Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The foundation stone for the bridge was laid down by Mrs Indira Gandhi, the only Indian woman prime minister, on 20 May 1972 and commissioned about 22 years later on 10 October 1992.

At the time, Vidyasagar Setu was the largest bridge of its kind in India and the third largest in the world.

Vidyasagar Setu was built to share the traffic load on Howrah Bridge, the busiest bridge of its kind in the world.

Vidyasagar Setu is a toll bridge probably because of which the daily traffic does not reach its maximum capacity and Howrah Bridge remains the way it was, busiest!

Howrah Bridge

About 700m South of Vidyasagar Setu gleams the iconic Howrah Bridge, a structural marvel with immense heritage value.

Howrah Bridge was built in 1939 as a logistic solution to link the city of Howrah with Calcutta, hence referred to as the Gateway of Kolkata.

Howrah Bridge is a 3.7 km long cantilever bridge and was the longest bridge of its kind at the time.        

Decades after its construction Howrah Bridge remains the busiest bridge of its kind in the world.

To ease out the congestion on Howrah Bridge two sister bridges were constructed later, Vidyasagar setu and Nivedita setu.

However, Howrah Bridge still maintains the reputation of being the busiest bridge on the world.

Till few years ago, Calcutta’s famous British era trams also ran over the Howrah Bridge. Today it bears only heavy road traffic.

Park Street

Park Street is the most happening area in Kolkata. Starting from Chowringhee road and ending at Park Circus, Park Street alongwith the surrounding area is the heartbeat of Kolkata and a must-visit!

Park Street offers a number of options in good restaurants, pubs, bars, discs, lounges and cafes.

Park Street proudly houses a few of the very old and popular restaurants like Moulin Rouge, Peter Cat etc.

Park Street was a hub of entertainment activities even during the British Raj.

Many renowned musicians and singers have entertained the guests at popular night spots like Moulin Rouge, Blue Fox, Mocambo and Trinca’s.

Several important roads originate from or intersect Park Street like Middleton Row, Camac Street, Wood Street and Loudon street etc.

From the Chowringhee end of the Park Street to Mullick Bazaar, Park Street is lined with both happening and elite restaurants and night clubs as well as roadside vendors selling books, street food, stationery and trinkets.

Further ahead there are sparkling saree shops, notable buildings, educational institutions, like one of the oldest colleges here St Xavier’s College, and the last thing one would expect here, a cemetery, the South Park Street Cemetery. Park Street cemetery was opened in 1767 to ease out the load on old burial ground in the heart of the city.

The road leading to the cemetery came to be known as Burial Ground Road. Later when Chief Justice Sir Elijah Impey built a Deer Park around Vansittart’s Garden House, the road was renamed as the Park Street as if lifting the bad omen.

Park Street Cemetery was arguably the largest Christian cemetery, at the time, outside Europe and America and one of the first non-Church cemeteries in the world.

The cemetery is home to the graves of many notable Britishers who served here during the colonial period. Amongst others lie here Sir William Jones founder of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta and son of famous author Charles Dickens. The tombs are impressive and display a mix of Gothic and Indo-Saracenic style.  Later the cemetery was closed due to lack of burial space.

Today, Park Street Cemetery is a heritage site preserved by the ASI.

Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens stadium is one of the iconic structures of Kolkata, the others being Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu. Eden Gardens Stadium is one of the best cricket stadiums in the world and for which all cricket fans know Kolkata.

However what is little known is the fact that the stadium was named after the 50 acres of lush green garden called Eden Gardens.

Eden Gardens were laid in 1841 by Lord Auckland, the then governor general, who named it after his dear sisters Emily and Fanny Eden.

Eden Gardens were probably inspired by the Eden Gardens mentioned in Bible where Adam and Eve were sent by God and which were meant to be a Paradise on earth had Adam and Eve abided by the God’s rulings.

 Eden Gardens Kolkata indeed gives a heavenly feel to the visitors with its lush greenery and ambient environs.

The pathways are lined by tall green trees of mahogany, mango and neem and the green grass soothes the eyes.

During the colonial period, Eden Gardens, along with the Hooghly river banks along the Strand Road and Esplanade, was the hub of recreational activities. Close by, within the Eden Garden Complex, is Netaji Indoor Stadium.

While entry into the Eden Gardens is free, entry to the stadium is permitted with tickets only during cricket matches and exhibitions held here.

Hogg Market

Hogg Market, Kolkata, is one of the core shopping places in Kolkata. Situated in the heart of the city, Hogg market is located just off the Chowringhee Road on Lindsay Street.

Hogg Market was built in 1874 with great contribution from Sir Stuart Hogg, a British civil servant and the then Chairman of Calcutta Corporation, and hence came to be known as Sir Stuart Hogg Market which was shortened over time to Hogg Market.

Hogg Market was the elite market in Calcutta during British Raj and catered to all the needs of the Britishers. Today, though Kolkata has a number of westernised shopping malls and markets, Hogg Market remains popular among both locals and tourist.

One can find almost anything and everything under the roof of this red brick building. Hogg Market has around 2000 shops divided in 7 blocks.

Hogg Market is a labyrinth of lanes! For the new visitor Hogg Market is easy to get lost in without local guidance. The lanes in Hogg market are, though not so clearly, divided into selling specific items like crockery, flowers, linen, food items etc.

Back in 1985 Hogg Market was badly burnt due to a massive fire. Hogg Market however soon renovated and came back even stronger.

Around the concrete red building of Hogg market are hundreds of vendors selling everything from cheap cosmetics, artificial jewellery, clothes and toys to handicraft items.

Many local as well as International brands have opened showrooms in New Market around Hogg Market. Sreeleathers, a well-known name in Kolkata selling leather products is also located here. CCD, Barista, KFC, Bombay Dyeing and many more have their outlets in close vicinity. Shree Ram Arcade and Treasure Island are popular malls around, known for clothes shopping.

Like any other market in Kolkata, New Market also has a number of vendors selling street food.

Kalighat

Kalighat is one of the oldest river banks in Kolkata, probably the one after which the city was named Calcutta. Kalighat is home to the holiest Hindu spot of Kolkata, the Kali Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali.

Kali Temple, at Kalighat in Kolkata, is one of the 51 Shakti peethas where parts of Sati’s burning body had fallen when irated Lord Shiva performed Tandava holding it in his arms. Kalighat is where the right toe is said to have fallen.

Kalighat Temple was originally located on old course of river Hooghly (Bhagirathi/Ganga) which has changed its course overtime. Today, instead a small canal called Adi Ganga, meeting the Hooghly, flows along Kalighat Temple.

Area surrounding Kalighat Temple has a number of crowded alleys lined with shops selling brass idols, flowers, prayer offerings, religious artefacts and pictures & idols of goddess Kali. Kalighat Temple is one of rare Hindu temples where goats are sacrificed.

Hordes of devotees and pilgrims throng Kalighat temple to offer prayers to the Goddess seeking fulfillment of their wishes. The Goddess is believed to bless her devotees and grant their wishes who then return to thank her for her kindness.

The temple structure is only about 200 years old while the site is many many centuries old and has been mentioned in Hindu epics.

Kolkata Zoo

Kolkata zoo is said to be one of the best zoos in India. Spread across 16 hectares, the zoo is located in Alipore, a posh historic locality with palatial mansions from British times. Kolkata zoo was first opened in 1875. Locals throng the zoo in groups for day picnic during the weekends.

Home to big cats and a range of other animals, Alipore Zoo was home to a 200 year old giant tortoise named Adwaita which died in 2006. Adwaita was once a pet of Robert Clive, a ruthless British officer who was sent from London to strengthen offense against Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-Ud-Daula, after he had conquered the Old Fort William and assaulted the inhabitants in the infamous Black Hole incident of Calcutta.

Science City

Science City, Kolkata, is one of the popular places to visit in Kolkata. Science City, Kolkata is the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent.

Conceptualised in 1997 by Saroj Ghose, the first Director General of NCSM (National Council of Science Museums), Science City, Kolkata, was inaugurated in two phases.

The first phase was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Inder Kumar Gujral, while the foundation stone for second phase of Science City was laid in 2010 by the then Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh.

An important landmark in Kolkata, Science City is located at the crossing of EM bypass (Eastern Metroplitan bypass) and JBS Haldane Avenue.

Science City, Kolkata, has various attractions for both kids as well as adults.

Earth Exploration Hall, Science City, Kolkata

Earth Exploration Hall is an exciting unique exhibition on earth. Inaugurated in 2008, Earth Exploration Hall represents features of our blue planet in a very interesting manner.

Earth Exploration Hall welcomes the visitors with a huge globe in the centre. The two storeys of this hemispherical building of Earth Exploration Hall represent the two hemispheres of Earth, the ground floor representing Southern Hemisphere and the first floor representing Northern Hemisphere.

Dividing the earth into 12 longitudinal segments for each hemisphere, all important features of each segment like geography, flora, fauna, and, soil etc are presented to visitors in an interactive manner.

Space Odyssey, Science City, Kolkata

Space Odyssey is probably one of the most interesting attractions in Science City, Kolkata, as it houses a Time Machine, a 3D Theatre, Mirror Magic and various exhibits on Space and Solar System.

Entry Fee for 3D Theatre in Space Odyssey: INR 30.00

Entry Fee for Time Machine in Space Odyssey: INR 20.00

Evolution Park, Science City, Kolkata

Evolution Park is undoubtedly children’s favourite! With a walk through the evolution of life, Evolution Park displays giant forms of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

Maritime Centre, Science City, Kolkata

Maritime Centre in Science City, Kolkata, was developed by Science City in collaboration with Kolkata Port Trust. Shaped like a ship, Maritime Centre has a permanent exhibition on history of maritime in India.

In Maritime Centre, replicas and smaller models of ships, boats and several other sea vessels are on display representing evolution of the same over years.

Dynamotion Hall, Science City, Kolkata

Dynamotion hall in Science City, Kolkata, is for those who like to understand the basic fundamental of Science. Here one can gain better understanding of things by experimenting live.

This is not all! There is a butterfly garden displaying evolution and life cycle of different types of larvae and their defence mechanism against their predators.

Then there is a musical fountain which is a feast to the eyes. Also there is a Children’s Play Corner, Caterpillar ride, Road train, Gravity Coaster, Monorail Cycle and Cable Cars.

Entry Fee for Road Train: INR 15

Entry Fee for Monorail Cycle: INR 15

Entry Fee for Gravity Coaster: INR 30

Entry Fee for Cable Cars:  INR 30

Entry Fee for Caterpillar: INR 10

With so much to offer for everyone, Science City remains one of the popular places to visit in Kolkata.

Entry Fee for Science City, Kolkata: INR 40