Sights to See

JorasankoThakurbari:
Kolkata is the self-proclaimed capital of India’s intellectuals. It is no surprise that the ancestral home of Asia’s first Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore predominantly figures in the list of the city’s attractions. It has now been converted into a museum and learning centre of dance, music and other arts. Built by India’s first and probably greatest industrialist, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, it is the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagore.

Victoria Memorial
The monument which draws the largest crowds to Kolkata is Victoria Memorial, a fine specimen of Indo-Sarsenic architecture and Kolkata’s most recognisable landmark. It houses an excellent collection of Raj memorabilia including paintings and manuscripts. The foundation stone of this domed structure was laid by the King George V, the then Prince of Wales in 1906. You can relive the history of colonial India during a dramatic sound and light show with the grand structure in the background.

Indian Museum
One of the most visited museums in India,Indian Museum is the second largest museum in the country. Known locally as JaduGhar, this eclectic museum is a treasure-trove of artefacts belonging to the different periods of Indian history. Exhibits of the museum include the dinosaur skeleton, replica of the 2nd-century BC BarhutStupa. It is open on all days except Mondays.

Town Hall
Constructed in 1814, this iconic landmark of Kolkata is a fine specimen of this the Doric style of architecture during the British Raj. Home to India’s first high-tech interactive museum, there is a fine spectacle of the lives and times of Kolkatans from the time of the city’s inception.

GPO
Built in 1864, the main or General Post Office of Kolkata is an impressive buildingwith high domed roof. The imposing pillared corridors go extra miles to lend an element of grandeur to the edifice. The adjoining Philatelic Bureau with an impressive collection of Indian stamps over the decades and the Postal Museum with an interesting collection of artefacts from the Indian postalservice are worth a visit.

Marble Palace
Other attraction that will detain you in Kolkata is Raja RajendroMullick’s Marble Palace. Built in 1835, this landmark exudes an old-world charm with its marble walls, floors, antique collections, paintings, floor-to-ceilingmirrors and marble statues. The palace remains closed on Mondays and Thursdays.

Swami Vivekananda’s House
Visitors who travel to Kolkata set off for the hallowed address of 3,GourmohanMukhopadhyay Street.This is Swamiji’sbirthplace and residence has been thrown open to visitors after a thorough renovation. The special attractions are: replica of a Shiva idol worshipped by Vivekananda mother Bhubaneshwari Devi; a museum displaying furniture of the period, with an almirah used by Bhubaneshwari Devi being the cynosure, a computerised library, a seminar hall and research centre, a centre for relief and succour.

Asiatic SocietyFounded in 1784 by 30 leading European citizens of Kolkata with WarrenHastings as patron, the institution is now a leading centre of Ideological Studies in the world. Its collection of about 30,000 manuscripts is anepitome of India’s achievement in different spheres of learning.

ShahidMinar
Also known as the Ochterlony Monument after David Ochterlony, this 158-ft high edifice has 198 steps. It is situated in the Maidan and the area around has now become a centre of political meetings and activities.

Gurusaday Museum of Folk Arts
The rich culture of rural Bengal with its baulsangeet, santhali dance, intricatedokra work has been beautifully exhibited at this museum of folk. The place can be visited between 1100 hrs and 1630 hrs from Tuesdays to Sundays at an entry fee of Rs.10 for Indians and Rs.50 for foreigners.

VidyasagarSetu
It is popularly known as the second Howrah Bridge. Resembling the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, this suspension bridge looks breathtakingly beautiful at sundown when the lights come on.

SagarMela
On the last day of the tenth month of the lunar calendar which is known as the MakarSankranti, a fair is held at the island of Ganga Sagar(120 km from Kolkata) which is at the confluence of the river Ganges with the Bay of Bengal. Known as the SagarMela, it is considered to be very auspicious to take a dip in the sea – water on that day. A huge fair is held on that occasion. Generally the Mela is held on 14th and 15th of January. During the Mela period temporary accommodations are arranged.

Raj Bhavan
This palatial structure was built at the insistence of Lord Wellesley, theGovernor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. Built in the image of the Kedteston Hall in England, the Raj Bhavan was the residence of Governors-General. It has six doors with a statue of a lion on top of the door and the bodies of hominoid lions a little below. It is now the official residenceof the Governor of West Bengal.

TEMPLES, MOSQUES AND CHURCHES
Kalighat Temple
One of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations of the Hindus, this temple is one of the shaktipeeths. Devotees consider their pilgrimage incomplete without a visit to this temple. It is believed to have been originally built 350 years ago.

Belur Math
Situated on the banks of the river Hooghly, this serene temple’s architecture is an interesting and very unusual mix of a church and a mosque. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda, Belur Math is thronged by devotees throughout the year. The museum dedicated to Swami Vivekananda’s life is an added attraction.

Dakshineswar Temple
A true devotee of the Goddess Kali, the Hindu goddess of ‘shakti’, Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa had made this his home. Considered to be among the holiest of Hindu temples, the Dakshineswar Temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims from all strata, particularly on the 1st of January every year during the KalpataruUtsav.

Nakhoda Mosque
Modelled after Emperor Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra near Agra, the red sandstone mosque, the biggest in the country, is said to be able to accommodate 10,000 people.

St. John’s Church
Popularly known as ‘The Stone Church’, this wonderful place of worship, where Job Charnock was buried, is one of the oldest in Kolkata. Following Greek architectural pattern, the 174 ft-high stone tower was built with stones from Ganda and Chunar. The marvellous stained glass windows in the church are worth a mention.

St Paul’s Cathedral
A perfect example of Indo-Gothic architecture, this cathedral is a must-visit during Christmas. The stained glass window is considered to be the best in the country.

Birla Temple
A more recent addition to the city’s pilgrimage points, this temple in south Kolkata attracts all kinds of people, not just pilgrims, through its architectural splendour. Built of marble, this Lord Vishnu temple looks spectacular at night.

Jain Temple
Dedicated to the 10th Jain Tirthankara, this is known as the Jewel Box Temple of Calcutta because of its exquisite mirror work, coloured stone and glass mosaic.

GARDENS, AMUSEMENT PARKS AND OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST 
Botanical Gardens
Best known for its 200-year-old banyan tree that has a circumference of 900 ft and has over 300 aerial roots, the Botanical Garden was laid out in 1787. It is the largest of its kind in India. With the Orchid House, Palm House, a separate area dedicated to various kinds of cacti and home to a wide variety of and some very rare plants brought from all over the world, this garden is a botanist’s delight. Can be visited daily between 0700 hrs and 1700 hrs at a nominal fee of Rs.5.