Neighborhood of Kolkata in West Bengal, India
Photo: Matt Stabile, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
BBD Bagh (বিবাদী বাগ Bibādī Bāg), short of Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh (বিনয়-বদল-দীনেশ বাগ Binoy-Bādol-Dīnesh Bāg), is the colonial-era precinct of Kolkata. Formerly known as Dalhousie Square or simply Dalhousie, the district takes a visitor back to the British Raj era with nostalgic overtones. Once the core of the British rule till 1911, the district remains an administrative centre of West Bengal, along with Central Park and Shibpur.
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লোকভবন Lōkbhobon
The official residence of the Governor of West Bengal appointed by the President of India, formerly the Raj Bhavan (রাজভবন Rājbhaban). It was built in 1803 as the Government House (লাটভবন Lāṭbhaban), modelled on Lord Curzon’s home, Keddleston Hall in England. There are many rare works of art and other interesting items.
GPO
Notable for its imposing high domed roof (rising over 220 ft) and tall Ionic-Corinthian pillars. It was built in 1868, at the site of the old Fort William, and has remained an important landmark of the city ever since.
মহাকরণ Mohākoroṇ
The landmark administrative building of Kolkata, designed by Thomas Lyon in 1777. It originally served as the principal administrative office for writers (junior clerks) of the British East India Company (EIC). The building became famous for its involvement with three youngsters who dared to challenge the British rule in 1930. Since India's independence in 1947, it has housed the office of the Chief Minister, cabinet ministers and other senior officials.
National Gallery of Modern Art
A three-storey Italianate structure, consisting of floors covered by marble and Chunar sandstone. During its use as a currency office, the central hall contained the exchange counters for banknotes, gold, silver, and small change. It was converted into a modern art gallery on 11 January 2020.
One of the few museums in India that covers the evolution of money in the country, from the earliest barter system and the use of cowries to paper money, coins, stock markets and modern-day electronic transactions. It is hosted in the old building of the Reserve Bank of India.
the one beside the GPO
কলকাতা হাইকোর্ট Kolkātā Hāikōrṭ
The oldest high court in India, and a scene of legendary legal battles even today. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in 1862. The building was built in the Gothic architectural style, and was exactly copied from the Staadhans (Cloth Hall) in Ypres, Belgium.
বিধানসভা ভবন Bidhānsōbhā Bhōbōn
The building houses the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
বাবুঘাট Bābughāṭ
The second-oldest surviving ghat in Kolkata, originally named "Baboo Raj Chandra Ghat" after the husband of Rashmoni Dasi, better known as Rani Rashmoni. She built it in 1830 in memory of her late husband. The landing berth of the ghat has a tall colonial structure, with a fine Doric style pavilion and tall columns. Sadly, thanks to the day bustle for bathing, rituals and leisure, the pavilion today is completely encroached by vendors and priests. The section of Babughat originally meant for women's bathing has turned into a garbage point. The ghat is also used for immersing idols, as well as Chhath. Furthermore, Babughat is a major transport hub of the city, being served by bus, ferry and local train.
Built in 1813, in the Doric style of architecture, it is now the City Magistrate’s Office. It hosts a museum and a library. The museum depicts the history of Kolkata and adjacent areas. The library contains the collection of rare books and journals on Kolkata, purchased from Keralite P. T. Nair, who once fell in love of the metropolis so much that he spent most of his life there, then he returned to Kerala.
Regional headquarters of State Bank of India (SBI), the oldest bank of India. It was founded on 2 June 1806 as the Bank of Calcutta, mainly to fund General Wellesley's wars against Tipu Sultan and the Marathas. The bank was renamed to Bank of Bengal in 1809, then Imperial Bank of India in 1921 and then State Bank of India in 1955. The building contains State Bank Archives and Museum, an initiative to document and preserve the history of banking in India. The museum contains original documents, memorabilia, statues, artefacts, dioramas and murals on public display. It also provides a peek into the personal finances of influential Bengali Renaissance figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Annie Besant.
Contains a heritage gallery.
A philatelic museum beside the GPO, housed in the ground floor of a red building. It is dedicated to the history of postal services and the contributions of runners, who delivered mail from one place to another. The museum has a collection of various knives that the runners carried for self-defence. It also has a wide collection of stamps and letters, along with a signature of Rabindranath Tagore on his Santiniketan passbook. There are also signatures of CV Raman and portraits of many other individuals who once worked for the Indian postal service.
A museum showcasing the heritage of the Port of Kolkata, with some wonderful models of ships once used by the port..
মেটকাফ হল Meṭkāph Hol
A neoclassical heritage building, with its ground floor housing the Asiatic Society's rare foreign journals and manuscripts section, while the first floor houses offices, exhibition galleries, and a sales counter of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It preserves the rich legacy of music, painting, theatre, and cinema of Bengal. There are photos and hand-drawn posters of old Calcutta on the walls along the stairs. The exhibition gallery features old images of docks, College Street, Durga idols, etc. It also has dedicated corners for old Bengali films, theatres, and instruments.
বেথ এল সিনাগগ Beth El Sināgog
Built in 1787, St John's Church is the third-oldest church in Kolkata and the oldest Anglican Church in the city. Its compound contains several graves including that of Job Charnock.
A government-run cruise along the Hooghly River, covering the age-old heritage of Kolkata along the river, covering some of the important historic sites of the city for one and a half hours. The ride starts from the Millennium Park Jetty, and then moves northward till Ahiritola, covering the east bank of the river. After that, it takes a u-turn to cover the west bank, including the heritage sites of Howrah before returning to the beginning spot. The upper deck hosts a live music band with old Bengali songs, Rabindra Sangeet and others. The café in the cruise sells light refreshments like tea, coffee, chips, biscuits, cakes and some snacks.
মিলেনিয়াম পার্ক Mileniyām Pārk
A beautiful park at the riverfront, inaugurated on 26 December 1999 and opened to the general public on the 1 January 2000. Developed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the park is known for scenic views of the Hooghly River, with several ferries and boats roaming around the river.
Inaugurated in 1975, it can accommodate 12,000 people. The Netaji Indoor Stadium hosts a wide range of activities, from sporting events to cultural programmes. It is a venue for both national and international trade fairs.
The first café inside a post office in India, offering a blend of café and postal service, although it's more about its vintage postal vibe than a big meal. It also has a gift shop and takeaway service.
A two-tier floating restaurant and nightclub on the Hooghly River. The lower deck hosts a lively nightclub after sunset, and is open to people above 21. Whereas the upper deck offers multi-cuisine dining with craft cocktails and global fare, and is open to all. Overall, the vessel provides a mix of food, music, river views and hangout.
গ্রেট ইস্টার্ন Greṭ Isṭārn
Built in 1841, the Great Eastern Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Kolkata. The hotel has housed many famous personalities including Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin, Elizabeth II, Mark Twain, Dave Brubeck and possibly Ho Chi Minh.
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Kolkata · International · CCU
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