Introduction :
Dominique Lapierre’s ‘City of Joy,’ the city of Kolkata,
formerly known as Calcutta is more than 300 years old. This span has
witnessed its development into one of the world’s most densely peopled
metropolises. And yet, there is something undoubtedly special about
Calcutta. For, it combines the past and the present on a covetous plane. It
amalgamates the traditional and the modern, and brings the intense and the
frivolous together. At one level Calcutta is always in transition, and at
another, it is firmly anchored to a tradition and culture quite uniquely its
own.
Kolkata is the current capital of the state of West Bengal, and was also
the first capital of the British in India. It was established in 1686 when
the British shifted their operations to the small villages of Govindpur,
Sutanati, and Kalikata from their trading port of Hooghly. It flourished and
prospered until in 1756 Siraj-Ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) attacked the town
and drove the British away. Lord Clive then later regained control of
Kolkata and until 1911, it remained the capital of the British government in
India. Having been the centre of power of the British for so long has given
Kolkatta a unique culture and heritage, that is quite unlike any other city
in India.
Tourist Attractions in Kolkata :
Some
of the important places worth visiting in Kolkata are listed below.
» The Victoria Memorial - The Victoria Memorial was
built by Lord Curzon in memory of Queen Victoria and is a fine huge
white-marble structure. It is now a museum that houses the most impressive
collection of memorabilia from the days of the Raj.
» The Howrah Bridge - The Howrah Bridge is a 450 m
long bridge without any pylon in the river and has the distinction of being
the busiest bridge in the world catering to around 100,000 vehicles and
innumerable pedestrians. It is an excellent example of engineering
techniques of the early 20th century.
» Eden Garden - Eden Garden is a small and
pleasantly laid-out garden that was once the gathering place of the social
elite. It today houses the renowned cricket ground by the same name.
» The Kali Mandir - Also known as Kalighat, the Kali
Mandir is dedicated to Kali, the Goddess of destruction and is a frequented
tourist destination.
» Fort William - Fort William was constructed in
1781 and is still in use. The large patch of green around the fort is known
as the Maidan (ground), or the lung of Kolkata. It stretches for a distance
of 3 km and is 1 km wide.
» Birla Planetarium - The Birla Planetarium is a
single-storied circular structure that is one of the largest of its kind in
the world. Its central dome is an imitation of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi.
» Marble Palace - The Marble Palace exhibits
art forms of Italy, the Netherlands, England and other European nations. The
interiors of the palace-the floors, walls, and tabletops-are all made of
marble.
» Indian Museum - The Indian Museum is the oldest
museum in India, which was built in 1874. The entrance to the museum has an
original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India and the museum itself is
home to a rare collection of artefacts.
» Dalhousie Square - Dalhousie Square, which was
renamed Binoy Badal Dinesh Bagh (also BBD Bagh), is the hub of West Bengal’s
administration and commerce. All important government institutions of the
state are located here.
Excursions in Kolkata :
Some
of the famous excursions sites near Kolkata are :
» Shanti Niketan - Shanti Niketan, Tagore’s
university township, is a must on any itinerary that plots Bengal as a
stopover. The hot springs here are famous for curing many chronic diseases.
» Belur Math - The Belur Math is the headquarters of
Ramakrishna Mission. It is a universal place of pilgrimage, visited by
people belonging to diverse castes and creeds. It is committed to social
service, religious harmony, spiritual attainment and renunciation.
» Dakshineshwar Temple - The Dakshineshwar Temple is
dedicated to Goddess Kali, and was the dwelling place of Ramakrishna
Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, most of his life.
» Botanical Gardens - The main attraction of the
Botanical Gardens, which cover an area of 110 hectares, is a 250-year-old
banyan tree (Ficus bengalhensis), which is 98 feet high and over 1,300 feet
in circumference.
» Bishnupur - Bishnupur’s is renowned for its
crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa (circular Indian
playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artefacts. It has a
rich architecture, music tradition and handicraft legacy of pottery and
weaving. Some unique terracotta temples can be found here.
How to Reach Kolkata :
Kolkata is well connected with direct domestic airlines services to and
from Kolkata to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. there
are also direct flights to most of the countries in the Southeast Asia. The
airport is situated at Dumdum, about 17 km northeast of the city center.
Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta. The city has
two major railway stations-one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah. Kolkata
is also connected with most of the Indian cities by road.
We offer complete Travel to Kolkata (Calcutta) and Tour Packages Kolkata
(Calcutta) to the versatile city of Kolkata that are inclusive of hotel
booking, air booking services as well as cab and car hire services for the
entire duration of your stay there. Our Kolkata tour packages are convenient
and cost effective travel options that offer you unique opportunities to get
an insight into the heritage and culture of this old city.
Important Travel Information :
Kolkata can justly be described as the shopping paradise for those who want
excellent bargains. For, Kolkata is teeming with markets, which might be
crowded and dusty, but have their own history and specialize in exotic and
unique items.
The Calcutta Book Fair is the largest book fair in Asia and provides ample
opportunities to explore the fascinating world of books. It is held in the
month of January or February every year.
The city has uniform temperature throughout the year due to proximity to
the sea. Temperature range from 12-27°C in the winter and 24-38°C
in the summer. Humidity can be very high during the summers.
Cultural
Tours in India
