Places

2. HOWRAH BRIDGE

The fourth busiest Cantilever bridge in the world – Howrah Bridge is probably the first suggestion you will get when you ask about the best places to visit in Kolkata. The celebrated landmark built upon River Hooghly acts as a gateway to Kolkata and connects the eastern Bank of Howrah to the western banks of Kolkata. The construction of this architecturally brilliant bridge was initiated in 1939 and the bridge was renamed as Rabindra Setu to honour the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1965. About 90,000 vehicles and hundreds of pedestrians travel on this bridge every day.

3.DAKSHINESHWAR KALI TEMPLE

Dakshineswar Temple – The temple of the goddess who is believed “to liberate her devotees from the ocean of existence” – Bhavatarini, a manifestation of goddess Kali, was constructed by a philanthropist called Rani Rashmoni in 1855. The beautiful temple complex built in the classic ‘Nava-ratna’ style of Bengali architecture is a popular pilgrimage spot for Hindu devotees. The temple that stands on the calm eastern bank of the Hooghly River was once a residing place of the Hindu mystic – Ramakrishna Paramahansa. It is among one of the most famous temples in Kolkata.

4.BELUR MATH

On the western bank of the Hooghly River, the historic Belur Math welcomes peace-seekers from all over the world, whether or not they are interested in or follow any religion. As the headquarters of Ramakrishna mission, the popular pilgrimage spot consists of prayer halls and shrines dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. As Sri Ramakrishna’s resting place, a memorial lies within the Math and the swami’s belongings are displayed in his room for the visitors. The excellent architecture and spiritual ambience make Belur Math one of the best places to visit in Kolkata. Check details before visiting Belur Math here.

5.FORT WILLIAM

The monumental fort initiated by the British East India Company and reconstructed by Sirāj al-Dawlah, nawab of Bengal stands speaking volumes of India’s historical past. Built on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River, presently, the fort serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command wing of the Indian Army. Named after King William III, the fort stands in front of the largest park in the city – Maidan. A special permit from the Commanding Officer is required to visit Fort William and it is open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days of the week! It is no doubt one of the best historical places in Kolkata.

6.KUMORTULI

If you’re looking for the ultimate cultural tour of Kolkata, turn your graze towards the artistic lanes of Kumortuli. The traditional potters’ quarter is where most of the globally admired Durga idols are sculpted with devotion and perfection for the famous Durga Puja. The skilled potters here depend on their ancestral art of clay idol making for their livelihood. Over 150 families and thousands of artisans work hard in the congested studios to bring out some of the most intricate work ever seen in the history. If you have an innate passion for art and untouched empathy for artists, this is the place you have to be.

7.NATIONAL LIBRARY

The National Library is where you will find a massive and stunning collection of books from all parts of India. The largest library in the country is the perfect place for book lovers and history buffs. With a collection of over 2.2 million books, it is a delight to just walk around in this library and feel the touch and smell of age old books that are carefully preserved. As an ancient building that was built as early as in 1836, the library is also popularly rumoured to be home to haunted spirits that roam the corridors. Well, who can blame them, right?

8.BIRLA PLANETARIUM

Located on the Chowringhee Road close to the Victoria Memorial and St. Paul’s Cathedral is the Birla planetarium which is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. Catering to the city of joy – Kolkata, the Birla Planetarium is a outstanding structure established by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2nd July 1963. It is locally famous as Taramandal and among the best places to visit in Kolkata. The Birla Planetarium often hosts many shows and programs in Hindi, English, Bengali, and other regional languages. Another noteworthy feature of this place is that it also has an electronics laboratory and an astronomy gallery with a collection of paintings and astronomical models.

9.ALIPORE ZOO

The Alipore Zoo is the oldest zoological park to have been established in India which has been operating since 1876 and is a major tourist attraction in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is also known as the Calcutta Zoo or the Zoological Garden of Alipore. It is a home to various animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, White Tiger, Grant’s Zebra, Antelope, Deer and more. At the same time, the zoo is also the home to various attractive birds like Macaws and Lorikeet, colourful and flamboyant birds like Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant and Golden Pheasant, large birds like Ostrich, Emu, Hornbills and more. During the winters, the Alipore Zoo also witnesses a few migratory birds like the Sarus Crane. The zoo attracts tourists from all over the world who come to visit and explore the wildlife comprised in it.

10.SCIENCE CITY

The science city is a perfect blend of education with fun. Being one of its kind in India, the Science city is one of the finest and the largest science museums in the world and providing a fun way of imparting knowledge about science to people.It is running since 1st July 1997 and has emerged as major attraction for the people of Kolkata as well as for the tourists in Kolkata.It gives one the opportunity to travel to outer space from where you can travel back in time and enter the age of dinosaurs by being a part of the artificial Jurassic Park.

11.INDIAN MUSEUM

The Indian Museum is the ninth oldest museum of the world and largest in India. It is located in Kolkata – the city of joy. Founded in the year 1814, it a centre of multidisciplinary activities ever since. It is also called ‘Jadughar’, comprising the finest collection of contemporary paintings, sacred relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. The Indian Museum also hassome of the most exquisite collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armours, and stunning Mughal paintings.

12.EDEN GARDENS

The Eden Garden is a beautiful, well-maintained cricket stadium located in Kolkata’s B. B. D. Bagh area, near State Secretariat and Calcutta High Court. It is the homeground of cricket in Kolkata. Its foundation was led in the year 1864 by Governor- General Auckland, who named the place after his sisters Emily and Fanny Eden. Stretched over 50 acres, this cricket stadium has the capacity to seat about 66,349 people and is the second largest stadiums in the world.

13.ECO PARK

One of the best attractions in Kolkata, Eco Tourism Park is located in Rajarhat, New Town, a plush colony of the city. Spread over a huge area of 480 acres of an area, the park is also known as Prakriti Tirtha, translated as Nature pilgrimage. An amalgam of different ecological zones, this park is show of rich natural heritage of the state. This park is extremely popular as a recreational area, and a picnic spot, amid locals as well as tourists.

14.BISHWA BANGLA GATE

Behold the magic, witness the spectacle that is the Biswa Bangla Gate. An architectural marvel that is a testament to the efficient and quality execution of the concept.Kolkata Gate is an arch-monument in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is built by Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation on the Major Arterial Road at Narkelbagan, Action Area - I of New Town. It also houses a restaurant.

15.KALIGHAAT TEMPLE

A densely populated neighborhood with a traditional vibe, Kalighat is known for Kalighat Kali, a revered Hindu temple complex from the early 1800s. It contains several shrines and altars where devotees ask for blessings. The surrounding area has tea stalls and unpretentious markets selling everyday goods, as well as time-tested cultural venues like the intimate Tapan Theatre and the single-screen Basusree Cinema.

16.SHAHEED MINAR

Located at the very heart of Kolkata, the 158-foot high, pristine white Shaheed Minar has remained a landmark monument for over a century and a half. Its characteristic design and size has drawn the attention of many, including Mark Twain who dubbed it the ‘cloud kissing monument.’ However, the structure’s history remains just as interesting as its architecture.