The city of Joy, Kolkata is everyone's beloved travel destination, and for a reason. With stunning architecture, the best of food, and the nicest of people, Kolkata is inviting and if you haven't been to the city yet, it's time to add it to your travel bucket list for 2024.
Often considered the cultural capital of the country, Kolkata is replete with colonial buildings like the Victoria Memorial, galleries, and cultural venues. In a country obsessed over cricket, it also stands with a massive fanbase for football, and since time immemorial, has been a muse for writers, photographers, and artists in general.
Here are 7 places you must visit in Kolkata
1. Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge, the sixth-longest suspension bridge in the world, is one of Kolkata's most well-known structures. Given that it was intended to replace an older floating bridge over the Hoogly River, the bridge was initially known as the New Howrah Bridge. The bridge, also known as the Rabindra Setu after the well-known Bengali author Rabindranath Tagore is frequently considered as one of India's most significant National Landmarks.
2. Indian Museum
The largest and oldest museum in India is the Indian Museum in Kolkata, which opened its doors in 1814. The museum has a total of six sections that are further divided into thirty-five galleries, each housing an abundance of different antiques, artefacts, paintings, mummies, and other items. One of the oldest museums in the world, it was founded by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a Dutch botanist working for the British.
3. Victoria Memorial
Completed in 1921, Victoria Memorial is situated on the plains near the banks of the River Hoogly. Currently a museum, it is dedicated to Queen Victoria's memory. This memorial was commissioned by Lord Curzon following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. It is constructed in a distinctive architectural style that combines British and Mughal elements. There are twenty-five galleries at the museum that hold a variety of antiques and relics.
4. The Eden Gardens
Cricket became the most popular sport in India after the British arrived. Often referred to as a Cricket Colosseum, Eden Gardens is a large cricket ground with ample seating. The third-biggest cricket ground in the globe and the largest in the nation is Eden Gardens. The Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders play their home matches at The Stadium, one of the country's most famous cricket stadiums.
5. Marble Palace Mansion
Raja Rajendra Mullick constructed the magnificent palace in 1835, and his descendants still live there today. The Marble Palace Mansion's neoclassical architecture is thought to be among the best examples of this architectural type still standing. The palace also has a museum with a collection of vintage artworks and antiques. Another must-see place in the campus is the Marble Palace Zoo.
6. Birla Planetarium
The largest planetarium in India, Birla Planetarium, has the largest night sky projection in its dome theatre. The building is one story and is designed in a way that complements the Buddhist stupa. It was built in 1963 and is currently a museum. Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian prime minister at the time, opened the planetarium. One of the biggest planetariums on the Asian continent is Birla Planetarium.
7. Dakshineswar Temple
The West Bengal, India-based Dakshineswar temple is a popular venue for festivals like Yatra, Snana, Kalpataru Day, and Kali Puja. Furthermore, it was in the nineteenth century that Rani Rashmoni started the temple. The three-story temple is designed in the style of Bengali architecture.
People are unaware that the entire complex of the temple is around 54.4 bighas in size and only costs Rani Rashmoni about Rs 42, 500. Every Bengali has affection for the temple, which is thought to be the home of Goddess Kali.