Best places to visit in Kolkata

[SabrinaJ8J]

My stay in Kolkata will be for one week only, and I am very fond of traveling and would like to visit places within Kolkata.

As mentioned I won't have a lot of time and only a week, I would like to just like to know about the best places to visit in Kolkata first, then consider seeing other places.
I have never been to Kolkata never heard about the places to see there, so my sightseeing trip all depends on what information is provided from the forum.

 

[rootle]

The main thing to visit in Kolkata I know of is the Victoria Memorial. There are a number of other British Era buildings in Kolkata as well, since it used to be the capital of British India for a while . The Writer's Building is one of the other famous British buildings there. The Kolkata Museum I hear is also very good. Other than these well known places, I don't really know.

 

[briannagodess]

Hi there, welcome to the forum!

Once the capital of the British empire, Kolkata is one of main metropolitan cities of India today. Whether it's the sight of the hand-pulled rickshaws or maybe the taste of Indian Chinese cuisine, Kolkata certainly grows on any individual. The first time that you see the city, it's kind of chaotic and a bit confusing. But the more you stay here, the more that you would love the place. It's not that the city is perfect as it has its fair share of downsides. But despite this, you'll love Kolkata for its culture, chaos, food and many more reasons! Here are some of the best places to visit in the Cultural Capital of India:

Top Ten Places to Visit in Kolkata

• Victoria Memorial Hall - One of the prime landmarks of Kolkata is the Victoria Memorial Hall. With the help of wealthy Indian individuals, the Victoria Memorial Hall was funded under the reign of George Curzon. It took about 15 years before the memorial hall was finally opened in 1921. The Victoria Memorial Hall sparkles as it was made using white Makrana marble. Its pure white facade stands tall with its towering dome. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and it is now mainly a museum holding different artefacts relevant to the British rule. It has 25 galleries but 2 of these galleries stand out, namely: the royal gallery and the armoury gallery. Whereas the royal gallery holds portraits of the queen and king, the armoury gallery holds important weapons and arms used by the military during the colonial era. When the memorial hall is illuminated at night time, it gleams in different colours, reflected upon the water bodies in the vicinity.

The Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata​

• Howrah Bridge - Spread over 705 metres, the Howrah Bridge is yet another important landmark in the city of Kolkata, spread over the Hooghly River. It is the sixth largest cantilever bridge in the world and probably the busiest bridge in the country. An interesting feature of the bridge is that there were not bolts nor nuts used in its construction. Instead, they riveted the steel to make fasten some parts together. The bridge was renamed Rabindra Setu though after Rabindra Tagore, the first Nobel laureate of Asia and India. However, the bridge is rarely referred to with its new name and locals still fondly call it Howrah Bridge.

• Dakshineswar Kali Temple - Founded by Rani Rashmoni during the 19th century, the Dakshineswar Temple is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in the city. It lies on the bank of the Hooghly River so you can easily combine a trip with it to the Howrah Bridge. The temple, with its creamy yellow facade with red accents, along with its nine spires, is easily visible from a distance. It is believed that Goddess Kali appeared in Rashmoni's dream which lead to the building of the temple. Goddess Kali is known here as Bhavataraini and her idol is located on the main sanctum. Outside the main sanctum, there are shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kali's companion. There are also two more temples dedicated to Radha Krishna and Rana Krishna.

• Jorasanko Thakur Bari - Rabindranath Tagore was the first ever Asian and Indian to have won the Nobel laureate award. And it is here in the Jorasanko Thakur Bari that the poet was born and even breathed his last breath. His life, works, family and legacy is celebrated in this house. You can view how the poet has lived his life, snippets of his works like paintings and poems and photographs of him and his loved ones. Outside the museum/ancestral home, there's the Rabindra Bharati University, an integral part of the city. It's definitely a must visit place especially since it celebrates the contributions of Rabindranath Tagore to the country and to the world.

The Jorasanko Thakur Bari in Kolkata​

• Indian Museum - The largest and oldest museum in India, the Indian Museum, is located in Kolkata. The museum has six sections, which are then subdivided into different areas. Most notable of these sections is the Archeology Gallery, showcasing different collections of sculptures and architectural remains from the eras of the Mauryas, Sungas and Hoysalas. Along with this gallery is the Egyptian Section, in which the prime attraction is an authentic mummy from Egypt. The Anthropology Gallery is also quite vast, with collections of items used by different tribes in the country. This museum highlights not only the rich culture and heritage of Kolkata but of India as a whole.

• Marble Palace - Built around the 18th century by Raja Rajendra Mullick, the Marble Palace is a testament of the grandeur of the bygone era. Perhaps the best description of the palace is that it's quite quirky but elegant. There are scattered statues of different personalities around the garden ranging from mermaids, prominent individuals, to even Buddha and lions. There is also a small fountain along with several ponds outside. Once you reach the inside of the pure marble palace, the same goes, chandeliers, a piano, statues and many more pieces of eccentricity would greet you. One of the rooms you'll tour around the palace is painting room, which holds the collections of canvasses by Raja Rajendra Mullick. Although underrated, the Marble Palace is a must-visit especially for those with a taste for art and quirkiness.

• National Library - Once the residence of British officials, the Belvedere House is where the National Library is located. Originally though, the Belvedere House was owned by Mir Jafar Ali Khan until he gifted it to Warren Hastings. From the outside, the library is very beautiful, with is white facade and sprawling gardens. It is regarded as the largest library, not only in India, but also in Asia. It is believed to have over 2,000,000 books in its premises. Another interesting fact about the library is that it is believed to be haunted. There's this secret chamber in the library that until now, authorities cannot seem to open up as there are no entrances to reach it. And oh, keep a sharp ear for the supposed ghost sounds that the guards hear during night time at the library.

• Birla Planetarium - A visit to the largest planetarium in the country and in Asia is a must when in Kolkata. Although the exhibits here are aimed primarily at younger ones, even the youngsters at heart can enjoy a tour around the planetarium. There are different sections within the planetarium like an astronomy gallery showcasing photographs and models of celestial bodies. The planetarium also has an observatory area with a telescope for observing celestial bodies. There's also daily shows that children can enjoy discussing science and astronomy concepts.

• Eco Tourism Park - A new attraction in the city is located in New Town in Kolkata. Its main drawing point is that it provides ample serenity and greenery to the locals and tourists alike. It has different sections like a rose garden, cultural areas, conference hall, children's play area, butterfly park, musical fountain and food court. There are plenty of activities that families and friends can indulge in here like kayaking, zorbing, roller skating, duo cycling, bull riding and many, many more.

• Mother House - Mother Teresa hails from Kolkata and it is here in the Mother House where she served and lived most of her life. Many pilgrims visit the house and offer their services. But you can also just pay respect and visit the house during your stay in the city. The house is also where the tomb of Mother Teresa is located. Unlike other tombs or memorials, the tomb of Mother Teresa is fairly small but adorned with many flowers. The room beside the tomb houses a collection of personal items used by Mother Teresa herself. The last room on the house is where Mother Teresa slept during her years in Kolkata.

There you go, I hope this helps you!