History of Kolkatta
Among all the cosmopolitan cities in India, Kolkata is considered as the second largest city. This city is located on the bank of the famous Hooghly river. Kolkata is also known as the city of palaces because it represents a unique collection of architectural monuments and large number of palaces related to the historic period. During the 17th century, Kolkata is selected for trading purpose by Britisher. It shows something that is related to this city. As this city is developed in the recent period. Britisher selected this city because of their safety as Kolkata is protected by any attack from west side, creek protects them from northern side and famous salt lake protects them from the eastern side. This city has stood with four other cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai in term of a metropolitan city. Not only this, Kolkata is a home of some of the Building related to British Raj wit various styles. This city is a place where you can get lots of pleasure and happiness.
In the last few decades, Kolkata tries to emerge as a modern city with carrying its traditional values. In Kolkatta, you can easily find some of the building and architecture that indicate the British architecture. This is because during British rule, Kolkatta is very important part of their administration. Now things have changed, Kolkatta is one of the commercial city in India. You can see lots of Business houses as well as Industrial areas. The popular Durga Puja is one of the major festival in Kolkatta. Kolkata is full of lighting and lively events during Puja. Apart from this festival, there are organizations of the various Film Festival as well as Music concert to make this place more lively. This place is also known as the intellectual as well as cultural city of India because this is a home of popular mother Teresa as well as Rabindra Nath Tagore. Not only this, Kolkatta is the place where British rule in India Started. In terms of attraction, Kolkatta has a famous Howarh Bridge, Victoria Memorial, cathedral of St. Paul, Temple like cleats, famous Eden garden in cricket ground and stunning but narrow streets.
During British rule, Kolkatta is known as the capital city of India as well as the gateway to India. Apart this all, Kolkatta is full of various stunning Monuments, Cultural bonding as well as various Religious. You can find everything needed for a preferred culture such as songs, Music, Drama, various Theatre and various forms of dances. If you are a lover of dishes, you are at a right place. This place is full of various kind of Dishes, cuisines and various types of Sweet. For Kolkatta people fish is one of the important part of their diet. If you miss the famous Rassagolla in Kolkatta, you miss one of the best cuisines during your trip. By this way Kolkatta is a unique place and paradise for every tourist who make their way to Kolkatta. Kolkata is a platform in which, you find a mixture of a large number of people that have an ethnic value, Social as well as cultural values. It might happen that at a certain point, Kolkatta shock you but it to leave an unforgettable memory in your mind. If you are a Tourist and you want to understand the culture and diversity of Indian, you must visit this place too.
Some of the famous Tourist attractions around Kolkatta
1. Fort William
During 1668, this popular monument is constructed by Britisher. This place got its name in the name of the famous William 3, The king of England. In year 1757, the Nawab of Bengal Siraj Ud Daulah attack on Britisher during the War of Plassey and defeated them in order to get this place. After this victory, The fort was reconstructed in the year 1970 by Robert Clive. This famous fort in Kolkatta is constructed in order to save themselves from attack of Muslim rulers. You can still find some of the consequences of the old fort in this place. Today in the modern era, This place is used as a Military area. In order to visit this place, you have to take permission from higher authorities. This fort is very famous as the tourism point of view.
2. Victoria Memorial
In year 1921, this famous Museum is constructed. This place is well designed and planned by president William Emerson of the British Institute of Architects. This famous Museum is spread over an area of 64 Acres and having a height of around 184 feet. The famous part of this museum is that you can easily see the famous and extinct photographs of some of the famous Personalities. That is why, This museum is considered as one of the famous art museums in Kolkatta.
3. Eden Garden
This is one of the famous Cricket stadium in India. This is a stadium which has a memory of various cricketing moments. This stadium is known becoming a famous tourist destination in Kolkatta. This place is one of the oldest and largest cricket stadium as compare to other stadium in India. This popular Stadium is constructed in the year 1864. As it is constructed in 1864 but it takes a long year to organize a first test match on this ground. Test match was organized in the year 1934 whereas First one day matches organized in 1987. As it is a one if the biggest stadium in the world, the capacity of this stadium is around 1 lakh 20 thousand.
4. Birla Planetarium
This is a kind of Museum. Not only museum but the biggest museum in Asia. This Museum holds things related to science, communication as well as related to the environment. This is founded in the year 1961 by the Birla Education Trust of India. This museum is located on the eastern side near to bypass in Kolkatta. This is a place where you can find useful information related to our Solar system, About galaxies, Life duration of star, about various planets and other bodies in our solar system with the help of video and audio media. With this mode you can easily understand all things in detail. This is Building with reflect our Indian Style. It is circular in Shape. Not only this you can find a gallery related to Astronomy that has a large collection of stunning painting as well other arts related to astronomers.
5. Howrah Bridge in Kolkatta
This is a first bridge that stands only on two huge pillars. The size of this pillar is around 275 feet. In year 1875 this hanging bridge is constructed over Hooghly river. Not only this it is one of the crowded bridges in the world. This bridge act as a connector because it connect the famous Howrah city to Kolkatta. Apart from the Hooghly bridge we also know this bridge with another name " Rabindra Setu". At modern period this bridge act as a road bridge. Apart from this bridge, there are two other similar bridges over the Hooghly river such as Vidyasagar Setu and Vivekananda Setu constructed at different position over the same river. This bridge has much importance as it declares as a symbol of Kolkatta city.
6. Marble Palace
In the year 1935, this famous Palace in Kolkatta is constructed. It is totally different as the name suggested, this palace is known for its art gallery as it has at some of the stunning pieces of arts, sculptures, various pictures as well as typical developed oil paintings. These all are found in this palace. This palace reflects the effect and shadow of the Reuben's ideas. Some of the real painting of famous award winning painters like Rembrandt, Reynolds and van Goyen and many more painters. This is a destination where you can find some of the rarely found paintings.
7. Writers Building
This is of typical building that is constructed under the supervision of Ashley Eden, A Governor in the year 1877. A tourist can enjoy two destinations because Dalhousie Square has found closely in this Kolkatta Writers. In the modern period, this building is used by the Government of West Bengal as a Secretariat. This Kolkatta Writer is also called as the " Mahakaran". This place Got its name because this place is used by the Junior writers of the East Indian Company. However there has been change made to this Building. Now it look more significant and unique as compared to Old building. This is a modification not a transfer of old building.
8. The Nicco park in Kolkatta
This is a kind of park located in Salt Lake. This is one of the famous amusement park in Kolkatta. This park is also known as the Indian Disneyland. This is a big park that covers an area of 41 acres of land. Not only the biggest park in Kolkatta, it is the biggest as compare to other amusement park in India. Apart from Nicco park, this famous park is also known as Jheel Meel. If you are in search of a fun and enjoyable, this park is best for you and for your children. Mostly this park is over crowded on holidays. This park has a big rose garden as well as a good park for all food lover. This park is safe and enjoyable as this is certified according to the ISO 2002 as well as from the European Certified authority.
9. Saheed Minar in Kolkatta
In the year 1848, this famous ancient monument is constructed Sir David Ochterlony in a memory of a victory in the Nepal war during the 1816 era. This place is also known Octerloney Monument Because it is constructed by Sir David Octerloney. This monument reflects the Egyptian Style and hold a shape similar to Turkish and Syrian. In year 1969, this monument is given the name as Sahid Minar that is devoted to all freedom fighters that lose their life. This place is famous for its Political Meeting and business communication. This starts around 1931 by famous Rabindra Nath Tagore. If you want to see the beauty of Kolkatta, go to the top of this building. From the top you are able to see Kolkatta beauty.
10. National Library in Kolkatta
This is the biggest Library of India. A library lover found various categories of books such as Cultural, Ministry related to Tour, Tourism and Culture and books on the Indian Government. This Library is large as it acquires about 29 acre plot of land. Here you can find a larger collection of books that is collected from various part of Country on a regular basis. This library is a center that has a function to Distribute as well as collect collection that is needed to be preserved. At this place, you can find books in almost all the languages find in India. In this library you can find a separate block for children.
11. Belur math
This place is located in the western part of Hoogly or it is a western bank of the famous Hooghly river. This place holds an area of around 49 acres land plot. You can find this place in Howarh, 50 Km away from Kolkatta. This place is famous as a pilgrimage center. As people from various part of country visit this place. It is founded in the memory of the RamaKrishna Paramhansa in the year 1998 by famous Swami Vivekananda. This place is also referred as a headquarters of Ramakrishna math as well as RamaKrishna Mission. This place is the real holy place. This place better known for its architecture elegance as well as proper environs. This place also reflects feeling of spirituality. This place seems like a heaven where people get lots of peace and satisfaction. People from various parts of the world make their way to place in search of peace.
12. A botanical garden in Kolkatta
This garden is located in Shibpur a part of District Howrah at a distance of 9 Km from this place. This garden holds an area of around 275 Acres of land as well as located on the western bank of Holy river Ganga. This garden contains a large number of living plant species, around 12,500 and 25,0000 died species of plant. In year 1786, this garden is created by Colonel Kyed. As compared to other Botanical garden in India, This garden is the largest and oldest among them. Not only this, this garden is famous because unseen plants and tree from the place like Brazil, Nepal and Sumatra is accumulated in this garden. This garden has remained open during daytime. During night time it is closed. An adventurous Tourist can enjoy boating in a lake that is located in this garden. Apart from this attraction, the most important attraction of this garden is a 200 old banyan Tree is still standing like a giant.
All images are taken From Wikipedia.