Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city known for its interesting blends of opposites. On the one hand you’ll find wealth and creative beauty while on the other you’ll be faced with political unrest and the cries of the destitute.

Once the home of Mother Teresa the city of Kolkata played a vital role in the development of India as it stands today. The capital of West Bengal, Kolkata is full of vibrant, intellectual, and friendly people. Kolkata’s citizens have been the backbone of the city for hundreds of years - a city that continues to grow with each passing day.

There are, of course, tons of spectacular sites to see in this 264-square mile city. Make sure you add at least a few of our favorites to your itinerary when you visit!

10. Howrah Bridge

The Howrah Bridge is the main method of transportation between Kolkata and Howrah. Extremely narrow walkways line the bridge, over which over 2,000,000 people cross each day. There are eight incredibly crowded traffic lanes, and every single one is jam packed with cars, carts, pedestrians, scooters, and even rickshaws. On the plus side, the bridge itself is astounding and walking across it will give you a terrific view of the Bara Bazaar (about a mile away) and all of the people below.

9. Marble Palace

The Marble Palace was built in 1855 by a gentry known as Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur. The palace is complete with a throne room, spectacular chandeliers, mirrors, and incredible paintings. The marble inlay floors and detailed lamps are only part of the reason the palace is so often used to film movies. Touring the palace is free, but you need to get a tourist pass from the West Bengal Tourist Office at least 24 hours before your visit.

8. Victoria Memorial

The concept for the Victoria Memorial monument was originally documented in 1901, but it took 20 years for the marble creation to evolve from an idea to a finished work of art. Considered a symbol of the British Raj, the statue of Victoria stands guard over an incredibly detailed history of the city of Calcutta and the relationships between Britain and Bengal. There’s a lot to see, and photographs are not allowed, but this is one sight true history buffs won’t want to miss.

7. Indian Botanical Gardens

The Indian Botanical Gardens, located in the Howrah section, have been in existence since 1786. The popular Indian teas, Darjeeling and Assam, were created in these gardens. There is one banyan tree in this garden, so large that its canopy extends over 1,300 square feet!

6. The Maidan

As history tells the story, at one point the area now known as Kolkata was once littered with forests. That is, until the military cleared the land so that the soldiers at Fort William would have a clear line of fire when fighting their enemies. The park that is left over is often referred to as the city’s “green lung” and is a popular destination for Kolkata’s citizens both day and night.

5. Ochterlony Monument

Not far from The Maidan stands a 1480 ft high pillar honoring the life of Sir David Ochterlony. The monument was built in 1828 and commemorates the impressive victories Ochterlony won during several wars with Nepal. The monument itself is influenced by several architectural styles, including Syrian, Turkish, and Egyptian.

4. B. B. D. Bagh

The popular square known as B. B. D. Bagh was formerly known as Dalhousie Square, a name that is still used today. The bustling square used to be the home of the East India Company but now houses buildings used by the Indian government. The square is a great place to explore or simply sit back and people watch.

3. Indian Museum

The Indian Museum is the oldest museum in India. It houses an astounding collection of artifacts, natural history exhibits, and archeological relics. The museum is also the proud home of the largest collection of Indian coins in the world. The cultural anthropology section includes a 200-million-year old tree trunk, meteorites, and an old Egyptian mummy!

2. Kumartuli

Kumartuli is an innocent and quaint neighborhood within Kolkata. The street serves as the home to several talented potters, each of which toil tirelessly to create idols out of clay. These clay images are very popular and much sought after during the Hindu festival season.

1. Kalighat Kali Temple

The Kalighat Kali Temple was built in 1809 and houses shrines to several Indian gods and goddesses, including Shiva, Kali, and Krishna. The temple lives on today as a popular pilgrimage site; though long gone are the days of human sacrifice (only goats are used now). The building’s architecture is stunning, as are the multitude of flower markets littered along the outside edges of the building.

A visit to Kolkata will leave you wishing you had months to explore instead of days or weeks. Explore the city on foot, try some Kolkatan food, or explore the bookstalls during the winter book fair. No matter when you visit, you’re guaranteed to leave amazed!

Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Posted in India

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm and is filed under India. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.