Places
of Interest
Birla Planetarium : Only the second of its kind in the commonwealth
and similar to that in London. Regular astronomical shows are presented here
with commentaries in different languages. Shows are held on all days excluding
Mondays.
Kalighat : According to the legend, when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s
body was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Rebuilt in 1809, this is an important
shrine of Hindu Shakti worship. The temple is in the southern part of the city.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple Belur Math : Built in 1847, on the banks of
the Hooghly, north of Calcutta, the temple is associated with Shri Ramakrishna,
the eclectic 19th century saint who revived Hinduism during the British Raj.
Across the river stands Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. The
Monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony.
Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture : Commemorates the birth centenary
of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Religious discourses and cultural exchanges
are held here among international scholars. The institute is located at Golpark.
Nakhoda Mosque : Modelled on Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, the red sandstone
mosque has two minarets 46 mts high, a brightly painted onion shaped dome and
can accommodate 10,000 people. Built in 1926 and located on Chitpur Road.
St. John’s Church : Built in 1787 with Grecian columns. The burial
ground has the mausoleum of Job Charnok, founder of Calcutta. On the north-west
side of Raj Bhavan.
Pareshnath
Jain Temple : The temple is an ornate mass of mirrors, coloured stones and
glass mosaic, and overlooks a beautiful garden. It is in Shyambazar.
St. Paul’s Cathedral : Constructed between 1839 and 1847 in Gothic
style with stained glass windows and two Florentine frescoes, the cathedral
is the largest in the city and next to the Birla Planetarium. St. Paul’s
was conscerated in 1874.
Armenian Church : The oldest place of Christian worship in Calcutta.
The church of Holy Nazareth was built in 1764. Among the other churches to visit
are St. Andrew’s Church. The Old Mission Church and the Greek Orthodox
Church.
Jewish Synagogues : The Maghen David Synagogue on Jewish Synagogue Street
and the BETHEL on Pollock Street are very old worship houses and a reminder
to the cosmopolitan nature of the city.
Parsi Fire Temples : They cater to the religious needs of the prominent
Parsi community of Calcutta. Located on Metcalf Street and Beliaghata.
Indian Museum : Built in 1875, it is an impressive building in the Italian
style of architecture. This is the largest museum in the country. The Museum
has six sections : Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industry
(Economic Botany).
Shahid Minar : The monument is situated on the ‘Maidan’ and was
built in honour of Sir David Octerlony who fought the Nepalese War (1812 - 1814)
to victory. The 48.16 metre tall monument has been named Shahid Minar since
9th August, 1969.
Eden Gardens : Named after Lord Auckland’s sister, this picturesque
garden has a tiny Burmese pagoda set in a small lake. It also houses Calcutta’s
Cricket Stadium.
Howrah Bridge : A miracle of engineering skill, the Howrah Bridge is
a huge cantilever bridge supported by two piers 270 ft. high from the road level.
The span of the bridge between the piers is 1,500 ft while the total distance
between the two sheet anchors is 2,115 ft. There are eight vehicular ways and
two footpaths on the 71 ft. wide bridge.
Marble Palace : Situated in an artistically laid-out garden, the place
is full of rare collection of antiques of immense artistic and historical value.
Wonderful curios, china and a couple of paintings by Rubens are only a few to
mention of the spectrum of attractions of the palace. The Marble Palace is situated
on Muktaram Babu Street, off Chittaranjan Avenue. Open on all days except Mondays
and Thursdays.
Zoological Garden : Covers 16 hectares of land and built in 1876. The
lakes within are a favourite retreat for migratory Siberian birds.
Horticultural Garden : The lush environment is also the venue for exotic
plant and flower exhibitions.
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