Places of Interest in Calcutta
The conducted day tours by coach in and around Calcutta are organised by Tourist
Bureau, Government of West Bengal, located at 3/2 B.B.D. Bagh (Tel: 288271),
the central business district. Alternatively, one can avail of a private car
or taxi for a full day's tour of the city. Most standard hotels make such arrangements.
The tour covers major landmarks such as the original tank (Lal Dighi), the silver-domed
General Post Office, the adjacent Collectorate, Writer's Building, seat of the
State Government., Reserve Bank building and St. Andrew's Church (1818). Further
down is Governor's House (1803), now known as Raj Bhavan and modelled along
Kedleston Hall of England. The High Court and Legislative Assembly are adjacent
to it. Further south is the Maidan, an open stretch of land, considered the
lungs of Calcutta.
At its southern end rises the imperial majesty of Victoria Memorail (1921),
known as the Taj Mahal of British Raj". St. Paul's Cathedral (1847) and
the more recent Birla Planetarium (1962) are adjacent to it. A stone's throw
away are Rabindra Sadan(Concert hall named after Tagore and Nandan, highly modern
complex of film archives.
On Chowringhee is located Indian Museum (1814), the largest of its kind in India.
And of course, there is the omnipresent Howrah Bridge (1943), the cantilever
wonder that's just completed 50 evenful years. This bridge now has company in
the shape of Vidyasagar Setu (2nd Hooghly Bridge), a modern marvel across the
south-west end of the city, linking it with Shibpore in Howrah.
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South Park Street Cemetery (1767)
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Asiatic Society (1784)
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Fire Temple and Hebrew Synagogues at Ezra
Street
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Armenian Church (1630) at Brabourne Road
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Nakhoda Mosque (1926)
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Marble Palace (1855)
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Jorasanko (Tagore's Home)
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National Liberary (Belvedere)
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Kali Temple at Kalighat
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Kali Temple at Dakshineswar(1855)
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Belur Math(Headquaters of Ramakrishna Mission),
across the Hooghly River
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Pareshnath Jain Temple at Belgachia
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Mother Teresa's Shishu Bhavans, run by
the Missionaries of Charity
Parks and Gardens in Calcutta
Eden Gardens, Botanical Gardens at Shibpore (Howrah), Agri-Horticultural Society
Garden (Alipore), Zoological Gardens, Rabindra Sarovar(Lakes) and Jhilmil (Children's
Park) at Bidhannagar (Salt Lake City).
