Best Places to Visit Near Kolkata...

Kolkata is not just a place. It’s an emotion and a story teller which tells stories at each and every corner. It’s chaotic and moody. It’s rich tapestry of culture, words, politics and antiques. It’s the only place where you are actively encouraged to interact with strangers to learn the stories behind the buildings you visit. In this list, we are going to discuss a top 10 places to visit in the City of Joy.

Indian Museum: One of the oldest museums in the world, established in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata. If you are a person who is interested in history, then it’s the best place to get lost in its  collection of ornaments, fossils, ornaments, armors, sacred writings of Buddha, antique sculptures, fossils, skeleton and etc. . This Museum is  also home to Four Galleries. Often referred to as the ‘Jadughar’ by the locals of Kolkata. It’s a collection of contemporary paintings and Mughal Paintings.

Location: 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Fire Brigade Head Quarter, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016.

New Town Eco Park:  N

ew town Eco Park is the perfect option to escape from the chaotic city. This place is a recreational area spread over 480 acres of land with ample outdoor activities such as Ice skating, Kayaking, and Zorbing.  Apart from these outdoor activities, one can also enjoy cruising or taking a walk at the sangraha which is a beautiful art facility in the park as well as the mesmerizing butterfly garden.

Location: Major Arterial Road(South-East), AA II, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700156.

ST Paul’s Catherdral: Located in the
very heart of the city is St Paul’s Cathedral an Anglican Church. The building follows Indo-Gothic style and its structure is complete with a cascading white edifice, towering spire and colourful tinted windows. Inside, it has a huge nave, majestic altar and chancel, along with carvings and paintings depicting great moments and events of Christian history. The cathedral also stores several memorabilia of past congregants and a library where books as old as the church’s foundation time still exist donated by founding member Bishop Wilson. This Church is an enriching historical and architectural experience  of the colonial times and taking down the memory lane. It’s looks pure beauty when the Cathedral and the surrounding garden is bathed during the Christmas festivities.

Location:1A, Cathedral Rd, Maidan, New Market Area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071

Victoria Memorial: 

The list is incomplete without Victoria Memorial. One cannot miss this beautiful White Marble structure, a mixture of British and Mughal Architecture, dedicated to the Queen Victoria of Britain. This place of now has been turned into museum showcasing 25 galleries featuring sculptures, portraits, national leaders, arms, and armour. It also includes original works of Omar Khayyam and William Shakespeare.

Location: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata

South Park Cemetery:

Opened in 1767, South Park Cemetery is a privately-owned cemetery with a total of 1600 graves icluding those of Sir William Jones, Sir Elijah Impey, Walter Landor Dickens (Son of Charles Dickens), and more.Previously, the South Park cemetery was known as Park Street. The Cemetery has a mix of the Indo-Saracenic as well as the Golic style. Green mosses and ferns cover most of the cemetery and give an eerie setting to the place.

Location:  52, Park Street, Opp Assembly Of God Church, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017.

Eden Garden:  
The cricket match of India vs Sri Lanka 2014 which witnessed Rohit Sharma’s  33 of whopping fours and  9 sixes making the crowd go crazy at his performance on that night reminding  us of  the echoes in the grounds of Majestic Eden Gardens. The Eden Gardens was owned by the Cricket Association of Bengal with a capacity of 94,000. Eden Gardens has the largest seating capacity in India and holds the third largest position  in the world. In the World of Cricket, this place is often referred to as Coliseum and is a scared place for Cricket lovers.

Location:Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021.

Science City:
Science city is one of the most preferred centers in the city and is under the management of the National Council of Science Museums. This place hold different types of exhibitions on various science topics such as Freshwater aquarium – It consists of different types of fishes for one to observe. And Power of ten that explains the micro and macro phenomenon of the universe, Illusions –  teaching the importance of visual perception in terms of placement and motion, Live butterfly -lies the butterfly enclave where  people can observe the movement of butterflies from one place to another.

Location: JBS Haldane Avenue, Basanti Hwy, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046.

 

Alipore Zoological Garden: Alipore Zoological Garden occupies a total of over 46 acres and houses close to 1266 animals. This Garden serves as a habitat for different species of mammals, reptiles, birds as well as primates. It also home to the expired Aldabra giant tortoise ‘Adwaita’, a tortoise which is almost extinct  (from the year 2006). For Nature Enthusiasts this place is must visit one.

Location: Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal, in India.

Botanical Gardens:

 The garden is spread over 270 acres of land and is home to 12000 perennial plants that are still alive and also features over 1400 exotic species of plants and trees. The best giant attraction of this  Garden is the giant Banyan tree which forms the second largest canopy of the world.

Location: Botanical Garden Road B Shalimar Area Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Botanical Garden, Area, Howrah, West Bengal 711103.

Prinsep Ghat:

The best place to end this tour has to be the Prinsep Ghat. Constructed in 1841 and is now among the oldest recreational facilities located in Kolkata.  As you get lost in the stories of Kolkata, one can come here to experience the nostalgia of this city. As you lay down on the lush greenery, you witness one of the prettiest sunsets of Kolkata. Best time to visit is during the twilight hours.

Location: Strand Rd, Maidan, Fort William, Hastings, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021.