Historical Places in Kolkata To Explore its Rich Heritage

The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building, which is considered to be the pride of Kolkata. Built between 1906 and 1921, it is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria. Presently it is a museum and a popular historical place in Kolkata under the Ministry of Culture.

The ninth oldest museum of the world and largest in India, the Indian Museum is located in the city of joy - Kolkata. The foundation stone of the Indian Museum was laid down in the year 1814 and has been a centre of multidisciplinary activities ever since. Popularly known as 'Jadughar', it has the finest collection of contemporary paintings, sacred relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. It is an absolute must to visit this historical place in Kolkata.

Fort William is situated in Kolkata on Hooghly River, on its eastern bank. The fort got its name from King William III. It was set up in the year 1696 by British East India Company. It is spread over a distance of 70.9 acres. This huge construction took nearly ten years to complete and had two floors. It comprised of wings and an inner Bastille where prisoners were hauled which is why it was known as 'the black hole of Calcutta'.

St. Paulâ's Cathedral has been set up in Kolkata, West Bengal. Its foundation was laid in 1839, and it was completely constructed in the year 1847. It has been recognized as the largest cathedral in Kolkata. The cathedral is wonderfully decorated during Christmas and New Year's Eve and huge masses of people swing by the place to enjoy its overwhelming beauty. It is the first church of its kind to be built in the British Empire making it a landmark historical place in Kolkata. It is said that this cathedral was built three times before the one which stands today came out.

Currently located on the Rabindra Bharati University campus in Jorasank, Jorasanko Thakur Bari is the house in which the first non-European Nobel laureate and poet, Rabindranath Tagore was born.

This is the place where the Tomb of Mother Teresa is present. It is maintained by her missionaries and followers who have continued to promote her legacy.

Designed, developed and maintained by Sabarrna Roy Choudhary Paribar Parishad to preserve and display the heritage of one of the well known families of Bengal- The Sabarna Roy Choudhary family.

The Marble palace near the Chorbagan in North Kolkata built in 1835 by Rajendra Mallick is famed for its art collection of masterpieces by Reuben and paintings by various renowned international artists such as Reynolds, Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

The Shobhabazar Rajbari is one of the grandest Bengali style houses ever built. This historical place in Kolkata was built by the Royal family of Shobhabazar in Kolkata, and the grandeur is only palpable to the eye.

Sprawling over forty acres of land on the west bank of the Hooghly River, Belur; the Belur Math in Kolkata is a place of pilgrimage and also the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. People from all over the world, irrespective of the religion that they believe in, visit the temple to enjoy the tranquillity and serenity that it imbues.

The Writers’ Building, located in the capital city of Kolkata, is a secretariat building of State Government of West Bengal. It is one of the many heritage buildings situated in Kolkata that brings out the essence of the British East India Company era. Stretched across Lal Dighi, a local water body in the B.B.D Bagh area of Kolkata, it has served as the office of Chief Minister of West Bengal up until 2013.

An iconic landmark of Kolkata, Howrah Bridge is a massive steel bridge constructed over the Hooghly River. This historical place in Kolkata is considered to be among the longest cantilever bridges in the world. Also known as Rabindra Setu, it connects Howrah and Kolkata. It carries daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles and countless pedestrians and is as historic as it is grand. The opulence of the bridge, however, comes alive in the night time as it is all lit up. You can also take a ferry ride as it runs between Kolkata and Howrah, from the launch ghat. The view of the city from the ferry, especially in the night, is priceless, to say the least.

Megan David Synagogue is situated in China Bazaar, Kolkata and was constructed in 1884. The building is build in red brick in the Italian Renaissance style. It is among the most notable buildings of Calcutta owing to its striking architecture and design.

Beth El Synagogue is situated at Barabazar Market in Kolkata, very close to the Maghen David Synagogue. Established in 1856, the building has marble steps leading to the arched hallway. The walls are adorned with stained glass windows. The hall also has balconies reserved for women.

Neveh Shalome Synagogue is situated in China Bazar in Kolkata and was established in 1831 by Shalom Obadiah ha - Kohen. This historical place in Kolkata was demolished and reconstructed multiple times by the government and the Indian Jewish community. It was finally restored in 2014. Now it has simple but elegant interiors and conducts regular prayers.