Lal Dighi, Howrah | Timings, Entry Fee, How to Reach

Lal Dighi, Howrah Overview

Lal Dighi commonly known as Tank Square or Dalhousie Lake is situated in the heart of Kolkata, West Bengal. The tank is spread out over an area of 25 acres(100,000 sq. m). There are no records as to when the tank was built, but it is said that it was built before the British era. It was named Lal Dighi because of the red colour of water during the festival of Holi or dol in Bengali. Lal Dighi is surrounded by lush green trees which adds to the scenic view of the tank. Lal Dighi offers the magnificent view of Kolkata General Post Office (GPO), the Reserve Bank of India building and the iconic Writers Building. The tank also has the breathtaking view of Kolkata’s skyline.

History of Lal Dighi

Lal Dighi has several stories about its origin, as there are no recorded documents about the tank. One of the stories says that the tank existed before the arrival of Job Charnock who was an employee of British East India Company and was said to be the founder of Kolkata. Sabarna Roy Choudhary who belonged to an aristocratic family was a ruler of the region. He owned a courthouse near the tank which was first taken on rent and then bought by British East India Company.

It is also said that the red colour of the old fort used to reflect in the water of the tank and so it acquired its name as Lal Dighi. The tank underwent renovation later, it was lengthened and deepened in 1709. Lal Dighi was the biggest reservoir for sweetwater in Kolkata. The European Community consumed water from Lal Dighi before Municipal Corporation water supply was established.

Lal Dighi is also the place where The Battle of Lal Dighi was fought between Siraj ud-Daulah and East India Company in 1756. The British lost the battle and were forced to withdraw from Kalikata (Kolkata).

Places to Visit Nearby

There are lots of places in Kolkata where people can visit. One of the major tourist attractions in Kolkata is B.B.D Garden. It is located at a distance of 850 m form Lal Dighi. The garden is surrounded by the classic Colonial British Buildings like General Post office and St. John’s Church. If you are in a mood for sightseeing Howrah Bridge is the best place to do it. Howrah Bridge is built over Hooghly river, everyday at night the bridge is illuminated by thousands of lights making it a sight to behold.

How To Reach Lal Dighi

Lal Dighi is located in the middle of the B.B.D Bagh. Bus Stations closest to the tank are B.B.D Bagh Bus Stations, R.N. Mukherjee Rd Bus Station and Hare St. Bus Station. The nearest train stations from Lal Dighi are Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh Railway Station and Eden Gardens Railway Station located at a distance of 1 km and 2.2 km respectively. Buses, rickshaws and taxis are available to cover the distance from the station to the Lal Dighi tank. To travel within the city, metros, ferries, trams, buses, rickshaws and taxis are available. The closest airport to Lal Dighi is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport located at a distance of 25.2 km.