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Some of the important places worth visiting in Calcutta are:
The Victoria Memorial is a huge white-marble structure built by Lord Curzon in memory of Queen Victoria. It is now a museum that houses the most impressive collection of memorabilia from the days of the Raj.
Fort William was constructed in 1781 and is still in use. The large patch of green around the fort is known as the Maidan (ground), or the lung of Calcutta. It stretches for a distance of 3 km and is 1 km wide.
The Indian Museum, built in 1874 is the oldest museum in India. It houses a rare collection of artefacts. The entrance to the museum has an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India.
Eden Garden is a small and pleasantly laid-out garden that was once the gathering place of the social elite. It today houses the renowned cricket ground by the same name.
Also known as Kalighat, the Kali Mandir is dedicated to Kali, the Goddess of destruction and is a frequented tourist destination.
The Howrah Bridge is an excellent example of engineering techniques of the early 20th century. It is 450 m long without any pylon in the river and has the distinction of being the busiest bridge in the world catering to around 100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians.
The Birla Planetarium is a single-storied circular structure that is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Its central dome is an imitation of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi.
The Marble Palace displays the art forms of Italy, the Netherlands, England and other European nations. The interior of the palace-the floors, walls, and tabletops-are all made of marble. The St. Paul's Cathedral is the first cathedral church of India.
Dalhousie Square, Renamed Binoy Badal Dinesh Bagh (also BBD Bagh), is the hub of West Bengal's administration and commerce. all important government institutions of the state are located here. It houses the now famous Writer's Building and the old Fort William.
Some of the excursions sites near Calcutta are:
Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Dakshineshwar Temple is where Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, lived most of his life..
Shanti Niketan, Tagore's university township, is a must on any itinerary that plots Bengal as a stopover. The hot springs here are famous for curing many chronic diseases.
The Belur Math is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. It is a universal place of pilgrimage, visited by people belonging to diverse castes and creeds. It is committed to social service, religious harmony, spiritual attainment and renunciation.
Bishnupur's glorious past that is reflected in its rich architecture, music and handicrafts such as pottery and weaving. It houses unique terracotta temples and is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa (circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artefacts.
The Botanical Gardens cover an area of 110 hectares. The main attraction of the garden is a 250-year-old banyan tree (Ficus bengalhensis) which is 98 feet high and over 1,300 feet in circumference.
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