As today’s renowned cultural capital and the old capital of India from 1773 to 1911 under British rule, Kolkata is home to several iconic and historical landmarks celebrating its rich social, political, and cultural history. Displaying a distinct grandeur through its Victorian style of architecture from the time of the British Raj, the popular destination is known for its unique amalgamation of traditional and modern art and architecture. Despite the rigorous modernization, the city has retained its glorious heritage as a testament. Apart from being known for its inspiring literature, refreshing food, and music, its bustling streets have profound stories for every curious traveler. Here is a list of 15 Places to Visit as Traveling Architects in Kolkata – the City of Joy!
National Library | Places to Visit in Kolkata
Located in Belvedere Estate, Kolkata is India’s largest library by volume and public record, spread across an area of 30 acres, National Library. Initially designed as a royal house, influenced by the English architectural style of the 19th century, it serves as a symbol of imperial power in India. Curved entryways lead to the majestic building designed with decorative galleries, overlooking the lush lawns. Notable architectural elements include its tall Corinthian pillars, arches, Roman beams, and colored traditional doors and windows. Beyond its architectural grandeur, the library houses over two million books, giving all the more reasons to visit it!
Marble Palace
Constructed in 1835 by a wealthy Bengali merchant, the Marble Palace in North Kolkata is one of the well-preserved pieces of history. Occupied by the descendants of the passionate art collector, the mansion is home to a hundred and twenty-six different types of marble. The Neoclassical structure encompasses open courtyards as an influence of traditional Bengal over three elegant stories. Raised over tall, fluted Corinthian pillars and huge ornamented verandas finished with sloping roofs, the mansion has been built in the style of a Chinese pavilion. The estate is complete with lush, sprawling gardens, including a rock garden, lawns, a small zoo, and a lake. It is a testimony to fine artistic statues, distinct glassware, and incredible paintings of eminent artists from the time of the British Raj.
Victoria Memorial, Kolkata | Places to Visit in Kolkata
Built between 1906 to 1921 to commemorate Queen Victoria for her 25 years of rule over India, it is the largest monument dedicated to a monarch in the world. British architect William Emerson conceived this as an impressive example of colonial presence, combining Indian and British styles of architecture. Constructed of white Makrana marble sourced from Rajasthan, architectural influences from British and Mughal elements with Venetian, Egyptian, and Deccani are evident all around the monument. The present-day museum is spread over 64 acres and houses 21 lush green gardens, over 28,000 artifacts, and 3,900 artistic paintings.
Belur Math
A “Symphony in Architecture” as proclaimed by the mission, the Belur Math is the headquarters of Swami Vivekananda’s Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Constructed in 1899 on the western bank of the Hooghly River, Kolkata, it was an intended symbol of the unity of all religions. The 40-acre serene campus displays influences of Buddhist, Hindu, Mughal, and Renaissance architecture all over its structures, shrines, museum, and the monastery inside. Parts of these structures – the domes, facades, and ornamentation of every monument within is a harmony of derived architectural styles. The extensive use of stone slabs, cladding, unique teak wood, and concrete along with its exemplary design, makes this the architectural marvel it is.
Writer’s Building | Places to Visit in Kolkata
A historic monument built for the writers of the East India Company in the 18th century, it serves as the secretariat building of the West Bengal State Government today. Popularly known as ‘Mahakarn’, it is famous for being the first ever three-storied building in Kolkata. Last restored in 2013 involving INTACH, the distinct Greco-Roman structure is ornamented with several statues of Greek gods and Roman sculptures. Often called a mini-township, the colonial-era building has undergone several socially and politically influenced renovations over the past centuries to add to the city’s glorious narratives today.
Jorasanko Thakur Bari
The ancestral house of the renowned Tagores is a beautiful mansion located on the Rabindra Bharati University campus, in Jorasanko, North Kolkata. The sophisticated 18th-century mansion was the birthplace and childhood home of the first Asian Nobel laureate in Literature, Rabindranath Tagore. The rich brick-red structure is spread over 35000 square meters and came into what it is today through several additions over many years to a small house. The Rabindra Bharati Museum was established later on the premises celebrating Tagore’s birth centenary in 1962. The numerous paintings, works of art, and rich literature housed within various parts of the museum pay an excellent tribute to the literary legend.
Howrah Bridge
As the longest cantilever bridge in India and the sixth-longest of its kind in the world, the majestic structure connects the bustling cities of Kolkata and Howrah over the Hooghly river. Officially in use since 1943, the entire steel structure spans 457 meters long with a suspended span of 172 meters. Made out of 26,500 tonnes of steel, it handles a daily traffic of about 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians. Riveted sections of a combination of high tensile and mild steel form the mighty super-structure. The fine example of architectural and structural history is a must-visit monumental wonder.
St. Paul’s Cathedral | Places to Visit in Kolkata
The historic Indo-Gothic cathedral built in 1847 bears pride as the largest church in Kolkata and as the first new-built cathedral in the overseas territory of the British Empire. The need for a new, larger church to accommodate the growing population of the European community in the 1800s laid the foundation for this iconic landmark. Displaying a close resemblance to the famous Norwich Cathedral in England, its beautiful architectural elements – the pointed arches, counter-balancing buttresses, and slender vertical piers generously contribute to the colonial era’s cityscape.
Metcalfe Hall
Built during the early 1840s in the British imperial architecture style, the Metcalfe Hall is a heritage building resembling that of an ancient Greek temple (Tower of Winds in Athens, Greece). With two stories and five elegant halls, the building initially housed the Calcutta Public Library collection formed by the Governor General of that time, Lord Metcalf. Today, the ground floor is home to the Asiatic Society’s rare foreign journals and manuscripts, while the first floor has offices and exhibition galleries of the Archaeological Survey of India. Raised on a solid basement with huge Corinthian pillars supporting a massive entablature, the mansion is an authentic blend of Bengal’s culture and literary history.
Indian Museum, Kolkata | Places to Visit in Kolkata
‘Jadughar’ as it is popularly known, the Indian Museum is the ninth oldest multipurpose museum in the world and the largest in India. Constructed in 1814, the imperial structure holds its heritage status for both its age as a monument and the historical wonders and artifacts it has hosted since its establishment. The Neoclassical building with three floors houses colonnaded pavilions and massive halls divided into various galleries. The museum eventually initiated a movement in India, which led to the establishment of about 400 museums around the country, marking the start of the modern period.
