VICTORIA MEMORIAL: Another relic of the British Raj in India, the Victoria Memorial is located in the heart of Kolkata, in West Bengal. This white-marbled opulent structure was built in memory of Queen Victoria to celebrate her 25 years of rule over India and is almost a replica of the Victoria Memorial in London. Victoria Memorial is an iconic structure that is synonymous with the city of joy. The memorial is surrounded by a lush green and well-maintained garden, which spreads over 64 acres and has numerous statues and sculptures in it.
A sixteen-foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted on ball bearings at the top of the memorial, serves to heighten the overall appeal and grandeur of the entire complex. Victoria Memorial is breathtaking and marvelous, especially at night, when it is illuminated. The Sound and Light show that takes place in the evening is an added delight and a must-watch. All in all, the place is a must-visit for people to wish to relive the essence of the Victorian era in the modern-day world.
FORT WILLIAM KOLKATA: The mighty edifice of Fort William is situated in the city of Kolkata, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. Built-in the year 1696, the fort is named after King William III and was the first stronghold of the British in the country. The magnificent structure is spread over 70.9 acres and is embellished with hundreds of arched windows that overlook lush green gardens. Meticulous stonework adorns the surface of the building and it took as long as took ten years to reach completion.
However, it was soon realized that the building had a few loopholes, and a new octagonal building was constructed whose foundation was laid by Sir Robert Clive. Throughout its existence, Fort William has served several purposes, each of which was in stark contrast to the other. Initially, it comprised wings and an inner bastion where prisoners were hauled which is why it was known as 'the black hole of Calcutta'. Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army and has a capacity of accommodating up to 10,000 army personnel. It also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. Due to its importance concerning Indian intelligence, access to the interiors of the fort is limited to army personnel and their relatives. However, you can visit the palace for its stunning architecture.
BELUR MATH: This is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Sprawling over forty acres of land on the west bank of the Hooghly River, it is visited by people from all over the world, irrespective of their religious beliefs. The temple is known for its distinctive architecture, which fuses Hindu, Christian, and Islamic motifs as a symbol of the unity of all religions. Founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the temple is at the heart of the Ramakrishna Movement. The temple complex also houses a museum and several other affiliated educational institutions. The evening Aarti takes place at 5:30 PM.
At which an evening bell is rung to indicate that visitors are not allowed to loiter on the Math grounds and are also not allowed to visit any temple other than Sri Ramakrishna temple. The Aarti songs sung are hymns of praise to Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi. The Aarti here is different from those at other places of worship since one is expected just to sit and meditate. There is no religious offering made. Flowers and sweets are not offered.
HOWRAH BRIDGE: This is a massive steel bridge constructed over the Hooghly River. It 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 nighttime 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 at night, is priceless, to say the least. Howrah Bridge was the third-longest cantilever bridge at the time of its construction, but now it is the sixth-longest one of its types. It was renamed Rabindra Setu on June 14, 1965, after the name of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It spreads about 1500 ft over the Hooghly River and is 71 ft wide. There is a total of 8 lanes of strand road, bicycles, and pedestrians. What makes this bridge unique is the fact that it was built without a single nut or bolt and is held together by rivets.
BIRLA PLANETARIUM: Situated at the famous Chowringhee Road right in the proximity of Victoria Memorial and St. Paul's Cathedral Birla Planetarium is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world! Situated in the city of joy - Kolkata, Birla Planetarium is a magnificent edifice set up by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2nd July 1963. It is one of the three planetariums present in India. Also known as Taramandal, the Birla Planetarium regularly holds many shows and programs in various languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, and other regional languages.
In addition to being a planetarium, Birla Planetarium also has an electronics laboratory and an astronomy gallery that has a collection of paintings and astronomical models. A visit to the Birla Planetarium is an exciting way to ignite your interest in science and the motion of planets. People, especially astronomy lovers, arrive from all over the world to experience the amazing shows organized here.
INDIAN MUSEUM: The ninth oldest museum in the world and largest in India, the Indian Museum is located in the city of Kolkata. The foundation stone of the Indian Museum was laid down in the year 1814 and has been a center 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. In addition to these, the Indian Museum boasts some of the most exquisite collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armor, and stunning Mughal paintings. Presently the museum has 35 galleries which have been divided into six categories namely Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology, and Economic Botany. For those inquisitive about history, there is also a library and bookshop present within the museum premises.
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