5 Historical Places You Must See in Kolkata
Planning a long weekend with the family? Or do you need to visit Kolkata for work? Whatever the reason, the City of Joy will never fail to amaze you with its historical monuments and museums. If you are a history buff and want to know more about the colonial times in India, Kolkata is where you will find a lot of information on the British Raj. So, before you board your Kolkata to Delhi flight back home, here are the top historic places that you must see.
1. Belur Math
Belur Math was one of the institutions founded by Swami Vivekananda, which became the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. In the campus of Belur Math, there is the Sri Ramakrishna Temple, along with a statue of Sri Ramakrishna, as well as the Swami Vivekananda Temple, Holy Mother’s temple, Swami Brahmananda’s Temple and the Ramakrishna Museum. The architecture of this place is a fusion of Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist art which signifies unity amongst all religions.
2. Fort William
The fort overlooks the eastern banks of the River Hooghly and was named after King William III. The fort was constructed in the early years of the Bengal Presidency, during British India. This monument was captured and ruled by Siraj Ud Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, for a short while. After winning the Battle of Plassey, Robert Clive took control of the fort again and ordered for it to be rebuilt. With flights between Kolkata to Delhi taking just over 2 hours, it could be well worth the trip to see this piece of history.
3. Indian Museum, Kolkata
More commonly known as the Imperial Museum of Calcutta, this museum is divided into six sections – Indian Art, Geology, Anthropology, Zoology, Archaeology and Economic Botany. This museum has a unique collection of skeletons, Mughal paintings, ornaments, antiques, mummies, armor, fossils and more. The museum is maintained by the government of India, under the Ministry of Culture.
4. Missionaries of Charity
More commonly referred to as Mother House, the Missionaries of Charity is a Catholic religious congregation, established by Mother Teresa in 1950. The Missionaries take care of refugees, the mentally ill, sick and/or abandoned children and the elderly. Many schools are also run by them, for abandoned street children. These services aren’t charged for in any way, and it is open to all, regardless of religion or social status.
5. Ochterlony Monument
Locally called the Shaheed Minar, this monument was built in 1828, to memorialize Major-General Sir David Ochterlony. The architecture of the place is an amalgamation of Egyptian, Turkish and Syrian culture. It was re-committed after independence to the martyrs of the Indian Freedom Movement. The monument was built with public funds by JP Parker.
Visiting these places will offer you unique insight into India’s past. So, if Indian history really interests you, hop on the next flight from Delhi to Kolkata. And, don’t forget to bring back souvenirs for the family before boarding your Kolkata to Delhi flight.