Kolkata tourism

balla

balla

Kalighat Kali Temple

balla

Kolkata, the main city in East India in West Bengal, lies on the banks of the Hoogly River. Kolkata is renowned for the building and monuments built in the European style of architecture, for example, the Victoria Memorial hall, Writer's building and the Kolkata High Court. There are also some structures that reflect both the Indo Islamic and the Hindu architectural patterns. Kolkata which was formerly known as Calcutta is the capital city in the state of West Bengal. The history of this city commenced with the advent of the British East India Company in the year 1690. The city was a centre of the British East India Company and they were largely responsible for the growth of the city and its public architecture which led to the description of Calcutta as "The City of Palaces" because of the numerous palatial mansions built all over the city. Over the next century Calcutta kept expanding into an urban city. Maidan Park, where Fort William is situated, has many European style buildings around it designed by British architects. No traces of the traditional Indian style are seen in the structures. The impressions of monuments and buildings embedded throughout the city are still fresh and not more than three hundred years old. Unlike other places of attractions the Kolkata has not been gifted by any ruler or dynasty.

balla

Kolkata is a store house of holy places which includes mosques, temples and churches. These holy places include Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Paresnath Temple, Nakhoda Mosque, Belur Math, the St Paul's Cathedral and Portuguese Cathedral. The Dakshineshwar temple on the banks of the Hooghly River is a huge temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. The temple is a large elongated building standing on an elevated platform with a flight of stairs. It is built in a very traditional Bengali style even though it is a new structure. The walls of the temple are not terracotta panels but are plastered. The architecture of the Belur Math is very interesting. At the same time it gives the impression of a temple, mosque and church depending on the way one perceives. The structure of Belur Math is a combination Hindu, Muslim and Christian architectural styles. The huge shrine is completely covered with ochre cladding stones, with Indian motifs as decorations. The Shitalanatha temple in Kolkata is a Jain temple and is a blend of European and Islamic styles, with a traditional Indian shikhara, set in an Italian style garden. The Nakhoda Mosque the biggest mosque in Kolkata. It has been constructed in the style of Akbar's tomb at Sikandra which is an exam-ple of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The interior of the mosque is an exhibition of exquisite embellishment and creative extravagansa.

balla

Howrah Bridge

The people of Kolkata have for decades been appreciative of literary and performing arts. This is evident from the way they celebrate festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali and Kali Puja just before Dussera and the way they decorate their homes in the process.
The plays and skits performed by locals in Kolkata have gained acclaim on a global platform. Kolkata is also famous for its signature handcarts that ferry people around neighborhoods that have attracted both appreciation for the laborer’s strength and flak from human rights groups. Other forms of transport within the city include the age-old yellow cabs and local buses which can get crowded. Rickshaws are another way of getting around. For the avid reader, a trip to College Street is worth. It’s a great place to get a bargain on some of the best selling titles on the stands.

balla

balla

balla

balla

balla