Places you Must Visit in Kolkata While Travelling

Planning to travel across Kolkata, we might be able to help you. Through the medium of this blog, we would bring to you profound in-depth knowledge of some of the most famous tourist spots in Kolkata. The spots that we have listed in the blog would surely help explore and understand the cultural diaspora of Kolkata in a systematic manner.

National Library

Located in the Belvedere Estate Alipore, Kolkata India, this is one of the largest libraries going by the the volume of the books its stores and public visitation records. As of now, the library is managed by the Ministry of Culture, the government of India.

The aim of the library is beyond being a simple purveyor of books and other study materials. This library aims to collect, disseminate, and preserve published research as well as materials produced within the confines of the nation from the period of freedom till now. The total collection here sums up to around 2.5 million, and hence, it's considered to be the largest library in India.

This library was founded in 1891 after combining several Secretariat libraries in Calcutta. This act led to the communion of several secretariat libraries in Calcutta. The library of the home department contained many books that formerly belonged to East India College, Fort William, and the Library of East India Board in London.

In 1910, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was appointed president of the Imperial Library. After being elected, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee donated his personal collection of around 80,000 books to the library. You can still see all of these books, as they are arranged in a different section. 

Zakaria Street

Kolkata’s Zakaria Street is famous for its Street Food. If you Want to visit the street food stalls here, follow these directions to Zakaria Street. Zakaria Street is located in the central part of Kolkata and forms a connection between Rabindra Sarani and Chitranjan Avenue. If you have trouble getting to Zakaria Street, you can head on towards Nakhoda Mosque. Zakaria Street is quite closer to the Mosque itself.

Zakaria street tour during Ramadan is quite famous. The city gets filled with street vendors who sell kebabs, chicken, and various other dishes that are mainly enjoyed during Ramadan. If you plan to visit Zakaria Street, we would recommend that you spend some time in Muhammad Ali Park, as it's quite closer to Zakaria Street.

Prinsep Ghat

The Ghat was constructed during the British reign; nestling on the Hooghly bank river, the Palladian porch was built in memory of the Anglo-Indian scholar James Prinsep. It was in the year 1843 that the James Prinsep Ghat was built.

James Prinsep Ghat in Kolkata is considered to be one of the oldest recreational spots in the entire city. People visit it in the evenings and walk along the coast line for a serene experience. The most spectacular vista you can witness would be the 1.2 km riverfront that has been profoundly beautified. If you visit the place during the evening, you will be able to witness the illuminated landscapes, pathways, fountains, and ghats. A few movies have been shot here as well, such as Parineeta and others.

Prinsep Ghat Railway Station is another place you can visit while on your evening saunter in Kolkata. The station is managed by the Kolkata Circular Railway, which is maintained and managed by the Eastern Railway.

The nearby ports are hallowed grounds and should definitely be visited while you are in Kolkata. You can witness the MAN O WAR jetty, which commemorates the role of these ports in the Second World War.

Tiretta Bazaar

Tiretta bazaar is named after an Italian immigrant from Venice, Edoardo Tiretta. He was a land surveyor and owner of a few pieces of land in Kolkata during the 18th century.  Later, during Warren Hastings's time as the Governor-general of India, a businessman named Tong Achew established a sugar refinery and a plantation about 33km away from Calcutta.

The first wave of migrants from China in Kolkata was that of Haka’s. According to records, there were only about 362 Chinese in Calcutta in 1837. According to C . Alabaster (British Consular Official in China ), with time, a great deal of Chinese workers migrated to India. These individuals engaged as shoemakers as well as carpenters.

The emerging need for high-quality leather products in India and Indians' prejudices against working in tanneries led to a vacuum for workers who could indulge in the profession. Chinese were able to easily fulfill these needs and hence became an integral part of the budding leather manufacturing factories of India.

There have been mentions of the Chinese indulging in licensed opium dens run by native Chinese in the area. A trade that was not illegal till the time India gained its freedom in the year 1947.

The formidable number of migrants who came to India to work in tanneries or opium dens cultivated their own social strata and culture in the heart of Kolkata. The remaining vestiges of Chinese culture can still be witnessed in Tiretta bazaar, where in the early morning, various Chinese vendors sell their authentic Chinese dishes. If you are in Kolkata, you must try these.

Tangra China Town

Tangra China Town was the place where most of the tanneries that we just talked about were established. Many of these tanneries were owned by the Hakka people of Chinese origin. Now, if you plan to visit, you can travel across Tangra China town you must try eateries that offer authentic dishes such as Fired Rice, Chilli Prawns, Crab Soups, Rice Noodles, Pakchoi, and a few others.

There is a famous Chinese Kali temple crossing where you can see restaurants such as Kim Fa, Beijing, Golden Joy, and a few others. If dining out at a restaurant isn’t your idea of travelling, we recommend that you visit Toong on Church, one of the most famous churches in Kolkata, where you can seek the blessings of Kwan Ti and other deities.

Town Hall  

The eclectic Town Hall was a creation of Harry Grastin, with a collective fund of about 700,000 rupees raised from a lottery system to offer the European bureaucrats a place for social gatherings. As of now, for all travellers, there is an expansive library that can be visited. The library was initiated by Nimai Mal in a small function over by the Subrata Mukherjee.

According to the new records, the library now holds about 12000 books and journals that can be read and visited by many scholars from different corners of the Nation. The Library now holds some of the most valuable books, the copies of which have eroded into oblivion world over.  Visiting all of these places in a single day could be a challenge especially if you travel with the help of public auto’s and busses. We would recommend that you opt for self-drive vehicles in Kolkata for easier travelling across the city.