Anyone who has visited Kolkata would agree to how the city has a nostalgic feel to it that does not let one leave easily. The slightly slow life might have you a little pissed but the air has so much nostalgia in it that it makes up for all the lack of pace. After all, trams would lose all their charm if they ran at the speed of bullet trains, right?
It is not possible that a city so nostalgic would not be rich in heritage. On that note, this World Heritage Day here’s an ode to the lesser known visited monuments of Kolkata. Because, while we all know Victoria Memorial and St. Paul’s Cathedral, the lesser known ones complete the city and are more than worth a visit.
The Marble Palace: Built in 1835 by Raja Rajendra Mullick who was a wealthy Bengali merchant, it was meant to collect works of art which the Raja did as a passion. Members of the family still reside in the building and is located at 46, Muktaram Babu Street. Raja Rajendra Mullick was the adopted son of Nilmoni Mullick.
Shaheed Minar: Formerly known as the Ochterlony Monument, this was erected in 1828 in the memory of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony. The then Commander of British East India Company had defended Delhi against the Marathas in 1804 and won over the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Nepalese war. This monument was made by J. P. Parker to commemorate this twin victory but was later dedicated to the martyrs of Indian freedom struggle and the name was changed to Shaheed Minar.
Chandraketugarh: Though not inside Kolkata, the 35-kms long drive is absolutely worth it when it comes to this archaelogical site located beside the Bidyadhari river. Excavations have revealed several relics from different periods of history at this site and though information available is limited, some historians believe the site could be the same as the one known to Greek and Roman writers as ‘Gangaridai’.
Jorasanko Thakurbari: Ancestral home to none other than Rabindranath Tagore’s family, this was built in the 18th century and stands at 6/4 Dwarkanath Tagore Lane, Jorasanko, North Kolkata. Tagore spent most of his childhood here and it now houses the Rabindra Bharati University.
National Library: Home to one of the biggest collection of books, this library is located in Belvedere Estate in Alipore. Bonus: it has ghost stories of its own to unleash the inner ghostbuster in you. This place was home to Warren Hastings before it was converted into a library and it is believed that his spirit still roams the corridors at night looking for a black bureau he was unable to find when alive.
Gurusaday Museum: This museum houses over 3,000 artefacts related to folk arts and crafts. It is the result of the lifetime collection of Gurusaday Dutt and no duplicates can be found for any of the artefacts anywhere in the world.
So, the next time you are in Kolkata give these places a visit and let the nostalgia take over.
