In Pictures – 25 Must See Places in Kolkata

8) Police Museum – one of the lesser known museums of Kolkata, the Police Museum and exhibits items reflect the history of policing in India. It also exhibits artefacts that were used in India’s struggle for independence.

Address – 113, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Road, Kolkata, West Bengal – 700 009. The museum is open to the general public Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM IST & admission to the museum is free.

9) Belur Math & (10) Dakshineshwar Temples – Dakshineshwar Kali temple is the seat of modern day Sanatan & Hindu relion revival since the reincarnation of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The temple was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni & lies on the eastern banks of the Ganges.

The Belur Math lies on the opposite side of Dakshineshwar temples, on the western side. It is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Address – Dakshineswar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700076, India. The temple compound is open from 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM IST daily, while the temple closes down during certain periods of the day for offerings.

Belur, Howrah, West Bengal 711202, India. The compound & the temple is open daily to visitors & devotees from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM & again from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM IST. Meeting could be arranged with senior monks (Darshan) outside of these hours.

This video was posted on ExploreIndiaTV YouTube channel. This article contains some of the details, locations & images from the video. If you have not done it yet, please Subscribe to ExploreIndiaTV on YouTube. Your subscriptions, shares & comments are a big encouragement to me.

11) Kolkata Planetarium – also known as the M. P. Birla Planetarium, it is operational from 2 July 1963. This Kolkata landmark is the second largest planetarium in the world.

Outside of the regular astronomical shows offered to the visitors, a little known fact is that the Kolkata planetarium also has an astronomical observatory equipped with a Celestron C-14 Telescope with accessories such as ST6 CCD camera and solar filter.

Address – 96, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071. Tickets for shows can be purchased online.

12) St Paul’s Cathedral – the Kolkata St. Paul’s Cathedral is an 1847 Gothic & Indo-Saracenic architecture style cathedral in Kolkata is an Anglican church dedicated to Paul the Apostle. The construction is 247 feet in length, 81 feet in width and 114 feet at transept. The flagstaff rises to a height of 175 feet above ground level.

Address – 1A Cathedral Rd, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India. Details of ceremonies and events are on their Facebook page.

13) Science City – although Bangalore (or Bengaluru) is known as the Science City due to its IT footprints, the Kolkata Science City is the largest center for science exhibitions in India & managed by National Council of Science Museums, Indian Ministry of Culture. The center currently has unique scientific exhibition pods – from interactive exhibits, space exhibits, historical exhibits, a butterfly center to science theatres.

Address – J.B.S. Haldane Avenue, Kolkata-700 046, India. Ticket fare depends on the type of exhibits you are interested in & can be purchased online.

14) Kolkata Birla Temple – dedicated to Radha Krishna, this Hindu temple is built & managed by the industrialist Birla family, and is part of the community of Birla temples built all over India. Construction of the Kolkata Birla Temple began in 1970 & was completed in 1996. It was formally dedicated to the deities Radha Krishna by Swami Chidananda Maharaj.

Address – 29, Ashutosh Chowdary Ave, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019, India. The temple follows certain hours during which devotees can visit & make offerings, but the most popular time is the evening, during the vesper services.

15) Botanical Garden – although called the Kolkata Botanical Garden, the correct name of this landmark is Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden & is famous for the 80 feet tall banyan tree that dates back to 1800.

The garden was founded in 1876 & has some of the rarest kinds of trees from various parts of India, Nepal, Brazil, Penang, Java and Sumatra over 270 acres of land.

Address – Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Botanical Survey of India, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal 711103, India. Technically speaking the Botanical Garden lies just outside of municipal Kolkata but should not be missed if you are in the city. The premises remain open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM & has a nominal entry fee for tourists.