WORLD-FAMOUS LANDMARKS
These architecural marvels and renowned sights are synonymous with Kolkata.
Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of the city, the architectural marvel of 14 Howrah Bridge (officially, Rabindra Setu), connects Kolkata with its twin city Howrah on the other side of the River Hooghly. One of the longest cantilever bridges on the planet, it’s also the world’s busiest, with over 1,00,000 vehicles and more than 1,50,000 pedestrians crossing it daily. Rivalling it in fame, is the magnificent 15 Victoria Memorial, located on the grounds of the Maidan, the largest urban park in Kolkata. The brainchild of Viceroy George Curzon, it was built between 1906 and 1921 to commemorate Queen Victoria. Today, it houses a museum with 25 galleries displaying over 28,000 artefacts and 3,900 paintings, along with lush gardens covering an area of 64 acres. The largest museum in the country, the 16 Indian Museum built in 1814, is also the ninth oldest in the world. Comprising six sections of 35 galleries, it displays cultural and scientific artefacts of Indian art, archaeology, anthropology, and geology.