The nickname of Kolkata is City of Joy after Dominique Lapierre‘s 1985 novel of the same name. The city is on the east bank of the Hooghly River.
Howrah Bridge
Across the Hooghly is Howrah Bridge. It was built during World War II and opened to traffic in 1943. Tata Iron & Steel Co, Jamshedpur had supplied 23,500 tons of high tensile steel for the construction. Rivets fasten all the joints in the bridge. Howrah Bridge is the busiest cantilevered bridge in the world. More than 100,000 vehicles pass through it daily. The bridge links Kolkata and Howrah and is a lifeline of the city.
Down below the bridge, I found a busy flower market. Bright flowers in different colours were being sold. The flowers will be used mainly for decorations and for pooja.
Famous Temple Dedicated to Goddess Kali
Goddess Kali is the principal deity in Dakshineswar Temple. Kali embodies shakti – feminine energy, creativity and fertility – and is an incarnation of Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva. Rani Rashmoni built the temple in 1847. The temple is famous for its association with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa who was perhaps the most famous saint of nineteenth century India.
There is a shrine of Rani Rashmoni within the compound of Dakshineswar Temple. Her statue in white marble stands here.
Dakshineswar Temple stands on the bank of the Hooghly. Devotees can use the bathing ghat in front of the temple. A bridge has been built across the river.
City Centre of Kolkata
Esplanade is in the city centre of Kolkata. It is just north of the Maidan and includes Dalhousie Square with its Gothic buildings. Many of the city’s important buildings are located here. The area transports visitors back to a colonial era.
The Kolkata Mounted Police started functioning in 1840. The force controls crowds on the maidan during sporting events and fairs. The unit also takes part in ceremonial parades and mounts guard at Raj Bhavan during VIP visits.
Hand-Pulled Rickshaws
Tea, cricket, trams, Gothic architecture and hand-pulled rickshaws were all part of the English way of life in colonial Kolkata. There are reportedly 18,000 rickshaw pullers and 6,000 rickshaws in the city. Travellers can see hand-pulled rickshaws only in Kolkata.
Victoria Memorial
The Memorial commemorates the reign of Queen Victoria on the English throne. It brings together the best of the English and Mughal architecture and makes use of white Makrana marble from Rajasthan. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of Victoria Memorial in 1906. The inauguration took place in 1921.
Victoria Memorial is now a museum. It has noteworthy collections of paintings, sculptures, weapons, maps, coins, stamps, artefacts and textiles.
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