Kolkata/North Central
North Central Kolkata is the northern part of central Kolkata. Home to shopping districts like Barabazar, College Street and Mullick Ghat, North Central Kolkata is the transition zone between North and Central Kolkata. On the opposite bank of the Hooghly River lies Howrah, Kolkata's its twin city, and the main crossing point lies in this district.
Get in
See
Museums
- 🌍 Asutosh Museum of Indian Art, 1F & 2F, Centenary Bldg, University of Calcutta, College St. India's first university museum. The museum has specimens of various phases of Indian art, with special emphasis on the art of Bengal. The collection includes sculptures made of stone, metal, wood or terracotta, and different illustrated books of ancient and medieval India.
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- 🌍 Baker Hostel (বেকার হোস্টেল Bekār Hosṭel), 8, Smith Ln. A historical building founded in 1910 by Edward Norman Baker as a government hostel for the male students of Maulana Azad College. Rooms 23 and 24 of the building are converted into a museum in honour of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and the first president of Bangladesh. Room no. 24 (Bangabandhu Memorial Room) contains Rahman's used bed, table and chair. There is a small library where his books are arranged.
- 🌍 House of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, 155A, AJC Bose Rd. Derozio was a young social reformer and the founder of the Young Bengal group.
Religious attractions
- 🌍 Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, 1 Buddhist Temple St, ☏ +91 33 2211 7138. A Buddhist monastery established in 1892 and run by the Bengal Buddhist Association. The distinct red building mostly consists of a school and a guest house. There is a very small Buddhist shrine tucked away on the 1st floor.
- 🌍 Maha Bodhi Society of India, 4A, Bankim Chatterjee St, ☏ +91 33 2219 9294. A small, but interesting Theravada Buddhist temple located in an historic building. There is a library and shrine room on the second floor. Meditation classes are held every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.
- 🌍 Mother Teresa’s tomb (Mother House), 54A, AJC Bose Rd, ☏ +91 33 2217 5267. The Missionaries of Charity is a new order formed in 1950 by Mother Teresa. Their vow to give wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor was put into action with the setting up of several homes. Visit Mother Teresa’s tomb at the Mother House, Nirmal Hriday (home for the dying), Shanti Nagar (for lepers) and Nirmala Shishu Bhavan (the children’s home).
- 🌍 Nakhoda Mosque (নাখোদা মসজিদ Nākhodā Masjid). The largest mosque in Kolkata. It was built by Abdur Rahim Osman in 1926, who came from Kutch in Gujarat. It is one of the few religious buildings built in Indo-Saracenic architecture. An exhibition of exquisite ornaments is held regularly inside the mosque.
Churches
- 🌍 Carey Baptist Church, BB Ganguly St, Bowbazar, ☏ +91 33 2236 7254.
- 🌍 Church of the Lord Jesus (Prabhu Jisur Girja; প্রভু যীশুর গির্জা), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Rd, Taltala. Formerly a Church of Scotland Presbyterian, the Catholic church is a unique one in the city, with most of the religious services being done in Bengali.
- 🌍 St. James' Church (জোড়া গির্জা Joṛā Girjā). One of the most elegant churches in the city. Built in 1862, its twin spires of the St. James' Church dominate Kolkata's skyline.
- 🌍 Holy Rosary Cathedral (ক্যাথিড্রাল অব দ্য মোস্ট হোলি রোজারি). Also known as the Portuguese Church. Built in 1799, it's the only remaining major building of Kolkata’s lesser-known Portuguese colonial history.
Temples
- 🌍 Anjuman Atash Adaran Temple, 91, Metcalfe St. The only Parsi (Zoroastrian) temple in Kolkata, and historically only Parsis can access the temple.
- 🌍 Firinghi Kalibari (ফিরিঙ্গি কালীবাড়ি Phiriṅgi Kālībāṛi), 244, BB Ganguly St, Bowbazar. An old Kali temple, said to be 500 years old. The temple is called "Firinghi Kalibari" since Portuguese-born folk singer Anthony Firingee used to come to the temple. Here, Goddess Kali is worshipped as "Shri Shri Siddheshwari Kalimata Thakurani".
- 🌍 Nabodebalaya (নবদেবালয়). Literally a "new abode of god", it consists of a prayer building and a cemetery of the Brahmo sect of Hinduism. Although dead bodies are usually cremated in mainstream Hindu traditions, they are buried in Brahmoism.
Do
- 🌍 College Square (গোলদীঘি Goldīghi), College St. One of the oldest swimming pools of Kolkata, College Square is known for its considerable contribution towards history of the city's aquatic culture. It also houses the tomb of David Hare, and a monument for the members of the 49th Bengalee Regiment who died in World War I. Durga Puja is celebrated each year at College Square, and it witnesses heavy footfall during that time.
Learn
- 🌍 Medical College & Hospital (মেডিকেল কলেজ ও হাসপাতাল), College St (tram: Calcutta Medical College
). Established in 1835, it is the first medical college in Asia. - 🌍 Presidency University (PU; প্রেসিডেন্সি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), College St (tram: Presidency College ). Established as Hindu College in 1817, renamed Presidency College in 1855, and upgraded to a university in 2010.
- 🌍 The Sanskrit College and University, Bankim Chatterjee St (off College St). A liberal arts university offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Ancient India, world history, Bengali, English, Sanskrit, linguistics and traditional orientation learning (Advaita Vedanta).
- 🌍 University of Calcutta (CU; কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), College St (tram: Calcutta University ). Main campus of India's first western-style university established on 24 January 1857.
Buy
- 🌍 Barabazar (Bengali: বড়বাজার Baṛabājār, Hindi: बड़ा बाज़ार Baṛā Bāzār). One of the busiest shopping districts of Kolkata. The place was the old Sutanuti Hat before the British came. With the influx of the Marwaris (a trading class) during British rule from Western India, it was transformed into Barabazar (big market). The saying goes that if one is willing to pay the price, everything is available in Barabazar. The market thrives on selling larger quantities at cheaper prices.
- 🌍 Barnaparichay Market (বর্ণপরিচয় মার্কেট Barṇaparicaẏ Mārkeṭ), College St (at MG Rd crossing; tram: College Street ). A marketplace that does not appear to have received a lick of paint. It mostly hosts sari (traditional women's dress) shops but the first floor also contains numerous bookshops. There are sari shops opposite the market as well.
- 🌍 College Street (কলেজ স্ট্রিট Kalej Sṭriṭ, also known as baipāṝā (বইপাড়া)). The 900 m (3,000 ft) long street one can trace many out-of-print books at throw-away prices, with a little patience. Its name comes from the presence of several higher education institutions along the thoroughfare. Opposite the "colleges", there are bookshops and stationery stores along Bankim Chatterjee St, Ramanath Majumdar St and Shyama Charan Dey St as well. The area is also home to College Square and Indian Coffee House.
- 🌍 Tiretta Bazaar (টেরিটি বাজার Ṭeriṭi Bājār). Named after Edward Tiretta, a late 18th-century Italian immigrant from Venice but often refereed to as Old China Market due to its historic association with Chinese Indian nationals. While the population has dropped significantly the bazaar is still the place to buy Chinese goods in central Kolkata and to eat Chinese food.
Eat
- 🌍 Chinese Breakfast, Sun Yat Sen St (behind Poddar Court). Early before 8:30AM when things start wrapping up. A delicious Kolkata experience, where Chinese fish dumping comes steamed, fried or in soup. ₹30.
- 🌍 Indian Coffee House, 1F, 15 Bankim Chatterjee St (off College St), ☏ +91 33 2241 4869. A venerable old establishment run by the Indian Coffee Workers Co-op Society. The high ceilings, peeling paintwork, skylights and workers in traditional uniforms create an image straight out of the 1920s or 1930s movie. In addition, the coffee (and the food) is good and cheap.
Sweets
- 🌍 Bhim Chandra Nag (ভীম চন্দ্র নাগ Bhīm Candra Nāg), 5, Nirmal Chandra St, ☏ +91 33 2212 0465, +91 33 2269 7908. The 200-year-old shop is famous for sandesh. It is the inventor of leḍikeni (লেডিকেনি), named after the wife of Lord Canning, the then-Viceroy of India.
- 🌍 Naba Krishna Guin (নব কৃষ্ণ গুঁই Naba Kr̥ṣṇa Gũi), 9B, Nirmal Chandra St. The 200-year-old traditional sweet shop is famous for its fried sweets (ভাজা মিষ্টি bhājā miṣṭi).
- 🌍 Putiram (পুঁটীরাম Pũṭīrām), 46, Surya Sen St. Known for kachori (কচুরি kacuri), samosa (শিঙাড়া śiṅāṛā), juicy "gurer rosogolla" (sold in winters) and "guli goja" (sold on Vijayadashami).
Drink
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹2,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000–5,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹5,000 |
Budget
- 🌍 Broadway Hotel, 27A Ganesh Chandra Ave, Chandni Chowk, ☏ +91 33 22363930, +91 33 2236 3931, contact@broadwayhotel.in. Check-out: 24 hours from when you check in. Despite lacking AC the very large rooms with high ceilings make for a great space and the price is definitely right. Don't miss the authentic ambience of the restaurant and bar of this 1937-built hotel. Supposedly due to the hotel's popularity rooms are often difficult to get unless you book ahead, however, try hanging around and see if one magically opens up while you're there (especially if you're first offered a more expensive room). Upper triple rooms have balconies. Also one of the few places which serves beer with a plate of sliced cucumber. ₹775 double with private bathroom.
- Maha Bodhi Society Guesthouse, 4A, Bankim Chatterjee St, ☏ +91 33 2219 9294. Simple guesthouse with a lot of features. ₹250 room with a private bathroom, ₹150 for a room with a communal bathroom; ₹60 dormitory.
Mid-range
- 🌍 DK international Hotel, 11/1A Marquis St (near to Colin St corner), ☏ +91 33 2252 2540, +91 33 2252 2666, dkinhotel@gmail.com. All rooms A/C and breakfast included. Close to the Bangladesh bus stations. There are better deals out there but not quite as new as this place. Double from ₹1,800+tax.
Connect
Post offices
- 🌍 Barabazar Head Post Office.
Cope
Police stations
- 🌍 Barabazar Police Station, ☏ +91 33 22687554.