Kolkata/Riverfront
The Riverfront is the strip of land along the Hooghly River in central Kolkata. One of the most popular hangout zones in the city, the Riverfront consists of a promenade with scenic views of the Hooghly River and the skyline of Howrah, from the Howrah Bridge to Vidyasagar Setu.
Get in
By train
The Circular Railway has stops at 🌍 B.B.D. Bag Circular , 🌍 Edengarden Circular and 🌍 Prinsep Ghat Circular .
By bus
- 🌍 Babughat Bus Terminus, ~8 Strand Rd. One of the main bus termini in Kolkata alongside Esplanade. One can find interstate buses going into Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and other cities of West Bengal..
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By boat
- 🌍 Babu Ghat, ~8, Strand Rd. One of the busiest ferry ghats in Kolkata. Established by Rani Rashmoni in 1830, the ghat also has a tall colonial structure, which is the landing berth of the ghat. Ferry services are available from Babughat to Howrah, Chandpal Ghat, Telkal Ghat and Bally. Free.
- 🌍 Fairlie Ghat, Strand Rd. Take a boat to Howrah Shipping Ghat
See
- 🌍 Howrah Bridge (হাওড়া ব্রিজ Hāoṛā Brij). 24 hours daily. Officially Rabindra Setu (রবীন্দ্র সেতু Rabīndra Setu), the 705 m (2,313 ft) long Howrah Bridge is one of the iconic bridges of West Bengal. It is a cantilever bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River, and was built without any nut or bolt. The bridge was commissioned in 1943 by Braithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company, replacing the older pontoon bridge. It took over six years to build and the entire project costs ₹25 million. Free.
- 🌍 Vidyasagar Setu (বিদ্যাসাগর সেতু Bidyāsāgar Setu, Second Hooghly Bridge). Open 24 hours. With a total length of 823 m (2,700 ft), Vidyasagar Setu is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia. It was built 3.7 km (2.3 mi) south/downstream of Howrah Bridge. The bridge was commissioned in 1992 by the Hooghly River Bridge Commission (HRBC).
Memorials
- 🌍 Gwalior Monument (Ellenborough's Folly, The Pepperpot). An octagonal cenotaph crowned with a bronze dome cast from guns captured from the Scindia forces of Gwalior. It was erected in 1847 by Governor-General Lord Ellenborough as a memorial to the officers and men who fell during the Gwalior War of 1843.
- 🌍 Lascar War Memorial, Hastings. A memorial dedicated to the memory of the 896 Indian sailors (lascars) who died serving on ships of the Royal Navy and British Merchant Service during World War I.
- 🌍 Prinsep Ghat (প্রিন্সেপ ঘাট Prinsep Ghāṭ) (local: Prinsep Ghat Circular ). Named after James Prinsep, the ghat gives an excellent view of the Hooghly River and Vidyasagar Setu.
Museums
- 🌍 Kolkata Port Trust Maritime and Heritage Museum, GF, 6, Fairlie Warehouse, Strand Rd (local: B.B.D Bag Circular ). M–F 10:00AM–4:30PM. A museum showcasing the heritage of the Port of Kolkata, with some wonderful models of ships once used by the port..
- 🌍 Metcalfe Hall, 12, Strand Rd. A neoclassical heritage building. Its ground floor houses the Asiatic Society's rare foreign journals and manuscripts section, while the first floor houses offices, exhibition galleries and a sales counter of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- 🌍 Outram Ghat, Strand Rd. One of Kolkata's premier riverside entertainment spots. The place is a long stretch with a grand view of the river and Vidyasagar Setu nearby. There are numerous eateries. One can also have a ride in a country boat. The ghat (steps leading to the river) is used for bathing and religious ceremonies. there are other ghats alongside. Beware of trains moving along the circular rail track. Or enjoy a cruise on the river in a panshi.
- 🌍 Samriddhi Bhavan, Strand Rd. Regional headquarters of State Bank of India (SBI), the oldest bank of India. It was founded on 2 June 1806 as the Bank of Calcutta, mainly to fund General Wellesley's wars against Tipu Sultan and the Marathas. The bank was renamed to Bank of Bengal in 1809, then Imperial Bank of India in 1921 and then State Bank of India in 1955. The building contains State Bank Archives and Museum, an initiative to document and preserve the history of banking in India. The museum contains original documents, memorabilia, statues, artefacts, dioramas and murals on public display. It also provides a peek into the personal finances of influential Bengali Renaissance figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Annie Besant.
Do
- 🌍 Millennium Park, Strand Rd. A beautiful park at the riverfront, inaugurated on 26 December 1999 and opened to the general public on the 1 January 2000. Developed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the park is known for scenic views of the Hooghly River, with several ferries and boats roaming around the river.
Buy
- 🌍 Mullick Ghat (মল্লিক ঘাট Mallik Ghāṭ), Strand Rd. At the base of the Howrah Bridge is the city’s bustling wholesale flower market. Flowers are an essential part of life in the city, they are bought not just for temple prayers but also for wedding decorations, events and festivals.
Eat
- 🌍 The Scoop, 71 Strand Rd, ☏ +91 33 22485680. noon to 10PM. Fast food outlet. It has an exclusive view of the river from the first floor of the restaurant. Sitting in the restaurant, one can watch boats moving in the river and cars moving across Vidyasagar Setu.
Drink
Sleep
- 🌍 Polo Floatel, 10, Strand Rd, ☏ +91 33 2213-7779.