- Information
- Traveler Advice
- Forums
48HourVisit.com
Planning a short visit? Check out 48HourVisit.com, your online guide for short stays and weekend getaways. Ad
Kolkata Travel Guide
Dubbed as the "City of Joy," the city of Kolkata was once known as Calcutta, and was usually associated by Westerners with poverty, mostly because it was the center of the famed Mother Teresa's humanitarian works. Over the years, though, it has slowly lifted off the unwanted stigma, thus shining light on it being one of India's industrial metropolises. The capital of the West Bengal state, its long and eventful history has bequeathed to it a unique cultural heritage unlike any other.
Probably Kolkata's most arresting attraction is the Victoria Memorial, which pays homage to the former "Empress of India," Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Built to coincide with the queen's 1901 diamond jubilee, it actually took around 20 years to be completed, and features an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
With its sprawling landscaped gardens and massive marble domes sparkling in ivory white, the memorial's appearance seemingly is a fusion of the Taj Mahal and the US Capitol. It is particularly noted for the so-called "Angel of Victory" statue perched on top of its central dome. Fashioned out of black bronze, the statue acts as a wind vane. The Victoria Memorial is also visited for its museum, which displays a collection of artifacts dating back to the British Raj occupation.
Another noteworthy attraction is the Indian Museum, widely recognized as one of the oldest of its kind in the world. Commissioned in the early 19th century by a Danish botanist, a certain Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, the museum has around 60 galleries tackling subjects such as Art, Anthropology, Botany, Geology, and Zoology, to name a few. Inside, one can find a collection of more than 50,000 antique coins, Chinese porcelain, Tibetan metal works, 4,000-year-old mummies, and even a gigantic dinosaur skeleton.
Tourists can also make a visit to the ancient Kalighat Temple nestled by the banks of the Hooghly River. A popular pilgrimage destination, legend tells that it was built on the exact spot where a body part of the goddess Sati fell during the god Shiva's performance of the cosmic dance Tandava. There is too the unique Marble Palace, which is a staple among visitors. Characterized by towering Corinthian pillars and Chinese pavilions, this mansion constructed in 1835 by the Raja Rajendro Mullick is often used as a showcase for European artworks.
User blogs:
Loving Laos
Laos seems like a long shot to become Southeast Asia’s next big thing. The food doesn’t win any prizes, the roads are severely potholed by frequent flooding and locals regard the prospect of increased tourism with a sunny indifference that exceeds even Mediterranean proportions. Laos is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states ... Read full Blog post
In our Magazine
Summer Destination to Avoid: Gulf of Mexico
EPA is failing to do their job monitoring the air and reporting factual data. The people need to be made aware that their lives and long term livelihood are at stake because of the air quality in Gulf of Mexico.
How to Avoid Traveling Troubles
Traveling to a certain destination might not become memorable if there are too many troubles along the way. Remember that even the best trips are usually not trouble-free. Follow these tips that help lessen the hassles.
Unique Toys from Japan
Japan is known for its fascinating, and sometimes, eccentric culture. From anime, karaoke, to advanced technology, the Land of the Rising Sun always has something unique to offer.
