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West Bengal Tourism

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The Victoria Memorial is probably the most well known tourist spot in Kolkata. A tribute to the late Queen Empress, it was conceived by the Viceroy, Lord Curzon, in 1905, four years after the Queen's death. The Prince of Wales (later King George V) laid the foundation stone on 4th Jan, 1906. It took 15 years before the Duke of Windsor officially inaugurated it on 21st December, 1921.Designed by Sir William Emerson, this 61-m. high structure of white marble stands on 26 hectares of land. Inspired by the Taj Mahal, its splendid form combines British architecture and Moghul artistry. However, while the Taj is purely aesthetic in its appeal, the Victoria Memorial exemplifies the grandeur of imperialism. Ornate bronze gateways welcome the visitor to the sprawling grounds, with their lakes, trees and flowering plants. A tree-lined approach leads to a statue of Queen Victoria in her full regalia, seated on a throne. A bronze statue of an angel tops the domed memorial.
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Set up in Salt Lake, spread over an area of 40 acres on the north-eastern fringe of Kolkata, this amusement park offers wholesome fun for children as well as adults and draws crowds from suburban Kolkata especially on the weekends. There are a wide variety of rides to choose from, with the Toy Train, Cable Car, Tilt-a-Whirl, Water Chute, Water Coaster, Flying Saucer, Pirate Ship and Moonraker being the popular ones. There is also a food park where visitors can sample mouth-watering snacks. Worth a visit !
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The Science City of Kolkata stands at the intersection of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and the Park Circus Connector. Here science and technology have been put to ingenious use to explain scientific principles. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, quicksand and tornadoes have been simulated. Life size models of dinosaurs and a representation of the interior of a volcano are some of the many displays intended to create a scientific interest in the mind of the layman. There is also a large collection of live birds and insects. The main attraction is the Space Theatre - a circular auditorium with a dome-shaped ceiling which, from the interior, looks like an inverted bowl. Another major attraction is the musical fountain, where coloured jets of water dance to the sound of music. The Science City also houses an auditorium and a cafeteria.
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The Zoological Gardens, Spread over nearly 100 acres in the heart of Alipore, was established in 1878. It has a large collection of birds and mammals, and an enclosure for reptiles, including a tortoise that is much older than the zoo itself. It is famous for its Royal Bengal and White Tigers. A large number of migratory birds haunts the inbuilt small lake during winter. You should make it a point to visit the Giant aquarium across the road, with its collection of over 1200 fish and reptiles.
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The Royal Kolkata Turf Club (RCTC), popularly known as the Race Course, occupies pride of place in the field of organised racing in India. The first known meeting of the Sport of Kings was held in 1794, at Akra. In 1803, the Bengal Jockey Club was formed for organising and controlling racing in Bengal. In 1809, the venue was shifted from Akra to the Maidan area, west of the Victoria Memorial. On 22nd February, 1847, the Kolkata Turf Club was officially founded. The races are conducted in two phases annually. The monsoon season is from July to September, when a monsoon track is used for racing. The longer winter season, when most of the prestigious races are held, is from November to March.
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The foundation for St. Paul's Cathedral was laid in 1839 largely due to the efforts of Bishop Wilson.The main cathedral hall is large, with beautifully carved wooden pews and chairs. The stained glass window to the west, the intricate coloured artwork covering the eastern walls, the two marvellous Florentine frescoes - all these are worth a look.The Cathedral is set within huge grounds with several ancient trees. There is a small meditation spot on the grounds, set up recently in collaboration with distinguished citizens of Tagore's Shantiniketan. Regular services are held in the Church.
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The Rabindra Setu, popularly known as the Howrah Bridge - 705 m. long and 97 m. wide, is the gateway to the city of Kolkata. Built on river Hooghly, it remains an arterial bridge that connects the city to its main railway station, the Howrah Station. Construction began in 1939 and the bridge was opened to traffic in 1943. Built from 26,500 tons of steel, it is the world's third longest cantilever bridge. An engineering marvel, The eight-lane bridge carries a steady flow of around 57,000 vehicles and 2 million commuters every day. The best way to enjoy its stately beauty is to view it from the middle of the river enjoying a steamer or a boat ride from the adjacent Outram Ghat. Photography however, is prohibited on the bridge itself.
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Birla Planetarium set up on 29th September, 1962 has a circular structure, and is built on the lines of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi. The viewing hall with a diameter of 23 m., has a capacity of 500 seats. Wonders of the solar system through projections cast on the domed ceiling are exhibited here. Shows are held daily and in three languages - English, Hindi and Bengali, each being at a particular time to suit different audiences.
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Kolkata is the only metropolis in the country to have this mode of transport and is a prized possession of this city. Thanks to meticulous maintenance that the exteriors and interiors of the train itself , stations, the platforms are all kept spotless and emaculate. Dum Dum and Tollygunge are the terminal stations, connecting the two extremes of the city across 15 other stations, with a 35-minute ride in between. The service is very efficient and punctual, with evenly spaced out trains and greater frequency during rush hours. The Metro offers a timesaving, comfortable and smoothjourney.
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More wellknown as the second Hooghly Bridge, stands on the river Hooghly , is Asia's longest and the world's third largest cable-stayed bridge. It is supported by 121 wire cables, 457 m. long and 115 m. wide. This graceful structure stands on four pylons, on a foundation that is 100 m. deep.
Located two km. to the south of the Howrah Bridge, it was built to reduce vehicular traffic and pressure from the latter. The construction work took 22 years and an approximately mammoth cost Rs. 3.88 billion. The bridge was officially opened to traffic on 10th October, 1992.
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Botanical Gardens
On the west bank of River Hooghly stands the Botanical Gardens, the oldest in the country. The star attraction is the 250-year old banyan tree with nearly 2,000 aerial roots, making it the largest tree of its kind in the world .Established on 6th July, 1786, it started as a pleasure retreat for Colonel Kyd of the East India Company. Today the garden, spread across a sprawling 272 acres, is home to 35,000 types of fruits and flowers, besides 15,000 other botanical specimens, including medicinal plants. It also houses a library containing an invaluable collection of rare books on botany and allied subjects. The Gardens are also a popular picnic spot.
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The Museum was originally established on 2nd February, 1814, at the Asiatic Society. Dr.Nathaniel Wallich, a botanist, was the founder-curator. It is spread out over an area of 930 sq. m. The museum is particularly famous for its zoological and geological collections. The sections dealing with fossil and taxidermy are also notable. Star attractions are a 4,000 year-old mummy and an enormous dinosaur skeleton. Also notable among the collection are 50,000 antique coins, precious stones and 414 meteors.Priceless items such as Shahjahan's emerald goblet and an urn containing Buddha's ashes add variety. The Bharhut Gallery containing artefacts from the 2nd century B.C., the Gandhara Gallery containing works of Buddhist sculpture and the Theme Gallery of rare paintings are also worth visiting.
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An 8-acre water park has very recently come up near Kolkata. Known as Aquatica, this theme park in Kochpukur, Rajarhat, offers visitors a cool respite from the heat and grime of city life. The park easily accommodates 5,000 people. An artificial river meanders through the park. Visitors are allowed to swim and wade in it. The river water is recycled every hour, keeping it crystal clear and welcoming. Aquatica features great rides and adventures such as the Black Hole, where one enters a dark hole from a great height and emerges at the ground level. The Aqua Dance Floor, where visitors can sway to non-stop music, is fitted with nozzles that spray the surrounding air with water. High, artificial waves have been created to make the Wave Pool. There is also a Kiddies Pool that exhibits a shipwreck. One can also opt for the Slide, and enter the water from a great height after sliding down on special mats.
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** Sight Seeing Full day / Half day to the above mentioned places can be arranged by the Hotel Travel Desk.
Contact Travel Desk of Lytton for details.
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