Top 5: Sites to See in Kolkata

Sitting on the banks of the Hooghly is Kolkata, the cultural center of India thanks to its long history and numerous contributions to the arts. Here are five sites to see when you’re in the former capital of the British Raj.

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Howrah Bridge

Its official name is Rabindranath Setu, after the Bengali Nobel laureate, though it is still called by Howrah Bridge. This famous symbol of Kolkata was a pioneering project in bridge construction for India, costing a total of $3.5 million.

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Kumortuli

In the old days, families would commission a religious idol by inviting an artist into their home for weeks at a time. Nowadays, you can find most of them in Kumortuli, the historic potters corridor lined by the city’s famous clay artisans and their mesmerizing creations.

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Victoria Memorial

George Curzon the Viceroy of India proposed the creation of a museum and garden in memory of Queen Victoria, who had just died in January 1901. Its design is in the Indo-Saracenic Revival style, blending Mughal and British architecture with influences from Venice, Egypt and the Deccan Plateau.

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Dakshineswar Kali Temple

This 19^th-century temple was built for Bhavatarini, an incarnation of Kali. Dakshineswar is known for once being the home of Ramakrishna, whose religious mission operates a wide network of health care services, disaster relief, education and tribal welfare, garnering the praise of Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy.

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Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens has been called “cricket’s answer to the Colosseum,” seating 66,000 in the world’s second-largest stadium built for the sport. The iconic grounds are now home to the Kolkata Knight Riders, co-owned by the famous Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.