BBD Bagh - tourmet

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Sight Address : BBD Bagh is located near the Hooghly river in the western part of the central Kolkata . Edit

Detail InformationEdit

The British had a penchant for creation of colossal monuments. The BBD Bagh area is witness to a similar structure created in one of the affluent zones of the city. Once the very seat of British Power, fondly remembered as the Dalhousie Square, it was later renamed after the three original writers (Binoy, Badal and Dinesh) who toiled in building. Established in the year 1880 the BBD Bagh building and the surrounding area is still remembered by the old timers as a British landmark. The bagh area is formed as a square and the wide area often witnesses surging business crowds during the morning and evening times. One can see groups gather around the open area and spend some leisurely time remembering former moments.

The road on the southern side of BBD Bagh, Kolkata

HistoryEdit

This historical stretch is replete with Raj-era buildings and the square has been listed by the World Monument Fund(WMF) as an endangered world heritage site. The best way to discover the colonial legacy of Dalhousie square is by walking through its crowded streets. Every edifice in Dalhousie square has history written all over. There are at least 50 heritage buildings which have been identified by the Government of West Bengal for restoration. For two centuries Kolkata was the capital of the erstwhile East India Company. The square was designed and built in a very planned manner so as to serve as the citadel of British colonial power in India. The square not only had offices of the erstwhile rulers, but also had exclusive residential areas where renowned British servants used to reside. The Square was named in the memory of Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856. But it was renamed as BBD Bagh (Binoy, Badal, Dinesh) three patriotic sons of Bengal who attained martyrdom during India’s struggle for independence. At the center of the Square is the tank – Lal Dighi. The Dalhousie Square is surrounded by some of Kolkata’s most enduring Raj-era monuments like the magnificent GPO (General Post Office), the regal Raj Bhawan, the St.John’s Church and the Gothic style Writer’s Building. In terms of heritage, no other city square is as rich as Dalhousie Square. It is truly one-of-its-kind in the world and a walk through one of its crowded thoroughfares is like a trip down the memory lane. But all is not well as far as preservation of the historical Raj-era edifices are concerned. Most buildings are in a rather dilapidated condition and are in urgent need of repairs. The streets are pot holed and hawkers have occupied every available space by the roadside. But, there has been a turnaround of sorts ever since the World Monument Fund declared the BBD Bagh-Dalhousie Square as an endangered heritage site in the year 2004. Along with the active co-operation of organizations like Action Research in Conservation of Heritage and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, a comprehensive blueprint for the revival and subsequent restoration of this place of outstanding historical beauty is already in place. Restoration work is going on round the clock.

Must SeeEdit

Arrraction

Visiting TimeEdit

10 A.M.- 12 P.M. & 6P.M.-9 P.M.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

Best season to visit Kolkata is October-march . This is the perfect time to savor the autumn season that is in its full bloom. Not only the weather is pleasant, but also, it is the time of festivities.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning and Evening , Night.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

2-3 hrs.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Hotel Embassy Bar & Restaurant – Kolkata ; Princep Street No. 7, Bow Barracks, B B D Bagh, Kolkata , 700072 ; Ph/M – (+91) 33 22129758, (+91) 33 22129702, (+91) 33 22129759 ; Food Serve – Chinese, Drinks, Indian

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : After landing in Kolkata cabs would be the easiest choice to reach the sight in the city from the airport or the railway station. The meters in Kolkata are not standardized so remember to ask for the conversion chart that would indicate the exact payable amount for the number indicated by the meter. The cab fares should ideally be around Rs 15 for the first two kilometers and around Rs 3 for two hundred meters from thereon. Kolkata Cabs is the leading Cab Service and you can book yourself a cab by calling them on 03344333222.
For a night out, cabs are the safest option if you have missed the last metro train or the last bus. The nighttime cab fares are more expensive than daytime fares, but it is a small price to pay for the safety it provides.

BUS : Kolkata has a broad network of government and private buses. The Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) run regulars bus service in the city. The city’s biggest bus station is Esplanade with many city buses, state-wide CSBC services and routes towards Sikkim. For buses towards Odisha (Orissa) use Babughat near Eden Gardens.
There are also mini buses. The fares range from Rs 10 to 15. Buses are an ideal choice if you plan on travelling a long distance or going to the suburbs or to those places that are not in the vicinity of the Metro stations. Most long distance bus services offer comforts like push back or sleeper seats, video coaches and air conditioning. Local travel tours are arranged by tour operators and luxury buses are offered as part of this service.

Train : The local train service across various city points is another option. The local train network is spread across different points in the city. A total distance of around hundred kilometers is covered by these local trains. Most fares cost less than Rs 10. Cheaper than the metro, it is a good option if you are the kind of a person who likes exploring different options when in a new city.
Howrah and Sealdah are two major railway stations in Kolkata. These stations are well connected to all major cities in India. Metro rail system in Kolkata connects all the main junctions in Kolkata. It is the fastest way to reach the different parts of the big city. Trains from other parts of the country are easily available for Kolkata. Super-fast trains such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express connect the city to major cities and states in India. The Kolkata Circular Rail encircles the entire city and currently its route is being extended.
Howrah Station Phone: (033)26382581, (033) 26383542.
After getting down at the railway station, take an auto-rickshaw, bus or hire a taxi to reach the destination within the city.

Air : Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, located at Dumdum, is 17 km away from the heart of Kolkata. This airport is well connected to all major cities in India including north east capitals. Kolkata is a major international airport which is connected to many cities in abroad. Airport to the city center costs about Rs 400 by Tourist taxi car. Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Kolkata to other important cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. Kolkata also provides international flights to most of the countries in Southeast Asia.
Air India : 22114433; China Eastern Airlines: 40448887 , Druk Air: 22902429, Biman :22266672, GMG:30283030; United Airways Bangladesh :9007095363.

Others : Rickshaws : Rickshaws is also available in kolkata .Rickshaws are of three kinds. The usual three wheeled motor one, one which is pedaled by the rickshaw driver and a third one which is a two-wheeled cart pulled by a rickshaw puller. The motorized three wheeled rickshaws are not like the rickshaws found in other parts of India. They ply on a fixed route and the fare is fixed. So these rickshaws are more like smaller forms of public transport. The two wheeled carts are an experience by themselves. Being taken across the town by the sheer physical strength and manual effort of the rickshaw driver is an experience only Kolkata can offer. Many consider it barbaric and it has been prohibited in most parts of the city. These rickshaws charge from anywhere between Rs 10 – 20 per km.
Tram: Kolkata has a local tram facility. Slow moving coaches on tracks that have been laid in the middle of the road. There are 37 different tram routes in Kolkata. Most places of interest from a tourist’s point of view can be accessed by using Kolkata’s tram service. The green traveler would probably like to use the tram service to move about as trams are an eco friendly option. At any rate trams are a unique way to experience the old world charm that Kolkata has to offer.