Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, im Volksmund bekannt als Netaji (was auf Hindi Führer bedeutet), war einer der prominentesten Reformisten in der indischen Unabhängigkeitsbewegung. Das Gebäude, das heute als Netaji Bhavan bekannt ist, war einst die Residenz des Reformisten. Das vom Forschungsbüro Netaji verwaltete alte Gebäude im Bungalowstil beherbergt ein Museum sowie die Archive und die Bibliothek des Büros. Das Museum ist in verschiedene Bereiche unterteilt, die jeweils bestimmte Phasen im Leben des Führers im Detail darstellen. Im obersten Stockwerk befinden sich Fotos und Dokumente aus dem Leben und Werk von Subhash Chandra Bose, die in chronologischer Reihenfolge geordnet sind. Die Bibliothek und das Archiv umfassen weitreichende Sammlungen zur indischen Unabhängigkeitsbewegung. Netaji Bhavan besitzt auch ein Auditorium, die Sarat-Bose-Halle, die für Veranstaltungen wie Vorträge und Seminare genutzt wird. Dieser Ort befindet sich in der Elgin Road gegenüber der Forum Mall und ist ein Muss, wenn man sich über den indischen Freiheitskampf informieren möchte.
Das bekannte Victoria-Memorial-Gebäude, ein engelsweißer Baldachin aus reinem Makrana-Marmor, liegt eingebettet zwischen Rasenflächen und Hainen mit Palmen. Dieses prächtige Gebäude wurde zu Ehren von Königin Victoria von England errichtet und ist eines der bekanntesten Wahrzeichen der Stadt Kalkutta. Dieses majestätische Gebäude ist von einer langen Geschichte durchdrungen, beginnend mit Lord Curzon, der Vizekönig von Indien, der beschloss, ein Denkmal zu errichten, das so groß und königlich ist wie die Königin selbst. Die Gedenkstätte liegt am Ufer des Hooghly River und umfasst wunderschöne Gärten, smaragdgrüne Teiche, ein Museum, Statuen und Büsten von Briten und Indern. Eine wichtige Tatsache ist, dass indische Prinzen und Bürger großzügig zu den Kosten des Victoria Memorials beigetragen haben, wobei die Gesamtkosten für den Bau etwa 1,05,00,000 INR betrugen. Riesige, geschnitzte Säulen, kompliziert gestaltete Marmorkuppeln und hohe Türme sprechen Bände über die Kunst der indischen Kunsthandwerker, die eine wesentliche Rolle bei der Ausführung des Gebäudes spielten. Die Galerien und das Museum beherbergen britische Erinnerungsstücke, darunter Gemälde, Skulpturen und Artefakte, die wichtige Ereignisse aus dem Leben der Königin von der Krönungszeremonie bis zu ihrem Leben dokumentieren. Außerdem besitzt es das Schwert des tapferen Prinzen und Kriegers Tipu Sultan und Kanonen, die an die Schlacht von Plassey erinnern. Worte oder Bilder können die schiere Opulenz und Erhabenheit des Victoria Memorials nicht beschreiben, einer Stätte, die die Herzen, Seelen und Vorstellungen vieler eingefangen hat.
Yuva Bharati Krirangan (which roughly translates to Indian Youth Stadium) is also known as the Salt Lake Stadium and at approximately 76 acres, it happens to be the second largest of its kind in the world and the largest in India. Established in 1984, the stadium is primarily associated with Football and plays host to the city's various clubs like Mohun Bagan AC, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan SC and is also occasionally used for home games played by the Indian national football team. Locals have always been passionate about the game and turn up in huge numbers to support their side. Apart from soccer, the facility also has an Olympic-class athletics track and practice areas for cricket, khokho and volleyball as well. The elliptical stadium has a three tiered seating arrangement that can hold upto 1, 20, 000 people and has deployed state-of-the-art facilities so as to ensure the absolute best in sporting experience.
One of the prime cultural and entertainment hubs in the city, Rabindranath Tagore Centre - ICCR is the venue for a number of fascinating events and exhibitions. Founded in 1950, the complex comprises an art gallery, an auditorium, a library and a conference center. From modern dramas, cultural plays and classical concerts, to awe-inspiring works of art, there is more than one way to seek entertainment at this remarkable cultural center.
Jorasanko Thakur Bari wurde im 18. Jahrhundert erbaut und war der Geburtsort des berühmten Schriftstellers Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Das Gebäude befindet sich auf dem Campus der Rabindra Bharti Universität, deshalb organisiert das College kulturelle Programme und Veranstaltungen zum Geburtstag des Dichters sowie die Licht- und Audioshows, die das Leben der Familie Tagore im Haus darstellen. Das schöne rote Haus wurde in seiner ursprünglichen Form restauriert und in ein Museum umgewandelt, in dem die Besucher etwas über die Lebensweise der Familie Tagore im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert erfahren können.
What started as a small room loaned from the Indian Museum in 1933 has proceeded to become a foundation for exploring art in the center of the city. Located next to the Birla Planetarium and near Victoria Memorial, the Academy of Fine Arts shares its creative passion in the form of exhibitions spanning a multitude of expressions of art. The permanent galleries within the Academy include the Contemporary Art Gallery, Old Textile Gallery, Old Carpet Gallery, Miniature Gallery and the Rabindra Gallery which has Rabindranath Tagore's original writings, manuscripts and paintings. A big auditorium housed inside is known to host a variety of cultural programs, theater etc. Training programs and art classes are also held regularly. Around the main building, a number of interesting sculptures are sure to pique your interest. Do check the local paper or inquire with the office for current event schedules.
The Janus Art Gallery is one of the best art galleries in Kolkata and also in India. It has numerous collections of contemporary paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and illustrations. It has a committee of senior artists who help in getting authentication of works. This art gallery presents four exhibitions every year. It is primarily concerned with presenting visual art but sometimes hosts other activities as well. This art gallery takes a lot of pride in encouraging budding artists in order to get quicker recognition of their works. Visitors are also allowed to buy any of the art piece. They have a variety of options to choose from such as fine art, abstract art, landscape art, fantasy art and wall art.
Sailen Manna Stadium also known as Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium is named after Kolkata's most popular football legend Sailendra Nath Manna. The stadium was primarily opened to host football matches but soon turned into multipurpose stadium, hosting local, regional and international tournaments. Among the many tournaments held here one of the important tournaments was held in 2006 and the fixture was between the teams of Asian Football Youth Championship Club. The Howrah Rugby Crows play their home fixtures here.
One of the most popular contemporary art galleries in the city, Galerie 88 is where you will find a number of intriguing works of art by local artists. Featuring a fabulous array of paintings by renowned and upcoming artists, this gallery offers a visual and aesthetic treat for art enthusiasts and curious minds alike. Apart from its permanent exhibits, a number of workshops and temporary exhibitions are also hosted here, which usually feature works by young, talented artists from across the country.
Emami Chisel Art is home to a numerous collection of fabulous works by renowned artists from across the country. Focused on traditional Indian artwork, the walls of this gallery are lined with fascinating portraits depicting various aspects of Indian culture and traditions. Boasting works by artists such as Amit Ambalal, Sushanta Mondal and Madhubanti Chatterjee, this gallery exhibits some of the finest pieces of art in the country. Regular workshops and exhibitions offer budding artists a platform to showcase their talent as well as enables interaction between art enthusiasts and established artists.
Art and culture have always played an important role in Kolkata’s past and continue to do so even today. Keeping the passion alive, Nazrul Mancha is one of the most prominent event venues in the city. Situated in Rabindra Sarobar, the auditorium is most famous as the locale for Dover Lane Music Festival, a week long event dedicated to Indian and Carnatic Classical Music and held every January. For the rest of the year, the venue hosts various local and international events including dance and musical soirees, college functions as well as conferences and auditions. The large auditorium has a semi-circular stage and a seating capacity of approximately 3000. Regular performances by Bengali rock bands and other Indian groups make this a much-visited destination and especially popular among the youth of the city. However, the appearance of the space is not what you would expect of an auditorium of this standard to be and is in desperate need of renovation and modernization. It can be easily reached by buses and cabs.