India >> East Zone >> West Bengal >> KOLKATA
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Botanical Gardens
Indian Botanical Gardens, originally found in 1786 along the west bank of Hoogly, containing about 12,000 living plants and over two and half million dried out plant specimens in the herbarium collected from all over the world, is the largest of its kind in India. Originally founded by Colonel Kyd, this was the place where the world-renowned varieties of Assam and Darjeeling tea were first developed. The 200-year-old banyan tree is the main attraction of this garden.
Col. Alexander Kyd of the East India Company developed it for the collection of plants, indigenous to the country and for the introduction and acclimatization of plants from foreign parts. Trees of the rare kinds, from Nepal, Brazil, Penang, Java and Sumatra can be found here. There are towering mahogany trees, an avenue of Cuban Palms and an Orchid House. Stately casuarinas abound with creepers clinging to their tall trunks.
There are towering Mahogany trees, an avenue of Cuban Palms and an Orchid House. Mango and Tamarind trees shade the grassy lawns. They stretch for over a km along the riverfront and occupy 109 hectares. The gardens were originally founded in 1786. It was from these gardens that the tea now grown in Assam and Darjeeling was first developed.
The gardens’ prime attraction is the old banyan tree, claimed to have the second largest canopy in the world. It covers an area of ground nearly 400m in circumference and continues to flourish despite having its central trunk removed in 1925 because of fungus damage. The palm house in the center of the gardens is also well worth a visit.
Other notable botanical specimens are the double coconut tree from Sicily, the branching palm tree from Brazil, the multicoloured bamboo trees, the mad tree, various cacti and orchids. There is a huge lake, with a large variety of aquatic plants, including the rare Victoria Amazonica.
The Gardens are also a popular picnic spot..
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Eden Gardens
Named after Lord Auckland’s sister, this picturesque garden has a tiny Burmese pagoda set in a small lake. It also houses Calcutta’s Cricket Stadium.
. The grand greenery : This stretch of greenery was named after Emily and Fanny Eden, sisters of the erstwhile Governor General, Lord Auckland. Covering nearly 50 acres, the garden features many local species of trees and also boasts of a serpentine lake. The pagoda-like Burmese pavilion beside the lake was built in 1854. There is also the Band Stand where military bands used to play till the 1960s.
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Horticultural Garden
The lush environ is also the venue for exotic plant and flower exhibitions.
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Maidan
Three km in length and over one km in width, the rambling green is the ‘lung of Calcutta’. Dotted with colourful maidan clubs, the area is a hub of diverse activities.
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Nico Park
Joining the modern stream of theme parks, Nico Park is the Disneyland for Calcuttans with its various adventure rides.
Nico Park situated at Salt Lake has a variety of unusual games and rides. The Cave Ride is the latest addition and is the only of its kind in this part of the world.. Timings : The park is open to the public from 10.00 a. m to 8.00 p. m everyday during the winter and 11.00 a. m to 9.00 p. m everyday during the rest of the year.
Adjacent to the park is the Nalban Boating Complex offering a close-to-nature experience with its greenery, flowers and the cool breezes blowing across the wetlands. Opposite the Salt Lake stadium is the Subhash Sarovar (lake), which is not very well maintained but has the potential to become a nice tourist spot. Features Of The Park : Set up in Salt Lake, on the northeastern fringe of Calcutta, this amusement park covers an area of 40 acres, offering wholesome fun for children as well as adults. 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. It also offers delighting food for the foodaholics.
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Rabindra Sarovar
A park and picnic spot with a central lake and overhanging trees. The rowing regatta events are held here.
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Rat Park
This is a unique and fascinating sight at Curzon Park, where hundreds of rats scamper about in a meshed enclosure.. Location : This unique set up is at Curzon Park, close to BBD Bagh.
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Zoological Garden
Situated at Alipore Road, the horticultural garden houses the Zoo of Calcutta, with many wild animals in natural enclosures. It also has many varieties of birds and reptiles other than the interesting flora and fauna.
To the south of the Maidan, Calcutta 16-hectare zoo was opened in 1875. Some of the animals are displayed in near natural environments, others in the pitiful conditions characteristic of Third World zoos.
In 1873, the then Governor Sir Richard Temple proposed the formation of a zoo in Calcutta. Sir C.L. Lendal corroborated it. Finally, the Government allotted land for this purpose responding to the joint petition of The Asiatic Society and Agri-Horticultural Society.
This is the largest zoo in India. It comprises several animals, birds and even creatures of rare species.
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. During the winter season, the migratory birds flock in the zoo for its artificial lake and vegetation. Directly across the main zoo is an aquarium, with a variety of aquatic life from around the world.
The Zoological Gardens, was established as a private, voluntary society. It is famous for its tigers. Special attractions are the white tiger, the tigon (a cross between a tiger and a lion) and the litigon (a cross between a lion and a tigon).
It can take hours to go through all the sections. The campus also features a children's park and a cafeteria.. Timings : It open to visitors from 9 am to noon, and from 3 to 6 pm. Sunday services are at 7.30 and 8.30 am, and 6 pm.
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