Kolkata was the capital of British India upto 1911, and it is now the capital of West Bengal. Kolkata is one of the largest cities of the world, vibrant with culture in spite of the glaring poverty.

Victoria Memorial - sits opposite the Maidan in Central Kolkata. Resembling a cross between the Taj Mahal and St. Paul's Cathedral, London, it is Kolkata's most impressive landmark. Shortly after her death, Lord Curzon proposed a memorial be dedicated to Queen Victoria both as a tribute and a triumphant depiction of her reign in India. The monument was called Victoria Memorial Hall.

Indian Museum - built in the Italian style of architecture (1875), this is the largest museum in India with one of the finest collections in Asia. There are rare collections of pottery from Mohenjodaro, art from the Gandhara school and coins from the Mughal period. There is a lot to see such as the immense Bharhut Stupa depicting the 500 incarnations of Buddha prior to his enlightenment, the two giant pre-historic skeletons and a double coconut tree which blossoms once in a century. There is a special textile gallery and even a partially exposed mummy from Egypt.

Marble Palace - off the noise and hectic activity of Chittaranjan Avenue is a relic from Kolkata's gracious past : the residence of Raja Rajendra Mullick. Built in 1835 in a strange blend of Gothic, Doric and Corinthian architecture, it was christened Marble Palace by Lord Minto. Today, it is a private museum that houses an eccentric collection of memorabilia from all over the world.

St. Paul's Cathedral - One of the most important churches in India, the Cathedral, stands just to the east of the Victoria Memorial. It is notable for its striking murals and frescoes, impressive stained-glass windows, and coloured alter redoes including the great west window by Burne Jones.

Howrah Bridge - built in 1943 is similar in size to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this one carries a daily stream of 57,000 vehicles and pedestrians too numerous to count. It is the busiest bridge in the world.

Kali temple - the temple is about 2 kilometers directly south of St. Paul s Cathedral. Rebuilt in 1809 on the site of a much older temple, it is an important site. Kali is a form of Durga and the image is seen astride a tiger.

Mother Teresa's home - Sisters of charity. Over 50 years ago since the Bengal famine the redoubtable sister left the comfort and security of her teaching position in Kolkata to tend for the poor, the sick and the dying in the poverty-stricken area of the city. From these very modest beginnings she had through love, work and will-power, created an organization within the glowing confines of her own personality that commands respect everywhere in the world. She received universal recognition for her work and the Nobel Peace prize.
 

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