Maidan

St. Paul's Cathedral

South of the bustling city centre of Kolkata, the Maidan (ময়দান Maẏdān) is a 400-hectare park that stretches from the Hooghly River in the west to Chowringhee and Park Street in the east, and from the Victoria Memorial in the south to Raj Bhavan and Eden Gardens in the north.

Understand

Victoria Memorial at night

The tiger-haunted jungle which cut off the village of Chowringhee from the river was cleared and gave way to the wide grassy stretch of the Maidan of which the city is so proud. The Maidan was developed as a 5-km² parade ground for the British forces and even today is army property. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous playgrounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football grounds, and the Kolkata Race Course. The Maidan sports several statues. The roads on the Maidan are dotted with tiny greenish bungalow tents (clubhouses) belonging to various sports clubs. There are numerous patches for playing. Some of the larger clubs occupy the fields with wooden galleries.

The big three of Kolkata football, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan have a noticeable presence but there also are names with faded glory such as Rangers. Somewhere in between fit-in organisations such as Kennel Club and Press Club. There also are lower-order clubs, who do not have much of a following but have a noticeable contribution and sometimes spring a surprise – Wari, Aryans, Rajasthan and so on – and a host of office clubs. Once in a while, the Brigade Parade Ground has political rallies with crowds numbering one hundred thousand plus.

Get in

By metro

The North–South Metro  1  runs over Chowringhee Road, with stops at Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan and Rabindra Sadan.

By train

The Maidan can be reached by the Kolkata Suburban Railway via its Circular Line, with a stop at 1 Prinsep Ghat  Circular  .

By boat

• 2 Bidhan Ghat, Strand Rd, Hastings (near Adi Ganga). 

See

Birla Planetarium

• 1 Academy of Fine Arts, info@academyoffinearts.in. (updated Nov 2022)
• 2 Fort William (ফোর্ট উইলিয়াম Phōrṭ Uiliẏām). In the early 18th century, a dense jungle was cut down to build the fort and develop the Maidan, after the earlier mud defence was destroyed in 1756. The present fort, an irregular squat octagon was completed in 1733. It stands where Gobindapur village once stood. Today, it is the headquarters of the Indian Army's Eastern Command and is not open to the public. (updated Sep 2022)
• 3 Glorious Dead Memorial. Open all day. A memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of World War I. Free. (updated Jun 2015)
• 4 Lascar War Memorial, Hastings. A memorial dedicated to the memory of the 896 Indian sailors (lascars) who died serving on ships of the Royal Navy and British Merchant Service during World War I. (updated Sep 2022)
• 5 Birla Planetarium (বিড়লা তারামণ্ডল Biṛlā Tārāmaṇḍal), 96, Chowringhee Rd, (N of St. Paul's Cathedral). One of the oldest planetaria in India. The only planetarium in the country whose dome houses a collection of projectors and optical equipment expensively imported from the erstwhile East Germany. It is the largest planetarium in South Asia and the second largest in the world. Daily shows in English, Hindi and Bengali. The central dome measures 25 m (82 ft) in diameter. (updated Apr 2023)
• 6 Nehru Children's Museum, 94/1, Chowringhee Rd (metro: Rabindra Sadan  1 ), ☏ +91-33 2223 1551, nehrumuseum1972@gmail.com. W-Su 11AM-7PM. (updated Nov 2022)
• 7 Prinsep Ghat (প্রিন্সেপ ঘাট Prinsep Ghāṭ) (local: Prinsep Ghat  Circular ). Named after James Prinsep, the ghat gives an excellent view of the Hooghly River and Vidyasagar Setu. (updated Apr 2023)
• 8 St. Paul's Cathedral (সেন্ট পলস ক্যাথিড্রাল Senṭ Pals Kyāthiḍrāl), 1A, Cathedral Rd. The largest Anglican church in Kolkata. It was constructed in 1847 and serves as a cathedral church of Church of North India (CNI). This Gothic-styled cathedral was designed by William Nairn Forbes. (updated Apr 2023)
• 9 Victoria Memorial (ভিক্টোরিয়া মেমোরিয়াল Bhikṭoriẏa Memoriẏal), Queen's Way (metro: Maidan  1 , Rabindra Sadan  1 ), ☏ +91 33 2223-5142, victomem@gmail.com. Tu-Su 5:30 AM-6:45 PM, Son et Lumière (English) 7:15 PM Oct-Feb and 7:45 PM Mar-Jun. Kolkata's most celebrated landmark, this monument was built with imperial self-confidence and was the brainchild of Lord Curzon, one of India's most flamboyant Viceroys. The domed structure was completed in 1921 with marble used from Makrana. Now a museum, the Victoria Memorial's 25 galleries are spread over 2 floors. The collection covers a fascinating selection of Raj memorabilia and includes the Calcutta Gallery with oil paintings and watercolours of the city's history. Do not miss the grand Durbar Hall, inside which lies a statue of Lord Cornwallis.   The museum is set in extensive and beautiful lawns, and is lit up at night. A laser audio-visual show is held on the lawns every evening. "Nike", the Greek Goddess of victory, on the top of the museum is said to be haunted, and has been prominently featured in many Kolkata stories and novels. For garden; ₹4 for Indian; for museum ₹10 for Indian and ₹150 for foreigner. Camera free. Fee for light and sound shows are ₹10 and ₹20. (updated Aug 2022)

Vidyasagar Setu

Vidyasagar Setu during sunset

• 10 Vidyasagar Setu (বিদ্যাসাগর সেতু Bidyāsāgar Setu, Second Hooghly Bridge). Open 24 hours. With a total length of 823 m (2,700 ft), Vidyasagar Setu is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia. It was built 3.7 km (2.3 mi) south/downstream of Howrah Bridge. The bridge was commissioned in 1992 by the Hooghly River Bridge Commission (HRBC). (updated Nov 2022)

Do

Kolkata Riverfront with Vidyasagar Setu in background

• 1 Kolkata Race Course, Hastings. Built in 1819, it is one of the best in the east and is the scene of much gaiety, especially during the winter season. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Kolkata Riverfront. A promenade with scenic views of the Hooghly River and the skyline of Howrah. A 2 km (1.2 mi) stretch of the riverfront from Prinsep Ghat to Babughat was inaugurated on 24 May 2012 by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). (updated Nov 2022)
• 3 Nandan, 1/1, AJC Bose Rd (metro: Rabindra Sadan  1 ). The symbol of art and culture in the city. Major festivals are held here, including Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF). (updated Dec 2022)
• 4 Rabindra Sadan (রবীন্দ্র সদন Rabīndra Sadan) (metro: Rabindra Sadan  1 ), ☏ +91 33 2223 9917. Theatre and cultural centre built 1961-67. (updated Nov 2022)
• 5 Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest turf club in India and one of the most beautiful and largest in the world. (updated Jan 2023)

Eat and drink

• 1 Scoop, 71 Strand Rd, ☏ +91 33 22485680. noon to 10PM. Fast food outlet. It has an exclusive view of the river from the first floor of the restaurant. Sitting in the restaurant one can watch boats moving in the river and cars moving across Vidyasagar Setu. 

Sleep

There are a lot of hotels at the opposite side of Chowringhee Road, which is covered under Central Kolkata.

Stay safe

Emergency numbers

Police

• Maidan, ☏ +91 33 2223 2462 (4551), +91 33 22480100.