Maidan (Calcutta) - Maidan (Calcutta)

Maidan
(Calcutta)
View of the Victoria Memorial facade at dusk
Location
Maidan - Localization
StateIndia
Federated stateWest Bengal

Maidan is a district of the city of Calcutta.

To know

This area takes its name from the huge, lush, green, open park.

Geographical notes

In the heart of the city, the 400-hectare park 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 Bhawan and Eden Gardens in the north.

St. Paul's Cathedral
Nandan


How to orient yourself

The Birla Planetarium. A statue of Indira Gandhi is in the foreground. In the background you can see the bulk of St. Paul's Cathedral
  • 1 Fort William. In the early 18th century, a dense jungle was cleared to build the fort and develop the Maidan, after the previous mud defense was destroyed in 1756. In Bengali, the Maidan is known as garer math (i.e. the camp of the fort). The present fortress, an irregular squat octagonal was completed in 1733. It stands where the village of Gobindapur once stood. Today it is the headquarters of the eastern command of the Indian Army and is not open to the public. 
  • Maidan. The new Fort William was completed in 1773. The tiger-infested jungle that cut Chowringhee village from the river was cleared and made way for the wide grassy expanse of the Maidan that the city is so proud of. The Maidan was developed as a 5 square kilometer parade ground for British forces and is still owned by the army today. It is a vast field and home to several playing fields, including the famous Eden Gardens cricket ground, several soccer fields and the Kolkata Race Course. The Maidan sports several statues. The streets of the Maidan are dotted with small green bungalow tents (club houses) belonging to various sports clubs. There are numerous fields to play. Some of the biggest clubs occupy the fields with wooden galleries. The three football greats of Calcutta, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting have a notable presence but there are also old glories like Rangers. Among these organizations there are some such as Kennel Club and Press Club. There are also lower level clubs, which do not have much following, but give a notable contribution and can sometimes be surprising such as Wari, Aryans, Rajasthan and so on. In the past, the Brigade Parade Ground has hosted political rallies with crowds of over 100,000 people. 
  • 2 Vidyasagar Setu Bridge. With a total length of 823 meters, Vidyasagar Setu is the longest suspension bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia. It was the second bridge to be built over the Hooghly River; the first, Howrah Bridge, 3.7 km to the north. The bridge was commissioned in 1992. 


How to get

Victoria Memorial

On boat

  • 3 Babu Ghat, Strand rd (Close to the Netaji indoor stadium). 

On the train

By bus

Several bus lines are available.

By metro

  • 6 Maidan Metro Station. 
  • 7 Park Street subway station. 
  • 8 Rabindra Sadan metro station. 


How to get around


What see

Vidyasagar Setu
Victoria Memorial
  • Burmese pavilion. Located in a small lake, it was carried by the Burma by Lord Dalhousie in 1854. 
  • 1 Memorial of the Glorious Dead (In the northeastern edge of Maidan). Ecb copyright.svgFree access. Simple icon time.svgMon-Sun. Memorial dedicated to the fallen of the First World War. 
  • 2 Planetarium M.P. Birla, 96, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd (North of St. Paul's Cathedral). One of the oldest planetariums in India. The only planetarium in the country whose dome houses a collection of projectors and optical equipment extensively imported from Germany of the East. It is the largest planetarium in the Southeast Asia and the second largest in the world. Daily shows in English, Hindi and Bengali. The central dome measures 25 meters in diameter. 
  • 3 Nehru Children's Museum, 94/1, Chowringhee Road, Hazra, (Rabindra Sadan metro station), ☎ 91-33 2223 1551, @. Simple icon time.svgWed-Sun 11: 00-19: 00. 
  • 4 St. Paul's Cathedral, 1A, Cathedral Rd (400m north of Rabindra Sadan metro station). The largest Anglican church in Calcutta. It was built in 1847 and serves as the cathedral church of the Church of North India (CNI). This gothic style cathedral was designed by William Nairn Forbes. 
  • 5 city ​​Hall, Mayo Road, Maidan (500m north of Park Street subway station). Built in 1813, in the Doric architectural style. It is now the office of the city judiciary. Don't let yourself be enchanted by the riverside yet! Between the City Hall and the Strand is the High Court of Calcutta, the scene of legendary legal battles. Completed in 1872, the Gothic architectural style was copied by the Staadhans of Ypres, Belgium. The tower measures 55 meters. 
  • 6 Victoria Memorial, Queen's Way (Metro: Maidan or Mero: Rabindra Sadan), ☎ 91 33 2223-5142. Ecb copyright.svgGarden: ₹ 4 (Indians); Museum: ₹ 10 (Indians), ₹ 150 (foreigners). Photos allowed and free. Light and Sound Show: ₹ 10 and ₹ 20. Simple icon time.svgTue-Sun 5: 30-18: 45, Son et Lumière (in English) 19:15 Oct-Feb and 19:45 Mar-Jun. The most celebrated landmark of the city, this monument was built for the self-confidence of the imperials, born from an idea of ​​Lord Curzon, one of the most conspicuous viceroys of India. The domed structure was completed in 1921 with marble from Makrana. Now a museum, the 25 galleries of the Victoria Memorial are spread over 2 different floors. The collection includes a fascinating selection of Raj memorabilia and includes the Calcutta Gallery with oil paintings and watercolors from the city's history. Don't miss the great Durbar Hall, which houses a statue of Lord Cornwallis. 


What to do

Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens
  • 1 Academy of fine arts. 

Parks

  • 2 Calcutta Racecourse, Hastings. Built in 1819, it is one of the best in the east and is the scene of a lot of cheer, especially during the winter season. 
  • 3 Eastern Command Sports Stadium (Fort William Stadium) (Near the Vidyasagar Setu bridge). 
  • 4 Eden Gardens, Maidan (At the Calcutta cricket stadium). Named after Lord Auckland's sister, this picturesque garden has a small Burmese pagoda on a small lake. It also houses the Calcutta Cricket Stadium, one of the most famous cricket stadiums in the world. 
  • 5 Netaji indoor stadium. Opened in 1975, it can accommodate 12,000 people. The Netaji Indoor Stadium hosts a wide range of activities, from sporting events to cultural programs. It is home to national and international fairs. It is also used as a vote counting center. 
  • 6 Outram Ghat, Riverfront on Strand Rd. Outram Ghat is one of Kolkata's first riverside entertainment spots. The place is a long stretch with great views of the river and nearby Vidyasagar Setu. There are numerous restaurants. You can also take a ride in a country boat. The ghat (steps leading to the river) is used for bathing and religious ceremonies. There are other ghats next door. Beware of trains moving along the circular track. A pleasant walk. See the majesty of the world's busiest bridge, Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu; an impressive engineering feat. From here you can enjoy a river cruise in a panshi. 
  • 7 Princep Ghat Garden, Fort William, Hastings (North of Vidyasagar Setu). 


Shopping

  • 1 Earthcare Books, 10 Middleton St (Maidan Metro Station), ☎ 91 33 2229-6551. A wonderful independent bookshop tucked away in an alley leading from Middleton Street. As the name suggests, the bookstore specializes in environmental titles, but also has a wide range of local subjects and poetry. 
  • 2 Emami Shoppers' City, 3 Lord Sinha Rd (Between Maidan metro station and Rabindra Sadan metro station), ☎ 91 33 2282 0675. Inside: coffee shops, bookstores, designer clothes, toy shops, boutiques, shoe shops, electronics shops, nightclubs, beauty salons, souvenir shops, arcades and multiplexes. 
  • 3 Metro Plaza, 1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani (Next to the Tata Center, next to the Maidan metro station), ☎ 91 33 30525473, 91 33 30525474, 91 33 22883802. Ready-made clothes produced locally. Many stores only deal with imported garments, mainly from Bangkok. The latest footwear and lingerie. Good parking. 
  • 4 Pantaloons (Departmental Store), 22 Camac St (700m west of Maidan metro station), ☎ 91 33 39849202, 91 33 22815115. 
  • 5 Vardaan Market, 25-A, Camac St (Half a kilometer east of Maidan Metro Station), ☎ 91 33 22812724, 91 33 22874082. Forerunner of today's big shopping malls, it was the first air-conditioned market. Small shops and stalls line the walls of this mall selling shoes, bags, toys, saris, salwar suits and western clothing for ladies, shirts, t-shirts and trousers for men, and children's clothes for all ages, chocolates and snacks. 
  • 6 Westside, Block D22 Camac St, ☎ 91 33 22817312, @. Simple icon time.svg11:00-21:00. Westside stores have numerous departments to cater to customers' various shopping needs. These include men's clothing, women's clothing, children's clothing, footwear, cosmetics, perfumes and bags, home accessories, lingerie and gifts. Fashionable goods are priced a little higher. 
  • 7 New Market (formerly Hogg Market), Bertram St, Lenin Sarani, Dharmatala, Taltala. Ecb copyright.svgFree access. Simple icon time.svg10:00-20:00. The New Market, formerly known as Stuart Hogg's Market, opened on January 1, 1874 and appears to be one of the oldest surviving markets in the city. It is named after Sir Stuart Hogg, president of the Calcutta Corporation. 


How to have fun

  • 1 Nandan. Central cinema. The main festivals are held here. 
  • 2 Rabindra Sadan, ☎ 91 33 2223 9917. Theater and cultural center built in 1961/1967. 


Where to eat

For places to eat in the Park Street area, see Esplanade.

Average prices

  • 1 Drive Inn, 10 Middleton St (Next Earthcare Books), ☎ 91 33 2217-2247. Ecb copyright.svgMeals from ₹ 70. An open air restaurant offering a wide range of good vegetarian and non-vegetarian (Indian / Chinese) dishes. The staff speaks good English and he's friendly. An area with A / C is available. 
  • 2 Haldiram Food City, 58 Chowringhee Rd (Close to Rabindra Sadan metro station), ☎ 91 33 30520055, 91 33 22821359. Vegetarian street food from north India. 
  • 3 Jyoti Vihar, Ho Chi Min Sarani. (Next to the Plaza metro station, on the same street as the American consulate), ☎ 91 33 2282 9791. It offers clean, tasty and completely vegetarian South Indian food. 
  • New Embassy, 53A, Chowringhee Ln, New Market Area (Right on Chowringhee Road between the intersection of Theater Road and AJC Bose Road), ☎ 91 33 22827490. Delicious Chinese food. 
  • 4 Sip & Sandwich, 1 Shakespeare Sarani, Theater Road AC Market, Elgin (Jawaharlal Nehru Rd corner), ☎ 91 9830605145. Vegetarian fast food. 
  • 5 Scoop, 71 Strand Rd (By the river, near Fort William), ☎ 91 33 22485680. Simple icon time.svg12:00-22:00. Fast food. It has an exclusive view of the river from the first floor of the restaurant. Sitting in the restaurant you can see the boats floating in the river and the cars passing through Vidyasagar Setu. 
  • 6 Rallis, Esplanade, 10D, J L Nehru Road. Vegetarian restaurant known for various types of snacks but also for non-alcoholic drinks including various types of smoothies. Chat and South Indian foods are common. 
  • Kabab-e-Que (The Astor), 15 Shakespeare Sarani (Inside the Astor Hotel), ☎ 91-33 22829957-58. Officially they serve Indian and continental cuisine, but what has made this outlet famous is the variety of kababs that go great with drinks. 


Where stay

Average prices

High prices


How to keep in touch


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