Have A Date With History This Independence Day By Visiting These Historical Places In Kolkata

This open ground, dating back to the Raj-era, is steeped in history. It is a photographer’s haven with graves taking you to the 1700s. People fond of architecture will definitely admire its Gothic layout, with a composite brick structure built in the panchyatana manner. The place houses the grave of luminaries such as Henry Vivian Derozio, Sir William Jones and Walter Landor Dickens.

One of the earliest liberals of India, Raja Rammohan Roy was the terminator of the social evil sati. Earlier called Simla House, it is located in north Kolkata's Machuabazar and is one of Kolkata's pride in terms of the city's heritage. You can dive right into modern Indian history with the collection of photos, panels, sketches and paintings, along with a rich library.

Home of the world poet Rabindranath Tagore, the Jorasanko Thakurbari is a must-visit if you really want to get strong on the city's history. It is now called the Rabindra Bharati Museum. A pilgrim spot for all Gurudeb followes, the ancestral home of the Tagores (which is an absolutely stunning piece of architecture) is now a storehouse of memoirs of the bard. Jorasanko houses original paintings, photographs, personal memorabilia, including handwritten letters and books, and other valuables of Tagore.

Whether you are a follower of Swami Vivekananda or not, his ancestral house, which has been turned into a museum, is a work of art. Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda's Ancestral House and Cultural Centre, as it is called now, has been completely renovated and the rooms have been recreated like the same ol' days. So trust us when we say this, but the moment you enter the building, you would be transported to a different timeline.

Netaji Bhavan is definitely worth half an hour of your time. The museum and research centre is open to the public, is just INR 10 to enter and is free for kids. Head up! You cannot take photographs inside, but things such as handwritten letters, personal belongings like slippers, garlands that were gifted to him, pictures of his wife and daughter and never-seen-before pictures of his travels will surely intrigue you. Apart from Netaji's mementos, you can also see the belongings of his other family members including his brother Sarat Chandra Bose.