200 & Counting: 5 Kolkata Buildings That Show Timeless Architectural Excellence
The irony of an under-construction flyover collapsing in a city known for its ancient structures is striking. The 2.2-km Vivekananda flyover collapsed on March 31, killing at least 26 and leaving about 100 injured. Being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 450 crore, the flyover was expected to address the city's traffic snarls. The tragedy, termed an 'act of God' by the contractor, makes one wonder how the various age-old structures in the 'city of joy' have survived through centuries and escaped the wrath of natural and man-made disasters to stay firm.
PropGuide lists five ancient buildings in Kolkata that make us marvel at their architectural excellence and longevity.
The oldest building in Kolkata was named after Robert Clive, who was instrumental in setting up the East India Company in India. Clive did not get the structure built but he used it as his country house and made some additions to it. There is an ambiguity over the origin of the structure – some believe it was set up by the Portuguese, while others say it was a Dutch factory. Standing on an artificially built mound at Dum Dum, this ancient structure still stands tall amid the fast-growing urban landscape of the city, and is also an example of a heritage well preserved.
The Nawab of the Bengal Mir Jafar Ali Khan built the structure during the 1760s and gifted it to Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of Bengal. At present, the structure consists of two government housing societies and the National Library. The Archeological Survey of India has done a great job in protecting this ancient structure.
This 277-year-old building, which housed the West Bengal Chief Minister's Office until 2013, was designed by Thomas Lyon in 1777 and remains the state secretariat. Meant to serve the writers in the East India Company, the 150-metre iconic building is undergoing renovation at present. Located at the northern side of BBD Bagh, the Writers' Building also has the distinction of being the first three-storey structure in the city.
The construction of this building, which took four years to complete (1799-1803) , was a British attempt to carve the Raj grandeur in stone. Earlier known as the Government House, the structure was built when Marquis Wellesley was the governor-general. The official site says the building is “not just a heritage building; it is Kolkata's outstanding landmark evoking the past and sublimating it”. The 27-acre grand property that has been home to as many as 23 governors-general of the East India Company, apart from the many viceroys, stands tall as a symbol of power, architectural excellence and the city's ancient heritage.
The Indian Museum in Kolkata is a classic example of a heritage building in inner sanctums safeguarding the country's cultural heritage. Standing steady at Park Street, the museum that was set up in 1814 is the oldest one in the country. This is also the reason why it houses some of the most unique items that enchant visitors. Such is the extent of the collection in this museum that the contents are divided into the various sections of archelogy, art, anthropology, geology, zoology and botany.
