B. B. D. Bagh
B.B.D. Bagh | |
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Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
Chowranghee |
Binoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh, shortened as B. B. D. Bagh, formerly called Tank Square and then Dalhousie Square (1847 to 1856),
Origin of name
Memorials |
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B. B. D. stands for three young
As we enter the town, very expansive square opens before us, with a large expanse of water in the middle, for public use… the square itself is composed of magnificent houses which render Calcutta not only one of the best town in Asia but one of the finest in the world. One side of the square consists of a range of buildings occupied by persons in civil employments under the Company, such as writers in public offices.[4]
Louis de Grandpré, A Voyage in the Indian Ocean and to Bengal (1803)
Geography
The B.B.D. Bagh area is near the Hooghly River in the western part of Central Kolkata and is a square built around the old Lal Dighi tank. The old fort built by the British was near where the General Post Office now is. The area was in the heart of Kalikata or the White Town in old Calcutta.
History
B.B.D. Bagh (or Dalhousie Square as it was formerly known) was created as the center of the
Over the next one and a half centuries, the square grew in importance and influence. It was named after
During the first half of the 20th century, the
Modern significance
B.B.D. Bagh is still the commercial
B.B.D. Bagh can still be considered one of the best remnants and concentrated zones of British colonial architecture in the world. The square is also characterized by other historical landmarks including
Overall, the square sees thousands of people arriving from all over the
Preservation
Dalhousie Square was included in the 2004 and 2006 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund due to "decades of neglect".[6] After this listing the international financial services company American Express provided funding through WMF for the square's preservation. A number of buildings in the area have also been listed as heritage buildings and have gone through extensive restorations to bring back the charm of the square. The centerpiece, Writers' Building, has been temporarily vacated to give way for a massive restoration of the building, which has fallen into disrepair in many areas.
Gallery
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Dalhousie and its landmarks in a British era postcard
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Statues of Benoy, Badal and Dinesh in front of Writers' Building
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General Post Office and Reserve Bank of India building from across Lal Dighi
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The southern side of B.B.D. Bagh
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Dome of GPO from across Lal Dighi
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Statue ofMaharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh
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The facade of Writers' Building
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The Royal Insurance Building, Kolkata
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The Central Telegraph Office which lies to the south of the main square
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United Tower
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Hong Kong House which has and still houses the offices of HSBC in Kolkata
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The old Koilaghat Building of the Eastern Railway
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Samriddhi Bhavan, the eastern office of the State Bank of India
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A view of Strand Road and a government administrative building
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The Currency Building undergoing renovations and restorations
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The south-eastern corner of the main square
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St. Andrew's Church in the center of the square
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Netaji Subhas Road (formerly Clive Road) which runs along the eastern side of Lal Dighi
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Kolkata
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A view down Dalhousie Square South
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B. B. D. Bagh Bakultala
References
- ^ "1833 building that escaped demolition is now a goldmine of art". thehindu.com. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Benoy Badal Dinesh: The Story of Three Brave Boys Who Took The Battle to the British!". thebetterindia.com. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ Cotton, H.E.A., Calcutta Old and New, 1909/1980, p 268-9, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
- ISBN 0-19-563696-1.
- ^ Gupta, Gargi (4 March 2017). "The making and marring of cityscapes". dnaindia.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ World Monuments Fund - Dalhousie Square
External links
- Kolkata/Esplanade travel guide from Wikivoyage