Kalighat

Understand

The southern part of Kolkata is home to three of the city's elite localities: Alipore (আলিপুর Ālipur), Bhowanipore (ভবানীপুর Bhobānīpur) and Ballygunge (বালিগঞ্জ Bāligonj). All three were established by the affluent populations wanting to escape the old bustling North Kolkata in the early 20th century, with strong links to academia, art, literature and music.

Alipore Alipore (আলিপুর Ālipur) is named after Mir Jafar Ali Khan, the next Nawab of Murshidabad after Siraj-ud-Daulah. After his abdication in 1760, the East India Company permitted Mir Jafar to live in the area now known as Alipore. It is also fondly called "Bungalow Para" (বাংলোপাড়া Bānglōpāṛā) due to its abundance of bungalows. It serves as the headquarters of South 24 Parganas since 1986. In addition, Alipore is strongly associated with the Indian independence movement, with prisons like Alipore and Presidency Jails were being used to arrest revolutionaries. The Alipore Jail is converted to a museum dedicated to the arrested revolutionaries. The Alipore Sessions Court is known for holding the Alipore Bomb Case in 1908-1909, where Sri Aurobindo and others were tried.

Getting there

South Kolkata can be easily reached from the central regions like Dharmatala, Park Street and Sealdah easily by bus, taxi or metro railway. From north Kolkata the number of buses is slightly low, but metro railway is always an option. There also are bus links with the East and the Southern fringes. There is a railway system linking the city to the suburbs and a part of this system passes through the city.

By metro The Blue Line 1 runs along the city from north to south, and is the fastest and the most convenient way to reach South Kolkata. However, you may have to change to other modes of transport to reach your destination. Trains run every 10-15 minutes and at ₹5-15, from 8AM to 9:45PM from Monday to Saturday and 2PM to 9:45PM on Sunday. The metro stations within South Kolkata include 1 Rabindra Sadan 1 (Exide More), 2 Netaji Bhavan 1 (Bhowanipore), 3 Jatin Das Park 1 (Hazra More) and 4 Kalighat 1 (Rash Behari).

By bus Buses have the most extensive coverage and is inexpensive, providing last-mile connectivity. You can travel 20 km at around ₹10. The exact fare depends on the type of bus, whether it is a state bus, a minibus or a private bus.

By train The suburban overground railway tracks pass through the eastern and southern edges of Kolkata. The Park Circus-Majherhat section is also used by the circular railway system. The main stations in South Kolkata include:

5 Majerhat 3 KCR . Serves Alipore and Chetla. (updated May 2026) 6 Ballygunge Junction KCR . Serves Gariahat and also Ballygunge. (updated May 2026)

By auto-rickshaw Point to point auto rickshaws are a cheap and popular means of transport, in most parts of the city, except the central business district. These accommodate four passengers and charge individually.

By taxi Taxis are a fast mode of transport and offer you more comfort and privacy than the other modes. However, they are much more expensive than buses or metro rail. There are many agencies that provide hired cars -

See

1 Bhowanipore Cemetery, Debendra Lal Khan Rd. (updated Jul 2022) 2 Bijay Manzil. The current residence of the descendants of the Bardhaman Raj family who shifted from Bardhaman to Alipore in 1955. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Dhanadhanya Auditorium (ধনধান্য Dhonodhānyo), Thackeray Rd (off Debendra Lal Khan Rd, opposite Presidency Jail). An auditorium shaped like a humongous conch-shell (শাঁখ shānkh), an example of mimetic or novelty architecture in India. Inaugurated on April 2023, the building has 6 floors containing guest house, restaurant, cafeteria, VIP lounge, media lounge and a convention centre. It hosts various cultural programmes and is also a venue for national and international trade fairs. (updated Dec 2025) 4 Mahanirban Math (মহানির্বাণ মঠ Mohānirbāṇ Moṭh), 113, Rashbehari Ave, Dover Terrace. 6AM-8PM. A Buddhist monastery. (updated Nov 2025) 5 National Library of India (জাতীয় গ্রন্থাগার Jātīyo Gronthāgār, previously Belvedere House), Belvedere Rd, Alipore (near Alipore Zoo, 1.3 km E of Netaji Bhavan 1 ), ☏ +91 33 2248-7831, +91-33-2479 1382, +91-33-2479 1383, +91-33-2479 1384, +91-33-2479 1385, +91-33-2479 1386, +91-33-2479 1387, +91-33-2479 2467, fax: +91 33 2479 1462, [email protected]. 8AM-8PM (Sa: 9:30AM-6PM). This is a stately mansion. Once home of the British Viceroys, Belvedere House is now the National Library. The oldest library in India with a huge collection, including some rarities. It houses over a million books and is the biggest in India. (updated Jul 2025) 6 Nizam Palace, 234/4, AJC Bose Rd. A heritage building constructed in 1933. (updated Dec 2022) 7 Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, ☏ +91 33 2464 1307, [email protected]. 10AM-6PM (closed S). A cultural hub of Kolkata, dedicated to Bengal's folk art and traditions, with a collection of textile practices, patachitra, old litho paintings, terracotta artefacts, ivory paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, and coins. It features works of artists like Nandalal Bose, Jogen Choud

Do

Cinema 1 Basusree Cinema (বসুশ্রী Bosushrī), 102, SP Mukherjee Rd (metro: Kalighat 1 ), ☏ +91 33 2455 4808. One of the four cinema halls that premiered Satyajit Ray's movie Pather Panchali. While the other halls were later shut down or became inactive, this one is still very active. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Bijoli Cinema (বিজলী Bij(o)lī), 39, SP Mukherjee Rd, ☏ +91 33 2455 5382. (updated Jan 2026) Inox, Forum Mall, Elgin Rd. Cinepolis, 5th Floor, Lake Mall, 104 Rashbehari Avenue. (updated Apr 2018) Inox, Quest Mall, 4th Floor, Syed Amir Ali Avenue. (updated Apr 2018) 3 Menoka Cinema (মেনকা Menokā), 5, Sarat Chatterjee Ave (near Rabindra Sarobar Stadium), ☏ +91 33 2466 0417, +91 33 2466 3080. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Priya Cinema, 95, Rashbehari Ave (beside Deshapriya Park), ☏ +91 33 2464 1313. (updated Jan 2025)

Clubs

5 Calcutta Club, 241, AJC Bose Rd. An iconic landmark in Kolkata, representing the elite (babu) Bengal with rich history and culture. (updated Dec 2022) 6 Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, 19/1, Gurusaday Dutta Rd. Founded in 1792, it is the second-oldest cricket club in the world after Marylebone Cricket Club. It arguably has the most picturesque cricket ground in Kolkata. (updated Jan 2023) 7 Gariahat Chess Club, Gariahat Rd. An open-air chess club under a busy flyover. (updated Nov 2025)

Durga Puja venues 8 Deshapriya Park (দেশপ্রিয় পার্ক Deshopriyo Pārk), Rashbehari Ave (intersection to Sarat Bose Rd; Deshapriya Park ). The venue of one of the biggest Durga Puja celebrations of South Kolkata. It also contains one of the tallest permanently-installed Durga statues of the city as well. There's also a monument north of the park, dedicated to the Bengali authors and the martyrs of the Bengali language movements of Bangladesh and Assam. (updated Nov 2025) 9 Maddox Square. (updated Nov 2025) 10