The magnificent Shaheed Minar is a major landmark in the city of Kolkata.
Shaheed Minar, which translates into "Martyr’s Tower", is a 48-meter-high tower located in Esplanade, Central Kolkata. This monument is dedicated to the brave martyrs of Indian Freedom Movement. The white structure looks very impressive with a juxtaposition of Egyptian (the foundation), Syrian (the column) and Turkish (the cupola) style of architecture. The top balconies of the monument offer a panoramic view of the entire city, while the surrounding vast garden is a perfect place of recreational activities with family and friends. The entire site seems absolutely stunning, especially in the moonlit night. On the other hand, the grounds of the monument serve as a center of political meetings, rallies and seminars of the city.
Here are some interesting facts about the Shaheed Minar:
The structure was originally founded as 'Ochterlony Monument' in 1848. The idea behind the construction was to commemorate the victories of Major General Sir David Ochterlony (Commander of the British East India Company at that time) against the Marathas in Delhi in 1804 and the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1825. In 1969, it was renamed as Shaheed Minar to honor the soldiers who lost their precious lives in the freedom struggle of India.
The monument was designed by renowned architect J. P. Parker. It was constructed by Burn & Company.
The famous American writer Mark Twain called Shaheed Minar the "cloud kissing monument".
There are two balconies at the top floor of the monument. The visitors need to climb a total of 223 steps to reach the top balcony.
In 1997, a tourist jumped from the lower balcony of the Shaheed Minar. Since then, to climb up there, the common people need to have permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lal Bazar.
There's a plaque embedded on the wall of the monument. It reads that the structure is there in the memory of the martyrs of the Indian Freedom Movement.
The vast garden surrounding the monument is known as Shaheed Minar Maidan or Brigade Ground. As previously mentioned, it serves as an important center of political rallies and meetings. The first meeting was hosted by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore to protest the killing of an unarmed youth by the British at a nearby detention camp in 1931.
The grounds of the monument are open for common public all the time. Also, no entry fee is required to visit there. Also, the visitors can find numerous hawkers selling a variety of items at the place.
