BBD Bach Kolkata

John Splinter Stavorinus, a Dutch Admiral visiting Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1793-94, had described BBD Bach, Kolkata as a site of "magnificent buildings that render Calcutta (now Kolkata) not only the handsomest town in Asia but one of the finest in the world." He was referring to the BBD Bach, Kolkata from where the city started growing. It is set to be given a second successive billing next year by the U S based World Monument Fund [WMF] as one of the 100 "Watch List Sites" across the world.

History:

BBD Bach, Kolkata was formerly known as Dalhousie Square but three fresh bloods sacrificed their lives on an encounter with British rulers in The Writers’ Building in order to raise a protest against British colonialism. With their name Binoy, Badal and Dinesh the new name was given.
Surroundings:

At BBD Bach there are nearly 50 buildings with varying architectural styles belonging to the 18th and 19th centuries which have been listed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation as "Heritage Buildings."

BBD Bach has always been a point of attraction for its rich assortment of buildings —the Governor's House, the city's first church [St. John's Church], the High Court [formerly the country's Supreme Court], the General Post Office and Writers' Buildings which is the seat of administrative power, the oldest hotel of the city Great Eastern Hotel. And at its centre you can find a large pool nourished by nature.

BBD Bach, Kolkata and its surrounding roads and areas like Netaji Subhash Road, Biplabi Trailakya Maharaj Sarani(formerly Brabourne Road), Lyons Range, India Exchange Place, Mission Row, R.N. Mukherjee Road and Fairlie Place form the older commercial hub of the city.

Places of Interest:

On the north side of the square stands the huge Writers' Building, which is established in 1880. The East India Company's writers and clerks have now been replaced by modern-day ones employed by the West Bengal State Government, and this is where all the quintuplicate forms, carbon copies and red ink come from.

To the eastern side there are commercial houses and the West Bengal Government’s Tourist Bureau.

On the southern side is Raj Bhawan, residence of the Governor of the State. Beside that are the State Legislative Assembly House and the Calcutta High Court. St John's Cathedral, which close to Raj Bhavan is the oldest church of Kolkata.

On the western side is the imposing white domed General Post Office, next to which is the Reserve Bank of India building. Netaji Subhash Road is the centre of the onetime English commercial houses which today flourish in Indian hands. Lyon's Range is the place of Stock Exchange, behind Clive Street, is worth a visit for a glimpse of the frenzied dealing in shares, periodically erupting onto the street.

Further west of BBD Bach, with a superb position on the Hooghly River taking in the magnificent expanse of the Howrah Bridge, is “Millenium Park” - a glorious place to enjoy a sunset, kick back and absorb life on the river ghats.

Banks like the Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank and the UBI have their headquarters in this area. Giant public sector undertakings like Andrew Yule, Balmer Lawrie and Coal India also have their offices here.

BBD Bach and its adjoining areas are home to establishments like the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the Eastern railway offices at Fairlie Place, Tea Board, the Calcutta Improvement Trust and the various chambers of commerce.

There is also a Tourists Office - West Bengal Tourist Bureau, 3/2, BBD Bagh.

Getting to BBD Bach:

You can avail a taxi from any part of Kolkata to reach BBD Bach. Bus service is also available from several parts of Kolkata. From Dumdum Airport you can board a direct bus to BBD Bach. You can also board the underground railway, but in that case you have to reach Esplanade Metro Station which is close to BBD Bach.
So make it sure that you must not miss this place during your Kolkata Tour otherwise you will certainly be deprived of this rare historical as well as architectural beauty!