The heart of West Bengal or Kolkata was founded by the British and has a history of around 400 years. The city of wonders - Kolkata is mentioned in the Ain-E-Akbari, which is an encyclopedic work compiled by Abul Fazl, Prime Minister of Emperor Akbar. There are very few old monuments in West Bengal of pre-British origin. However the British constructed a handful of buildings for developmental purposes of the city. Some of these constructions were integrally associated with the Indian freedom struggle and thus gave them a monumental stature. Some of the prominent monuments among them are Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Raj Bhawan, Shaheed Minar, BBD Bagh and Writers` Building.

Howrah Bridge is the symbol of modernization in West Bengal. This monumental structure has always been under focus of the lens men of the 50s and then immortalized in the Hindi movie with the similar name. A visit to Kolkata begins at the Howrah Bridge. It is a 1500 ft single span suspension bridge over Hooghly River that was completed in 1943. Three bridges are built on the Hooghly River but Howrah Bridge is the busiest one. The traffic density on this bridge is the maximum in the world. Many watch the busy, swarming population on the Howrah Bridge by taking a ferry in the Hooghly River or while the sidewalks of the bridge. The Bridge has been renamed as Rabindra Setu but the popular name is still the Howrah Bridge.

Victoria Memorial is an excellently crafted legacy of the British Raj, featuring a royal statue of Queen Victoria made in bronze. Moreover, there are also two brass canons protecting the statue and landscaped gardens with well-trimmed pathways. The pattern of this Memorial was designed by Lord Curzon and was inaugurated in 1921 by the Prince of Wales. The Memorial possesses marble statues, galleries stacked with British Raj memorabilia, elegantly crafted domes. The paranormal light and sound shows are organized in the evening. The memorial is closed on Mondays for maintenance purpose.

Raj Bhawan was built in the 1800 and is a superb instance of Gothic architecture in West Bengal. The British Governor General of India used Raj Bhawan as his residence and office complex. Today Raj Bhawan happens to be the office complex and residence of the Governor of West Bengal. The entry to the place is strictly restricted and public entry is generally prohibited.

Saheed Minar is the `Monument of Martyrs` and rise upto a height of almost 158 feets with an Egyptian style minaret with a surmounting dome on top. The monument commemorates British Army`s victory in the battle against Nepalese Army in 1814. Saheed Minar was originally named Octarloni Monument on the name of the British General David Octarloni who was the leader of the battle. Associated with the Indian Freedom Movement, Saheed Minar was the venue for frequent political seminars. After the Indian Independence the Octarloni Monument was renamed as Shahid Minar as a mark of respect for the freedom fighters and its association in the freedom struggle. The balcony in the dome at the top of the monument offers a panoramic scene of Kolkata.

BBD Bagh is a small place located to the south of Rabindra Setu. The pond called the Lal Dighi in the middle of the garden was once the main source of water to the nearby areas. The place is now known as Dalhousie Square or Tank Square or Lal Dighi Square. The British immortalized the place by making the sport of execution of three Indian freedom fighters, Benoy, Badal and Dinesh who went forth to protest the opposing party for the partition of Bengal. The name BBD was derived from the first letters of the three names of the martyrs.

Writer`s Building is build based on the European architecture. This red colored building dates back to the 17th century and is well maintained as the office of the State Chief Minister. Writer`s Building was originally built to accommodate the clerical and administrative staff of the East India Company. However, the spectacular one storey building in BBD Bagh was later expanded to let in more staff. The Fort William College of Calcutta was initially located here. Today the Chief Minister Office complex has three more colossal buildings, which accommodate around 6000 office workers to carry out the affairs of the state.

St Paul`s Cathedral is the Anglican Cathedral of Kolkata, built in 1847 and stands adjacent to the Birla Planetarium. It is 65m high. Marble Palace stands on Muktarambabu Street off Chittaranjan Avenue in North Kolkata. Marble Palace is famous for its marble walls and floors, paintings, antique collections, rare birds, floor to ceiling mirrors and marble statues. This monument remains closed on Mondays and Thursdays. National Library was initially called the Vice-Regal House. It is one of the largest libraries with the unique collections of vintage books and manuscripts in Asia. The library is located opposite to the Zoological Gardens of Alipore.

Kolkata High Court is the highest seat of judiciary in West Bengal. It is one of the oldest in India that dates back to the year 1872. Kolkata High Court is exquisitely built in the Gothic style of architecture and is considered to be a landmark of Kolkata. An extension was added later that perfectly blends with its original architectural symmetry. Kolkata High Court is located near Eden Gardens.

Hazarduari Palace of Murshidabad was the palace of the Nawab. The literal meaning of this monument is the "palace with thousand doors". Built during the 1830s by General Duncan McLeod of the Bengal Engineers, the structure features a banquet hall lined with mirrors and a circular Durbar Hall. Hazarduari Palace comprises of 1000 doors, 114 rooms and 8 galleries. The monument is now transformed into a museum with fine exhibits, such as a gigantic chandelier, presented by Queen Victoria. The museum has a library that house more than 10, 000 books. Curzon Gate, also known as Vijay Toran is a majestic structure constructed by the king of Burdwan Maharaja Bijoy Chand Mahatab in 1903 in the honor of Lord Curzon.

Tomb of Sher Afghan is the last construction of the Afghan jagirdars in Bardhaman.Thousands of visitors visits the site during festive occasion. Meghnad Saha Planetarium within the premises of Burdwan University is a planetarium built by the help of Japanese government. It is well equipped with latest technological instruments for public shows since 1994.

Ramakrishna Math is a monastic organization and also a monument established by

Sri Ramakrishna, the great 19th century saint of Bengal who is regarded as the Prophet of the Modern Age. Swami Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1966. ISKCON is a worldwide confederation of 10,000 temple devotees and 250,000 congregational devotees amidst the monument carrying out Hare Krishna movement. Himalayan Mountaineering institute is a monument on the Birch Hill of Darjeeling. The institute trains mountaineers and has a small museum with fascinating Himalayan peaks all around.