Kolkata is a heritage city that holds on to its roots of culture and values. However the city is also known for stepping up with modernity and the modern day developments as well. And one such example can be the construction of the Biswa Bangla Gate Kolkata. The Biswa Bangla Gate or the Kolkata Gate is nothing but an architectural marvel in the city of joy and is attracting huge attention as a tourist spot as well. The location is also popular for housing the unique hanging restaurant of Kolkata as well. The structure looks marvelous and also offers unique experiences to its visitors. This newest addition in the list of popular places in the city is attracting attention from the people immensely.
So if you are also interested in visiting a location like this then you need to check out the Biswa Bangla Gate photos. The whole architecture, the vibe, the uniqueness and experience there will totally win over your heart. Keep on reading this article as I will mention everything that you need to know about the Biswa Bangla Gate. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to the Kolkata Biswa Bangla Gate.
Biswa Bangla Gate Kolkata
Location: Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area I, Major Arterial Road (South East), Narkel Bagan, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal
Timings:
12 pm to 6 pm on all days from Tuesday to Sunday for a visit to the Observatory Gallery. Monday is closed. There are 3 slots here at 12 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm and each slot is 45 minutes each. For safety reasons at a time they accommodate only 100 people.
For the restaurant the fine dining is available from 7 pm to 10 pm. It has a seating capacity of 72 people at the same time.
Entry fee: Rs. 100 per person. No entry fee is required for children below 3 years ago
How to Reach
By air
While travelling by air the nearest airport to Kolkata Gate is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. From the airport the location is 11.4 km away. If you are travelling through the Biswa Bangla Sarani then you can reach there in about 30 minutes from the airport. It would be most convenient to take a cab or hire a car or take a yellow taxi to reach here from the airport.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station to reach the gate would be the Sealdah railway station. From the station the location is about 13.1 km away and you can reach there in about 38 minutes from the Sealdah Station. Another major railway station to reach the Biswa Bangla Gate is the Howrah Railway Station. From the Howrah Station the location is 16.9 km away and you can reach there in about an hour. From both the railway stations you can get buses to reach there. Or else you can opt for app cabs or yellow taxis to reach the location conveniently.
However, in the case of the local railway station the nearest station is the Bidhannagar Railway Station. From the railway station the location is about 10.4 km away and you can easily reach there in about 30 minutes. You can take the local buses from the railway station to reach the gate. Or else you can also take a cab or a yellow taxi as well to reach there conveniently.
By road
The location of Biswa Bangla Gate is one of the central locations in New Town. So you will get multiple buses going through the location. Some of the buses plying in this route are S 30, S 9C, AC 12, AC 23 A, A12 E etc. Other than buses you can also reach here by taking a taxi or a cab from anywhere around the city to reach here conveniently.
By metro
Currently if you are travelling by metro then the Salt Lake Sector V Metro Station is the nearest metro station to reach the Kolkata Gate. From the metro station the distance of the gate is 5.2 km. And you can reach there in about 16 minutes from the metro station. But after the completion of the Orange Line which would be the Kolkata Metro Line 6 the nearest metro station to reach here would be the Biswa Bangla Convention Center Metro Station. From there the distance of the Biswa Bangla Gate would be about 2.5 km and you will be able to reach there in about 7 minutes by foot.
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Overview of Biswa Bangla Gate
The Biswa Bangla Gate or the Kolkata Gate as it is also popular as is one of the major and newest additions in the city of Kolkata. Located in the Biswa Bangla Sarani at the Narkelbagan Crossing near the third rotary traffic island, this structure is an arch monument standing tall. As splendid as the structure looks it also offers unique experiences to the visitors as well. Undoubtedly this location is one of the major attractions in the city at the moment that has been built by the HIDCO or the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation. Other than being an architectural marvel what makes this location special is the presence of Biswa Bangla Gate Restaurant here.
Furthermore there is a viewing gallery here as well along with souvenir shops. Located at a great height it allows the visitors to look at the city from a bird’s eye perspective. With glass walls, fine décor, sophisticated ambiance it can certainly be a great location to enjoy fine dining. So if you are looking for a unique experience in the city then you must visit this hanging restaurant of Kolkata and enjoy a great time there. Moreover the Biswa Bangla Gate restaurant menu is huge and they also offer a buffet here as well that costs Rs. 550 per person. And in terms of A la Carte also you will get huge options here at Kolkata Gate. From Rotis, Rice, Starters, Spaghetti, Pasta, Kebabs, Chinese dishes you have huge options here.
History of Biswa Bangla Gate
The main aim behind the construction of this structure was to represent Bengal and its culture. HIDCO suggested the construction of this monument when the beautification of the New Town was going on under a project in 2010. Finally the construction got an approval from the West Bengal Government in 2015. Initially the idea was to create a Biswa Bangla globe which would remain suspended in the middle of a large ring. However, later they scrapped this concept. Due to a failure of pulley mechanism the globe crashed and therefore to avoid such instances they scrapped this idea.
Later, the construction of the gate began in 2016. And according to proposals there was the construction of a hanging restaurant here as well. On 31st of January in 2019 the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee inaugurated this structure. Later on 2nd of February the same year itself the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister of West Bengal Firhad Hakim inaugurated the restaurant. The total cost of this project amounted to a total of 25 crore.
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Architecture of Biswa Bangla Gate
The gate is a marvelous structure and an architectural marvel that looks extremely attractive. Made of steel and glass this structure is built in such a way that it can remain safe from any sort of natural calamities. Architect Dulal Mukherjee headed the construction committee. Moreover Pune based Architecture Firm Vector Designs commissioned the whole construction. The head of this project for Vector Designs was the founder Anita Dake. The main concept behind this construction was to pay a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore’s famous composition “Where the Mind is without Fear”. This structure further reflects the liberal outlook, unity in strength and the progress in dynamics with an amalgamation of the culture and the heritage that the city holds.
The total height of the arches of this gate goes up to 55 meters. All the arches here rise up from 4 traffic islands on all sides which are located diagonally opposite. However the position therefore creates a circular viewing gallery or a platform ring. This platform ring has a diameter of 60 meters and it is located about 25 meters above the ground. In total the diameter therefore is 220 meters. Furthermore there are parabolic arches here that support the ring as a sturdy concrete foundation. And these are made using 70 tonnes of steel.
What’s more?
In total there are 3 lifts here to go upwards. One of the lifts here is a service lift as well. Along with that there are two sets of staircases as well to reach the viewing platform. This viewing platform is a lightweight steel structure with 3 sides wrapped with PVC coated polyester membrane. The viewing platform is moreover one of the major attractions of the Biswa Bangla Gate. It is an Air Conditioned enclosed space that offers a panoramic view of the whole city of Kolkata. Undoubtedly this is one of the most iconic and newest constructions in the city. And while it is illuminated at night the structure looks even more alluring.
How to Book?
It is always better that you book your visit beforehand because of the restriction of the number of people that they can accommodate here. To reserve a table at the restaurant here you can visit the website of HIDCO. Or else you can get your bookings for the Kolkata Gate from BookMyShow as well. Or else you can call at 8420105555 or 8420122200 for any query. After your booking you will receive an e-ticket with a QR code. While reaching the venue you will have to produce that e-ticket at the offline counter located in front of the gate ground. From there they will provide you a pass to enter the restaurant.
Wrapping Up!
So that is all that you need to know before you plan a visit to the Biswa Bangla Gate in Kolkata. This newest hot spot is one of the most attractive locations to visit in the city these days. So what are you waiting for, just plan a visit to the Kolkata Gate as soon as you can. After all you certainly cannot miss out on visiting this attractive location at the heart of the city. So when are you planning a visit to this gate in Kolkata? Also let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to the Biswa Bangla Gate Kolkata.
