When we are talking about Kolkata we instantly think of so many landmarks in the city. And one such landmark that is synonymous to the city and holds a lot of importance is the Howrah Bridge. The Kolkata Howrah Bridge connecting Kolkata and Howrah is iconic as well as one of the heritage constructions of the city. For better communication this bridge came into existence and now it is an important part of the city itself. The bridge is an architectural marvel and looks splendid in its appearance. You cannot figure out how beautiful it looks only by looking at the Howrah Bridge image. You certainly need to visit there on your own once.
Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the bridge. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to visit this beautiful bridge soon.
Howrah Bridge Kolkata
Location: 1 Strand Road, Jagannath Ghat, Kolkata, West Bengal
Timings: Open all day throughout the year
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to Reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the bridge is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. From the airport the bridge is 15.9 km away. It would approximately take about 47 minutes to reach there from the airport. You can take the city buses to reach the location or else you can also take a yellow taxi or hire a cab to reach there as well
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station is the Howrah Junction. From the Howrah Railway station the Howrah Bridge is located at a distance of 350 meters and you can reach there in about 3 minutes. Another major railway station is the Sealdah Railway Station. From there the bridge is 3.7 km away and you can reach there in about 23 minutes. You can easily get buses from the station to reach the location.
By road
If you are travelling by road then you can take the city buses to reach here from any parts of the city. Also you can opt for app cab or yellow taxis as well to reach the location. Or else you can also drive your own vehicle to reach the location.
Overview of Howrah Bridge
If there is one location in Kolkata that is almost synonymous with the city and acts as one of the most popular landmarks then it has to be the Howrah Bridge. An architectural marvel that also holds a lot of historical and cultural relevance is indeed an important part of the city. Furthermore what makes this bridge special is the fact that it is the sixth longest suspended span cantilever bridge in the whole world as well. Standing in its glory for the past many years there are no pillars of this suspension bridge. Located over the Hooghly River the bridge is very much a part of the heritage and the culture of Bengal. Also what makes the bridge more important is how it connects the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah. The bridge further makes communication easier as well as reaching other locations within the state.
This iconic bridge has been a witness to several historical events and is still surviving and important even today. The Howrah Bridge length is 705 meters and has 8 lanes which are 97 meters wide. This bridge is a gateway to more than 200, 000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians in one single day. Moreover the bridge is also one of the busiest bridges as well. In 1965 the bridge was officially renamed as Rabindra Setu in honour of Poet and Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. However, even today the bridge is more popular as the Howrah Bridge. In 2018 the bridge officially crossed 75 years and to commemorate that the Kolkata Port Trust Authority decorated the bridge with multi coloured flags. This iconic engineering marvel which is functional and such an important part of the city is therefore a must visit for anyone in Kolkata.
Howrah Bridge History
The construction of the Howrah Bridge goes back to 1862 when Kolkata was Calcutta. It was the time when the city was the capital of British India and everyday it was growing busier. However it was then that the rulers felt the need for greater communication between the two main cities of Calcutta and Howrah. Both the cities were separated by the Hooghly River. In 1870 therefore there was the formation of the Calcutta Port Trust and later in 1871 the Howrah Bridge Act passed. In 1874 there was the completion of the first Pontoon Bridge between the two locations. The British shipped some of the major portions of the bridge from England and later assembled it in India. At first the bridge was 465.7 meters in length and 19 meters in width. It had pavements on either side of it that measured 2.1 meters.
However the bridge was at a lower level so there was unfastening on a regular basis for the water transports to pass. It served the purpose of communication at that time but it was not well equipped to take the load of heavy vehicles though. Therefore the Port Commissioner felt the need to build a more sturdy bridge instead of the First Howrah Bridge.
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New Howrah Bridge
The main motive behind the creation of the new bridge was to handle high traffic requirements. Therefore the Committee in 1906 decided on the formation of a floating bridge. But that time due to World War I the plan came to a halt. After the World War there was formation of another committee which was the Mukherjee Committee. It was a committee that Sir R. N Mukherjee led and the work finally started. This committee submitted their reports and final designs. The construction finally completed in 1942 and later in 1943 the bridge was open for general traffic. The first vehicle that ever ran on the bridge was a solitary tram. However in 1993 trams were stopped on the bridge due to the increased traffic. Also during 2023 the Howrah Bridge used to close at 12 o’clock at night for little less than a month for maintenance purposes.
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Architecture of Howrah Bridge
One of the major attractions of the Howrah Bridge is undoubtedly the engineering and the architecture. Not a single piece of nut and bolt is a part of this architectural marvel. It is a unique and one of a kind of a structure and officially this bridge was Suspension Type Balanced Cantilever during the time of its construction. By the time of its construction it was the third longest cantilever bridge in the country. The bridge deck hangs from 39 pairs of main trusses.
A total of 20, 000 tonnes of steel was required for this construction. However, only 3000 tonnes could be supplied from England. Tata Steel commissioned the rest of the 23,000 tonnes of steel. Each half of these two suspended spans weighs almost 2000 tonnes. And each of them has a length of 282 feet. This was also an expensive project that amounted to a total cost of Rs. 25 million.
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Things to enjoy around Howrah Bridge
Enjoy a walk
It can be an enchanting experience to walk along the 705 meter stretch of this beautiful bridge. You can literally observe the busy road, the people heading to work, the beautiful Hooghly River and so much more. This is one of the busiest bridges and to stand there for some time and observe the busy lives can be exciting. So if you wish to enjoy the essence of the city you must try this activity there
Photography
The location around the bridge can be a paradise for photographers. The scenes that you can capture there are just perfect for street photography. You can capture the labourers with their heavy carts or the busy workers going to work. Furthermore the bridge itself calls for some beautiful photographs so you can capture that too. In short it can offer you various snippets that hold up to the culture of the city in its truest sense of the term.
Visit the Mullick Ghat Flower Market
This is basically by far the biggest flower market in Asia and is a delightful site to explore. Located on the east end of Howrah this is a wholesale flower market that starts buzzing from as early as 3 am in the morning. It would be an experience in itself if you could visit here early in the morning. The sweet fragrance of the flowers and the vibrant colours would be ideal for exploration. Also this is a paradise for photographers as well for the vibrancy of this location. So make sure you explore this area.
Enjoy a ride in Ganges
This is an interesting activity that you can enjoy at this location. You will find cruises here that offer a serene experience of riding along the Ganges. They also have arrangements for meals as well. So if you are there in the morning you can get the breakfast cruise or the lunch cruise in the afternoon, evening cruise and dinner cruise as well. Each of these rides lasts for 3 hours and it can be extremely interesting. So if you wish to explore the area around then do not miss this exciting activity there.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all the information about the Howrah Bridge. If you truly wish to explore the city and its truest essence then you certainly cannot miss out on visiting the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. One of the most iconic locations in the city, this bridge holds a lot of charm with itself. And if you are in Kolkata or visiting there then you certainly need to visit the bridge as well. So when are you planning a trip to this bridge in Kolkata? Also let me know if this article on the Kolkata Howrah Bridge is helpful for you in planning a trip there.
