Panoramic View Of Calcutta From The High Court, 1880 Photo
A 1880 photograph offers a panoramic view of colonial Calcutta (Kolkata) as seen from the High Court building. The scene stretches across the city’s historic center, showcasing iconic landmarks such as the Esplanade, the Ochterlony Monument, and the stately Government House.
On the left side of the frame stands the Government House, identifiable by its unmissable dome and the distinctive eastern gateway adorned with lion sculptures. In front of the gateway is the statue of Lord William Bentinck, Governor General of India from 1828-35. Between the Government House and the High Court are several colonial structures whose identities remain uncertain. Yet they contribute to the architectural character of 19th-century Calcutta.
Also visible is the Esplanade, an expansive open space that was considered essential for the defense of any major fort. The Esplanade surrounded Fort William (not visible). These open stretches acted as protective buffers, preventing enemy forces from approaching the fort without detection.
Similar was the case with the esplanades in Bombay and Madras that emerged around their own fortifications. Fort George in Bombay (Mumbai) and Fort St George in Madras (Chennai). Visible in the distance is the Ochterlony Monument, erected in 1825 to honor Major-General Sir David Ochterlony of the British East India Company. In 1969, the monument was renamed Shahid Minar and rededicated to the martyrs and heroes of India’s freedom struggle. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know – that Fort William is surrounded by the Esplanade on three sides, and the fourth side by the River Hooghly. It was through this river that the British and other foreign colonialists first entered the land by ship.
From the collection- Dead Monarch And The New, Glimpse of British India In 1910.
