Maidan is a vast recreational space where the city comes to relax and play sports. With fields, sports stadiums, historic buildings and a planetarium, it is a great place to take the whole family. Political meetings and rallies are also held here, shepherds occasionally bring their flocks to graze and locals wash their clothes in the ponds.
Walk through the extensive 988-acre (400-hectare) grounds and view some of the park’s many statues. These include tributes to British governors-general, former prime ministers, a professional soccer player and Mahatma Gandhi.
Maidan has a few historical sites including the Victoria Memorial, a large marble building dedicated to Queen Victoria, and the 18th-century Fort William. The fort is the home of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and is not open to the public.
Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral at the southern end of the park to admire its Indo-Gothic architecture. This large Anglican church was built in 1847 and has undergone two periods of renovation following earthquake damage.
If you are an aficionado or have never even heard of cricket, watch a match at Eden Gardens, the home of the Bengal and Indian cricket teams. It is India’s most popular sport and you are bound to see members of the public playing impromptu games in the park.
Horse racing fans can watch events at the Kolkata Race Course, one of the largest horse racing courses in India. Races are held on Saturdays and public holidays from July to September and November to March.
The Birla Planetarium is a great place to learn about stars, planets and galaxies. Watch one of the educational presentations, which are available in several languages including English, Hindi and Bengali.
Maidan’s sprawling grounds lie in the heart of Kolkata and are well served by buses, taxis and the metro system. Park for free in the surrounding streets. If you don’t feel like walking through the park, enjoy the sights from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage.
