Botonical Gardens , Calcutta
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To Conolidate their hold on Bengal and avoid any further attack on the
establishment the British had built a fort which cost them an awesome 2 million pounds in those days. The forest around this fort was cleared to give a clear shot to the cannons. Today the fort stands as the reminder of first steps of British towards establishment of the Indian empire. The cleared area is now known as
the Maidan and acts as breather for the otherwise congested city. This maidan
is located in the heart of the city and is an ideal place for a morning stroll
or even for a break from the ever increasing rush of the city. It acts as the
lungs of the city. The Chowringhee road, the Victoria memorial and the Eden
Garden surround the maidan while the Raj Bhawan over looks it. The maidan is
flanked by the skyscrapers of Calcutta. On one side if the Maidan is the
Calcutta Race Course. 

The Botanical gardens: The botanical garden of Calcutta is perhaps the most
important gardens in India. This garden has a well classified and categorized
variety of Flora and Fauna. The 250 year old Banyan tree is a special
attraction. It is said that the tree has spread its area so much that it is
difficult to say which one is the original trunk. The circumference of the tree
is around 400 meter. The botanical garden is located on other side of Calcutta
on the banks of Hooghly. The horticulture gardens in the heart of the city is a
famous avenue for the flower and other exhibitions. It is particularly famed
for the display of seasonal flowers.
The Zoological Gardens: Spread over an sprawling area of 45 acres the Alipore
Calcutta Zoo is perhaps the largest in the country. This zoo was established in
1876 and is the one of the oldest zoo gardens in India. In this zoo are kept
many animals from all over the world. But the main attraction are the white
tigers of Rewa. Also are famed the winter migration of birds to this zoo. Close
to the Alipore zoo is the Aquarium. Here tropical fresh water and sea fishes
are kept in aquariums. The Alipore zoo has got a Reptile house which houses
some of the reptiles found in India. The reptiles kept here includes King Cobra
and the Crocodiles.


