Lower Circular Road Cemetery — Attraction in Kolkata

Opened in 1767 and used actively until the 1830s, the eight-acre necropolis is enclosed by a high brick wall which protects the eclectic mix of tombs, cenotaphs, and mausoleums. The nearly 1900 graves represent a melting pot of design influences from European gothic to classical antiquity to Indo-Saracenic styles all jumbled up in a maze of obelisks, cairns, urns, and sarcophagi. A number of the graves belong to famous military and political figures of the time, including Sir William Jones, founder of the Asiatic Society, whose towering memorial obelisk is the tallest of the structures in the graveyard.

While South Park Street Cemetery is undergoing constant upkeep and renovations, the rich tropical surroundings continue to encroach on the mouldering stones. Green mosses and prehistoric ferns cover much of the grounds making for a haunting setting for visitors looking for a little history in...

Lower Circular Road Cemetery, established in 1840, is an active burial ground and an important historical site in Kolkata. It is the final resting place of the legendary Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, along with other notable figures like John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, Leslie Claudius, and Rev. Lal Behari Shah. Spanning over 33 acres, the cemetery reflects Kolkata’s colonial past and is meticulously maintained, though the authorities can be inconsistent—sometimes allowing non-Christians entry, other times restricting access. Visitors are advised to maintain silence, respect the surroundings, and follow any guidelines provided, as photography and loitering are discouraged to preserve the solemn atmosphere. The cemetery remains a significant site for both history enthusiasts and literary admirers, offering a quiet glimpse into Kolkata’s rich cultural and...

This is the final resting place of so many of my family and friends. I visit it often to say hello to all of them, especially to strangers long gone before me. The old headstones interest me most and I read the dates and the accompanying narrative - it is almost like reading history. Sadly it is in a state of disrepair.

The heavy rains make for soft earth and the headstones and old architecture tumble to the ground in a short number of years. This situation has improved just a tad with concrete pathways which gives a visitor a decent change to locate their loved ones.

My photo mission was to preserve to recorded memory images of old graves that will soon be wiped out to make way for the new. If more people can record the ones beautifully preserved on the far right side as you enter, the better it would be for generations viewing it after we have left...