Kolkata’s fading heritage: Rajbaris and palaces that the city almost forgot |
(Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons CC 4.0/Sovabazarrajbari)There was a time when the opulent rajbaris and palaces of Bengal represented power and prestige. Celebrations were held in their courtyards; nobles, as well as colonial officials, used to gather in their halls. Such homes were also representative of a world in which status tended to announce itself by grandeur and elegance. Many such homes constituted the center of old Calcutta.Some have survived to date, although not with all the glory that once made them unique. With time, changes in ownership and urbanization have left them in a somewhat different situation. Although they have historical significance, most of them now have signs of waning glory – worn out facades, crumbling walls and faded grandeur from a bygone era.
Pathuriaghata Rajbari
Pathuriaghata Rajbari was one of the properties owned by a rich lineage of Tagores and was quite influential during the nineteenth century social scene in Calcutta. Music, literature and arts were patronized in its premises, giving it a character of much more than just a residence.However, despite some of the old structures surviving, this rajbari has lost some of the importance it once held. Signs of architectural grandeur can be seen in its ruins, but its glory is much diminished due to the passage of time.
Belgachia Villa
Belgachia Villa
(Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons CC 3.0/Sumit Surai)In the golden years of colonial Calcutta, Belgachia Villa was considered one of the prestigious locations in the city. In connection with Dwarkanath Tagore, the villa became popular due to the luxurious parties thrown by it in the presence of important members of the society.There are stories about the luxurious partying and glamorous parties associated with the villa. However, even though the name is historically significant and is associated with grandeur, most of the glamor which has been associated with the name of Belgachia Villa now only exists in history books.
Sovabazar Rajbari
Sovabazar Rajbari
This place was built during the eighteenth century by Raja Nabakrishna Deb, where the most important social gatherings took place during those times. This place became quite popular for throwing Durga Puja festivities in the presence of British officials and elite members of Bengal.While many other buildings have disappeared from our memories, Sovabazar Rajbari has not lost its cultural relevance until now. However, with the passage of time, certain parts of this building bear signs of aging.
Marble Palace in Kolkata
Marble Palace
(Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0/Souvik pal)Constructed in 1835 by Raja Rajendra Mullick, Marble Palace is among the finest of the heritage buildings in Kolkata. Full of sculptures, chandeliers, paintings and imported decorative objects, the palace was an example of luxury of an unprecedented kind within colonial Calcutta.While many structures have vanished completely, the Marble Palace is among those buildings that survive. However, the experience of visiting the building can be described as a step back in time as it continues to embody the taste of the noble elite of the nineteenth century.Kolkata’s old rajbaris and palaces contain more than just architecture. They narrate histories of power, society and influential families that had a say in the formation of the city. While their crumbling walls and aged corridors no longer witness the luxury they once used to have, they continue to hold some memories of that world.
