Lalbazar | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | West Bengal |
| City | Kolkata |
| District | Kolkata |
| Metro Station | Central andMahakaran |
| Municipal Corporation | Kolkata Municipal Corporation |
| KMC wards | 45,46 |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | For population see linked KMC ward pages |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 700001 |
| Area code | +91 33 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kolkata Uttar |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Chowranghee |
Lalbazar is a neighbourhood in CentralKolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in theIndianstate ofWest Bengal. It is part of thecentral business district adjoiningB.B.D. Bagh area. The headquarters of theKolkata Police is located here (18, Lalbazar Street) and is popularly known by the same name.
The road leading from the north-east corner ofB.B.D. Bagh toBowbazar was earlier known as ‘Avenue to the eastward’. It was also known as the Great Bungalo Road. In 1768, it was said to be the best street in Kolkata.[1] The modern police office was the residence of John Palmer, one of the merchant princes of Kolkata. Earlier to that it was said to be ‘an old ruin of a house, formerly the residence of some native.’ The house next to it was the Harmonic Tavern, the handsomest house in its day and pulled down long back.[1]
Punishment in old Kolkata was often done by hanging. There was a gibbet at the crossing of Lalbazar and Chitpore Road (now Rabindra Sarani).[2]
Lalbazar is surrounded by Old Court House Street on the west, Bentinck Street/Rabindra Sarani on the east, India Exchange Place Road on the north and R.N. Mukherjee Road on the south. Lalbazar Street (westward extension ofBepin Behari Ganguly Street) passes through the middle of the area from east to west. Many buses ply along these roads.[3]
B.B.D Bag railway station onKolkata Circular Railway line is the nearest railway station.
Kolkata/Esplanade travel guide from Wikivoyage