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| Shaheed Minar | |
|---|---|
 The Shaheed Minar as seen from the Brigade Grounds | |
 Interactive map of Shaheed Minar | |
| Former names | Ochterlony Monument |
| General information | |
| Status | Used as a monument and owned by theGovernment of West Bengal |
| Type | Monument |
| Architectural style | Foundation based on:Egyptian, Column of:Syrian, Cupola of:Turkish |
| Location | 11, Rani Rashmoni Avenue,Kolkata Maidan,Kolkata,West Bengal,India |
| Coordinates | 22°33′46″N88°20′57″E / 22.56286°N 88.34923°E /22.56286; 88.34923 |
| Construction started | 1825 |
| Completed | 1828[1] |
| Renovated | 2011–present |
| Owner | Government of West Bengal |
| Height | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Other designers | J. P. Parker |
TheShaheed Minar (English:Martyrs' Monument), formerly known as theOchterlony Monument, is a monument inKolkata that was erected in 1828 in memory of Major-generalSirDavid Ochterlony, commander of theBritish East India Company, to commemorate both his successful defense ofDelhi against theMarathas in 1804 and the victory of theEast India Company’s armed forces over theGurkhas in theAnglo-Nepalese War, also known as the Gurkha War. The monument was designed by J. P. Parker and paid for from public funds.[2]
On 9 August 1969, it was rededicated to the memory of the martyrs of theIndian freedom movement and renamed the "Shaheed Minar," which means "martyrs' monument" in bothBengali andHindustani, by the thenUnited Front Government in memory of the martyrs of theIndian independence movement[clarification needed]. The present[when?] government has decided to illuminate the tower during evenings and allow visitors to the top. The last[when?] people to have been up there were former governorGopal Krishna Gandhi and his family.[2][3][4]
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Known as the"Cloud kissing Monument" byMark Twain, the Shaheed Minar is located atEsplanade in CentralKolkata in the north-east facet of theMaidan. The tower is 48 metres (157 ft) high. It has a foundation based on theEgyptian style.[5] The column is a combination of styles with a classical fluted column, aSyrian upper portion, and aTurkish dome.[5] It has two balconies at the top. The top floor of the minar is accessible by a serpentine staircase, a total of 223 steps.[2][4][5] It has a total of 218 steps until the top of the tower.[5][6]
The monument was erected byBurn & Company.[7]
The vast field to the south of Shaheed Minar, is known as the Shaheed Minar Maidan or the Brigade Ground. It has a history of being the site of political rallies and fairs.[5] The first political meeting on the ground was presided over byRabindranath Tagore to condemn the killings ofSantosh Kumar Mitra andTarakeswar Sengupta by theIndian Imperial Police in 1931.[4][5] The central bus terminus of the city is around[clarification needed] the monument.[2]
In 1997, a tourist jumped off the lower balcony of the monument.[5] Since then, police permission is required to climb the steps of the monument.[5] Local residents must submit proof of address and a photo ID at theLalbazar Police Headquarters, while out-of-town tourists must submit documents from their hotel, and foreigners must submit a copy of their passport.[5]
The monument offers a bird's-eye view of the city.[5] The government has planned to open the monument to the public, after the renovation work is completed. The renovation work was started in late 2011 and will be completed in two phases. The first phase was scheduled to be completed by June 15, 2012, and is said to cost about₹50 lakhs.[5] There are also plans to illuminate the monument, both from inside and outside, and to give the monument a fresh coat of paint. In the second phase a temporary folding stage will be set up at the foot of the 48-metre (157 ft) tall monument[5] to avoid congestion at the Dorina Crossing during rallies.
After the work is completed, both tourists and locals will have access to the top of the monument. Stalls selling souvenirs will also be set up just in front of the monument, while the pathways leading to it will be cleaned and decorated with flowering plants.[5]
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Media related toShaheed Minar, Kolkata at Wikimedia Commons
Kolkata/Esplanade travel guide from Wikivoyage| Colonial | |
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| Geographical | |
| Religious places | |
| Cultural | |
| Boulevards |
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| Shopping | |
| Parks, riverfront, zoos and stadiums | |
