World Heritage Day: Go on a trail of Kolkata’s storied blue-plaque sites

On World Heritage Day, we explore parts of Kolkata’s extensive blue plaque trail, highlighting the city’s rich history through its heritage buildings and eateries

Built in 1891 by Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya and renovated in 1931 by Maharaja Bir Bikram, Tripura House on Ballygunge Circular Road was once the residence of the Tripura royal family. The yellow-and-white domed mansion, flanked by a sprawling garden and a black gate with the royal coat of arms received its Grade I KMC blue plaque last year October along with Thapar House and Patthar Kothi


Built in the 1920s for British army officers, this cluster of twin-storey bungalows was constructed using concrete blocks. “Though officially a heritage property for nearly 25 years,the KMC added the blue plaque only last year,” said Bikram Dugar, a fourth-generation owner


Since 1918, Paramount Cold Drinks & Syrups has been serving chilled nostalgia in glasses. Located near College Street, this legendary joint quenched the thirst of icons like Subhas Chandra Bose, and Satyajit Ray. Over a century later, it’s still fizzing with flavour and freedom-era vibes. Paramount received its plaque from INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) in December 2019


Established in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Indian Museum is a veritable cathedral of curiosities – India’s oldest and Asia’s largest, with over 2.5 million artefacts that range from mummies to Mughal art, the KMC honoured its legacy with a blue plaque a few years back


Trincas Kolkata received its INTACH plaque on September 19, 2021. Started as a genteel tea room in the 1930s, and later ditched the doilies for drumrolls — the resto-pub turned into the city’s most swinging venue for food & music. It’s hosted crooners, cabaret dancers, the city’s curious, and continues to be a performance in itself.

Thapar House doesn’t shout for attention — it simply stands. A Grade I heritage building, it received its KMC plaque in October last year. The mansion was built in the 1920s, and boasts a portico, stained glass windows, carvings, a lawn and a swimming pool.


Built in 1777 for East India Company clerks or ‘writers’ as the British called them, this BBD Bagh giant has seen everything – colonial files, freedom fires, and red tape of every era. With a built-up area of around 550,000 sq ft, this iconic building received its KMC plaque in December 2023


Founded in 1818 by the education crusader David Hare, this College Street institution received its Grade I heritage plaque in December, 2023. One of Asia’s earliest Western-style schools, Hare School remains a proud chapter in Kolkata’s academic heritage — with a blue plaque to prove it
KMC grades and recognises heritage buildings with its blue plaques

Bidhan Sabha
Metcalfe Hall
Akashvani Bhawan n Raj Bhavan
Calcutta High Court n Jorasanko Thakurbari
“I feel there should be a blue plaque map of the city, maybe on Google Maps, so people can visit these buildings. We have a book that already has a map of heritage buildings. But it would be great if KMC could come up with an interactive map, clearly demarcating all the heritage buildings with blue plaques, allowing people to take a walk around these places,”
INTACH plaques focus on sites for their historical or cultural significance

The Oberoi Grand
Bar-B-Q n Ralli’s
Sen Mahasay
Swadhin Bharat Hindu Hotel n Royal Indian Hotel n Adi Haridas Modak
"Kolkata is the capital of nostalgia, with nearly two and a half centuries of history. Yet, there’s some disconnect between the opportunities available and the content that resonates with today’s generation. Much more needs to be done- like, the place where this blue plaque is located could benefit from something as simple as a QR code. It would allow people to explore the building's history through photos and detailed descriptions,”