Nishan Ghat

Entry: Free
Nishan Ghat was originally constructed by the East India Company for the private use of the Governor-General and official guests as a ceremonial landing stage for the state barges that carried the grandees of empire upriver from Calcutta. Today it is a serene and largely unvisited spot, marked by a marble obelisk and a cross that serve as memorials to Lord Hastings and his wife. The surrounding greenery and the view of the river make it a lovely place for quiet contemplation, particularly in the early morning before the day's heat builds. The ghat offers an interesting counterpoint to the more famous Gandhi Ghat: empire and its antithesis, just minutes apart along the same bank.