Your go-to guide to Kolkata’s green spaces

Green spaces are the oxygen one needs in the concrete of cities. If a quick morning walk or an after-work evening stroll and some street-side snack is your idea of relaxation, then Kolkata has ample to offer. These pockets of nature across the city provide just the right respite amidst the urban chaos. 

Also known as Banabitan, it is located in the heart of Salt Lake. Kolkata’s third-largest open space blends well-defined walking paths and neatly trimmed bushes with massive, jungle-like trees and two massive water bodies. It is quite remarkable that such a green odyssey exists within the city limits. In winters, Central Park comes alive with more flowers than one can imagine! Both exit gates have vendors selling fresh coconut water and healthy juices, making it ideal for fitness enthusiasts.

Timings: 6am to 5:30pm 
Entry: Rs 10 (before 9am); Rs 50 (after 9am)

While this gleaming marble monument draws in hundreds of visitors every day, many prefer to admire it from a distance, enjoying some quiet moments of contemplation on the benches outside. For many Kolkatans, winters are synonymous with family picnics in the gardens outside Victoria Memorial Hall. Even today, a blanket, some pastries, a board game and a nice book, accompanied by the stunning view of this century-old structure is enough to make any Sunday afternoon wholesome!

Timings: 6am to 6pm
Entry: Rs 30

With 400 acres of public urban green space, the Maidan presents the enduring beauty of Kolkata’s skyline, hosting both the Victoria Memorial Hall and The 42. While it is maintained by the Army, everyone who has grown up in Kolkata can lay claim to the Maidan. It is one of the greatest equalisers in the city, hosting professional athletes with the finest gear, as well as school students who saved up meticulously for one football. While its surroundings have changed from their humble rural beginnings to the city’s business epicentre, the grazing horses, aggressive fouls and post-game masala lebu cha remain constant.

Timings: Open 24 hours
Entry: Free

Located in Shibpur, Howrah, this green space was established by Robert Kyd in 1787 with the purpose of identifying new commercial plants and growing tradeworthy spices. Over the past two centuries, the Botanic Garden has accumulated a collection of over 12,000 rare plant specimens, along with animals like jackals, foxes and snakes. It also houses one of the biggest landmarks in the city, The Great Banyan, which has the largest canopy area in the world, at 5 acres and is more than 250 years old.

Timings: 8am to 5:30pm (March to September) and 8am to 5pm (October to February); (Monday closed)
Entry: Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners

This artificial lake is the heartbeat of south Kolkata and is a melting pot not just for fitness, but also various cultural and recreational activities. Owing to the diverse residential localities around it, the ‘Lake’ as it is affectionately called, doesn’t just host fitness enthusiasts, but a growing run club, salsa dance classes, yoga classes and even full-on musical mehfils where people come with instruments and kick off their day with a jam! It is home to several rowing clubs that have given the country some of its best rowers and even houses Kolkata’s only Japanese Buddhist temple!

Timings: 5am to 8pm
Entry: Free

The newest entrant on the list, Eco Park is spread across a staggering 480 acres, making it the largest urban park not just in Kolkata, but all over India. This has also led to its systematic design, which balances wetlands and urban forests with theme gardens and urban recreational spaces. This gigantic size allows visitors to cycle through paved paths, enjoy scenic lake views, indulge in a lazy picnic on a lawn, grab a snack from the food court and even visit replicas of the 7 Wonders of the World, all in the same complex!

Timings: 12.30pm to 8.30pm and 11.30am to 6.30pm for Gate 6 (Monday closed)
Entry: Rs 30