Rajdeep D.
Google
South Park Street Cemetery (a.k.a. Park Street Cemetery) — where Kolkata’s colonial past rests in peace (literally) and history peeks through layers of moss and mist. Established in 1767, this is one of the oldest non-church cemeteries in the world, a silent witness to the city’s British-era grandeur. Forget horror movies — this place is less "The Conjuring" and more "Downton Abbey meets The Jungle Book", with gothic tombs draped in banyan roots and squirrels darting between centuries-old epitaphs.
Among the notable “residents” here are Sir William Jones, the founder of the Asiatic Society, and Rose Aylmer, the muse of poet Walter Savage Landor (whose love for her was so deep, he wrote a poem that outlived empires). Many tombstones tell tales of lives cut short by tropical diseases, duels, and sometimes, just bad luck in 18th-century Kolkata.
The architecture is stunning — grand obelisks, pyramid-like tombs, and intricate carvings that scream Raj-era drama. And if you think cemeteries are spooky, try visiting on a foggy winter morning when the light filters through the trees — it’s eerily beautiful.
Verdict: A hauntingly poetic escape in the heart of Kolkata.
Pro tip — Carry a camera, read the inscriptions, and remember, in a city that never sleeps, even the departed have fascinating stories to tell. 🪦🌿📜
