The grand white structure is standing with all its élan and the mighty river flowing beside it. My journey for the day ends today here. I look at the river passing by taking with itself all the filth and dirt of the city, and so my heart is also cleansed of all the doubts and negativities. Princep Ghat or Prinsep Ghat always has this assuring effect on me. After monuments and graveyards, the third post in our Kolkata series is about this beautiful ghat in Kolkata.
Bengalis and Kolkatans are by nature romantic. They love to recite Tagore whenever got chance. According to us, Princep Ghat is one of the most romantic places in Kolkata. It is a perfect place to meet up with friends, a great hangout place where you can gossip and chat over phuchkas and bhelpuris, a good place for catching up with your old friends. Located along the banks of the beautiful Hooghly River, the memorial was built in the memory of James Prinsep. The Vidyasagar Setu above it adds to its charm all the more.
Where is Prinsep Ghat (Princep Ghat) located?
Princep Ghat is located between the Water Gate and St. George’s Gate of Fort William beside the Hooghly River. The monument is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in Kolkata. It might seem that Princep Ghat was not a proper ghat as it is located some distance away from the river. But earlier, there were some stone steps leading to the river. With time, the river has receded and the stone stairs are perhaps buried under the earth.
Princep Ghat is was built in the memorial of James Prinsep, an Anglo Indian researcher and scholar.
Who was James Prinsep?
Princep Ghat in 1900 | Source: Wikimedia
James Prinsep was the son of John Prinsep, a rich indigo planter who later became a merchant for the East India Company. James Prinsep studied architecture under the gifted Augustus Pugin. But he had to discontinue his studies because of an eye infection. James was appointed the Assistant Assay Master in Calcutta Mint and he arrived at the city on 15th September 1819.
James Prinsep was a man of science and had studied architecture and chemistry. Later in 1820, he embarked on a budgerow (a barge with cabins) known as bajraa locally towards Benaras. He took his equipment and books in a second boat.
He became the Assay Master of the Mint in Benaras. His work was to test the proportion and quality of the metals used in the coins. Apart from his regular duties at the mint, he also did considerable pro bono work.
- He created two accurate maps of the Benaras in 1822, one in Roman script for the administration and the other in Devnagari script for the locals. He had plotted all the important buildings of Benaras on the map.
- He was also the mind behind the building of a tunnel to drain the swamp outside the city. You can say that it was the precursor of modern-day infrastructure.
- He also repaired the minarets of the Alamgir Mosque.
After spending a decade in Benares, he came back to Calcutta. He completed a project started by his brother in building a canal to connect the distributaries of the River Ganga near the delta in order to make them navigable. Infact, the present Inland Waterways Project is an extension of this colonial engineering.
As an assay master, James also introduced a system of uniform coinage.
James also deciphered the Kharoshti script that appeared in the coins from the regions now in modern Pakistan and Afganistan.
His long hours of work eventually took a toll on his health and he returned to England just before he turned 40 to recover his health. He died on 22nd April 1840 due to “softening of the brain” which perhaps mean some disorder related to the brain.
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More about Prinsep Ghat, Kolkata
Princep Ghat was considered to be one of the grandest and best monuments found for access to a river. It was built to replace Chandpal Ghat as the principal point of embarkment and disembarkment for the important visitors to the city. In 1875, when Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and the eldest son of Queen Victoria visited Calcutta, he was welcomed at the Princep Ghat. Later in 1905, Prince of Wales (later King George V) and in 1911, the British royal family visited India and Princep Ghat bore the witness to all these visits.
The Princep Ghat bears a resemblance to Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, though on a much smaller scale. The monument is built on 6 sets of Ionian columns holding a 40 feet roof painted in white. It looks grand from a distance. The monument was neglected for a long time. But in 2001, the monument was restored by the city’s Public Works department as a part of the government’s beautification project. The spot has been maintained since then. It is now one of the most popular spots in Kolkata for locals and tourists alike. You can sit in the lawn in front of the memorial, take a stroll and even visit the riverside. You will also see a number of models and photographers here on shooting assignment. The place is quite photogenic!
There is a railway station named Princep Ghat. It is a part of the Circular railway track of Kolkata. A journey through this railway track will take you through very beautiful landscapes and is highly recommended. Take a train from Princep Ghat to Bagbazar. You will travel beside the Hooghly River and below the Howrah Bridge. From Bagbazar, you can return back to Baboo ghat by return launch.
As you cross the railway track, you see the serene Hooghly River welcoming you. You can sit at the ghat and enjoy some tranquil moments. Watching the sunset is an added bonus. A boat ride in the river is also a wonderful experience. With The Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu at the backdrop, a boat ride through the Hooghly River will definitely leave you wanting for more! Boat rides can be taken from the ghat for INR 300 for half an hour. It is surely an experience that must be indulged in.
Entry Fees of Princep Ghat
There is no entry fee. You can enter visit the monument, sit at the lawn and take pictures at your will. However, we feel that the monument should be maintained in a better way and if required entry fees may be introduced.
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Leave no Footprints
We have visited Prinsep Ghat a number of times and every time we saw some graffiti on the wall. I am not speaking of the artwork here, but the work of budding lovers who write their names on the walls as their declaration of love! Stains of betel spit are also found at the corners.
Well, we highly condemn such acts and try to stop whenever we see such budding artists. There should be some guard at the place who should look after this so that this heritage structure is not destroyed in this manner. Finally, the onus is also on each of us to keep our city clean.
How to reach Princep Ghat?
Princep Ghat is one of the most iconic places of Kolkata. If coming from Howrah, you can take a ferry from Howrah to Baboo Ghat. From there, it is a walking distance to the ghat. You can also take a yellow taxi, Ola or Uber. We would, however, recommend you to take the ferry ride over the Hooghly River.
Places nearby
You can visit Victoria Memorial, St.Pauls Cathedral, Esplanade, Rabindra Sadan and Birla Planetarium which are all quite nearby.
Princep Ghat remains one of my favourite places in Kolkata. It is a splendid place to relax and reminisce. An ideal place to consider the future and renew the vows of life.
Are you from Kolkata? Have you visited Kolkata? What is your favourite place in Kolkata? Let us know your thoughts about Kolkata in comments below. If you like the post please share it and pin it for a later read!
It’s one of those few places in Kolkata that never seem boring, regardless of how many times you’ve been there!
Thank you so much for this areltic, it saved me time!
I have never been to Kalkota but this place is definitely a must when traveling there. I would love to explore the city with a boat ride…you just get to see a different angle of the city. I had no idea that Kalkota is so green though!
Thank you Paulina. Well, Kolkata is not all that green, but parts of it are sure.
It’s great that the city restored the monument. It’s nice that the monument is free to visit, but I could see that an entry fee would help to continue to maintain it. It’s too bad that people aren’t taking care of it themselves in the meantime.
We too think that an entry fee would be good to maintain the monument. Thank you!
I have never been to Kolkata, never got a chance …but this place looks so beautiful and I need to visit soon..for place and for food too!!!
Thank you Ruchi!
Im definitely gonna visit this place! Thanks for sharing the tempting facts about the place!
Thank you Nitya!
That is definitely an impressive and beautiful monument! It’s cool to know the history behind the Princep Ghat. It’s definitely a beautiful view with the river and bridge behind it. I would like to take a boat ride on the river as you did!
Thank you. Boat ride is one of the highlights of Kolkata and you must experience it when you are here.
This monument looks like the lesser visited ones in Kolkata. I am very excited reading about its history. When I visit next time will definitely make it point to add it on my list.
Thank you and please do visit it!
Kolkata seems such a fascinating place. I really enjoyed reading this about Princep Ghat. I’ve travelled quite a bit around India, but not made it to Kolkata- hopefully soon!
Thank you Sara. Please visit Kolkata! Its a lovely city. And if you are here, know that you have a guide here! 🙂
Though I knew about James Princep, I didn’t know about this fascinating place dedicated to him. I would love to visit it when I’m in Kolkata.
Thank you and please do visit Princep Ghat on your next visit to Kolkata.
Such a well described write up of Kolkata and the history. I visited many years back on my way to Darjeeling but never been in interiors, seems the visit is due now.
Thank you Anish! Please do visit Kolkata.
Princep Ghat is indeed a revelation. Another gem from India’s most enigmatic city, Kolkata. This was indeed a lovely read. Apart from the place itself, the story of the man after whom it is named sounds really fascinating and had my attention riveted. This man seems really a prodigal genius given the various achievements of his lifetime. Reading about him deciphering the Ashoka edicts was something unexpected, spurred to read more about this personality.
Thank you guys! James Prinsep’s life is so fascinating. I started reading about him and could not stop!
I have visited Princep ghat and I was fascinated by its beauty.
I even took a boat ride and had some pucchka riverside.
I loved this post so much. It’s good to explore the culture of a place in detail and it seems that you and I have pretty much the same interests. Thanks again for sharing this story with us.
Thank you, Rahul!
Princep Ghat looks amazing and most importantly the history associated with it. Loved to know about James Princep as I don’t know anything about him. It must be beautiful sight when a mighty river flowing besides this wonderful gate and it really looks like Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate though it is not giant. Really a wonderful place for peace and relaxation.
Thank you Yukti! James Prinsep is a fascinating person.
It’s ashamed this beautiful building has to carry all the budding lovers names on its body and beetle juice stain at its corners. Maybe a trash can or a fine will help. Seems like James Princep, in his short life on earth, did a lot of good things to Kolkata. Especially the tunnel that helped drain the swamp outside the city as well as completed the project that his brother started to distribute the water from the Ganga River.
I have never been to Kolkata. After reading your post,I feel like visiting it asap. Thanks for such an attractive,informative and enticing post
That was such a well explained description of the place.
Would definitely want to visit this beautiful architecture the next time I am in Kolkata.
Thank you Sanjay!
Hey I’m from Kolkata and this place is one of my favorites. The victoria is also my favorite. There are lots of memories. Whoever comes to kolkata, visit this place once positively.
Thank you Sayeri! I think we Kolkatans love these places.
I recently visited Kolkata with my friends. It looks like I missed seeing this place. I wish I would have read your blog post before. However, I have marked this on my bucket list and will definitely be going to explore this place on my next visit.
Hope you visit the place in your next trip!