Maidan

The history of Maidan Kolkata is closely tied to the city's colonial past. The British East India Company developed the area as a military parade ground and a venue for public events. The location was originally an extensive marshland, and the British drained and created it as a generous open space for public use. Earlier, Maidan was used for military exercises, drills, parades, and public events, including fairs, exhibitions, and shows. Over time, it became an important venue for sports and games. The first recorded cricket match in India was played on Maidan in 1801, and since then, it has become a popular venue for cricket and other sports, such as football and horse racing.

The Maidan has also played an essential role in the history of Kolkata's independence movement as the location of several protests and speeches by prominent Indian nationalists like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Jawaharlal Nehru. In the post-independence era, this place continued to serve as a public space and a cultural landmark in Kolkata. It is now home to several important monuments and landmarks, including the Victoria Memorial, the Indian Museum, and the Shaheed Minar.