A Guide To St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata

St. Paul'S Cathedral
Sumit
Sumit 
Published
| 3 min read
Anupama Passary
Endorsed by a Kolkata Local Expert
|
Anupama Passary
Sreeparna Chaudhury
Endorsed by a Kolkata Local Expert
|
Sreeparna Chaudhury
Rituparna Pal
Endorsed by a Kolkata Local Expert
|
Rituparna Pal

If you are traveling Kolkata, you cannot miss the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral. Standing tall at 247 feet (75.3 meters) high, it looks surreal in appearance. This white-colored cathedral is the first in India, and is rich in history, culture, and religious relevance. Being one of the landmarks of Kolkata for more than one and a half-century, it is also the most excellent example of Gothic Revival-style of architecture, which has withstood two earthquakes so far. This colossal building, with its central tower inspired by Canterbury Cathedral’s Bell Harry Tower, reminds you of the colonial times. It also resembles the Norwich Cathedral with three Gothic stained glass windows, along with two frescoes in Florentine Renaissance-style, built over eight years and opened in 1847. For more information, check out our guide to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kolkata, India.

Things to do / Highlights

Interiors of St. Paul's Cathedral at Kolkata
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Amitabha Gupta used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This first Episcopalian cathedral in Asia, will not only awe you with its magnificent exteriors, but also with the ambiance inside. The cathedral has a serene atmosphere and a sense of calm that pervades every corner, drifting you away from the worldly worries or chaotic noises. With this peaceful mindset taking you back to more than seventeen decades of history, there are many things to do, which are listed below.

Meditate

With a special meditation point where great and common people have meditated for more than one and half a century, it provides the right stillness for you to meditate and make your mind free.

Marvel at the rare books

Bishop Wilson did not only stand firm in building the cathedral, but also donated his collection of rare books to it. The library with all his books is above the western porch, along with a marble bust of the Bishop.

Relax in the lawn

After marveling at the Gothic architecture of the cathedral, you can relax in the well-maintained lovely lawns all around the cathedral.

Check out the splendid sculptures

Check many memorials and sculptures inside the cathedral, including the “Episcopal Throne”, reredos or an ornament wall, and others.

Learn about the life and times of Saint Paul

There are many things in the cathedral that portray the holy deeds of Saint Paul. It includes the pictures, posters, documents, and the reredos with carvings depicting the life and times of Saint Paul.

Enjoy the paintings

Centuries-old paintings are always a delight even if you are not an art lover. Sir Arthur Blomfield’s paintings are a treat for the eyes, including the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Flight into Egypt.

The magic of Christmas

Built to accommodate the increasing Christians from Britain during the 1700s, when they first landed on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Kolkata, as there was no cathedral in India at the time. It is the first cathedral in India, which was a gift to thousands of Christians in the country. Hence the Christmas here is special and the entire cathedral, its garden and surrounding streets are bathed in dazzling lights. Watching the cathedral from most parts of Kolkata at Christmas is a wonderful site. Also, the midnight mass during Christmas and New Year is magical!

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Anupama

Anupama
Kolkata

The Christmas eve midnight mass at St. Paul's Cathedral is magical. The Cathedral is decked up with lights, and visiting during Christmas is a different experience altogether. 

Visited this place?

Travel tips

Main Altar of St. Paul's Cathedral Kolkata. 2
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Halder97Sudipto used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Best time to visit

Early morning when the cathedral opens at 7:30am on Sundays, it is the best time to enjoy the stillness and the ambiance inside the cathedral. Also, during winter - especially days before Christmas - it is a spectacle to watch. However, it greets thousands of visitors from all over the world, making the cathedral crowded during this time of the year.

Entry fee

There is no entry fee and you can explore the cathedral for free.

Photography

Without getting prior written permission from the Vicar of the cathedral, photography inside the cathedral is not allowed.

Rules to follow

Being a historical, religious place, though there is no rule, it is a moral obligation to maintain silence and not disturb others who are praying and meditating in the cathedral. Also, while in the well-maintained garden, it is essential not to damage it in any way.

Tip from Trip101 local expert

I still remember the first time my father took me to St. Paul's Cathedral - it was many moons ago on Christmas Eve for attending the midnight mass. In the visits that followed later, it was serene and so peaceful that my favorite pastime would be to just sit in the large garden and watch the hours go by in blissful tranquility. The first visit still stays the most memorable one in my mind, though. The whole church and its surroundings were decorated with bright lights and decorative pieces that dazzled in its old-world glory. I noticed the high ceilings upon entering the church, and then eventually stood in awe of all the ancient paintings and sculptures on its white walls as the choir sang carols, asking me to sing along too! 

Visited this place?

How to get there

Taxi of Kolkata
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bernard Gagnon used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is 17 km (10.5 miles) from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Since it is in the heart of the “City of Joy”, it is easy to access from the airport. Also, adjacent to it are other Kolkata landmarks like Victoria Memorial and Birla Planetarium.

By cab or app-based taxi service

The quickest way from the airport to reach the cathedral is the cab service, which takes 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. You can take a local taxi or an Ola or Uber to reach the cathedral without any hassle.

By bus

You can easily reach the cathedral via a bus, which ply frequently and are cheap.

By car

You can drive down to the cathedral easily, but finding a parking spot may be tedious.

By metro

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation operates metro train services to St. Paul’s Cathedral every 10 minutes. The Maidan Metro Station is the closest to the cathedral, from here you can walk down easily in under five minutes.

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Anupama

Anupama
Kolkata

Birla Planetarium is adjacent to the Cathedral and you can watch the Cosmic Collisions show in English.

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Whenever I visit the cathedral, I am sure to visit the nearby Fort William in Hastings, which is only 4 km away. If you are a history buff as I am, then I will definitely recommend seeing this historical place. It is located on the banks of River Hooghly, and I love to spend some me-time by one of the ghats that turns into a magical place after twilight hours. If you are in the city during the Durga Pujo carnival, don't miss witnessing the processions of the most popular idols in the city that begin their journey from Fort William and end at one of the immersion ghats of the river - truly a mesmerizing experience for me every year!

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Rituparna

Rituparna
Kolkata

Barely a 10-minute walk from the cathedral is Mohar Kunja, a public park. It hosts many cultural events throughout the year. I have been attending the World Peace Music Festival held here every winter since its first version in 2011, when it used to be known as Sufi Sutra. Artists from around the world come to perform in this space. That year, I remember being mesmerized by the first live performance of Flamenco I ever witnessed. Equally surreal were the performances by Bauls, mystic singers of Bengal, and the whirling dervishes from Egypt. The festival has been now renamed Sur Jahan and is slated to be held from February 2 to 4 in Kolkata, https://www.facebook.com/surjahan2019.

Visited this place?

St. Paul's Cathedral information

St Paul's Cathedral
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ankitesh Jha used under CC BY-SA 3.0

St. Paul's Cathedral

Address: Cathedral Rd, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 12pm, 3pm - 6pm: Sun: 7:30am - 6pm

Cost: Free

Department of tourism: West Bengal Tourism

News & updates for St. Paul’s Cathedral: St.Paul’s Cathedral Pre-Christmas Concerts | Kolkata’s Most Popular Church

Visited this place?

Kolkata Tour Guide

Nibedita Sen

Nibedita Sen

A hearty WELCOME to our page Happiness Activist. We are here to solve the problems of foreigners who come to explore India. Firstly, we suggest them to stop visiting the wonders and mundanes of social media advertisements about overrated traveling. We provide them the basic needs and guidelines that the audience requires when they first step into an unknown land which we have already explored. Secondly, we are not like any other travel guides. If you are here to explore the museum, zoo, or places that you can easily google about Kolkata then Sorry, we are not the right one to help you. Our USP is to guide those travellers who are offbeat and craze for the undiscovered and less travelled places in India, Egypt and Israel. Through our eyes, 'WE WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF'

Tours by Nibedita

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


This article has been endorsed by Kolkata local expert Anupama Passary and 2 other(s)

Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Sumit lived in the UK for 10 years and experienced the hustle and bustle of the urban life. However, the serene Scottish country side is where his heart lies. He is still unable to understand Welsh...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Kolkata
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.