Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium

Location:Near Gareer Math, Maidan.

Time to Visit: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Preferred Timings: In the morning and late afternoons.

Admission Fee: Nil

How to Reach: Being centrally located, Eden Gardens is well connected by local buses and metered taxis.

Photography / Video charges: Nil

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah

Nearest Metro Station:Maidan.

Nearest Functional Metro Station: Maidan

Nearest International Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Time required for sightseeing: 1 hour.

Special Event / Annual Event:

Any International Cricket Match, be it a one day international or a test match.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

Akashbani Bhawan, Netaji Indoor Stadium, Esplanade and Maidan.

Detailed Content of Eden Gardens

The name Eden Gardens needs no introduction. This Mecca of world cricket is Kolkata's pride. The magnificent Cricket stadium is awesome in size and on any given day can accommodate spectators in access of 95,000 making it one of the biggest cricket stadiums in the world. It also happens to be one of the most technologically advanced cricket stadiums, complete with a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard, a fabulous pavilion and gigantic floodlit towers which emit million watts rays during day-night cricket matches.

Legend has it that the English expatriates came together under one umbrella and founded the Kolkata Cricket Club in the year 1972 and the Wisden Cricket Almanac had also given its recognition, thus making it the oldest surviving cricket club outside of England.
The then Governor General Lord Auckland had two beautiful sisters - Emily and Funny Eden. India being an alien country, Lord Auckland wanted his sisters to grow up in an atmosphere of unfettered joy in the lap of nature. With this in mind, he earmarked the present day Eden Gardens consisting of not only the Cricket stadium but also the indoor stadium, the All India Radio building and the Burmese pagoda for them to enjoy. It was a huge parkland and the Eden sisters nurtured this garden with utmost care and devotion. Alas! All good things have to come to an end and once Lord Auckland's tenure as Governor General came to an end, the Eden sisters with a tinge of sadness gracefully presented the magnificent Eden Gardens as befitting gift to the people of Kolkata.

Every cricketer has a dream of someday playing at the hallowed turf of Eden Garedns. It is the ultimate ecstasy for a cricketer. Legends of the cricketing world like Charlie Griffith, Sir Gary Sobers, Tony Greig, Imran Khan, Sunny Gavaskar, Kapil Dev have all graced the Eden Gardens. In the days of yore, the sight of Sunny Gavaskar courageously defying the ferocious battery of West Indian fast bowlers of the stature of Michael Holding, Malcom Marshall, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts is forever etched in the memory of cricket connoisseurs.

Apart from the lush green amphitheatre , you would do well to visit the stupendous B.C.Roy Club House as well as the library which is well stocked with books and photographs from the fascinating world of Cricket. The Press Box at Eden Gardens is unlike any other cricket stadium. It remains suspended from the top of the Club House.

If you wanna catch the buzz and the electrifying atmosphere of Eden Gardens, try to coincide your trip to Kolkata when there is an International Cricket match on. The thrill of Eden will make you spellbound - the surging crowds, the passionate slogans, the perfectly synchronized Mexican waves and the proverbial boooo! everytime a wicket falls, are all trademark Eden Gardens nuances.