Fort William, Kolkata, India

Fort William 

Fort William is situated in Kolkata on Hooghly River, on its eastern bank. The fort got its name from King William III. It was set up in the year 1696 by British East India Company. It is spread over a distance of 70.9 acres. This huge construction took nearly ten years to complete and had two floors. It comprised of wings and an inner Bastille where prisoners were hauled which is why it was known as 'the black hole of Calcutta'.

There are two forts- the new one and the old one. The old one was constructed in 1696 by East India Company but, after they realized that it had some loopholes and that it could not protect the army, the new fort was built. Its foundation was laid by Sir Robert Clive, and it got completed in 1780. The new fort was given an octagonal shape. Three of its sides faced the River Ganga while the remaining five had a beautiful maidan full of greenery in front of it. St. Peter Church was constructed inside the new Fort in the year 1928.

Present-day facilities at Fort William How to Reach Fort William

Fort William is located in the center of the city. It is well connected by roads. Taxis and buses can easily be used to reach the destination.

The fort is now under the authority of the Indian Army. At present, the fort has many modern-day facilities it offers to its residing members including swimming pool, firing range and a boxing stadium. It is large enough to house nearly 10,000 interns. Six gates serve as entry points to the fort. The fort also has a massive doorway which has been given the name- "Plassey Gate". The other gates include water gate St. Georges, treasury gate, and chowringhee.

Tips

The best time to visit the place is during winters. One must take care of their belongings. A travel guide can be hired so as to learn about the fort in detail. Camera, torch, munchies, water and all necessary items must be carried along.

Time Required: 1-2 hrs

Cost: Free

Open Time: 

10:00 AM - 5:30 PM