South Park Street Cemetery is grave yard, now the historian and the photographer"s paradise located in Park Street of Kolkata, West Bengal. This burial ground in Park Street has two parts. One located in the Park Street and the other located in the beginning of AJC Bose Road of Kolkata, West Bengal.
Location of South Park Street Cemetery
South Park Street Cemetery is located on Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata, West Bengal. The road used to be called Park Street, and prior to that Burial Ground Road.
Architecture of South Park Street Cemetery
The architecture of South Park Street Cemetery is consisted of early British era which resembles the architecture of St. John"s Church of Kolkata and the St Andrew"s Church of Kolkata located in Dalhousie Square Road. The Gothic architecture and the Dutch style tombs allure any nostalgic and even it gives one a spooky ambience. The tombs of this necropolis are a mix of Gothic and the rich flavour of the Indo-Saracenic style. Among the Indo-Saracenic tombs is a unique and composite brick structure built in the "panchyatana" manner, with a central dome flanked by miniature replicas of Orissan "rekha deul" on four sides. South Park Street Cemetery has this peculiarity with Hindu- Mughal and Gothic architecture. The black basalt carvings on the frontal façade indicate a distinct respect for the Hindu faith.
History of South Park Street Cemetery
Park Street Cemetery was one of the earliest non-church cemeteries in the world and Asia as well. It opened to the public in British era to be used as a burial ground. South Park Street Cemetery is the largest Christian cemetery outside Europe and America in the 19th century.
Operation of South Park Street Cemetery
South Park Street Cemetery was opened in the year 1767. It was previously a marshy area. South Park Street Cemetery was in use until about 1830 and is now a heritage site, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The cemetery was opened to relieve the pressure on the old burial ground in the heart of the city. The road leading to the cemetery came to be known as the Burial Ground Road but was subsequently renamed Park Street after the park around Vansittart`s garden house. By the year 1785 the burial ground had been extended on the northern side of Park Street and by 1840 a vast new cemetery was opened to the east of the Lower Circular Road. The Europeans started to disuse it in the year 1790. South Park Street Cemetery was closed for ever in 1790.
South Park Street Cemetery in Modern Kolkata
South Park Street Cemetery is now no longer a burial ground. This place is now popular as the tourist importance. This place is now favourite as the shooting location. The Tollywood film, Gorosthaney Sabdhan was shot here. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Satyajit Ray, the renowned director of India in the early 1970"s.
Memorials in South Park Street Cemetery
The memorials of South Park Street Cemetery are almost all architecturally imposing and replete with classical details and sculptures. Among the interesting professions mentioned in the epitaphs are: breeder of cattle, jail-keeper, silversmith, schoolteacher, architect, translator, livery, printer, head tide-waiter, park superintendent, cooper, postmaster and surgeon. South Park Street Cemetery contains only the following epitaph, possibly indicating that the person wished to remain anonymous: "A virtuous mother (died 1825)". The oldest grave in South Park Street Cemetery is of Mrs. S.Pearson, who died 1768.
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