Maidan : The Lungs of Kolkata

The large area around the Fort William right upto Chowringhee is known as the Maidan or field. The initial European settlements were built facing the Maidan in the model of the Hyde Park in London.

The first organized cricket match of the Calcutta Cricket Club established in 1792 was palyed here in 1804. Eden Gardens was established as the permanent cricket field in 1864. It is the oldest cricket ground in India. The Eden Gardens is one of the best and largest cricket stadiums in the world and is reknowned for the huge number of spectators, at times over a hundred thousand people, who come to see cricket matches here. Situated next to the Eden Gardens is the Netaji Indoor Stadium with a seating capacity of 12,000.

Maidan is also the place where the famous and hugely popular footbal clubs of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are located. Thoroughout the year, Maidan remains busy with different kinds of sporting activities, specially domestic cricket and club football. Maidan is the Mecca of Indian football.

Apart from its prominence as the major sporting center of the city, Maidan is also the place where most of the greenery of the city of Kolkata is. This is where the city breathes. This is where the city folks come for an evening stroll in the Garer Maath to breathe in some fresh air in a city otherwise suffering from huge air pollution. Whether you take a joyride in a horse drawn tonga, gulp in a few delicious phuchka or just sit down in the lush green grass fields just to lament, this is where the bustling city life takes a breather.