Fort William Overview

The imposing Fort William structure, which was originally a British fortress, is one of Kolkata’s most well-known historical attractions. The fort, which was constructed in 1696, bears King William III, also known as William of Orange. Fort William is the only fort in the entire history of the globe from which not a single shot has ever been fired, standing tall as a testament to all tales of triumphs and defeats, as well as oppression and rule.

The large fort, which is an octagon structure covering 70.9 hectares of land, is located on the shores of the Hooghly River and has six separate entrances. Sir Robert Clive laid the groundwork for this fort. The fort, which can house up to 10,000 army men at once, is currently employed as Eastern Command’s military command centre.

Today’s Fort William is a spectacular building that is situated next to the picturesque Hooghly River. The majority of us are unaware that there existed actually two Fort Williams; the first, which was constructed in 1696 and is known as the “Black Hole of Calcutta,” and the second, which was more recent and is still standing, were both constructed in 1757.

The only fort in the entire globe that has never been besieged is Fort William, which is a fort that is extremely well protected.

Present-day Fort William inside View

Due to its historical significance, the fort complex includes a museum that showcases a sizable collection of war artefacts that range from mediaeval to contemporary tools. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, cannons and tanks were taken.

After independence, the new fort underwent numerous new developments. There is a 9-hole golf course inside the fort as well. The fort, which is owned by the Indian Army and serves as the Eastern Army Command’s headquarters, is now furnished with a number of contemporary amenities, including a boxing arena, a swimming pool, a firing range, restaurants, a playground outside, a shopping centre, a laundry, a movie theatre, and a post office. Additionally, an Arsenal exists.

Visitors are not permitted into the Arsenal without special permission from the commanding officer. The St. Peter’s church, which served as the chaplain for British troops, is now a library. For ration storage in case of emergencies like drought, etc., there is a granary.

Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, lived in the Kitchener’s residence inside the fort complex from 1902 to 1909, when he served as the nation’s commander in chief. It is currently an officer’s mess. When British India’s capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the Kitchener House was converted into an officers’ mess for Bengal Presidency officials.

The fort can only be seen from the outside as civilians are not permitted inside and only members of the military and their families are allowed admittance. Access is granted based on invites or a previous authorization from the camp commanding officer. However, every year on December 16th, the Indian Army organises a spectacular programme of display in honour of “Vijay Diwas” that is a visual delight.

Some other important things inside the Victoria Memorial are

  • Every day between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM, the fort is accessible.
  • Although there are no entrance fees, admission to the fort’s grounds requires a prior authorization because it is forbidden to citizens.

Way to Fort William

By train: Howrah Junction is the closest railroad station.

By Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the closest airport.

From the airport and Howrah Junction Railway Station, one can hire taxis or cabs to get to Fort William. For hassle-free transportation throughout your stay in the city, you may also reserve a cab from rental vehicle providers in Kolkata.

Nearest Attractions

Mother’s Wax Museum

Victoria Memorial

Belur Math

Howrah Bridge

Birla Planetarium

Indian Museum

Kalighat Temple

Science City Kolkata

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Shobhabajar Rajbari