Merchants, Maharajas and Music: The Pathuriaghata Walk, Kolkata

About this place

Pathuriaghata offers a close look at the social and cultural history of colonial Calcutta. Once shaped by the wealth of prominent mercantile families, the neighbourhood became a significant space for the growth of music, theatre, religious practices and elite culture. Its imposing residences reflect not only wealth, but also the changing aspirations and social identities of the Bengali elite. This walk traces the histories of some of Pathuriaghata’s most prominent families and their residences, bringing together questions of wealth, patronage, colonial connections and cultural life. Behind the familiar facades lie stories of artistic patronage, personal ambition, social change and unexpected encounters that offer a more nuanced understanding of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Calcutta.