Kolkata: The City of Lights Shining Like Paris

Mon Sep 15 2025 15:02:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Discover how Kolkata's heritage structures come alive after dark, rivaling the charm of Paris through the Kolkata Illumination Project, led by passionate citizens.

The Kolkata Illumination Project has transformed the city into a stunning nocturnal landscape, illuminating historic buildings thanks to the efforts of a group of committed citizens. This initiative not only enhances the visual appeal of the city but also aims to rejuvenate pride in Kolkata's rich architectural heritage.

As the air-conditioned bus weaves through the bustling traffic of Kolkata, tour leader Sujoy Sen lists the many sights on the itinerary that tell the city’s cosmopolitan history. From colonial buildings like the General Post Office to Hindu temples and the homes of freedom fighters, these historic landmarks are often overshadowed at night.

The Kolkata Illumination Project is changing that. This initiative, started by local enthusiasts, seeks to illuminate the city’s neglected heritage buildings, creating a nighttime spectacle that resembles Paris’s illuminated charm. As tour participants discover, illuminated colonial structures now reclaim their grandeur under the soft glow of LED lights.

Mudar Patherya, a driving force behind this project, emphasizes that the effort is a grassroots movement rather than a formal organization. With little more than a WhatsApp group, he and fellow citizens aim to brighten up their city and restore its historic charm.

Not only does the project highlight architectural beauty, but it also brings to the fore the pressing need for restoring these structures, some of which are in disrepair. The initiative has illuminated around 92 buildings in 21 months, and Patherya envisions crossing the landmark of 200 illuminated sites as a step toward making Kolkata one of the most beautiful cities to explore at night.

Through storytelling and communal effort, the Kolkata Restorers not only aim to enhance the beauty of the city but also to generate pride amongst its residents, rekindling a love for Kolkata's rich and diverse architectural history.