Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens is Kolkata's historic cricket stadium, set on the edge of the Maidan near the Hooghly River on Eden Gardens Road in West Bengal, India. The ground dates from the 1860s and was named for the sisters of a British governor-general, and it has since grown into one of the best-known cricket venues in the world, with a capacity of around 60,000 after modernisation. It is the home ground of the Bengal cricket team and a regular host of international matches and Indian Premier League fixtures, and it is closely associated with famous moments in Indian and world cricket. The stadium is controlled by the Cricket Association of Bengal. On match days the atmosphere is the main attraction, with a noisy, colourful crowd, drums, flags and chanting, and the sense of an occasion that fills the surrounding streets. On other days the ground is closed to the public, although scheduled stadium tours can be arranged in advance through the association, which usually include the stands, the pavilion, the press areas and a small display of memorabilia. The adjacent Burmese pagoda in the neighbouring Eden Gardens park is a separate point of interest and is open as a public garden. Visitors who simply want to see the stadium can view the exterior from Eden Gardens Road and the Maidan. A match visit lasts the whole day, and tickets are sold through the official ticketing platform or the association, with demand very high for major fixtures, so booking well ahead is necessary. A tour takes one to two hours. Match days are concentrated between November and April, and security checks at the gates can be strict, with restrictions on bags, outside food, coins and electronic items. The stadium is within reach of Esplanade and Mahakaran Metro stations, though a taxi helps after dark.