SAGA OF A GTS TOWER

 I would like to draw your attention on a very relevant issue. We might have seen at least a GTS tower in our life. In our daily life while we roam one place to another often we see a standalone tower and most of the time in very dreadful dilapidated or abandoned condition. As a surveyor or belongs to this community I feel very sorrow to see these GTS towers in this condition. Arise some question in mind, is these monuments doesn’t have historical importance? Is these are not a heritage structure? Is these have been declared as a heritage structure? Government should take measure to protect or maintained them. And they are not litigated too.


On the way from home to office at Kolkata, often I see a standalone half broken tower beside State Highway no.2 and in between Nalikul and Kamarkundu Railway Station of Tarakeswar-Howrah Eastern Railway line. It standing without any care for years and full of bushes around. During my survey training heard about GTS stations. After doing extensive search found that name of this GT tower is “Bhola TS”. Record says this is originally a 75 Ft high hollow rectangular tower which is in village Bhola PS Singur Sub. Div-Serampore Dist-Hooghly, West Bengal. Quite a portion of it already fallen. This tower used as primary ground control point in Great Trigonometrical Survey. It was constructed in 1830’s and observation carried out between 1832 to 1869. Initial observation on this tower were carried out under supervision of Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India (1830-1843). Now situation is “Bhola TS” in ruin, needs immediate restoration work to protect it otherwise it would be completely destroyed within some years.



Now going into some historical background, history of Great Trigonometrical Survey in Hooghly district of West Bengal is quite interesting. From the book “A sketch of the administration of the Hooghly district, from 1795 to 1845, with some account of the early English, Portuguese, Dutch, French and Danish settlements” published in 1888 by George Toynbee, it is found that GTS survey was first commenced in Hooghly District by Mr.Olliver in 1830. Lient. Col. D.G.Crawford,m.b.(Indian Medical Service,Civil Surgeon,Hughli 1902) in his book “A brief history of Hughli District” delineated some details of GT survey in Hooghly district, which is extracted below, that is in his words :



“The Great Trigonometrical Survey was commenced in the Hughli district in 1830, suspended in June 1831, recommenced in March 1832. Great opposition, both active and passive, was shown by the people, who apprehended that the survey would be followed by an increase of taxation, and the work was not finally completed till 1845. There are eight survey stations in the Hughli

1. Hughli 2. Dilakhos 3. Mubarakpor 4. Aknapur 5. Bhola 6. Sathan 7. Boga 8. NiaU*

For two of these, Mubarakpur and Dilakhos, the old semaphore towers were used; for a third the roof of Hughli College was utilized, while for the other five, towers were built. These towers are square, about 50 to 60 feet in height. That at Bhola is within a few yards of theTarakeswar branch of the East Indian Railway, on the north of the line. The sites of these stations are as follows: —



..Roof of Hughli College

8 mile north-east of Tarakeswar.

Half-way between Nalikul and Singur.

11 miles south-east of Dwarbasini.

6 miles north of Naya Sarai.

8 miles north-east of Bainchi. “

Bhola TS- A GTS Tower in ruined. P.C. Sri Amal Kumar Pal

Now as a responsible citizen of India and being a surveyor, we cannot sit idle and let this historical monument of Great Trigonometrical Survey, the “Bhola TS” be destroyed. Fact is that Survey of India has guideline to maintain them and that is same for all over the country. Para 37 of SOI Topographical Hand Book Chapter III says that “all geodetic, some minor stations and all primary (protected) bench-marks are under the custody of local officials, who are responsible for their upkeep. Annual reports on the condition of almost all GT primary, certain other selected stations and all primary (protected) bench marks are submitted by District Officials to the Director, Geodetic and research Branch, together with an estimate of the cost of repairs necessary…..”. It has been come to know that procedure of Survey of India is, maintenance carried out on receipt of the specific information from local authorities, field parties etc. and same is conveyed to local Survey of India directorate to take up required repair/renovation work.

But today with time, it seems that local officials from local directorate of Survey of India are more interested on new GPS pillar instead of GTS Tower. They might have forgotten about GTS towers falling within jurisdiction of respective local directorate that tends to stations are in bad condition. A survey can say whether this generalization can be done all over the country especially where location of GT Tower is in rural area. May be new GPS pillars are the demand of time, may be GTS towers are no more so relevant today but still its has great historical importance that comes from ‘most significant contribution to the advancement of science in the 19th century’ that is Great Trigonometrical Survey which run over 2400km across length of Indian subcontinent, over 50 years of time with inch perfect accuracy and at the cost of many human life’s.

(Article was published in the Souvenir of National Survey Day Committee in the year 2012)

Bhola Tower on Google Map.

Read More

Illuminated Victoria Memorial 2016

One of most known symbol of City of Kolkata is Victoria Memorial. The the then Viceroy Lord Curzon set up a memorial on the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901. No need to tell more about the memorial. What I am want to share that recently it was illuminated with multi color light. In the evening it looks awesome just picsque.

Read More

Reaching Ramchandra Goenka Bathing Ghat for Jenana (Ladies) at Kolkata.

At the south of Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) behind the Flower Market Ramchandra Goenka Bathing Ghat for Jenana (Ladies) is situated. This magnificent edifice has Islamic Architecture with Islamic Dome with gorgeous tiles inside. Some of these are still exist but is in ruin.

Some glimpse of outside and inside is here with this post. A recently discovered photo (in a  shoebox at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in Edinburgh, Scotland, have revealed spectacular vignettes of Kolkata's colonial past) of Chotulal’s ghat, a sideview of the then  Ramchandra Goenka Bathing Ghat for Jenana can be seen. Now the structure is in neglected condition with full of garbage here and there. Some people using as a storage place of flowers.  It is difficulties to approach to ghat due to Flower Market. Presently situation is that there is no clear approach from Strand Bank Road. Moreover it seems that now no one come to this Ghat for Bathing. This declared heritage edifice needs immediate restoration for the sake of its history and architectural importance.

A rier view of Ram Chandra Goenka Ghat, one of the photographs from the collection. Copyright: RCAHMS EDINBURGH

 Ramchandra Goenka Bathing Ghat for Jenana on Google Map.

Read More

Eden Garden Flower Show 2012.

I have been directly associated with the life of Kolkata after 2001. I live then in a shared room like Mess. I have seen sudden change in life, change in night life, rapidly growing flat culture, Mela culture etc. I think that this MELA culture have been brought to people of Kolkata after 2003-04 onwards. Food Mela.. Vidyasagar Mela..Bazi Mela..Leather Mela..so Melas. A new happenings to people and they suddenly addicted to it.

I love gardening and this is my third visit in this winter to Flower Shows. This time I have visited Eden Garden Flower Show 2012 at Kolkata on 27th Jan 2012.There is something missing this year its like so so. I have not enjoyed this Flower Show. Whatever may be the reason previous year’s show was a grand one. However I like to post some of my pictures which have been taken:

Read More

Annual House Plant Expoo 2010

This is my first post to this blog on my city of joy-Kolkata erstwhile colonial Calcutta.Kolkata- a place of living history with most influences of Colonial British era every where.Still its building architecture,  river front surrounding areas, Ghtas etc. reminds you colonial Kolkata.

Though I'm not currently live in Kolkata, but I have been here long 7 years of my live, and I come here every five days of a weeks to work here. In this blog I have plans to write about the works of some peoples-whom I know though they are not famous for there work,hobies, but I feel they are extraordinary in their hobies,work. I like to upload some picture of histrorical places in and around  Kolkata with historical background and latest news, pics of shows/ exhibition in kolkata which I have attended.

In the above context, I have gone yesterday at The Agri-Horticultural Society of India,New Alipure for annual House Plant Show. Great collection of Bonsai is exhibited and other many house plants. Some stalls is their for selling house plants in reasonable price. I have bought three cactus and one Lithop. I am exciting about it that at last I have one Lithop in my cactus collection. I am eagerly waiting next annual flour show of Horticulture whil will be going to happen Jan next year.

Read More