India Together

1. Location:
• The bridge connects Howrah and Kolkata across the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India.
2. Construction:
• Built between 1936 and 1943 and opened to the public on February 3, 1943.
• It was constructed without using nuts and bolts; instead, it is a riveted cantilever bridge.
3. Official Name: In 1965, it was officially renamed Rabindra Setu after Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, though it is still commonly known as Howrah Bridge.
4. Engineering Feat:
• It is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world.
• Length: 705 meters (2,313 feet).
• Width: 71 feet, with a central span of 1,500 feet.
5. Traffic:
• The bridge handles over 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians daily, making it one of the busiest bridges in India.
• No trams or heavy vehicles are allowed on the bridge to maintain its structural integrity.
6. Materials Used:
• The steel used for its construction was supplied by Tata Steel.
• The total weight of the bridge is approximately 26,500 tonnes.
7. Unique Design:
• The bridge does not have piers in the middle of the river, ensuring uninterrupted movement of river traffic.
• It was built to withstand storms and cyclones, which are frequent in the region.
8. Cultural Significance:
• It is an iconic landmark of Kolkata and has been featured in many Bollywood movies, literature, and artwork.
• It symbolizes the heritage and daily life of the city.
9. Lighting: The bridge is illuminated with decorative lights at night, enhancing its beauty and making it a popular attraction.
10. Maintenance:
• Due to heavy traffic and environmental factors, regular maintenance is carried out.
• A significant issue is corrosion caused by bird droppings and pollution.

The Howrah Bridge is not just an architectural marvel but also a lifeline and a symbol of Kolkata’s rich history.

There are a number of twentieth century Buddhist temples in Sarnath. Many of these Buddhist temples at Sarnath are built and maintained by monks from Tibet, China and Japan but the main Buddhist temple is the Mulagandhakuti Vihar. The main shrine (vihara), called the Mulagandakuti, is said to be located at the place where Buddha used to stay during his visits to Sarnath. There is a carved sandstone railing inside the temple. In the Mulagandhakuti Vihara there also is a Buddha walk.

The recent 'Mulagandhakuti Vihara' or the modern Buddhist temple is 110 feet high with an image of Buddha inside it. Buddhist relics discovered at Taxila are enshrined in this 'Mulagandhkuti Vihara'. There are also fine paintings on the walls of this temple by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. Buddhist services are conducted there. Besides the Mulagandhakuti Vihara temple there are Chinese, Burmese and Jain temples nearby.