At first glance, the abandoned building in Park Circus, a central area of Kolkata, could be mistaken for a church. It has a small bell tower, a red-tiled roof and Gothic arches reminiscent of European religious architecture. But the reality is quite different: it is not a place of worship, but an old, disused Christian crematorium.
A Solution for Christians Choosing Cremation
Although burial is the most common practice among Christians, cremation has become increasingly common, especially in western countries where space in cemeteries is increasingly limited. In these cases, ashes are collected in urns, which can be kept at home or buried in small plots.
During the British colonial period, a crematorium was built next to the Lower Circular Road cemetery to provide an alternative for those who wished to be cremated. This applied both to Britons who wanted to bring the ashes of their loved ones back home, and to local converts who preferred not to resort to the traditional wood-burning pyres along the Hooghly River.
A Franco-British Initiative
The facility was completed in 1906 by a French company, Paris-based Toisoul Fradet & Co., which specialised in the construction of crematoria. The one in Kolkata was one of the Type 2 models, also installed in cities such as Marseille and Bradford. In Paris, however, the same company had built a Type 1 plant.
A Place Also Used by Other Religious Movements
The crematorium was not only used by the Christian community. Members of the Brahmo Samaj, a reform movement that combined elements of Indian and Western religion, also performed their funeral rites there. Some well-known personalities include the famous scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose, who was cremated in the Park Circus crematorium in 1937.
The Flood that Ended Everything
In 1978, a severe flood hit Kolkata and damaged the gas supply system needed to run the plant. Since then, it has never been repaired, and the building has been gradually abandoned.
Today, this peculiar and historically charged building lies forgotten, surrounded by the chaos of the modern city. It remains a silent example of how cultures, religions and personal choices related to death and remembrance meet.
How to enter inside?
The old crematorium is under the management of the Council for Christian Burial and is kept locked for security and preservation reasons. You need a formal permit to enter it.
In my case, I managed to visit it thanks to a shortcut: I gave 200 rupees to the guardian. However, after just ten minutes, he started pressing me to leave. He clearly did not want to attract attention or risk trouble.
Urbex location:
Amazing place and such an interesting history!! Good job!!