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Calcutta and Eden Gardens are inesotnicably interturined. The City is justifiably proud of the Eden Gardens, the gigantic cricket stadium - one of the largest of its kind in the world. The bush green ground with its sylkan surroundings is regarded as the Mecca of cricket.

The Calcutta Cricket Club  (C.C.C.) was the owner of the Eden Gardens in 1825 A.D. The maidan cricket match played by any Indian Team at this ground was on 5th January 1932. The contending teams were Douglas Jardine's M.C.C. and the Indian Team under the steermanship of C.K.Naidu.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (C.A.B.) was born on 3.2.1928. It hasworked tirelessly for the upliftment of Indian Cricket since its inception. In July, 1966, C.A.B. propossed to construct the iron structure and seating galleries at the Eden Gardens.

The Eden Gardens has hosted several important Tournaments and matches since its birth. The final match of the Reliance World Cup Cricket Tournament was held here. The Eden Gardens has also hosted important football matches. The inaugural match of the First Nehuru Cup Football Tournament was held here. Several illustrions players have played in this paradise of cricket and added to its glory.

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An indoor stadium has been constructed recently within the Howrah Municipal Corporation area at Dumurjola. This stadium is of Mational Standard with all modern amenities. Its wooden floorarea is 40 m. * 28 m. with a capacity of 3000 spectators in the galeries.

Inside the stadium, there are provisions for playing Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Handball, Table Tennis and Gymnastics. Besides, Conference Room, Coaching Room and Equipment facilities etc. are available within the stadium complex.

Work in its last phase is still going on. Due to paucity of funds, the stadium could not be made air-conditioned. The State Goverment has granted generous funds for the construction and devekopment of the stadium. It was inaugurated on 19.12.1997. 

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Just next to Howrah Sarat Sadan in Howrah Maidan area, is located the Howrah Stagium at the heart ofthe town. Huge expenditure has been incurred for constructing it. Generous grants in this regard have been provided by the State Goverment, Central Goverment and Howrah Municipal Corporation.

On the southern part of the stadium, two blocks of concrete galleries have been constructed. They have a capacity of 3000 each. The playground has a well-planned drainage system.

The stadium has its own arrangements of drinking-water supply, lavatories, and general lighting arrangements in the galleries. Just below the galleries, a youth hostel has been constructed, which is maintained by Youth Services Department. The gallery has a capacity 6000 spectators.

The playground measures 135 m * 73.5 m plans havebeen undertaken to construct more galleries on the weatern and eastern flanks with an additional capacity of 16,000 spectators. The making of a Clubhouse is also on the agenda. 

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The Kishore Bharti Krirangan is popularly known as the Jadavpur Stadium. It is situated near E.M. Byepass Crossing at Jadavpur. This a very well equipped stadium with several modern facilities.

The main playground of the stadium is very well prepared with modern underground drainage system. It has a practice ground as well. The stadium has a seating capacity of 12,000 spactators. There are 100 seated dormitory accomodation below the galleries. There is also abundant space for holding meetings, seminars and conferences.

Important matches of I.F.A. shield and similar other tiurnaments are held here regularly. The Sports Department of the State Goverment has sanctioned generous funds along with the Central Goverment for the all-round welfare of the stadium. The masses have also generously for this noble project.

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Kshudiram Anusilan Kendra is located adjacent to the Netaji Indoor Stadium. Itwas inaugurated in 1978. At that time its approximate cost was Rs.1 crore.

This is a small, indoor, air-conditioned auditorium devoid of gallery facilities. Earlier, the stadium had a wooden floor which has been replaced recently.

The stadium is chiefly used for indoor training in basket ball, table tennis, gymnastics, volleyball etc. This stadium also serves as a parctice venue and a warm-up center for International events. The stadium stands on a total area of about 2100 sq.m. Its wooden floor area is about 1047 sq.mt.

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The Netaji Indoor Stadium was inangurated in January, 1975. Originally, it was meant to be an indoor stadium with provisions for several indoor games.

This proud landmark of Calcutta is situated at the heart of the city next to Eden Gardens. It is an air-conditioned stadium-cum-amphitheatre. The stadium was constructed with the intention of hosting the World Table Tennis Championship. The mega event was held here in 1975. Since then, the stadium has hosted several sports events aswell as many colourful non-sports events.

On 14th September, 19997, this stadium was greatly honoured as the last rites of Mother Teresa was conducted here. The Nobel Lomreate Sri Amartya Sen was given State Reception by the Goverment of West Bengal in this stadium on 27th December, 1998.

The stadium is made up of 68 Nos. R.C.C. pre-cast two hinged portals - pin jointed at the foundation. The roof-system consists of 550 mm* 220 MM deep pre-cast of elements ('T' - Slab) resting at their ends on the tapered steel-truss of the portals. The vertical gap of 2.80 M between the upper and lower roof is covered with vertical flat type lowers all around which are covered from outside by asbestos sheet. The entire roofing is covered with 50 mm thick thermocol for thermal insulation overlaid with tarfelt for water proofing.

The giagantic stadium stands on a total land area of 20,553 sq.mts. The wooden floor of the stadium is 76 mts * 28 mts.(2128 sq.mts). It hasa capacity of 12126 spectators. The wooden floor of the stadium is used as the playing arena. N.I.S. is not only a sports stadium but is largely used for holding cultural functions, seminars, meetings etc. During such cultural functions, seating accomodation is also provided in the wooden floor where approximately 2000 chairs can be laid.

The stadium also comprises of players' changinf rooms, press room, conference hall, telex room, dining hall etc. The PWD takes care of the civil and electrical maintenance of the stadium. The Sports Department granted generous funds to renovate the stadium for hosting Asian Junior Basketball Championship in Oct/Nov, 1998. A comprehensive insurance coverage had been introduced from 1st April, 1998, both for the general spectators aswell as the stadium property.

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The Rabindra Sarobar Stadium is situated at Southern Avenue, Calcutta. The owner of this Stadium is  Calcutta Imrovement Trust who constructed it on its own land for upliftment of Games and Sports in West Bengal.The trust leased out this stadium to the Sports Development, Govt. of West Bengal for a period of 50 years.

The stadium coplex stands on an area of about 58,861.44 sq.meters. The Pavilion house comprises of an auditorium with a capacity of700 persons. It is ideal for holding seminars, meetings etc. The stadium area is a huge sprawling one with a lush green ambience.

Since its completion in 1961, the Rabindra Bharti Stadium has the venue for several remarkable incidents. Yuri Gagrin the legendary Russian astronaut was given a warm reception here. So was Emyl Zatopek, the athlete par excellence. Several international football matches have been played on the turf of this stadium.

In December 1998, the Sports Department of the Goverment took the initiative to construct a national standard inside fencing to facilitate the holding of important football matches. The concerned Department is planning to renovate the stadium thoroughly at present.

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In the Eastern part of Calcutta, lies the Subhash Sarobar Swimming Pool, Beliaghata, which was constructed by Calcutta Improvement Trust for improvement of aquatic sports in the metropolis.It was based out to the Sports Department, Govt. of West Bengal for a period of 50 years. The swimming pool and its adjoining area covers 10,160.64 sq.meters. the pool is 50 mitter long and 20mitter wide. There is a Diving pool adjacent to this pool.

The SAF Games Aquatic Championship was held in this pool in 1987. The Sports Department of the Govt., spent lovishly to renovate the pool and make it ultra modern in all respects.accordingly, Dressing Room, Conference Room, Changing Room etc. were constructed. This pool hosts the National Ewimming Championships regularly. The All India Police Aquatic Meet was held here in 1997.

The Sports Department sank a deep tubewell for constract supply of fresh water in the pool. Damaged filtaration plants have been overhauled and a new chlorine dosing system has been introduced. The authorities have started 'Pay and swim' system to generate fund for proper management of the pool. The budding swimmers are also trained here by eminent NIS coaches regularly.

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Calcutta is regarded as the 'Mecca' of Indian Football. Legendary players who have glorified Indian Football in the yester years were nurtured on the Calcutta grounds.

In those early days, when the Juba Bharti Krirangan or Saltlake stadium did not exist, the football matches of the Premier Calcutta League and IFA Shield used to be played on the three enclosed grounds at the Calcutta Maidan viz., East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club grounds.

The first Indian football club to receive the honour of defeating the Yorkshire Regiment by 2 - 1 in 1911 and lifting the IFA Shield, was Mohun Bagan. It was in one of thses three grounds that Mohunbagan achieved this spectacular victory.

The owner of these three grounds is the Army whereas the State Goverment exercises administrative control over them. The wooden galleries of these three grounds save the Membership stands, are maintained by the Sports Department, Govt. of West Bengal.

Mohun Bagan, East Bengal & Mohammedan Sporting jointly share these grounds with other clubs. Together, bear the cost of maintaining the membership stands. However, the Home Department had banned any football match to be played in any of these three grounds involbing any of the three big clubs of Calcutta, until permanent structures are constructed on these grounds.

The spectator capacity in the Mohun Bagan/CFC ground is 22.100. The East Bengal/Ariyan ground has a capacity of 23,500 whereas Mohammedan Sporting/Rajasthan/Howrah Union ground has a capacity of 12,750 spectators.

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The Salt Lake Stadium or The Yuba Bharti Krirangan is one of the proud possession of India. This is the largest stadium in Asia and was formally inauguranted in January ,1984. It has a capacity of 1,20,000 spectators. In times of exigencies, a packed up stadium can be evacutated within minutes by several outlets viz, stairs, rooms, vomitories, plazas etc.

This colossal stadium stands on 76.40 acres of land stretching in the N.E. part of the metropolis. The salient features of the stadium are unique Synthetic track for atheletic meet, electronic scoreboard, main football arena measuring 105M *70M, elevators for diagnitaries along with VIP/VVIP enclosure, peripheral floodlighting arrangement from the roof-top, A.C. VIP rest room and Conference Hall. There are also commentary boxes for A.I.R. and T.V. along with several platforms for T.V. Cameras, Press Boxes, dormitories and A.C. rooms, player's changing rooms, practice grounds for football, cricket and khokho, volleyball field and an ultra-medium gymnasium. The Stadium has its own water arrangements and stand by dicsel generation sets.

The stadium cost a whopping Rs. 34.58 crores. The Govt. of India as well as the State Govt. of West Bengal sanctioned huge grants in-aid for the construction. Funds were also generated through public subscription and bank loans.

The impeccable arrangement of floodlight which illumines the stadium has 624 bulbs of 2 k.wt. each. The two electronic scoreboards contain 36,000 bulbs of 25 watt each. The four underground reservors have unique fire-fighting arangements with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. It is a matter of pride that the architectural and structural design og the stadium had been done by the Joint Consultants viz., M/S. Ballardie, Thompson & Matthews Pvt. Ltd. and M/S. H.K. Sen & Associates  - both from Calcutta, West Bengal. The track was prepared  by Reckortan Tartan Track, Germany. The electronic scoreboards were supplied by Electro Impex of Hungary.

The Stadium has a full time CEO and an exiguous engineering set-up for daily maintenance. It has a Youth Hostel apart from its permanent employees. Since its inception in January,1984 with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup Socer Tournament, the Yuba Bharti Kriranagan has hosted several important international tournaments or matches such as The Pre-World Cup Tournament in 1985, Super-Soccers in 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1994, 3rd S.A.F. games in 1987, U.S.S.R. Festival in 1988, Charminar Challenger Trophy in 1992, Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup in 1995.