Not sure if these are amazing or lesser known but here goes.
The US Consulate stands on Ho Chi Minh Sarani, an irony if ever there was one. Ho Chi Minh, was a die hard communist, fighter against US imperialism. This street was originally called as Harrington Street but renamed after Ho Chi Minh during the Leftist rule.
Chowringhee, in fact has had a record number of streets renamed after famous people. Chowringhee Road after Nehru, Park Street after Mother Teresa, Theater Road after Shakespeare, Carmac Street after Abanindranath Tagore, whew.
The Alipore Zoo, was initially a small menagerie of the then Governor General, Lord Wellesley. The zoo was famous for it’s male giant Aldabra tortoise called Advaita , which was given to Robert Clive, and was later transferred there. It lived for around 200 years.
B.B.D Bagh where the Writers Building stands was originally Dalhousie Square. It was renamed after 3 famous revolutionaries Benoy Basu, Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta who assassinated the then Inspector General of Prisons, N.S.Simpson.
The GPO is the site of the original Fort William, from where Kolkata started. There is a small guardhouse nearby, that was the venue of the notorious Black Hole of Kolkata. In 1756, Siraj Ud Daulah’s troops held British prisoners of war in a small cramped area, with no lighting, no fresh air. It is believed around 146 prisoners died here.
The Tollygunj Metro Station is renamed in honor of legendary actor Uttam Kumar.
Kalighat Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of India, places where pieces of Sati’s body fell, after Vishnu cut with discuss. It’s believed that Sati’s toes of the right foot fell here.
While Kolkata is famous for it’s Anglo Indian enclave( Bow Bazaar) and Chinatown, it also has a sizeable Armenian community near Free School Street, called Armani Para.
Kumartuli the potters quarter is where the Durga idols are made every year.
Victoria Memorial, the most iconic Kolkata landmark, was designed by William Emerson, was based on the Belfast City Hall.
One of the first versions of the national flag was designed by Sachindra Prasad Bose and Hemchandra Kanungo. This was the flag unfurled by Madam Bhikaji Cama at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart during the freedom struggle, also called the Kolkata flag.
The iconic Eden Gardens where the cricket stadium is located, was gifted by Rajachandra Das, zamindar of Janbazar, husband of Rani Rashmoni to Lord Auckland and his sister Emily Eden as gratitude for saving his daughter from a fatal disease. It was originally called Mar Bagan.