The
Maidan (literally open field) also referred as
Brigade Parade Ground is the largest urban park in
Kolkata in the
Indian state of
West Bengal. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous play grounds, including the famous
cricketing venue
Eden Gardens, several
football stadia, and
Kolkata Race Course. The Maidan is dotted with statues and pieces of architecture, most notable being the
Victoria Memorial. Due to the freshness and greenery it provides to the metropolis, it has been referred to as the "lungs of Kolkata". The Maidan is a property of the
Indian Army and hosts the Eastern zone high command of the Indian Army in
Fort William. The Maidan stretches from as far north as the Raj Bhavan building in Esplanade and as far south as the National Library on Belvedere Rd. in Alipore. The wide field stretches from the Hoogly River on the west to the Victoria Memorial on the east. It is a historical and cultural center of Kolkata as well as a center of leisure and entertainment for Calcuttans.