Kolkata Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-4 days

Best Time: October to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Calcutta

"The city of Joy"

Kolkata Tourism

Kolkata, India's second biggest city, is a perpetually ongoing festival of human existence, concurrently luxurious and squalid, refined and frantic, pointedly futuristic, while beautifully in decay. A vibrant 350-year-old metropolis located on India's Eastern Coast, the capital of West Bengal thrives on contradictions and imposing spectacles; nothing is commonplace in this city. Famously known as the City of Joy, Kolkata is, in every sense, the artistic, cultural and intellectual capital of the country. Kolkata's streets are vivid, hectic, chaotic, and yet, brimming with life and creativity. Driven by the indomitable spirit of the self-made middle class, the city has created a beautiful juxtaposition of the old colonial-era charm with the nascent upcoming hipster culture that thrives amongst the city's millennial residents.

Starting from admiring the flourishing art scene in the city to going on rewarding gastronomical explorations to wandering amidst the countless bazaars to sitting by the banks of the Hooghly and enjoying a peaceful sunset, Kolkata is soaked in layers and layers of heritage and culture, and peeling off each layer to look beneath the hood is a very rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime experience. As the famous quote goes, "If you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta".

Formerly the capital of the British empire before the government was shifted to Delhi, Kolkata has a distinct tinge of its royal past lingering in every nook and cranny of the city. If you want to soak in some of the city's regal past, take a walk along the streets of North Kolkata, which houses some of the oldest mansions in the city, swathed with vines and a persistent sense of aristocratic pride. Kolkata is home to Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house, which has now been converted into a museum and houses a staggering collection of family portraits and paintings. There are plenty of ghats all over the city where you can sit and enjoy a sunset while sipping on tea, one of the most noted of these being the Prinsep Ghat, which offers stunning views of the Vidyasagar Setu in the backdrop. Close by is Millennium Park, which is a beautified waterfront park from where you can avail boat rides and cruises.

Kolkata has a very lively nightlife, and the entire stretch along Park Street houses innumerable bars and pubs where you can party the night away. Kolkata's street food is famous all across the country, and the city is lined with eateries and food stalls at every corner, where you can savour local Bengali food, or try out local snacks such as Jhalmuri, or Ghugni Chaat.

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Calcutta - The Cultural Capital of India

Kolkata is not called the 'City of Joy' for nothing. Once the administrative capital of India until 1912, the current capital of West Bengal is unofficially India's cultural capital. The beautiful confluence of both the native and the western culture can be found here, be it in the majestic charm of Fort William and Victoria Memorial, or the aura of places like Dakshineswar Kali Mandir and Kalighat Mandir. Kolkata is equally famous for its cuisines. From the spicy fish curry to the mouth-watering Sandesh and rosogollas, Kolkata is a literal paradise for the foodies residing in India. Snacks like Kathi roll and puchkas (Bengali version of the famous golgappas) are not far behind. However, this is not the end. The obsession for sports, primarily the cricket and soccer, and literature in this city is world famous. No wonder why sleuths like Feluda and Byomkesh Bakshi have their origins in Kolkata, apart from the crowd puller matches at Salt Lake Stadium and Eden Gardens. Kolkata is also popular for its underground metro, the first of its kind in India, and a must-visit if you're in Kolkata. For those, who visit the city at the time of Durga Puja, the cultural heaven just descends here at this time. To sum up, nowhere will the essence of the culture in India seem as magical as in Kolkata.

Read about Festivals of Kolkata

Understanding regions of Kolkata

Flinging yourself through the bus window, you can see how variedly the city is divided into definitive areas, each of them with a significance of their own. The old world charm of the city is diversified into North Kolkata, South Kolkata, Old Kolkata, Central area, Chinatown and Suburbs (Howrah, Nadia, Hoogly etc.) which brings together the flavour of northeast into the city. The North part is the oldest part of Kolkata dotted by narrow little lanes and historic architecture.

History of Calcutta

The history of Kolkata is intimately related with its invention during the British rule dating back 300 years ago. Earlier known as Calcutta, it originated as a capital of British India in 1960 when East India Company dominated the country. Struggling to develop during Britain’s power war, most of its essential developments took place in the 17th and 18th century. Later in the 19th century, Kolkata become one of the central point of India’s freedom struggle and after the capital shifted to New Delhi in 1911, it became a bustling port and the new cultural capital of India.

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Shopping In Kolkata

Being the major metropolitan city in the East, Kolkata has always shared its fair part of the limelight, owing to the rich cultural heritage surrounding the state, and also it is a major port city since the times of the British. Kolkata is also famous for the cheap stuff available owing to its proximity to all the major ports around the globe. Read here to get the best of Shopping Experience In Kolkata.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kolkata

Kolkata has been known to start the culture of eating out among Indians. With that to its credit and being a glittering and colourful city, Kolkata offers one more choices than they can ask for. However, the town is best known for local Bengali cuisine that one must indulge in, while here. Most of the Bengali cuisine food revolves around rice and fish, and you will find many version and delicacies of these. Try the Macher Jhol and the Phuchka, your very own 'golgappa' or 'panipuri'.

Also, the Bengali sweets, popular all across is something you just cannot miss. Find them here in there most authentic and delicious form. Do try Rashogulla, Chamcham, Rasmalai, Shondesh, Cream Chup and other Bengali sweets.

Apart from Bengali cuisine, one can also enjoy fine English cuisine, continental, North Indian cuisine, South Indian cuisine, Mexican and Italian cuisine at various restaurants spread across the city. You will also find an instance of Tibetan food, with Momos and Thuppa being quite popular and widespread in the city.

Kolkata is also the place where Indian-Chinese cuisine started. Indian Chinese cuisine is basically Indian style preparation of Chinese dishes, typically having a lot of spices and imparted with a very strong flavour. Hence, you can enjoy this blend in its very own hometown.

Read more about Street Food in Kolkata



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Suggested Itinerary for Kolkata

Day 1 - Reach Kolkata by morning, and after some rest, go for a tour of the majestic Victoria Memorial. Not very far away from the Memorial is the ancient St. Paul's Cathedral, with Gothic architecture of the pre-1857 era. Not very far from the Memorial is the famous Maidan, which also houses the Market Area, another tourist hotspot of Kolkata. If you're a solid bargainer, you are bound to strike gold here. Don't forget to savor the exquisite Bengali sweets and snacks at KC Das Store, only 600 m. away from the New Market.
Day 2 - Start your day with the blessings of Goddess Kali in Kolkata. Whether from Kalighat Temple or the Dakshineswar Mandir. From there, you can visit the holy Belur Math, which also has glimpses of the famous Ramakrishna Mission. In the evening, go for the ferry service between Kolkata and Howrah, where you can witness the beauty of Howrah bridge from the Hooghly river, which glows beautifully in the night.
Day 3 - Check out the National Library, which houses over 2 lakh books as per the records, perfect for absolute bookworms. Netaji Bhavan, which was the same home from where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose escaped the house arrest, is not very far from National Library, a mere 13 min. ride via Belvedere Road. Northwards, after a ride of 23 minutes from the National Library, you will come to the famous University of Calcutta and the College Street, the popular ' adda' for debates and discussions, made extremely famous by the stories of Byomkesh Bakshi. By the time you'll leave Kolkata, you'll take with yourself a nice bag of memories.

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Kolkata Photos

Kolkata, West Bengal
Victoria Memorial Large Marble Building
Fort William, situated at the eastern banks of River Hooghly
Dakshineswar Kali Temple, situated on the eastern banks of Hooghly river

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FAQs on Kolkata

What is the best way to reach Kolkata?

Kolkata being a major metropolis and the second largest city in India is connected via its own domestic and international airports, railway station and the roadways. Taxis outside the airport and railway station are easily available for pick-up and drop.
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What are the places near Kolkata?

The top places near to Kolkata are Chandannagar which is 32 km from Kolkata, Haldia which is located 67 km from Kolkata, Raichak which is located 46 km from Kolkata, Digha which is located 136 km from Kolkata, Sundarban national park which is located 124 km from Kolkata

What are the things to do in Kolkata?

The top things to do in Kolkata are Victoria Memorial, Fort William Kolkata, Belur Math, Howrah Bridge, Birla Planetarium, Indian Museum. You can see all the places to visit in Kolkata here

What are the top hotels in Kolkata?

There are 700 in Kolkata which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Kolkata are Dorota House, Handmade Homes, Kolkata Homestay|Ballygunge|WiFi|, The 58, Spacious 1BR Home in Kolkata, MODAK GUEST HOUSE. You can see all the hotels in Kolkata here

What is the local food in Kolkata?

Kolkata has been known to start the culture of eating out among Indians. With that to its credit and being a glittering and colourful city, Kolkata offers one more choices than they can ask for. However, the town is best known for local Bengali cuisine that one must indulge in, while here. Most of the Bengali cuisine food revolves around rice and fish, and you will find many version and delicacies of these. Try the Macher Jhol and the Phuchka, your very own 'golgappa' or 'panipuri'.

Also, the Bengali sweets, popular all across is something you just cannot miss. Find them here in there most authentic and delicious form. Do try Rashogulla, Chamcham, Rasmalai, Shondesh, Cream Chup and other Bengali sweets.

Apart from Bengali cuisine, one can also enjoy fine English cuisine, continental, North Indian cuisine, South Indian cuisine, Mexican and Italian cuisine at various restaurants spread across the city. You will also find an instance of Tibetan food, with Momos and Thuppa being quite popular and widespread in the city.

Kolkata is also the place where Indian-Chinese cuisine started. Indian Chinese cuisine is basically Indian style preparation of Chinese dishes, typically having a lot of spices and imparted with a very strong flavour. Hence, you can enjoy this blend in its very own hometown.

Read more about Street Food in Kolkata



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What is the best time to visit Kolkata?

The autumn and winter months between October and February are the best time to visit Kolkata, as the weather is perfect and festivities are aplenty. This is the season which witnesses the peak arrival of travellers, especially during Durga Puja. Kolkata, with an eastern tropical climate, has light winters, hot and somewhat humid summers. Summers are the least desirable options for a traveller, and monsoons, although lovely, is not exactly the best season worth a visit.
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Who should visit Kolkata?

If you're a history buff, you will be pleased to know that Kolkata is home to the country's oldest and largest museum, the Indian Museum. You can spend an entire day browsing through the plethora of galleries in the museum that display fossils, antiques, armours and even Mughal-era paintings. Other buildings of historic significance include the Shaheed Minar, and the Victoria Memorial, which is a mesmerizing building made entirely of white marble, commemorating the memory of Queen Victoria.

If you're a photography enthusiast, Kolkata has just the place for you. Kumartuli, in the northern half of the city, is a neighbourhood where hundreds of clay idols of gods and goddesses are created by artists, and you can walk around the multitude of lanes and bylanes which house rows and rows of clay idols, each in a different stage of completion.


What is not so good about Kolkata?

Crowded during the festive seasons. Not ideal in monsoons.

What is famous about Kolkata?

Beautiful and majestic. One of the cheapest cities to live in the world. Well connected to the rest of India. Home to a charming culture. Ideal for cultural travelers.

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Popular Questions And Answers on Kolkata

Q. I will stay oneday in kolkata. Please suggest one day sightseeing places

Soumik Banerjee

4 years ago
Eco Park (Day) Rabindra Sarobar (Night)

Q. Kolkata hotel

Pallavi Siddhanta

5 years ago
Let me know your budget so that I can help accordingly
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Q. Name of those places which are 70 or 80 km from kolkata

Akhil Kapoor

5 years ago
Kolkata is a suburbaner's paradise as there are multiple places you can visit around the city for a quick day trip. You can go to the beautiful Raichak on Ganges, which is 55 KM approx from Kolkata. (Read More)You can also visit Arambagh, Tajpur, Mukutmanipur etc. For more info, check out this blog by Holidify for the best day trips around Kolkata - http://www.holidify.com/blog/best-day-trips-from-kolkata/. Hope this helped. :)
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Kolkata Reviews

Your rating

Pallab Banerjee Banerjee

4 years ago
A must visit place in Kolkata, the collection is huge and it will take 1-2hr to see all the sections properly. They also exhibit different art, paintings, photographs, and other collectibles from tim (Read More)e to time. Please watch my presentation on the archeological section of Kolkata Museum "Link hidden"

Avishek Bera

on Victoria Memorial 3 years ago
The information you've provided here is fantastic because it provides a wealth of information that is really useful to me. Thank you for sharing that. You can get the same information at The News Cov (Read More)er

Sreya Ray Chaudhuri

2 years ago
Being born and brought up in this city I have to say that this place has a unique energy about it. The metro city which celebrates 13 different festivals in 12 months. You really need to go there to (Read More)experience it. Also, the local bengali people are very friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend my city if you are planning a visit to India.
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