The capital of West Bengal and cultural capital of India - Kolkata is the gateway to the
mountains of the northeast and marshlands of Sunderbans. Situated on the banks of River
Hooghly, it is the heart and soul of the Bengali ‘bhadralokh’ intelligentsia.
History
Kolkata traces its roots to three villages - Sutanuti, Govindapur & Kolkata - founded by Job
Charnock. The city was the seat of the British Empire and capital of India till 1911. Even today,
Kolkata boasts of numerous landmarks, reminiscent of the colonial era.
People & Culture
Bengalis are food lovers. Fish and rice form their staple diet. They enjoy evening chitchats over
tea and ‘jhalmuri’. Theatre and music, especially Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti, form an
integral part of recreation.
Things to Do
Kolkata has a number of sights and sounds travellers can explore. Begin your Kolkata ‘darshan’
with a walk along River Hooghly near Eden Garden or a visit to Millennium Park. The city has a
vibrant cultural scene. Travellers must visit the Kolkata Book Fair held every year in January or
February. To add to it, a visit to Nadan and Rabindra Sadan and a tram ride on Red Road
should be experienced. Football fans must watch the football derby between Mohun Bagan and
East Bengal Club.
Of the many sights and sounds of Kolkata, attractions that every traveller must experience
include Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu and the longest cantilever bridge in the
world, Vidyasagar Setu, Writers’ Building and Victoria Memorial, which houses a fantastic
collection of rare memorabilia brought to Kolkata by the British. Botanical Gardens where the
main attraction is a 200-year-old Banyan Tree, Dakshineswar Temple on the banks of Hooghly,
Belur Math, Kalighat - 0ne of the 51 Shakti Peeth, where, according to a legend, one of Sati’s
fingers fell - and St Paul’s Cathedral built in Gothic style with stained glass windows and two
Florentine frescoes are also great places to explore.
For geeks or history lovers, must-visit sightseeing places in Kolkata are Birla Planetarium,
Indian Museum, which houses a varied collection of unique fossils, Buddhist Gandhara art and
an Egyptian mummy, Tagore House at Jorasanko and Science City. In Science City, travellers
must see the time machine, space theatre and the space flight simulator.
Food & shopping
Kolkata is renowned for its variety of street food and snacks. Right from the alur chop, samosa
and beguni’s, to the mughlai paratha, egg, mutton, chicken rolls and fish kobiraji, these dishes
will definitely tantalise any travellers’ taste buds. Dalhousie and Esplanade in Central Kolkata
are dotted with many such roadside stalls.
Jhalmuri and fuchka are two other must-try snacks. Fuchka, the Kolkata avatar of paani-puri,
has a potato stuffing and tasty tamarind water to go with it. A trip to Kolkata will be incomplete
without dipping into roshogolla, roshomalai, langcha, sondesh and misti doi at K.C. Das, Bhim
Nag, Sen Mahasoy or Gangurams. For fine dining, Esplanade and Park Street offer a wide
choice of multi cuisine restaurants. Flury’s, Peter Cat and Moulin Rouge are some noteworthy
addresses in Park Street. Mughlai dishes can be tried at Nizam's in New Market and Aminiya
opposite Kolkata Corporation. For authentic Bengali cuisine, travellers can try 6 Ballygunge
Place, Bhojohori Manna, Bhooter Raja DiloBor or Aaheli at Peerless Inn that offers exquisite
Bengali dishes. China Town in Tangra off EM Bypass offers authentic Chinese cuisine at
reasonable prices.
Jhalmuri and fuchka are two other must-try snacks. Fuchka, the Kolkata avatar of paani-puri,
has a potato stuffing and tasty tamarind water to go with it. A trip to Kolkata will be incomplete
without dipping into roshogolla, roshomalai, langcha, sondesh and misti doi at K.C. Das, Bhim
Nag, Sen Mahasoy or Gangurams. For fine dining, Esplanade and Park Street offer a wide
choice of multi cuisine restaurants. Flury’s, Peter Cat and Moulin Rouge are some noteworthy
addresses in Park Street. Mughlai dishes can be tried at Nizam's in New Market and Aminiya
opposite Kolkata Corporation. For authentic Bengali cuisine, travellers can try 6 Ballygunge
Place, Bhojohori Manna, Bhooter Raja DiloBor or Aaheli at Peerless Inn that offers exquisite
Bengali dishes. China Town in Tangra off EM Bypass offers authentic Chinese cuisine at
reasonable prices.
A stay in Kolkata is incomplete without a trip to local markets for buying handicrafts produced in
Bengal - teracotta horse of Bankura, Shantiniketan sarees and earthen artifacts from
Krishnagar. Gariahat, Dakhsinapan and College Street market have a wide array of shops to
buy cotton, tant and silk sarees. The New Market has a fantastic collection of all types of
clothing and toys. However, travellers need to haggle to get the best price.
Travelling to Kolkata
Kolkata has three train stations – Howrah, Sealdah, Chitpur and is well connected to all major
cities. All major national and international carriers fly to NSC Bose International airport, Kolkata.
October to March is the best time to visit the city. Kolkata is very pleasant during winter.
Travelling within Kolkata
For travelling within the city, options are plenty – Metro rail, suburban trains, circular rail, private
and public buses (including AC Volvos on some routes), trams, auto rickshaws, hand-pulled
rickshaws, taxis and ferry services on the river front.
mountains of the northeast and marshlands of Sunderbans. Situated on the banks of River
Hooghly, it is the heart and soul of the Bengali ‘bhadralokh’ intelligentsia.
History
Kolkata traces its roots to three villages - Sutanuti, Govindapur & Kolkata - founded by Job
Charnock. The city was the seat of the British Empire and capital of India till 1911. Even today,
Kolkata boasts of numerous landmarks, reminiscent of the colonial era.
People & Culture
Bengalis are food lovers. Fish and rice form their staple diet. They enjoy evening chitchats over
tea and ‘jhalmuri’. Theatre and music, especially Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti, form an
integral part of recreation.
Things to Do
Kolkata has a number of sights and sounds travellers can explore. Begin your Kolkata ‘darshan’
with a walk along River Hooghly near Eden Garden or a visit to Millennium Park. The city has a
vibrant cultural scene. Travellers must visit the Kolkata Book Fair held every year in January or
February. To add to it, a visit to Nadan and Rabindra Sadan and a tram ride on Red Road
should be experienced. Football fans must watch the football derby between Mohun Bagan and
East Bengal Club.
Of the many sights and sounds of Kolkata, attractions that every traveller must experience
include Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu and the longest cantilever bridge in the
world, Vidyasagar Setu, Writers’ Building and Victoria Memorial, which houses a fantastic
collection of rare memorabilia brought to Kolkata by the British. Botanical Gardens where the
main attraction is a 200-year-old Banyan Tree, Dakshineswar Temple on the banks of Hooghly,
Belur Math, Kalighat - 0ne of the 51 Shakti Peeth, where, according to a legend, one of Sati’s
fingers fell - and St Paul’s Cathedral built in Gothic style with stained glass windows and two
Florentine frescoes are also great places to explore.
For geeks or history lovers, must-visit sightseeing places in Kolkata are Birla Planetarium,
Indian Museum, which houses a varied collection of unique fossils, Buddhist Gandhara art and
an Egyptian mummy, Tagore House at Jorasanko and Science City. In Science City, travellers
must see the time machine, space theatre and the space flight simulator.
Food & shopping
Kolkata is renowned for its variety of street food and snacks. Right from the alur chop, samosa
and beguni’s, to the mughlai paratha, egg, mutton, chicken rolls and fish kobiraji, these dishes
will definitely tantalise any travellers’ taste buds. Dalhousie and Esplanade in Central Kolkata
are dotted with many such roadside stalls.
Jhalmuri and fuchka are two other must-try snacks. Fuchka, the Kolkata avatar of paani-puri,
has a potato stuffing and tasty tamarind water to go with it. A trip to Kolkata will be incomplete
without dipping into roshogolla, roshomalai, langcha, sondesh and misti doi at K.C. Das, Bhim
Nag, Sen Mahasoy or Gangurams. For fine dining, Esplanade and Park Street offer a wide
choice of multi cuisine restaurants. Flury’s, Peter Cat and Moulin Rouge are some noteworthy
addresses in Park Street. Mughlai dishes can be tried at Nizam's in New Market and Aminiya
opposite Kolkata Corporation. For authentic Bengali cuisine, travellers can try 6 Ballygunge
Place, Bhojohori Manna, Bhooter Raja DiloBor or Aaheli at Peerless Inn that offers exquisite
Bengali dishes. China Town in Tangra off EM Bypass offers authentic Chinese cuisine at
reasonable prices.
Jhalmuri and fuchka are two other must-try snacks. Fuchka, the Kolkata avatar of paani-puri,
has a potato stuffing and tasty tamarind water to go with it. A trip to Kolkata will be incomplete
without dipping into roshogolla, roshomalai, langcha, sondesh and misti doi at K.C. Das, Bhim
Nag, Sen Mahasoy or Gangurams. For fine dining, Esplanade and Park Street offer a wide
choice of multi cuisine restaurants. Flury’s, Peter Cat and Moulin Rouge are some noteworthy
addresses in Park Street. Mughlai dishes can be tried at Nizam's in New Market and Aminiya
opposite Kolkata Corporation. For authentic Bengali cuisine, travellers can try 6 Ballygunge
Place, Bhojohori Manna, Bhooter Raja DiloBor or Aaheli at Peerless Inn that offers exquisite
Bengali dishes. China Town in Tangra off EM Bypass offers authentic Chinese cuisine at
reasonable prices.
A stay in Kolkata is incomplete without a trip to local markets for buying handicrafts produced in
Bengal - teracotta horse of Bankura, Shantiniketan sarees and earthen artifacts from
Krishnagar. Gariahat, Dakhsinapan and College Street market have a wide array of shops to
buy cotton, tant and silk sarees. The New Market has a fantastic collection of all types of
clothing and toys. However, travellers need to haggle to get the best price.
Travelling to Kolkata
Kolkata has three train stations – Howrah, Sealdah, Chitpur and is well connected to all major
cities. All major national and international carriers fly to NSC Bose International airport, Kolkata.
October to March is the best time to visit the city. Kolkata is very pleasant during winter.
Travelling within Kolkata
For travelling within the city, options are plenty – Metro rail, suburban trains, circular rail, private
and public buses (including AC Volvos on some routes), trams, auto rickshaws, hand-pulled
rickshaws, taxis and ferry services on the river front.
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