About Kolkata

Kolkata Holiday Packages

The ‘City of Joy,’ Kolkata in India is one of the most laid-back and beautiful cities in the country. The city is about 350-years old making everyone feel like they are in a perpetual state of celebration.

Known for its vivid character, a Kolkata tour is all about great food, its people, and their love for tea and puchkas.

The Howrah Bridge on the Hoogly River maybe its main attraction, but as you reach the city, the number bazaars, old mansions, and stunning buildings will take your breath away with their charm and call you in its embrace for good.

7 Places To Visit During Kolkata Tour

1. Howrah Bridge

What’s Special: Lifeline of Kolkata

Nearby Attractions: Rail Museum, Gulmohar Citizens Park

Built In: 1935

Kolkata’s crowning jewel, the Howrah Bridge is glorious and synonymous to this sweet and joyous city. It right over the Hooghly River and is also known as the Rabindra Setu. The true opulence of the bridge can be witnessed at night when it is lit up by the cars that cross it on a daily basis- over 10,000 vehicles per day. The bridge has a total 8 lanes. The view of the entire city is stunning from the bridge. People can also take a ferry from the launch ghat that runs between Kolkata and Howrah. This is one amazing ferry ride that offers a breathtaking view of the best of Kolkata.

2. Victoria Memorial

What’s Special: Museum reminds of the British Raj

Nearby Attractions: Citizens Park, St Pauls Cathedral

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

Built-In: Between 1906 and 1921

An important part of a Kolkata tour, the Victoria Memorial is a relic from British India that is still a part of Kolkata city. The marble structure is made in the memory and honor of Queen Victoria and is a replica of a structure with the same name in London. The memorial is surrounded by beautiful gardens where people can spot some beautiful flowers and other plants. One of the main highlights of this place is the light and sound show that takes place here in the evening. The whole place is illuminated with thousands of different kinds of lights that dance to various tunes of music.

3. Fort William Kolkata

What’s Special: Historical Site

Nearby Attractions: Kitchener House, James Prinsep Ghat

Timings: 10 AM to 5:30 PM

Built In: 1696

On the banks of the Hooghly River, you will find Fort William. Constructed in 1696, it is named after King William the third and other than its arches and embellishments, also has lush gardens adding to the charm of this gorgeous structure.

4. Belur Math

What’s Special: Headquarters of Ramakrishna Math

Nearby Attractions: Swami Vivekanand Temple, Durga Temple

Timings: 6:30 AM to 12 PM and 3:30 to 8:30 PM

Founded By: 1899

Built In: Sri Vivekananda

A pilgrimage site and the headquarters of the Ramkrishna Math and Mission, the Belur Math welcomes people from all over the world, irrespective of their religion and beliefs. The peace in the surroundings is much appreciated by everyone visiting even if they don’t have any religious inclinations.

5. Indian Museum

What’s Special: Collection of Buddha Paintings

Nearby Attractions: Eden Garden, Millenium Park

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

Built In: 1814

Did you know? The Indian Museum in Kolkata is the ninth oldest in the world and the largest in India. It was laid down in 1814 and is fondly known as ‘Jadughar’. It has a fine collection of relics, sculptures, and Buddha paintings that is cherished by visitors from across the country. Today the museum has 35 galleries which are further divided into 6 categories based on Anthropology, Geology, Zoology, Economic Botany, Archeology and Art. People can also spend time going through the marvelous collections of books that can be found in the in-house library or purchase some from the book shop which is also located on the premises.

6. Science City

What’s Special: Largest science center in Indian Subcontinent

Nearby Attractions: PC Chandra Garden, Maritime Center

Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM

Built In: 1997

This is the largest science center in the subcontinent and one of the largest museums in the world. The place is divided into various sections and one of them is aquatics where one can learn all about fish and other living beings out there. There is also an aquarium where people can spot some of the most exotic fish here. There is also a section of optical illusion which is especially a hit among children.

7. Eden Gardens

What’s Special: Cricket Ground

Nearby Attractions: Babughat Park, Indian Museum

Built By: Governer General Auckland

Built In: 1864

This is a very popular cricket stadium in Kolkata where international cricket between various teams takes place. It covers 50 acres of land and has seats for 66000 plus people. There are also garden outside where people can feel close to mother nature and spot some of the most beautiful flowers and several trees. People must visit this place without fail and see the beauty that it has to offer.

How To Reach

By Air

Major airline carriers like Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, etc have regular flights to Kolkata from major Indian cities including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, among others. It is the easiest to take a Kolkata trip via air because the flights are mostly direct and of short duration.

By Train

There are two major railway stations in Kolkata- Howrah, and Sealdah that are connected to the major bigger stations in India. If you reach Sealdah, take a prepaid taxi to Kolkata city. Taxis and autorickshaws are available from the Howrah station to whichever part of the city you want to reach.

By Road

You can get buses to Kolkata from all parts of India. From the capital city, Delhi once can reach Kolkata from NH 19, which almost takes a day. Alternatively, one can also take taxis but the journeys could be a lot more cumbersome.

Best Time To Visit

Winter (October - March)

The peak time for travelers to visit Kolkata, the temperature ranges between 15-29 degrees Celsius. The days are pleasant while the nights are lower, making it much better. There could be a slight nip in the air so carry jackets on your Kolkata tour at this time. Don’t be surprised if you find a lot of people here during this time.

Monsoon (July - September)

This is the time of the year when you will find rains and storms in Kolkata. But, if you love rains, then you must definitely book your Kolkata tour package during this time.

Summers (April - June)

The temperature averages to 35 degrees Celcius during this time. The weather is quite hot & humid. However, you can book your package during this time as well.