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HOLIDAY TOURS IN KOLKATA, INDIA

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The former capital of British India, Kolkata is an eclectic mix of colonial buildings, vast parks, temples, galleries, museums and mega-malls. Long regarded as India’s cultural and intellectual heart, this West Bengal metropolis has something for everyone.

See:

Victoria Memorial – This impressive white marble building was completed in 1921 as a memorial to Queen Victoria. With informative galleries depicting the highs and lows of the British Raj in India, this is Kolkata’s best-known attraction.
Kalighat Temple – Devoted to the often-violent goddess Kali, this temple is a site for animal sacrifices, and has been visited by pilgrims since the 16th century.
Indian Museum – The city’s main museum offers a fascinating range of displays on natural history, archaeology, modern art, armour, botany and more.
Park Street Cemetery – Take a wander through Kolkata’s colonial past at this historic cemetery, the final resting place of many important city figures.
St Paul’s Cathedral – Located at the southern end of the Maidan (Kolkata’s main park), this impressive Anglican church features some lovely stained glass panels.
Botanical Gardens – Covering over 100 hectares along the Hooghly River, these peaceful gardens feature orchids, palms, cacti, bamboo and a massive 250-year-old Banyan tree.

Experience:

Cricket – Don’t pass up a chance to see a cricket match in sports-mad Kolkata. The famous Eden Gardens stadium hosts occasional international matches, as well as the city’s glamorous Indian Premier League team – the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Belur Math – This huge riverside religious centre was set up by 19th-century philosopher Ramakrishna, and is devoted to the unity of all world religions. You can wander around the compound’s peaceful shrines and temples, which combine Muslim, Hindu and Christian symbols.
Bengali sweets – Kolkata is one of the best places in India to sample traditional sweets. These colourful delights contain milk, sugar, honey and nuts, and are notoriously irresistible.

Secrets of the City:

Musical Instruments – The workshops along Rabindra Sarani are some of the best places in India to buy traditional handmade instruments, such as the sitar, tabla (Indian drums) or esraj (Indian violin).
SBI Banking Museum – On the 11th floor of the State Bank of India’s head office, this mini-museum provides an engrossing look back at two centuries of finance in India.

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