Visiting Kolkata for the first time and planning to stay here for a day or two? Then, you got to explore every nook and cranny of this city until you are fully satiated. Also known as the city of joy, Kolkata is inundated with a hell lot of interesting places to visit and points of attraction to overawe you.
Earlier known as Calcutta, Kolkata was the capital of India during the colonial rule until Delhi got this accolade later on. Turning up here in Kolkata means leaving behind some fond memories of joy, ecstasy and happiness. Hopefully, this Kolkata travel guide and itinerary will give you a clear idea about the city and the kind of fun experiences await you down the road. Continue reading to check out the most interesting and fun things to do in Kolkata including places to visit and foods to eat.
Best notable places to visit in Kolkata
There are many prominent tourist attractions near Kolkata that makes it tourworthy.
Here are a few of the best fun places you can consider visiting in Kolkata.
Indian Museum
Founded in 1814, Indian Museum is one of the biggest and the most versatile museums one would ever come across. Popularly known as ”Jadughar”, here you will see a host of ancient sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Buddha relics, old as well as contemporary paintings including the eminent Mughal paintings too.
Time to visit: Open every day except for Monday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. (December to February) and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (March to November)
Nearest Metro Station: Park Street Metro or Esplanade
Entry Fee: INR 500 (for foreign visitors) and INR 20 (for Indian visitors)
You can book online tickets by visiting the official website of the Kolkata Museum.
Dalhousie Square
During the British era, the Dalhousie Square was known as the ”White Town”, a sobriquet fondly given by the colonial dignitaries at that time.
While exploring this particular part of Kolkata, you will come across several buildings that are rich in heritage and architecture. Let’s say there is the Raj Bhavan, Lal Dighi and Company Stables wherein you can take a peek and be left lost for words.
Spending some time inside the St. John’s Church can also be a great idea. On top of everything, listen to the interesting tales that are associated with each of these captivating places. All in all, exploring Dalhousie Square to the fullest will surely give you goosebumps.
Victoria Memorial
Coming to Kolkata and not visiting the Victoria Memorial is something that is simply not done. Made totally of white marble, Victoria Memorial exudes a great deal of opulence and luxury all around.
Spread across an area of sixty-four acres, it had primarily been built by the British in memoriam of Queen Victoria and her twenty-five years of rule across the whole of India. The moment you visit this historically prominent heritage in Kolkata, you will see lush green gardens everywhere that are sure to blow your mind.
The best time to visit Victoria Memorial is during winter. As you will see an influx of tourists dispersed in every nook and cranny of this building. So, if you have an innate fondness for antique pieces and some spectacular paintings, then Victoria Memorial is where you must visit without a miss.
Nearest Metro Station: Maidan Metro
Time to Visit: The Victoria Memorial Hall, including the main museum remains open from 10 am in the morning till 5 pm in the evening. Besides, the Garden remains open from 5.30 am in the morning till 6.15 pm every day. On Mondays, the museum remains totally closed.
Kalighat Temple
Kalighat Temple is one of the most iconic temples located in the heart of Kolkata. Goddess Kali is the primary deity who is worshipped here every day. Considered the sole guardian of the city, the long golden tongue that juts out of her mouth makes her strikingly different in the eyes of thousands of visitors turning up daily.
Interestingly, the Kalighat Kali Temple is believed to be one of the fifty-two shakti peethas as Devi Sati’s right foot fell here during Lord Shiva’s Rudra Tandava. You too can pay a visit to this temple, offer your prayers and seek divine blessings from Goddess Kali.
However, you need to be quite wary of your belongings while you are out here. Purchase your offerings and other ingredients only from the local shops to ensure your Puja is done smoothly and without any hassle.
Nearest Metro Station: Kalighat Metro Station or Jatin Das Park metro station
Time to visit: The temple remains open from 5 AM in the morning till 2 PM in the afternoon. It again reopens 5 PM in the evening and closes around 10.30 PM at night.
Entry Fee: Nil
Best places to stay in Kolkata
Getting a stupendous accommodation in Kolkata for you and your family is not a hassle at all. Take a peek into the plethora of options out there and you are never short of choices. With that said, below are the top five hotels where you can stay solo or with your friends or family.
Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Regency exemplifies luxury and elegance in the finest possible way. Feel the tranquility everywhere as you get all the imperative amenities essential for a modern-day living. A fifteen minutes drive from the IT hub, Hyatt Regency is situated just next to the Salt Lake Stadium. Prices are as affordable as INR 5400 and may vary depending on your tailored needs and requirements.
The Oberoi Grand
Situated amidst New Market area, the primary business hub of Kolkata, the Oberoi Grand is the home to a captivating spa, gym and outdoor pool. Apart from just getting round-the-clock room service, complimentary parking, free Wi-Fi facilities and four seater dining options are some of the other privileges that you can expect after turning up here.
The Rajbari Bawali
If you are looking for a fun place to stay, just a little away from Kolkata, then Rajbari Bawali is the place to consider for staying. One of the most distinct features of Rajbari Bawali is the elongated terrace that it boasts. Located thirty km from Nandan and twenty-eight km from the Kalighat temple, it comprises an outdoor pool and an amazing garden to astound all its guests.
That apart, you will also get privileges like free Wi-Fi and twenty-four-hour room and front-desk services to name just a few.
Taj Bengal
Want to get the feel of a typical five-star luxury hotel during a short stay in Kolkata? Then, Taj Bengal awaits your arrival as fast as possible. Created within the landscaped grounds of downtown Kolkata, Taj Bengal boasts some of the most discerning rooms ever!
Also, you will get privileges like the six restaurants, free parking facility and 24/7 gym to name a few. Gastronomic enthusiasts will love this place as well since it is home to the eminent Cal-27 – The Coffee Shop where a wide array of international delicacies is served round-the-clock.
This is not the end as you will get authentic Chinese dishes at Chinoiserie, Eastern Mediterranean specialties at Souk and afternoon tea at Promenade Lounge. In a word, a stay in Taj Bengal for a few days or more will get you that opulent and deluxe experience that you have been waiting for so long.
ITC Sonar
To get a variety of feasible hotel services, come to ITC Sonar at least for once. Having two thirty-seven rooms in total, each room has a seating zone and minibar to satiate your personalized needs.
Besides, you can expect some additional perks too as soon as you turn up in ITC Sonar. Five-seater dining options, outdoor swimming pool, well-equipped bathrooms and electric kettles being only a few of them.
Coming to its location, it is situated not more than 4.5 km away from the Sealdah Railway Station and five hundred meters from the Science City Bus Station. The staff out here are friendly, and you will certainly fall for the traditional interior that this hotel is embellished with.
Explore the best places to eat in Kolkata
Apart from being the city of joy, Kolkata can be termed as the city of gastronomy as well. This sobriquet is something Kolkata has earned over the years due to its diverse culinary culture and a spirit to evolve with new and unconventional recipes every day. So, once you are out for your Kolkata trip, do tickle your taste buds at some of these eateries and restaurants.
Arsalan Restaurant
Arsalan Restaurant is situated in a prime location of Kolkata. Particularly, people who are fond of Mughlai cuisine will find this restaurant really enticing as they serve some of the finest Mughlai foods that are hard to get anywhere else in the city.
Tuck into their lip-smacking delicacies that remind you of the quintessential Persian food items that would be served in the royal kitchens of the Mughal Emperors and the way they’d salivate it.
In fact, the main reason for which so many people would overcrowd the Arsalan Restaurant is for its Biriyanis. Interestingly, one would get various types of Biriyanis out here including chicken biriyani, mutton biriyani and Hydrabadi Biriyani etc.
That apart, mouth-watering kebabs and chaanps are also some of the dishes that you can relish once in Arsalan.
Kewpie’s Kitchen
Do you want to get the essence of a typical Bengali household while indulging in a sumptuous gastronomic delight with your friends or family? Then, come to Kewpie’s Kitchen at least for once. Rakhi Purnima Dasgupta is the chief chef out here, serving freshly prepared Bengali meals that too within an opulent yet comfy ambience.
Miss Rakhi learnt the recipes from her Mother Meenakshi Dasgupta, who was a former chef and her sole inspiration behind all the hard word and success of Kewpie’s Kitchen. Amongst the many dishes that are served here, the Thali platter is the most distinguished.
It’s basically a combination of small delicacies that are served in well-embellished Terracotta pots. However, the service they offer might get a bit intermittent at times, but, to get the flavor of Bengali cuisine and culture from its core, arriving at Kewpie’s Kitchen would be a second-to-none choice.
6 Ballygunge Place
Are you on the lookout for a full-course Bengali meal? If you say yes, then 6 Ballygunge Place is where you must be heading. Situated in a Bunglow more than hundred years old, you will see a host of old Kolkata images, once you step inside this eatery in south Kolkata.
In particular, Daab Chingri (prawns cooked inside Coconut using mustard paste) and Kasha Mangsho (a spicy preparation of mutton) are two of the most well-known dishes for which 6, Ballygunge Place has become so revered in due course.
Oh! Calcutta
If you are up for a holistic menu then Oh! Calcutta is the best place to knock at. Starting from smoked Bhetki, smoked Hilsa to that of the traditional Bengali sweets like Rasgulla and Mishti Doi, here you will get everything that Kolkatans can’t imagine their day without.
Aside from that, you can try out their popular date palm jaggery ice cream as well, a dessert item that gets the maximum appreciation from Oh! Calcutta’s customers and owners alike.
Nahoum and Sons
David Illias Nahoum was the chief owner of the Nahoum and Sons Confectionary Shop. It was founded by Nahoum Israel in 1902 who migrated to India all the way from Baghdad and who had a Jewish-Iraqi genesis.
Starting from that time till now, the tradition of freshly baked breads, pastries, brownies and biscuits has remained the same. And it’s all possible because of Isaac, David Nahoum’s brother, who had taken the initiative to pass on their customary practice of baking to their next generations.
Must check out Kolkata’s famous Decker’s lane
Apart from just dining out in the beautifully decorated restaurants in Kolkata, Kolkata street foods are something you can’t miss out on while residing in the city. Whether it’s the lip-smacking Singara (Samosas), the dainty Jhal Muri or the delectable Phuchkas, you are never short of street food items while exploring every nook and cranny of this Metropolis.
One such spot for street food lovers is the Decker’s lane. Here you will see an eclectic range of street stalls selling sumptuous delicacies that have originated from various street foods in India as well as outside the country.
Try out the popular chana-kulcha, chola bhatura, lassi, dosa, biriyani, chowmein and kathi rolls, especially those kebab rolls such as Burrito etc. In a word, your Kolkata sojourn is totally incomplete if you haven’t tasted the toothsome street foods scattered all over the city.
Nizam’s
Want to dig into the Kathi rolls in Kolkata? In that case, come to Nizam’s and taste their delectable kathi rolls since they are considered to be the sole inventor of this dish. You may wonder what kathi rolls are all about.
Well, they are basically fried and rolled up Paranthas with stuffings of onions, spicy meat, chilies and fried eggs etc. that resemble almost a burrito. So, if kathi rolls are something you are looking for, then why not visit the best place to taste it, needless to say, Nizam’s.
Experience famous sweet shops in Kolkata
You will hardly find a Kolkatan who can imagine their day without sweets. More popularly called mishtis, sweets are what reside in the heart of every Kolkata dweller to say the least. Although many new sweet shops have cropped up in the city of joy, some age-old traditional sweet vendors are striving hard to retain their legacy for all the sweet lovers out there. So, in case you are visiting Kolkata for the first time, below are some of the sweet hubs wherein you can turn up for sure.
Bhim Chandra Nag, Bowbazar
Set up by Paran Chandra Nag in 1826, Bhim Chandra Nag is a small yet sought-after sweet shop. After Bhim Chandra Nag invented the sumptuous sweet Ladikeni that derived from the name of Lady Canning, better-half of Lord Canning, the brand reached its new heights of success. Some of the must-try desserts out here are Mishti Doi, Rasgulla, Talsansh, Labanga Latika, Kosturi and Sonpapri etc.
Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick Sweets
This sweet shop has many wings that are spread all across the city. Nevertheless, the Bhowanipore outlet is undoubtedly considered the best. Dating back all the way to 1885, with time it evolved into the most popular sweet-selling brand and now has its own online store too. Amongst the traditional specialties, you would love to dig into ”Langcha, Pantua, Kalojam and Jalbhara. Some of their recent inventions include Baked Rasgulla, Baked Doi and Mousumi Sandesh that are a must-try.
Nobin Chandra Das and Sons
Nobin Chandra Das is regarded as an acclaimed nineteenth century dessert connoisseur. In fact, he is believed to be the inventor of the famous sweet rasgulla. Columbus of Rosogolla and Father of Rosogolla are some of the other pseudonyms that Mr. Das got as a creator of this mind-boggling dessert. You must try out their Rasmalai, Kalakand, Jolbhora Sandesh, Talsansh, Kheer Kadam and not to mention Kolkata’s world famous rasgulla.
Putiram, College Street
Have you been a regular visitor of the College street area ever since your childhood? Then, you must be thoroughly familiar with this traditional sweet shop. Just like any other age-old sweet vendor, Putiram also dates back to 1852 and is situated quite close to the City College of Commerce.
The simple yet enticing atmosphere of this sweet shop will compel you to come here time and again. Malpoa, Kalojam, Danadar, Rasgullas and Stuffed Gulab Jamuns are some of the sweets that you can’t afford to miss when in Putiram.
Sen Mahasay, Hatibagan
Mr. Ashutosh Sen had founded Sen Mahasay in 1897 and since then it has set a benchmark for both sweet lovers and creators alike. Kanthal Sandesh, Manohara, Kheerer Chop, Darbesh, Chom Chom, Malai Chop, Chitrakut and Kesar Bhog are some of the most craved-for desserts out here.
If savory items are more your thing, then why not give a try to the dainty Radhaballabhi? Made of fragrant spices and urad dal, it is considered a subtler and less spicy version of the typical puris of Kolkata.
These Radhaballabhis are also a bit fluffier and bigger than the quintessential Bengali kochuris. So, to fine dine with your entire family, pay a visit to Sen Mahasay this time without a miss.
Over to you
Kolkata is a beautiful city with a glorious past. Whether you love arts, you are interested in culture or you want to experience some of the best street foods and delicacies, Kolkata will definitely surprise you. If you are visiting Kolkata then consider this checklist of best things to do in Kolkata and share your experiences with us.