Kolkata known as the “City of Joy” is located on the banks of the Hooghly and is one of the biggest cities in India. The city has a rich history and was the capital of India till 1912. Kolkata is a vibrant and diverse city with a rich history, culture, and cuisine. The city offers a range of attractions, including historical landmarks, cultural events, and delicious food. It is one of the few cities which has remnants of British architecture and planning providing the visitors a glimpse of the era gone.
The city can be visited around the year with cultural festivals being celebrated across the year along with a variety of food. Be it the roshogolla or the Kathi rolls, the city draws food lovers from across the world. The city is a must visit for food connoisseurs, the diverse food scene has something for everyone across budget and in variety.
By Air:The Kolkata International airport better known as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport located at Dum Dum, connects the city with all the major cities of the country as well as the World.
By Train:Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata railway stations are the three major railheads situated in the city. These railway stations are well connected to all the important cities of the country. Metro rail service also runs inside the city which helps to reach different places inside the city, which is easily available to the visitors and citizens.
By Road:The state buses let the travelers to come to this city without any difficulty. There are various private buses as well to reach Kolkata from different parts of the state.
Vidyasagar Setu:Popularly also known as the ‘Second Hooghly Bridge’, Vidyasagar Setu is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India built over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. With a length of 458 m and 115 m wide, this was originally built to reduce the traffic on Howrah Bridge. This bridge was named after Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was an educationist reformer and a key contributor to the Bengal Renaissance. The bridge carries the Kona Expressway (or NH 117) and connects Howrah to Kolkata. The mesmerizing view of this bridge from the Hooghly River has led to multiple movie shootings with the bridge as a backdrop.
Rabindra SadanIt was 62 years ago, in the year 1961 that one of the oldest cultural hubs of India sprouted in Kolkata, which would become the most iconic stages of performing arts in the country. The auditorium, which is located near Nandan Cinema on the Belvedere Road, was named Rabindra Sadan, in honor of Kolkata’s very own literature icon and Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. The auditorium was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. The center has been the hub and principal venue for Kolkata Film Festival. It was started as a single stage auditorium, has now extended to becoming a full-fledged cultural complex centre with various other theatres and stages. The visitors of Rabindra Sadan include people from all over the globe who come here to witness the vibrant tradition and cultural traits, dance, drama, theatre, and other art and photography exhibitions that are regularly held here.
Bengali fine arts:West Bengal is the pioneer of modern art in India. Rabindranath Tagore, Abarentranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, and Gaganendranath Tagore, with their painting introduced the concept of Modern Art in India. Their ground breaking works inspired and encouraged the subsequent generation of artists to break free from all preconceived notions and to forge their way in evolving this fine art.
Victoria Memorial Hall:The Victoria Memorial Hall is one of the most Iconic landmarks of the city of Kolkata, located in the heart of the city. It showcases the British architecture and planning and resonates its influence on the city’s architecture. The Hall was constructed in memory of the deceased Queen Victoria by Viceroy Lord Curzon and dedicated to art history. The monument is constructed entirely of white marble and is also one of India’s largest and oldest museum libraries. Home to 28,934 artefacts and 3900 paintings, the hall is also surrounded by 21 gardens. The monument allows the tourists to absorb the city’s heritage and discover echoes of the history. It is also a perfect spot for families to enjoy picnics local street food, horse carriage rides among several other activities.
Eco Park:Eco Park is one of the largest urban parks in India, the park has been planned to promote ecotourism in the city. The park is spread across 475 acres and comprises of a lake along with several acres of lush greenery. It has activities that cater to all age groups and an ideal place to carry out outdoor activities with friends and families. Some of the offerings of the park include duo cycling, kayaking, zorbing, rifle shooting, high speed boating, e – bikes etc. Apart from activities the park also comprises of models of the Seven Wonders, Japanese Garden, Children’s Eco Park, Floating Musical Fountain, Butterfly Garden, Play Area, eco island amongst others. The park is surrounded by the water body with an island in the center. The island is ideal for picnickers and people seeking a quick break from everyday life.
Indian Museum:Indian Museum is the ninth-oldest museum in the world and the largest museum in India. It features a wide range of exhibits that showcase the country’s rich history and cultural heritage. Some of the highlights of the museum include the Egyptian mummy, the Buddhist stupa, and the Indian Gallery, which displays a wide range of ancient artifacts and sculptures. The museum also has a natural history section, which features a collection of rare and exotic animals and plants. The Museum also features some of the unique one of the most unusual collections of Indian sculptures and coins from the second century AD. Overall, the Indian Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning more about India's past and present.
Kalighat Kali:Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata is regarded as the holiest Shaktipeeth or pith of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati's body are said to have fallen, during Shiva's Rudra Tandava. The original temple was built by Raja Basanta Roy, who was the uncle of Pratapaditya and the King of Jessore (Bangladesh). The original temple was built on the banks of Hooghly; however, the river has shifted away from the temple over the period. In the past days, traders used to take stop at Kalighat to pay their obeisance to Goddess Kali. Situated on the banks of Adi Ganga, the temple has a sanctum sanctorum in the company of a huge hall by the name of Nat Mandir. In the north-east of this sanctum, there is a Shiva Temple. There is one more shrine dedicated to Radha Krishna. The main attraction of this temple lies in the idol of Goddess Kali that bears a long-protruded tongue made from gold.
Eden Gardens:The Eden Gardens is the mecca of cricket in East India. Established in 1864, it is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India and third largest in the world. The stadium currently has a capacity of 66,000. It is widely acknowledged to be one of the most iconic cricket stadiums in the world. It has been called “cricket’s answer to the Coliseum. It has a reputation of staging the most passionate and vocal crowd and has almost become like a place of pilgrimage for most international cricketers.