Kolkata - West Bengal
Discover Kolkata
Kolkata is a thriving city famous for its culture, cuisine and historical monuments. Often referred to as the City of Joy, it is also known for its unique ‘adda’, a freestyle exchange of socio-political ideas and intellectual debate that is enthusiastically engaged in, in public spaces over a cup of steaming chai.
Kolkata is India’s artistic, cultural and intellectual capital and has a fantastic range of sights waiting for you to explore. Formerly known as Calcutta, India’s 3rd largest city is a charming metropolis where colonial-era architecture collides with new town suburbs. Sample Bengali cuisine, inhale wonderful fragrances at the flower market or marvel at the exhibits in the Indian Museum, there is plenty to do for everyone in this 330-year old city of surprises.
Things to do in Kolkata
The charming metropolis is bursting with sights to see, including
- The Victoria Memorial
- St Paul’s Cathedral – This stunning gothic cathedral was built in the eighteenth century to accommodate Calcutta’s growing European community and is the largest cathedral in east India. St Paul’s Cathedral was the first Episcopal Church in Asia and the first cathedral built in the overseas territory of the British Empire. Inside you’ll find intricate architecture, stained glass windows and turrets and a display of plastic art forms and memorabilia.
- The Indian Museum – It’s easy to while away several hours in the fascinating Indian Museum, an impressive showcase of Indian heritage, history and culture. The largest museum in India and in the Asia-Pacific region, it houses rare collections of antiques, armour, fossils, Mughal paintings, mummies, ornaments and skeletons. There are also galleries dedicated to sculptures from the Gandhara School of art, architectural remains from Bodhgaya and coins.
- The colourful Mullik Ghat Flower Market – This vibrant floral market is in full bloom with its beautiful flowers around the clock. Visit in the early morning to see enormous deliveries of flowers being auctioned off to retailers, and the market workers leaving their makeshift shacks to bathe in the river. Stay until 7 am to watch local wrestlers practice their moves in the nearby ring.
- Colourful markets and stalls selling Bangali crafts
The best way to see Kolkata
If you would like to visit Kolkata, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ATOL and ABTA protected holidays? Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you.
Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.
