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Kolkata the city of joy is known as the cultural capital of India. The former capital of India (till 1912), located on the eastern bank of Hooghly River is a prime business hub of eastern India and one of the metro cities.
People of Kolkata are known for their culture, diverse food, enthusiasm, love, and friendly behavior. Kolkata is a pioneer in drama, arts, theatre, and our world-famous film industry.
Famous Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi said, “You want your city clean and green, stick to Delhi. You want your city rich and impersonal, go to Bombay. You want them hi-tech and full of draught beer, Bangalore’s your place. But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta”. The quote cannot be more appropriate to describe Kolkata here you will find high rises, educational hubs, business hubs, and even party hubs but the people of Kolkata make it so different from other cities from India. Ground to earth and well connected to their roots they will prefer Rabindrasangeet any day over k-pop. They will prefer “nukkar ki chai” over Starbucks, shopping in Newmarket over big shopping malls, and eating fish with hands rather than a fork.
This city has to offer so much more to explore than you could ever imagine. So here are Top 10 must-visit places in Kolkata:
1.Victoria memorial
Victoria memorial is a beautiful British architecture standing tall in the heart of the city. Built-in between 1906-1921, dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, the former Empress of India is now a popular tourist spot, now converted into a museum under the ministry of culture.
Location: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Timings: 10 am-5 pm
Entry fee: Indians – INR 30
Foreigners – INR 200
2.Indian museum
Indian museum is the ninth oldest museum in the world that is the largest museum in India, and also known as the imperial museum art Calcutta. Founded in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, this museum has an antique and rare collection of armors, ornaments, fossils, mummies, skeleton, and Mughal paintings. It is a two-story building comprising 35 galleries of art, culture, and different artifacts.
Location: 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Fire Brigade Head Quarter, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016
Timings: 10am-5 pm
Entry fee: Indians – INR 20
Foreigner – INR 500
3.Science city
Science city is the largest science center of India, managed by the national council of science museum, ministry of culture. Comprising Space Odyssey, science exploration hall, Dynamotion hall, Evolution Park Theme Tour, Maritime Centre, and Earth Exploration Hall, this is one of the best places to visit in Kolkata in terms of science and technology.
Location: JBS Haldane Ave, Mirania Gardens, East Topsia, Topsia, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046
Timings: 9 am-9 pm
Entry fee: INR 15 to INR 80 (depending on activities)
4.Eco park
Eco Park is an urban park located in Newtown. So far it is the biggest park in India, expanded over an area of 480 acres that is surrounded by a water body of 104 acres with an island in the heart of it. The park comprises of three sections, ecological zone, theme gardens, and urban recreational spaces. One of the major attractions, the park displays a copy of seven wonders in the world.
Location: Major Arterial Road (South-East, Biswa Bangla Sarani, AA II, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700156
Timings: 2.30 pm-8.30 pm (Monday closed)
Entry fee: INR 30 (excluding activities)
Major Arterial Road (South-East, Biswa Bangla Sarani, AA II, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700156
5.Fort William
Fort William is a fort built by the British government on the eastern bank of Hooghly River. Named after King William III the fort has a large Maidan in front of it, which was the largest park in the city. Later it became the black hole of Calcutta as once it was a temporary jail to haul prisoners. Today it is the headquarter of the Indian army eastern command. The fort has a museum displaying artifacts from the Indo-Pakistan war (1971) and Bangladesh liberation war.
Location: Maidan, Fort William, Hastings, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021
Timings: 10am-5.30 pm
Entry fee: free
6.Jorasanko Thakur bari
Jorasanko Thakur Bari is the ancestral home of World famous Rabindranath Tagore, the first European noble laureate. He spent most of his childhood in this house. The house currently serves as the Tagore museum and restored to its vintage look, the way the household actually looked. Thakur bari currently includes the premises of Rabindra Bharati University. Other than the museum, the university organizes different cultural events on this birth and death anniversaries.
Location: Ganesh Talkies, 267, Rabindra Sarani, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007
Timings: 10.30 am-5 pm
Entry fee: INR 10
7.Mother House
Mother House or the missionaries of charity is a catholic church established by mother Teresa in 1950. Currently comprising 5167 sisters the institution has several braches all over the world, serving with the same vision of selfless devotion and serving the needy. The primary motto of the organization is to help the poor, addicts, physically and mentally challenged people and a free school for kids. The house has the major attraction tomb of Mother Teresa alongside it has an exhibition displaying of her lifelong works and belongings.
Location: 54A, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Rd, Ripon Street, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016
Timings: 8 am-12 pm, 3 am-6 pm (Thursday closed)
Entry fee: free
8.Dakshineswar kali temple
Dakshineswar kali temple is a magnificent Hindu temple of the goddess kali, located at the eastern bank of Hoogly River. A devotee Rani Rashmoni built the temple in 1855, and it is renowned for its association with Shree Ramakrishna and maa Sarada Devi. The temple has nine-spired main temples and a vast courtyard. It also comprises the bathing ghat, a temple of Radha-Krishna, twelve shiva shrines, and a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni.
Location: Dakshineswar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700076
Timings: 6 am- 12:30 pm, 3 pm – 8:30 pm
Entry fee: free
9.Belur math
Belur math, established by the pioneer of the youth Swami Vivekananda in 1983, is the headquarters of Ramakrishna math and mission. Located in the west bank of Hooghly River in Belur, it is notable for its architecture that fuses motifs of Hindu, Islamic, Christian, and Buddhist as a symbol of unity of all religions. The tranquil and blissful surroundings will help you seek your inner peace.
Location: Belur, Howrah, West Bengal 711202
Timings: 9–11 am, 4–6 pm
Entry fee: free
10.Park street
Park street is the life of the city it is and perfect location comprising high rises, showrooms, buildings, cenotaphs, and figures from the British Raj era. The location of this place has contributed to its urbanized environment and high crowd density. Know as a party hub, this place serves many major hotels, plazas, and mansions. If you are seeking nightlife in Kolkata, this is the place for you.
Location: Park Street, Kolkata.
Timings: NA
Entry fee: Nil
