ATTRACTIONS & PLACES TO VISIT IN KOLKATA

A city shaped by literature, music, art and a spirited culture of ‘adda’ - informal gatherings for intellectual exchange and banter - Kolkata brings together colonial landmarks, museums, historic tramlines and a richly varied culinary landscape.

HOWRAH BRIDGE

Officially known as Rabindra Setu, Howrah Bridge is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world. Spanning the Hooghly River, it connects Howrah and Kolkata, carrying over 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians each day. Walk across this engineering and cultural landmark to take in the energy of the riverfront and the constant movement that defines the city.

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DAKSHINESWAR KALI TEMPLE

Set along the banks of the Ganga, the 19th century, striking ochre-hued temple was founded by Rani Rashmoni, a noted philanthropist and devotee of Goddess Kali. It stands within a spacious riverside complex with other shrines, a bathing ghat and rooms where Ramakrishna Paramahamsa - the Bengali mystic, who served as the temple’s head priest - and his wife Sarada Devi, resided. Admire the temple’s distinctive navratna (nine-spired) architecture, attend the evening aarti, and consider a short ferry ride at sunset for evocative views of the temple from the river.

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INDIAN MUSEUM

Established in 1814 under the auspices of the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum is the oldest and largest multipurpose museum in India and the Asia-Pacific region. Spread across three floors, it houses 35 galleries divided into six distinct sections - Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Economic Botany. Among its most popular exhibits is a 4,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, displayed on the second floor.

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KUMARTULI POTTERS COLONY

Set along the Hooghly, Kumartuli is a historic artisan quarter and a haven for photographers. It is home to over 500 workshops where skilled potters - known as kumors - create lifelike idols of Hindu deities using clay sourced from the Ganga. Renowned for crafting the idols of Goddess Durga for Bengal’s most significant festival, Durga Puja, the process remains rooted in tradition, using khori mati (a fine clay), natural colours and adhesives derived from tamarind seeds.

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SCIENCE CITY

One of the largest science centres in the Indian subcontinent, Science City spans a 50-acre campus comprising a science museum, park and auditoriums. Scientific concepts are presented through interactive exhibits and immersive experiences designed for all ages. Step into a virtual world within a capsule simulator, explore dioramas tracing the evolution of life, and visit the Fulldome 3D digital theatre - one of the first of its kind in India - to experience Fulldome films and planetarium shows.

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BIRLA PLANETARIUM

Since its inauguration in 1962, Birla Planetarium - India’s first planetarium - has designed and presented over 300 programmes spanning astronomy, astrophysics, celestial studies, space science and mythology. Engage with its visual shows and interactive exhibits or attend sessions and lectures hosted at its well-equipped seminar hall.

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PRINSEP GHAT

Built in 1841 along the banks of the Hooghly, Prinsep Ghat commemorates Anglo-Indian scholar James Prinsep. Framed by classical colonial architecture, it is a popular spot for riverside walks and boat rides, with views of the adjacent bridge stretching across the river. By evening, the monument and bridge are illuminated, often accompanied by the strains of Rabindra Sangeet - songs written and composed by Rabindranath Tagore - adding a distinct cultural note to the setting.

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JORASANKO THAKUR BARI (TAGORE HOUSE)

The ancestral residence of the Tagore family - leaders of the Bengal Renaissance, pioneers in business and major patrons of arts and culture - Jorasanko Thakur Bari has been converted into a museum dedicated to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It houses personal letters, first-edition books and archival material tracing his life and work. The collection also includes furniture, utensils, artworks, photographs and documents that offer insight into the lifestyle of the most influential family in 19th-century Kolkata.

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EDEN GARDENS

India’s oldest cricket stadium and one of the largest in the world, Eden Gardens is both a sporting landmark and a green expanse in the heart of Kolkata. On non-match days, visitors can explore parts of the stadium, including the pitch, dressing rooms, galleries and a museum that houses rare memorabilia and artefacts from cricketing history.

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NEW MARKET

Formally known as Sir Stuart Hogg Market, New Market is a bustling shopping destination on Lindsay Street in Dharmatala. From antiques and handicrafts to clothing, jewellery and everyday essentials, it offers a wide and eclectic range under one roof.

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VICTORIA MEMORIAL

Set along Strand Road, the city’s most recognised landmark is a museum built using lustrous Makrana marble - the same natural stone used to build Agra’s Taj Mahal - while bringing together British, Mughal, Italian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architecture elements in Indo-Saracenic revivalist style. Its interiors feature a soaring central chamber and the Calcutta Gallery, which traces the city’s colonial-era history. Even without stepping inside, the 57 acres of meticulously maintained gardens offer a pleasant setting for unhurried afternoons. Among its lesser-known details are symbolic references to the subcontinent’s four rivers - Indus, Yamuna, Ganga and Krishna - as well as a 16-foot-tall bronze figure of the Angel of Victory, which rotates with the wind at higher speeds.

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