Best tourist places in Kolkata

Best tourist places in Kolkata

Kolkata is blessed with many attractions that offer a unique experience to every visitor. The city has many attractions to keep the visitors happily engaged. From lush gardens, serene lakes, historic buildings, museums, libraries, and sports stadiums to ancient temples and churches, Kolkata has countless places to visit. Shopping streets, amusement parks, and mouth-watering eateries make sightseeing more attractive. With all these and more, a trip to Kolkata is sure to impress every traveler.

Best places to visit in Kolkata

1. Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

A striking white monument, the Victoria Memorial is one of Kolkata's must-sees, and for good reason. It now serves as a museum and is for generation buffs. If you ever want to take a walk into our past and reflect on how far India has come from its colonial days, check out this place. The light and sound display is occupied in the evening. The era of India's freedom struggle is depicted not only through light and sound shows but also through various paintings, artworks, sculptures, and books. We would confer spending at least 3-4 hours to reach lessons about our country's past.

Time: The museum is open from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm;

The museum Closed on Mondays and National Holidays

The garden is open from 05:30 am to 06:15 pm; every day

Entry Fee:Museum - Rs 20 for Indians; ₹500 for foreign nationals

Garden – ₹10 per person

 

Howrah Bridge, Kolkata

Howrah Bridge is one of the top places to visit in Kolkata. It is an unofficial symbol of the city, the Howrah Bridge is worth a visit if you want to spend some alone time with the river in front of you.  Sit quietly here or simply watch the fishermen at work in the morning and evening.

Trivia: Did you know that the bridge was named after Rabindranath Tagore and is now called Rabindra Setu.

Park Street, Kolkata

If posting pictures of brunch with your best is your thing, head to Park Street. Park Street has become the center for people who want to chill out in the evening.  From high-end restaurants to iconic clubs and pubs, this place has it all.

Trivia: Park Street is also known as home to India's first independent nightclub.

New Market, Kolkata

Built by the British in 1874, New Market is the place where all shoppers go to find the best clothes, jewelry, and other items. One of the must-see places for young people in Kolkata, the market is a maze of stalls and has around 2000 of them. If you can haggle and have a good eye for items, this market is perfect for you.

Pro tip: If you can't shop in crowded places, avoid the area on weekends. Check out Kolkata malls

Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata

The temple is devoted to Bhavatarani, a prospect of Goddess Kali and the 'savior of the universe'. One of the oldest and most important temples built, it receives pilgrims from all over the world. The temple was founded by Queen Rashmani, who lost her husband and left behind a huge amount of wealth. The idea of building this temple came to him in his dream and it was his last work before going on pilgrimage to Varanasi.

Historical Places In India

Unique places to visit in Kolkata

Princep Ghat

Kolkata's Princep Ghat is located on the banks of the Ganga and overlooks the riverbank. It was built in 1841 in memory of the eminent Anglo-Indian scholar and antiquarian James Prinsep. The monument, designed by W. Fitzgerald, is still among the top attractions in Kolkata.

Prinsep Ghat also offers a beautiful view of the Ganges and the Second Hooghly Bridge. There is ample seating nearby for travelers who want to stroll and relax by the riverside. You can enjoy some amazing fast food from nearby stalls while marveling at the monuments and nearby rivers.

Birla Planetarium

Birla Planetarium is one of the famous places in Kolkata, frequented by tourists and locals alike. The building draws inspiration from the famous Buddhist Stupa of Sanchi. It is located next to St. Paul's Cathedral in the Maidan and near the Victoria Memorial. Inaugurated in 1962 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the planetarium is still active and invites tourists to explore its premises. You can choose to browse through its galleries and even sit in for the regularly conducted shows inside. The place is easily accessible by road and even by metro. You can visit Birla Planetarium daily from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The entry fee is 100 INR per head.

 

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata is located near the Birla Planetarium and Victoria Memorial. It is an old cathedral from the 19th century. The church was inspired by the Neo-Gothic style and is the largest church in Kolkata. The cathedral celebrates Christmas with great festivities and receives hundreds of locals and tourists.

You can combine the cathedral tour with Birla Planetarium and Victoria Memorial to make the most of the day by exploring nearby Kolkata attractions. You can wander around the streets and relax on its premises to escape the summer heat.

 

The best area to stay in Kolkata for tourists

Kolkata's best area for tourists is Chowrangi (Jawaharlal Nehru) Road

Many attractions in the city center are along Chowrangi Road or within walking distance. This main road stretches alongside Maidan Park, with magnificent cathedrals, ruins (such as castles), and numerous sports facilities. The road leads north to the BBD Bagh district (the former colonial hub with scattered buildings in narrow lanes) and south to the largest and oldest Indian museum in the country. (Built nearly 300 years ago, Calcutta offers no pre-colonial sights.)

Kolkata's best area for shopping: Park Street

The sidewalks along Chowrangi Road are lined with stalls, while the wide New market Road stretches across several blocks behind. Shopping is even more relaxing and enjoyable along the surprisingly trendy Park Street, which is lined with inviting bookstores, glittering jewelers, trendy boutiques, Western-style supermarkets, and European-style stylish bistros. The less glamorous shops and stalls lining the lanes of Park Street are the places to haggle over the silk sarees and terracotta wares for which Calcutta is famous.

Kolkata city has many sightseeing places. It welcomes tourists with the city's fascinating art, gorgeous architecture, amazing culture, and eloquent literature. It is the best destination for shutterbugs, where they can find plenty of places for the perfect photo. The city is popular for its magnificent temples, historical monuments, local shopping complexes, and many other attractions where you can explore the culture of Kolkata.