Kolkata is famously known as the City of Joy is located at the Eastern banks of the Hoogly. It is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the 3rd most populated metropolitan in India after Mumbai and Delhi. It is also the centre of the industrial revolution in India and the birthplace of the modern artistic, cultural and intellectual capital of the country. It has a vivid, hectic, chaotic street loaded with life and creativity. It has a very lively nightlife and has several bars and pubs where you can party the night away.
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Kolkata is also a landmark of Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral property which has been converted into a museum and encloses an amazing collection of family portraits and paintings. There are several ghats all over the city where you can sit and view a stunning sunset. There are many amazing places to visit in Kolkata that will help to explore its history, culture, art, and lifestyle.
10 Places to Visit in Kolkata
- Howrah Bridge
- Victoria Memorial
- Birla Planetarium
- Indian Museum
- Alipore Zoo
- St. Paul’s Cathedral Kolkata
- Birla Mandir
- Eco-Tourism Park
- Nicco Amusement Park
- Jorasanko Thakurbari
Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge is also known as Rabindra Setu is an iconic landmark of Kolkata and the longest cantilever bridge in the world that connects Howrah and Kolkata. It is a huge steel bridge that has been constructed over the Hooghly River. The opulence of the bridge looks stunning in the nighttime as it is all lit up. You can go for a ferry ride as it runs between Kolkata and Howrah. The scenic view of the city from the ferry, especially at night, is indeed fabulous.
It was further renamed Rabindra Setu in the year 1965, after the name of famous Bengali literary figure Rabindranath Tagore. It spreads about 1500 ft over the Hooghly River has a total of 8 lanes of strand road, bicycles, and pedestrians. The unique fact about the bridge is that it was constructed without a single nut or bolt and is held together by rivets. It is indeed one of the famous tourist places in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Major Attractions: Ferry ride
Things to Do: Photography
Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial is an iconic structure situated on the banks of the River Hoogly and was completed in 1921. It is a museum dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria. Its architectural design is a blend of Mughal and British styles. It comprises 25 galleries that enclose several antiquities and artefacts.
It is surrounded by abundant greenery and a well-maintained garden and has many statues and sculptures in it. It comprises a sixteen-foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted at the top of the memorial, serves to reflect the overall appeal and grandeur of the entire complex. It offers views that are breathtaking and amazing, especially at night, when it is illuminated. The Sound and Light shows also take place in the evening to add extra delight. It is indeed the best place to visit in Kolkata to reminisce the essence of the Victorian era in the modern-day world.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Major Attractions: Bronze statue
Things to Do: Photography
Birla Planetarium
Birla Planetarium is also known as Taramandal is located at the famous Chowringhee Road. It is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. It is a splendid edifice set up by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1963. It runs many shows and programs in various languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, and other regional languages. It also has an electronics laboratory and an astronomy gallery that has a huge collection of paintings and astronomical models.
It is an excellent tourist destination to ignite your interest in the field of science and the motion of planets. People, especially astronomy lovers, visitors from all over the world to explore the amazing shows organized here. It includes a tour of the planets, where surprising details about the planet and the other fascinating celestial bodies present in our universe are revealed. It is a testament to the mesmerizing effect of the shows when it goes on. Various pictures of popular astronauts and other celestial bodies are displayed over here. It is an amazing tourist place in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Major Attractions: Astronomy gallery
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum is the largest and the oldest and was established by a Dutch botanist in the year 1814. It comprises 6 sections which are further divided into 35 galleries and encloses a plethora of various antiquities, artefacts, paintings, mummies, etc. It is the best tourist spot for those inquisitive about history, there is also a library and bookshop present on the premises. It is indeed a popular place to visit in Kolkata that takes you back in time to witness our fascinating past with its beautiful collection.
The foundation stone of the Museum has been a centre of multidisciplinary activities. It is popularly known as ‘Jadughar’ and possesses the finest collection of contemporary paintings, holy relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies, and ancient sculptures. It also boasts of some of the most amazing collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armours, and stunning Mughal paintings.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 10:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Major Attractions: Galleries, Contemporary paintings
Things to Do: Photography
Alipore Zoo
The Alipore Zoo is famously known as the Calcutta Zoo or the Zoological Garden of Alipore is the oldest zoological park in India and is a major tourist attraction. It is perhaps popularly known for being the home of the expired Aldabra giant tortoise ‘Adwaita’, a tortoise who had lived for over 250 years. It is a great place for nature enthusiasts, or families with children, to explore the lush greenery and plentiful wildlife of the country that thrives here.
Modernization such as the addition of new glass-walled enclosures and the building of aviaries has further led to the rising popularity of this zoo. It is home to several animals and birds that includes Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, White Tiger, Grant’s Zebra, Antelope, Deer Macaws, Lorikeet, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant and Golden Pheasant, large birds like Ostrich, Emu, Hornbills and many more. It is one of the amazing tourist places in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Major Attractions: Reptile House, a Primate House, an Elephant House, and a Panther House
Things to Do: Photography
St. Paul’s Cathedral Kolkata
St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral that is managed under CNI (Church of North India). It is declared the first Episcopalian church in Asia. It is a great tourist destination for those who seek to enhance historical and architectural pleasure on their trips. This massive structure takes you down memory lane. It looks amazing during Christmas eve, when the cathedral, the lush green garden around it as well as the surrounding streets are all decorated in light and festivities.
It was constructed to accommodate the ever-increasing Christian community in Kolkata. The church architecture follows Indo-Gothic style with a white edifice, towering spire, and colourful windows. Inside, it has a massive nave, majestic altar, carvings, and paintings revealing great moments and events of Christian history. The cathedral complex also has a library section that includes books donated by founding member Bishop Wilson. It is one of the best places to visit in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Major Attractions: The library section
Things to Do: Photography
Birla Mandir
Birla Temple is a marvellous structure that embellishes the streets of Ballygunge. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The temple was constructed in sculpted white marble. Its spectacular structure is integrated with the traditional style of architecture with a modern outlook, the temple is an excellent specimen of craftsmanship and engineering genius. Its Towering domes covered in ravelled stonework and design embellish the main appearance of the temple.
Some artefacts in the temple are designed with silver and Belgian glass which imparts a splendid divinity to the shrine. It is indeed one of the eminent tourist places in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Major Attractions: Janamashtmi
Things to Do: Photography
Eco-Tourism Park
Eco-Tourism Park is a spacious urban park constructed to promote eco-tourism in the city. It is a huge urban park in India and covers over 475 acres of land. The beauty of the park is uplifted ten folds because of a water body that surrounds the park and forms an amazing island in the middle. It is an ideal tourist destination for those who are looking for a rendezvous with natural greenery and tranquillity. It is surrounded by a beautiful and well-maintained landscape. All the facilities offered inside the park are designed to lower the adverse effects on nature and to preserve the natural landscape.
The idea behind this Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata was conducted by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal. It has three major parts – the ecological zones, the gardens, and the recreational zones making. It is an excellent getaway to calm and relax your mind. They also provide cottages and conference halls that can be rented for personal or business needs. It is an amazing place to visit in Kolkatta.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Major Attractions: Ecological zones
Things to Do: Photography
Nicco Amusement Park
Nicco Park is an amusement park mainly visited by people for entertainment and recreational purposes. It is famously known as “Disney Land of West Bengal”.The park operates productively on solar energy that causes no pollution. The park offers many amusement rides and shows for both recreational and educational purposes.
It is declared as the first amusement park in India that has acquired recognition and a ‘Social Accountability’ certificate. from Quality Management System, Safety Management System, and Environment Management System. It is indeed one of the best places to visit in Kolkata for those looking for an entertaining, educational, and for recreational escape.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Major Attractions: Amusement rides and shows
Things to Do: Photography, Picnic
Jorasanko Thakurbari
Jorasanko Thakurbari also known as the House of the Thakurs is located in Jorasanko, in the north of Kolkata. It is the ancestral landmark of the Tagore family. The mansion was constructed during the 18th century by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore the grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore. It houses the Rabindra Bharathi University and a museum that encloses various articles that reveal and describe the life of the Tagores. It is an enjoyable and exciting tourist destination, especially for history and Bengali literature lovers.
It constitutes 700 paintings and a self-composed invite of Rabindranath Tagore’s wedding that capture the attention of the visitors and enthrals them, even more. The museum also encloses three different galleries, manuscripts, books, and other antique items. It is one of the amazing tourist places in Kolkatta to explore the history and lifestyle of such a great personality who has perfectly shaped the literature.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Major Attractions: Museum
Things to Do: Events and Programmes
Kolkata, with the lush greenery, scenic view, park, wildlife, lovely street and pubs, and every other tourist attraction is indeed an amazing place where you can spend the best vacation. The list of best places to visit in Kolkatta serves as a perfect combination of nature and wildlife, where you can explore the greenery and view the picturesque scenery around you.
FAQ
What are the famous foods of Kolkata?
The sumptuous foods of Kolkatta Macher Jhol (Fish curry), Kosha Mangsho (Mutton Curry), Shorshe Ilish (Hilsa Fish Cooked in Mustard Gravy), Shukto (Mix Veg Stew/Curry), Aloo Posto (Spiced Potatoes Cooked in Poppy Seeds), Luchi (Bengali Fried Flatbread), Mishti Doi (Traditional Bengali Sweet).
What is special in Kolkata?
Kolkata is considered a pioneer in the area of drama, arts, theatre, and literature with many Nobel laureates contributing to the Kolkata culture.
