Top Things to do in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Top Restaurants in Kolkata (Calcutta)
What to do and see in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal: The Best Things to do Good for Kids
This former British colonial stronghold boasts evidence of over two millennia of habitation, with ornate, architecturally diverse buildings, ranging from crumbing ruins to Victorian treasures. Home to lively festivals and a vibrant artistic community, clamorous markets and packed temples, this city is crowded and polluted, but ultimately invigorating.
Restaurants in Kolkata (Calcutta)
1. College Street (Boi Para)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 817 reviews
Reviewed By SaswataM10
People need to come and visit this place to see how big a book market can be. You can also find old and rare books alongside the footpath. This part of Kolkata is also very chaotic, due to presence of hand pulled rickshaws and paddled vans. Presence of Six colleges (Medical College, IISWBM, Calcutta University, Presidency University, Sanskrit College, Jain College) & Three schools (Hindu School - The earlier Hindu college, Hare School, Sanskrit School) represent most of the chaos and also the customer base of this book market. This market is also, the biggest book market, in Asia (in all likelihood).
2. Howrah Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,608 reviews
Reviewed By Arkapal7 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
This is the fisrt and foremost landmark which the whole world recognises Kolkata with. A British-made cantilever bridge with with Indian made steel, this bridge is the prime connector of the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata the Howrah Railway station One HAS to visit this monument once on visiting Kolkata.
3. Victoria Memorial Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,599 reviews
Reviewed By neelamlegal - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
A beautiful building built in the British era surrounded by endless green well maintained gardens interspersed with small water bodies will lift the hearts of everyone. The children can enjoy the endless gardens while the grown ups can add to the experience by visiting the museum. If u are visiting from another city make sure to keep a full day aside for a complete experience.
4. Mother House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,580 reviews
Reviewed By debabrata707 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
If you visit in Kolkata you must visit to Mother House which is associated with Mother Theresa.Last month I have visited the same.This is one of the peaceful place in Kolkata.
5. Park Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,082 reviews
Reviewed By UPSINHA - Patna, India
If you are of upper class or upper middle class person and love good food, Modern type Pubs , good Restaurant and elite Cloths and not want conventional crowd This is place for you ... British era Buildings and some European touch architectures Many colleges Xavier and Loreto Asiatic society Good Hotel to stay The Park Lots of good Food high end restaurants Fine dining , fast food giants McDonald’s available For Good standard cloths lots of showroom and Designer boutiques Good Pubs also available for Night Life This place has historically value and name changes many times from Burial Ground Road to Part Street and now Mother Teresa sarani but the FEEL of the area is maintained You can enjoy here with your Family If nothing to buy just window shopping and feeling the old era within you Highly recommended place
6. Birla Industrial & Technological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By atulya_sinha - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, established in 1959, is the oldest science and technology museum of the city. The building was originally the residence of Raja Baldeo Birla (1863-1956) and it was donated to the Government by his heirs for setting up museum. Now a new wing has been constructed perpendicular to the original three-storied building and some exhibits are displayed outdoors as well. There is a well-maintained garden, where statues of great scientists have been installed. In addition to basic physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, electricity, electronics etc., there are galleries devoted to technologies such as television, motive power, transport, metals, etc. A special feature is a mock-up of a coal mine. There is a dedicated gallery for children as well. There are several small auditoriums, where documentary films are regularly screened. As a mechanical engineer, I was particularly interested in the motive power and transport galleries, both of which have rich collections. The latter includes a narrow gauge steam locomotive and a vintage car which belonged to Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose, the eminent scientist. The exhibits are generally well-maintained and efforts are made to improve them from time to time. For example, the interactive exhibits which were operated by touching a button are now modified to be activated without any physical contact. The museum is visitor-friendly and their website is quite informative. Parking facility is available inside the compound, but there is a separate charge for it. Washrooms are well-maintained
7. Birla Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 473 reviews
Reviewed By Mitesh5556 - Dhanbad, India
The glowing structure that adorns the streets of Kolkata is the popular Hindu Temple, Birla Temple. Dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, the temple is perfect specimen of craftsmanship.
8. Eden Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,349 reviews
Reviewed By somnathnayak
Kolkata is known to the rest of world as "Maqua of Football"; and we kolkata dwellers feel proud of that but we are also proud of our own Eden Gardens, a land of International Cricket lovers & players, also a must visit place in Kolkata. Eden Gardens with a seating capacity of 66,000, largest cricket stadium of the country, excellent outfield, beautiful ambiance & passionate spectators are the reasons of all international cricketer's dream playground. In this concrete civilization Eden is our heaven of pleasure.
9. ISKCON Kolkata, Sri Sri Radha Govind Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
Reviewed By Mander90 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
A great peaceful place for worshipping the Lord Krishna. This place also houses Govindas restaurant where one can find tasty veg foods. It also houses a shop for buying momentous. They also have staying facilities for guests.
10. Jorasanko Thakur Bari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By atulya_sinha - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Jorasanko Thakurbari features prominently in the autobiographies of Rabindranath Tagore and his nephew Abanindranath. It was known as a centre of vocal and instrumental music, acting and stage décor, poetry and play readings, sketching and painting, and much else. Above all, it was the home of the illustrious Tagore family. The Thakurbari consists of three interconnected structures built in different centuries. Ram Bhavan, the earliest building at the site, was built by Nilmani Tagore (1729-91) when he shifted there from Pathurighata in 1784. The triple-storied main building, which forms the main façade that one sees while entering from Rabindra Sarani, is Maharshi Bhavan, named after Mahirshi Debendranath Tagore. Finally, the smaller building on the left is Vichitra Bhavan, constructed by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in the 20th century. One enters the complex through a long passage starting from an arch on Rabindra Sarani. The Thakurbari, with its red and cream walls and green woodwork is a magnificent sight. You buy tickets near the gate – Rs 20 per head. In case you intend to use a camera or camera phone, you need to buy another ticket for Rs. 50 from the Museum office, but you are still not permitted to take any pictures inside the buildings. Incidentally, the tickets are aesthetically designed and worth preserving as souvenirs! You take off your shoes and pass the tiny reception/ sales counter, go up the main staircase and find yourself in the modest suite of rooms once occupied by Rabindranath, including the chamber where he breathed his last in 1941. You turn left at the end of the corridor, where you find two galleries of paintings: the first contains works of the Bengal school (mostly water colours), while the other has western style portraits of several generations of Tagores. A replica of the Nobel prize medal awarded to Rabindranath Tagore in 1913 is also on display. Next, you enter Ram Bhavan, the oldest structure. You see the room where Rabindranath and other family members were born. An alcove in the wall and some simple furniture from the original room has been carefully preserved. As you proceed further, you find four galleries which commemorate Tagore’s travels to America, China, Japan and Hungary respectively. These galleries have been sponsored by the governments or academic institutions of the respective countries and their displays seem quite ostentatious after the stark simplicity of the earlier galleries. You return to Maharshi Bhavan and reach Vichitra Bhavan through a small flight of stairs. It turns out that Vichitra Bhavan – true to its name – is a double-storey building which was constructed without a staircase! Later, a small wooden staircase was added, which can be seen in the reception chamber on the ground floor, but it is blocked off on the first floor. The upper floor of Vichitra Bhavan contains one large hall with a few smaller chambers, where pictures and other memorabilia associated with the Tagore family are on display. The lower floor contains the library and research centre, which are not open to public. Despite the grandeur of the buildings and the fabulous wealth of the Tagore family, one finds no trace of opulence in their lifestyle – just compare the simplicity of Jorasanko with the extreme flamboyance of Mullick Thakurbari (also known as the Marble Palace) in the same neighbourhood. It appears that Prince Dwarkanath Tagore (1794-1846), the poet’s grandfather, had rejected European culture in his home and organized a great sale of his household goods – including china, clocks, marble-topped tables, mahogany chairs and pianos – as far back as 1841! Later generations of the Tagore family were to become leaders of the Bengal Renaissance across diverse forms of art, including painting, drama, poetry and music. Highly educated individuals volunteer to work as guides in Jorasanko – we had the honour of being escorted by a young lady with two post-graduate degrees, including one from Rabindra Bharti University itself. Such learned guides combine deep scholarship with much adoration for the institution. They are fluent in multiple languages – including English, Hindi and Bangla. A visit to Jorasanko Thakurbari is highly recommended.
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