Touring the City of Calcutta (Kolkata, India)

Calcutta is a 300 year old city. It is the birthplace of poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Jagdish- Chandra Bose and Subhash Chandra Bose, the great freedom fighter. The city accommodates the Howrah Bridge, 467 m long and the only bridge of its kind in Asia. The city of enchanting monuments, interesting museums, lavish mansions and friendly people.

Maidan and FortWilliam: Situated near the river Hoogly, this is one of the biggest parks in India. It covers an area of 3 sq km. On the west of the Maidan is Fort William. Since, the fort is presently used by Indian Army, you need special permission to enter.

A Burmese pagoda set in a small pond is a special attraction of this scenic garden, a favourite spot among the local people.

This is a memorial dedicated to Queen Victoria, built between 1906-21. The architectural blend of this monument is interesting. Mughal domes in tandem with Sarcenic and Renaissance styles. There is a very interesting museum in the memorial with over 3000 exhibits, including the Queen’s piano and study desk. It is open daily from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm, except on Mondays.

This church has an aesthetically appealing construction with props to match stain glass windows, florentine frescos, grand altar, a gothic tower and a profusion of grandeur. It is open from 9.00 am to noon and from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm.

Located on MG Road, you can check out this palace for its opulence. This palace was the home of a rich Bengali landlord in the 1800s. There are some important statues and paintings on display. There are also beautiful chandeliers, European antiques, Venetian glass, old pianos and blue china vases which will give you an idea of the lifestyle of the rich in the 1800s.

This temple, built in 1867, is ornately decorated with Venetian glass mosaics, chandeliers from Paris and Brussels, a gilded dome, stained glass windows and mirror inlaid pillars. It is open from 6.00 am to noon and from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

The Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, which was founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna. The temple here, built in 1938, is a mixture of Hindu, Islamic and Christian architectural styles. It is opened from October to March from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and

Located on the east bank of the Hoogly, this is the Kali temple where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a priest and where he realized the unity of all religions.

KaliTemple :

A visit to this place will give your Kolkata visit a new dimension. Located near the Kali Temple, the place is a home for hundreds of destitutes and "the poorest of the poor" - to quote Mother Teresa herself. You may help the needy by your contributions.

Acres of greenery, rare species of plants and trees, flowers in bloom, peaceful surroundings…a perfect way to spend an evening in communion with nature. Situated on the west side of the river, the garden has the second largest banyan tree in the world-spread over 10,000 sq. mts and with a 420 mtr trunk, approximately.

• Travel to India - Tourist Information