Places to Visit in Kolkata | Tourist Places in Kolkata

Kolkata is not just any other city or buzzing metropolis; It is blessed with many sightseeing places that offer a unique experience to every visitor. It’s a city unlike any other in that it wears its fast yet languorous pace on its sleeve flaunts its contemporary and hip yet historically anchored appearance at every corner and of course, tells a thousand stories reeking of its warm hospitality, love and camaraderie. Kolkata has many interesting places to keep its visitors pleasantly engaged. From refreshing gardens, serene lakes, historical buildings, museums, libraries, and sports stadiums to ancient temples and churches, there are umpteen places to visit in Kolkata. Making the sightseeing more interesting are the shopping streets, amusement parks and mouth-watering eateries.

Places to Visit in Kolkata with Family

It is really hard to compile a list of places to visit in Kolkata. However, look at some of the major tourist places for visitors and tourists alike.

Park Street

Possibly Kolkata’s most famous street, Park Street has a history of being a hub of evening and night recreations since the Raj Era when the prolific nightlife was prominently concentrated on Park Street. It is renowned for its entertainment, restaurants, and prominent historical landmarks including old colonial mansions. The 1970s and 80s saw much of Kolkata’s nightlife happen here as clubs and restaurants started sprouting all over.

Location: Chowringhee Road to Park Circus.
Top attractions: Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, St. Paul’s Cathedral, M.P. Birla Planetarium, Eden Gardens

New Market

New Market is one of the renowned places for all shopping lovers in Kolkata. One can get everything that too under one roof. It is believed to be established in the year 1874. It has become the most beloved shopping arena for everyone around. The New Market is among the busiest places in Kolkata. Despite being the busiest, this place is the one-stop destination for all the wanderers, shopaholics, fun and food lovers.

Location: Lindsay Street, just off Chowringhee Road.
When to Go: Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Saturday, until 7 p.m. Closed on Sunday.

Victoria Memorial

Located on Maidan, on the banks of Hoogly River, it is a large marble building to commemorate the life of Queen Alexandria Victoria, the first British Empress of India. It’s a visual treat of 25 galleries and gardens expanding over 64 acres. It is among one the top historical places in Kolkata that signify the colonial influence of the city’s ancient architecture.

Location: The southern end of the Maidan.
When to Go: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Monday).
Cost: Indians, 30 rupees. Foreigners, 100 – 500 rupees.

Mullik (Malik) Ghat Flower Market

The century-old Mullick Ghat Flower Market mesmerizes everyone with its wonderful array of colours, sights, smells and sounds thus making it the biggest flower market in India. The history of this Flower Market is quite interesting it is believed to be established by Ram Mohun Mallick in the year 1855. It is also admired by many shutterbugs who want to capture worth taking shots with their lens.

Location: Along Strand Bank Road, starting from below Howrah Bridge on the Kolkata side.
When to Go: From sunrise until sunset.
Tours: Calcutta Photo Tours Hooghly’s Flower Fest walking tour.

Howrah Bridge

The magnificent and splendid Howrah Bridge – joining Howrah and Kolkata thus I count it as one of Kolkata’s treasures. Moving towards celebrating its Golden Jubilee, this 75+ years old Howrah Bridge is one of the oldest hanging bridges in the world. The incredible Howrah Bridge was renamed the Rabindra Setu in 1965 after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Renowned as the sixth longest bridge of its type in the world. It has witnessed many historical transformations of cultures, thoughts, notions and peoples from many eras. Thus it is among the most preferred tourist destination and a significant landmark of Kolkata.

Location: Just north of BBD Bagh (formerly known as Dalhousie Square) central business district.
When to Go: From sunrise until sunset.
Timings: Mon-Sun: 12am- 11:59pm
Cost: No Entry Fee

Mother Teresa’s Mother House

Mother Teresa’s Mother House is a very holy, calm and peaceful place. The followers of Mother Teresa considered Mother House a pilgrimage and a serene place of worship. They found comfort and solace in their mother’s house & believe that this place spreads immense amounts of virtue and goodness in everyone’s life. So if you are in search of peace and simplicity then this spiritual place is a must-visit.

Location: 54A, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road.
Open 8 a.m. until noon and 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., daily except Thursday. Also closed on August 22, Easter Monday, and December 26.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one of the important religious shrines for all the devotees of kali. It attracts thousands of devotees every day not only from India but from all across the World. The temple which is situated at the banks of the Hooghly River holds supreme importance for all the Bengali community. A trip to Kolkata is always incomplete without visiting this iconic temple.

Location: Rani Rashmoni Road, May Dibas Pally, Dakshineshwar, northern outskirts of Kolkata on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River.
Open: October to March, daily from 6:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. April to September, daily from 6:00 a.m until 12.30 p.m and 3:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Belur Math

The one attraction that nobody wants to miss after visiting Kolkata is Belur Math. It is one of the biggest temples which is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River in Belur. Moreover, it was also regarded as a ‘place of heritage and national importance’ by the former President honourable Abdul Kalam. It is renowned for its classical architecture, which combines the motifs of Hindu, Islamic and Christian as a symbol of religious unity.

Location: Belur Road, Howrah, on the western bank of the Hooghly River. About an hour north of the city centre.
Open: October to March, daily from 6.30 a.m. until 11.30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. April to September, daily from 6:00 a.m until 11.30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Kumartuli

The city of joy Kolkata not only reflects love, culture and happiness but also incorporates an immense amount of talent that one can unearth at Kumartuli. A famous locality of Kolkata, that is renowned for its traditional potters’ quarters. The artisans here are immensely popular for engraving high-quality idols of holy Hindu deities. It is home to several skilled and brilliant potters who toil tirelessly to create magnificent clay idols.

Location: Banamali Sarkar Street, North Kolkata. About 40 minutes north of the city centre. The nearest Metro railway station is Shobhabazar-Sutanuti.
When to Go: Most of the idol-making happens from June to January, with the biggest occasion being Durga Puja. There’s usually a frenzy of activity around 20 days before the Durga Puja festival begins, in order to get all the work finished.

South Park Cemetery

The South Park cemetery is infamously known for being India’s most haunted place. The mystery of this abandoned graveyard still echoed in the streets of Kolkata. This 250-year-old cemetery depicts many colourful stories of the past of Kolkata. The tall and shabby graves, shady trees and relative quietness create a peaceful place to visit for a leisurely stroll.

Location: Park Street, at the intersection of Rawdon Street.
Open: Daily, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free entrance. There’s no cost for phone cameras but you’ll need to pay 50 rupees for large digital cameras.
Tours: Heritage Walk Calcutta’s walking tour of the cemetery.

Old Chinatown (Tiretta Bazaar)

Tiretta Bazaar is popularly known as Kolkata’s Mini China Town. It is a wonderful place to explore Kolkata’s diverse food offerings. Over years this place has emerged as the favourite hangout zone for all Chinese food lovers. Tiretta Bazaar not only serves delicious meals but also plays an important role in safeguarding the heritage of the local Chinese immigrant community.

Location: Terita Bazar, Tangra, Kolkata, corner Bentinck Street and India Exchange Place Road, in the central business district area next to Bow Bazaar. It’s near Poddar Court.
When to Go: 5.30 a.m. until around 8 a.m. (only for early birds)! Most of the action happens on Sunday mornings.

Kalighat Kali Temple

Dedicated to the divine Goddess Kali, Kalighat Kali Temple is a renowned Hindu temple in Kolkata. It is among one the 51 Shakti Peeth of India. As per the numerous mythological tales, various parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen during Shiva’s Rudra Tandava and in Kalighat it is believed that the toes of the right foot of goddess Sati fell. Moreover, the previous name Calcutta of Kolkata is said to have originated from the word Kalighat temple.

Location: South Kolkata. Kalighat Road, Kolkata, West Bengal. There is a Kalighat Metro train station.
Open: 5:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Indian Coffee House

The idea of an “India Coffee House” was formed & established during the late 1890s. For many generations, it has been a favourite spot for Communist, Socialist and liberal movements. The foundation was laid by Coffee Cess Committee in 1936 and the first outlet was opened in Bombay. It is regarded as much more than just a freshly brewed coffee outlet chain. The outlet has witnessed a meeting place for intellectuals like Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, Mrinal Sen and Aparna Sen.

Location: Opposite Presidency College on College Street. About 20 minutes north of the city centre. (Sharda Book Stall, No.15 Near, Bankim Chatterjee St, College Square, Kolkata).
Open: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Black Town (North Kolkata)

The foundation of Black Town was laid in the British era. It was during the British East India Company, the Black Town came into existence. The bounded small town of local people that began to grow up around it was named Black Town by the Britishers. It was predominantly the mass of people that comprise the Indian workers, labourers, carpenters etc & thus forming the black section of a city.

Location: About 30 minutes north of the city centre.
Tours: Calcutta Walks Start Still Shines walking tour of Sovabazar.

Grey Town (Bow Bazar and Around)

Grey Town popularly represents the junction of different cultures. Grey Town got this unique name after people of various origins started to live together with peace and harmony. The area lies somewhere between White Town and Black Town embracing people that neither belongs to any of these. One must visit Grey Town and experience this fascinating adventure of different cultures.

Location: About 15 minutes north of the city centre.
Tours: Calcutta Photo Tours Culture Kaleidoscope walking tour. Read more about this tour.

Hindustan Park

Hindustan Park is a famous part of Kolkata, where different segments of art and culture can be found in abundance. Over the years, it has witnessed various transitions from a middle-class neighbourhood to a buzzy and lively area full of crowdy cafes and fashion boutiques. Even with the transformation, the area has its own charm and peculiarities that define its culture and heritage. It has emerged as a hub for boutiques and niche eateries that depicts the true beauty of Hindustan Park.

Location: Near Gariahat Road. About 20 minutes south of the city centre.

Prinsep Ghat

Prinsep Ghat is located on the banks of the mighty River Hooghly. Here watching the sunrise or sunset with the magnificent Howrah Bridge in the background gives an amazing experience for life. Prinsep Ghat welcomes visitors with a view of elegant lawns and garden flourished with tall trees and breathtaking beautiful flower beds making it a perfect retreat for nature lovers. It is one of the highlights of the Kolkata trip.

Location: Next to Vidyasagar Setu, on Strand Road between Water Gate and Saint George’s Gate of Fort William.
Entry Fees: Free

Hooghly River

Hooghly river holds the utmost importance in the life of the people of West Bengal. The citizens of Bengal regard the Hooghly river as their fundamental lifeline. It is esteemed for its religious traditions as well as devotional sentiments. The Hooghly River is best enjoyed by boat at sunset. There are various options but the most authentic and quiet one is a traditional nouko from Prinsep Ghat.

How to reach Kolkata

By Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport or Kolkata Airport at Dumdum, the airport has all the latest facilities. There are three terminals here, namely domestic, international and cargo and flights are available for all the major Indian and international destinations. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet have regular flights for Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Agartala, Bangalore, Patna, Ranchi, Aizwal and Chennai.

By road: One can also reach Kolkata via national highways and other motorable roads. The buses managed by the West Bengal state allow tourists to visit this lovely city without any hassle. From Darjeeling, one can take NH 34 and NH 31 routes to reach here. Besides, NH 2 and NH 6 link the city with other prime Indian cities and towns.

By train: Howrah and Sealdah railway stations are the two main railheads, serving the city of Kolkata. Both the railway stations are well linked to all the important cities in the country making it easy for travellers. From Delhi, several superfast trains like Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express operate.