Kolkata
কলকাতা
Kolkata district · Kolkata & Around
The City of Joy: colonial grandeur, adda, books and food.
About Kolkata
West Bengal's capital and the former capital of British India until 1911. A river-port city of grand colonial buildings, old zamindar mansions, tram lines, literary cafés and some of India's best street food, with a living arts culture.
Highlights
- Victoria Memorial and the Maidan
- Howrah Bridge and the Hooghly ghats
- College Street book market
- Kumartuli potters and the flower market at Mullick Ghat
Plan your trip
- Best time
- October to February is the most comfortable. March to May is hot; June to September is humid and rainy.
- How to reach
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU); main railway terminals are Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata (Chitpur).
- Suggested stay
- 3 to 4 days
- Budget
- Mid-range
Tip
Use the Metro to beat traffic. See the dedicated Kolkata guide for neighbourhoods and a one-day plan.
Nearby and related destinations
- Chandannagar: A former French colony on the Hooghly. (about 40 km from Kolkata, nearest station Chandannagar)
- Serampore (Srirampur): Danish Bengal and the birthplace of modern Bengali printing. (about 30 km from Kolkata, nearest station Shrirampur)
- Bandel & Chinsurah: A Portuguese church, a grand imambara and a Dutch town. (about 50 km from Kolkata, nearest station Bandel Junction)
- Mayapur & Nabadwip: The birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. (about 130 km from Kolkata, nearest station Nabadwip Dham or Krishnanagar City)
Part of these guides
Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.