Kolkata the City of Joy and home to my alma mater brings me so much euphoria and nostalgia every time I am there. Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata was a British colony for a very long time and you’ll witness a lot of Victorian vibe across the city. I was in Kolkata for three years pursuing my bachelor’s degree and I have such fond memories from those days. During this recent trip to India I managed to squeeze in a brief trip to Kolkata. It was a little over 36 hours and I did so much sightseeing that I hadn’t even done in the three years of my college life. It was an amazing chic-a-blocked thirty six hours and I loved the hustle and the rain too. Yes, it rained pretty much the entire time and my team and I had the hardest time taking photos but we managed.
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How to get there
Kolkata is very well connected to all the major Indian cities . The fastest and most convenient option is to fly but if you want to enjoy it’s charm thoroughly- consider the train. There are several train options and the train situations are pretty decent.
Where to stay
Talking about accommodation The Oberoi Grand Kolkata, Taj Bengal, ITC Royal Bengal and ITC Sonar Bangla are some of the top notch hotels to consider. These are exquisite properties with the best amenities and out of the world experience. Most of these are centrally located and easily accessible from the airport. If your lodging budget is not that extravagant then The Park Hotel, The Hyatt Regency Kolkata and Calcutta Bungalow are worth looking into.
How to get around the city
There are myriad options to move around the city. Local trains, buses, taxis, private car rentals ( that you could reserve for hours or full days), charter vans, uber/ola are some of the options. But if you wish to see the place like locals, hop on the local tram for an open-air joy ride of the city.
Where to eat
Kolkata is a food lover’s dream. It is a magical city but when it comes to food the magic amplifies to a whole new level. From snacks to sweets and everything in between, Kolkata’s food culture is a culinary delight. Desserts like Mishit Doi ( sweet yogurt ), Roshogolla and Sondesh, appetizers like aloo chop and chanachur, meat dishes like Kosha Mangsho ( meat curry ) and Macher Jhol ( fish curry ) are a must-try when in Kolkata. 6 Ballygunge place, Oh! Calcutta, 10 Downing street,, and Mainland China are some of my favorite local restaurants.
Where to shop
Malls might be the new shopping culture but there is something about Kolkata street shopping that keeps me going back to the streets. Scouting for one of a kind pieces and exhibiting your bargaining skills is only possible at these street vendors. Park street, Bara Bazaar, New Market and College park are popular for street shopping and if street shopping ain’t your forte then the newly opened Quest mall and Forum mall might be a few high-end shopping destination options.
What to see
The ultimate goal of any tourist is to be able to explore the city as much and get acquainted with the history along the way. Undeniably, Kolkata has a lot of history to it and welcomes all outsiders with all the love and open arms to explore the city. Some of the highlights that make the city unique are Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Princep Ghat, Jain temple, Science City, Sunderbans, Mullick flower mart, and Kumortoli. Most of these tourist places have free entry and are open seven days a week except for Victoria Memorial which is closed on Mondays.
In case you were wondering where my photos were shot- the ones in the pink dress are from Victoria Memorial and Princep ghat ( was worth seeing the ghats in night light ) and the ones in Sari were shot under Howrah bridge, Mullick flower mart and Jain temple.
Have you been to Kolkata? What are your favorite spots there?
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