Kolkata travel guide

Places to visit in Kolkata

23 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.

District headquarters 1

1. Kolkata (district headquarters) Two sources

   Location: Kolkata · district headquarters

   Headquarters of Kolkata district, Presidency division (Wikipedia).

   On the map · Directions ↗

Temples, mosques and churches 4

1. Mother House Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Step into a world of compassion and selflessness at Mother House, an iconic institution located in Kolkata's vibrant city centre. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

2. Parasnath Jain Temple Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Immerse yourself in the tranquil ambiance of Parasnath Temple, an esteemed pilgrimage site for followers of Jain faith. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

3. St Andrew's Church Official source

   Location: to confirm

   St. Andrew's Church offers an incredible glimpse into Kolkata's past and cultural legacy with a visit. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

4. St Paul's Cathedral Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Prepare to be taken in by St Paul's Cathedral's towering spires, intricate Gothic-style design and stunning stained-glass windows as you step through its magnificent structure. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

Palaces, forts and monuments 6

1. Victoria Memorial Official source

   Highlight · Location: to confirm

   In the heart of Kolkata, where the historic Maidan meets Queens Way, stands the Victoria Memorial - a breathtaking marvel where India's colonial past meets its sovereign future. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

2. General Post Office Official source

   Location: to confirm

   The General Post Office is located in the busiest corner of Kolkata known as BBD Bag or Dalhousie Square. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

3. Outram Ghat Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Outram Ghat, nestled near the iconic Howrah Bridge and Babu Ghat, is a hidden gem in Kolkata. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

4. Prinsep Ghat Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Prinsep Ghat sits majestically along the picturesque banks of Hooghly River near Fort William and Victoria Memorial and its intersection. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

5. Shaheed Minar Official source

   Location: to confirm

   While driving through the serpentine roads of Kolkata, you will notice an old minar standing in all its beauty, inviting you in. That is Shaheed Minar in the Esplanade area of Kolkata. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

6. Writers' Building Official source

   Location: to confirm

   In one of the busiest streets of Kolkata known popularly as B.B.D. Bag lies a red stone structure known as the Writers’ Building. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

Hills, forests and wildlife 1

1. Alipore Zoological Garden Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Alipore Zoological Gardens in Alipore Kolkata is fondly known as Alipore Zoo. There’s a fascinating story that surrounds the birth of this place. It began years ago when the British ruled India with an iron fist. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

Museums and culture 11

1. Bow Barracks Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Bow Barracks stands in the central part of Kolkata. Today, it is still popular as an Anglo-Indian community, but the truth is people from various ethnicities live here and call it their forever home. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

2. Eden Gardens Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Across the verdant greens of Maidan in B.B.D Bag, Kolkata lies Eden Gardens. An iconic stadium that stands witness to the passion, love, and sheer craze for the sport of cricket. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

3. Indian Coffee House, College Street Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Indian Coffee House, opposite Presidency College on College Street Kolkata is not a regular café but a cultural statement. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

4. Indian Museum Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Explore India's past at the Indian Museum, an iconic institution established in 1814 and revered as one of the premier museums ever since. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

5. Jorasanko Thakur Bari Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Jorasanko Thakur Bari, ensconced within the vibrant lanes of Rabindra Sarani in Kolkata, is an emblem of the luxurious and respected legacy of the Tagore family. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

6. National Library Official source

   Location: to confirm

   National Library is located in the old, lush neighbourhood of Alipore, Kolkata. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

7. Netaji Bhawan Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Netaji Bhawan is located in the old, rustic neighbourhood of Bhowanipore. Kolkata is popular for its love of music, literature, and culture. But its fables about the contribution to India's freedom struggle are also iconic. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

8. Park Street Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Just as New York’s Broadway hums with theatre and Paris’s Champs-Elysees exudes elegance, Park Street is a pulsating thoroughfare in the heart of Kolkata that weaves its own enchantment. (Incredible India)

   On the map · Directions ↗

9. Rabindra Sadan Official source

   Location: to confirm

   Rabindra Sadan is nestled in the busiest street of Kolkata Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road. Started in 1961, it is the oldest cultural hub of India. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

   On the map · Directions ↗

10. Science City Official source

    Location: to confirm

    In the eastern corner of India lies Science City Kolkata - the subcontinent's largest science center where curiosity knows no bounds. Sprawling across 49.6 acres, this pioneering institution has been igniting minds since 1997. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

    On the map · Directions ↗

11. Tiretti Bazaar (Old Chinatown) Official source

    Location: to confirm

    A vibrant neighbourhood, steeped in history and cultural significance, Tiretti Bazaar, affectionately known as Kolkata’s Old Chinatown, has witnessed the ebb and flow of time, preserving its unique identity. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

    On the map · Directions ↗

How to reach Kolkata

By train

See the sources for the nearest station.

By air

Kolkata (CCU) or Bagdogra (IXB) (estimate).

By road

National and state highways; route details to confirm.

Headquarters

Kolkata

Coast

Inland

Find trains, flights, buses and tours to Kolkata

Best time to visit Kolkata

Best time

October to March; April-June in the hills (estimate).

Climate

Hot, humid summers and a heavy June-September monsoon; cool hills in the north (estimate).

Dates to plan around in West Bengal

• Durga Puja — Kolkata and statewide: September-October; 2027 dates to confirm
• Gangasagar Mela — Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas: Makar Sankranti, mid-January; 2027 dates to confirm
• Poush Mela — Santiniketan, Birbhum: December; dates to confirm
• Rath Yatra — Mahesh (Hooghly) and statewide: June-July; date to confirm
• Rash Utsav — Nabadwip and Shantipur, Nadia: November; dates to confirm

Where to stay in Kolkata

No stays have been verified for Kolkata yet — our guide lists a stay only after checking it with an official source.