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Kolkata is the capital and the largest city in West Bengal, situated on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River. Kolkata also borders Bangladesh. It is the 7th most populous city in India, which is the metropolitan region. Kolkata, which is also known as the city of joy, is known for its vintage charm maintained throughout the yea₹There are many things to do in Kolkata to have an exciting, fun and knowledgeable time by exploring many historical places to natural places with family and friends.
Top 10 Things To Do In Kolkata
Here are a few things to do in Kolkata while you plan your trip for an amazing time in the City.
1. Visit The Victoria Memorial
Photo: DeepanjanGhosh / Wikimedia Commons
Victoria Memorial, located in the heart of the city, is a white marble structure that was built in memory of Queen Victoria to celebrate her rule over India for 25 yea₹This place is a replica of the Victoria Memorial in London. It is one of the most famous places in this city to visit. This memorial is surrounded by lush green and maintained gardens to take a walk across them. 64 acres with many statues and sculptures. It also has beautiful views, with sound and light shows decorating the entire complex at night.
Location: Victoria Memorial, Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed on Mondays)
Entry Fees: ₹20 for Indians and ₹200 for foreigners
2. Explore Sundarbans National Park
Photo: Soumyajit Nandy / Wikimedia Commons
Sundarbans National Park, located in the south of Kolkata, is known to have one of the biggest mangrove forests in the world. It also has a tiger reserve and biosphere reserve pictures of home to royal Bengal tigers with beautiful rivers across. This national park is also a part of the Sundarban delta. There are a variety of species of animals and birds available in this place that also include reptiles. This forest was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1984 and is shared between India and Bangladesh.
Location: Sundarban National Park (West Bengal), Gosaba, West Bengal 743370
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM (closed on Sundays)
Entry Fees: ₹60 for Indians and ₹200 for foreigners
3. Shop At Chowringhee
Photo: Paul Hamilton / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Chowringhee, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Road, is one of the most happening herbs visited by locals and travellers for various activities and shopping. This place is entirely filled with one of the top boutiques, hotels, malls, shops and restaurants in the city. It also has many buildings built during the British period around which it is a heritage site. It is a unique experience to take a walk through this road, observing the architecture and historical importance of this place along with shopping.
Location: Chowringhee, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020
Timings: 8 AM – 10 PM
Entry Fees: N/A
4. Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kolkata, is an Anglican cathedral that is operated under the church of Northern India. It is a must-visit place to look around and explore the history and architecture. Located in the heart of the city, the structure of this place remains of colonial times. This church is especially beautifully decorated during Christmas, with many lines and activities surrounding the streets. The building of this church is an Indo-Gothic style architecture with towering spires and colourful tinted windows.
Location: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Rabindra Sadan, 1A, Cathedral Rd, Maidan, New Market Area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Timings: 9 AM – 12 PM and 3 PM – 6 PM
Entry Fees: N/A
5. Explore The Indian Museum
Photo: Excusemepls / Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Museum located in Kolkata is the 9th oldest museum in the world and the largest museum in India. This museum was built in 1814. It has a huge collection of contemporary paintings, sacred relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. There are also many collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques and Mughal paintings. This museum has 35 galleries, which have been divided into 6 categories. There is also a library and bookshop inside the museum to explore more about this place.
Location: Indian Museum, 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Fire Brigade Head Quarter, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed on Mondays)
Entry Fees: ₹10 for Indians and ₹150 for foreigners
6. Visit The Birla Mandir
Photo: Ankur P / Wikimedia Commons
Birla Mandir, located in Kolkata, is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and goddess Radha. Bus temple is known for its traditional style of architecture. The construction of this temple began in 1970, and after working for 26 years, the marvellous temple was ready in 1996. This temple has unique patterns on the walls that are sculpted by special artists. The towering don’ts of the temple are covered with detailed stonework, and the entire complex is made out of pearl white marble.
Location: Birla Mandir, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019
Timings: 5:30 AM – 11 PM and 4:30 PM – 9 PM
Entry Fees: N/A
7. Relax In Botanical Gardens
Photo: Paul Hamilton / Wikimedia Commons
The botanical garden that is originally known as the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical located in Shibpur, Kolkata, is spread over an area of 273 acres. This place was established in 1787. This garden is now famous for its beautiful landscapes in the entire country with astonishing artificial legs and land topography. It is a paradise for nature lovers to visit this place and spend some peaceful time relaxing with nature. This botanical garden is home to 12,000 plants collected from across the globe.
Location: Kolkata 24, 1/2/2, Botanical Garden Rd, behind Bank of India BE College, Shibpur, Branch, Howrah, West Bengal 711103
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: ₹10 for Indians and ₹100 for foreigners
8. Watch The Sunset At Princep Ghat
Photo: Moinak / Wikimedia Commons
Princep Ghat, located on the banks of the Hooghly River, is a beautiful structure that is famous for its Gothic inlays. The beauty and the architecture of this place, along with the history, attract many people to visit this location. It has a magnificent view of the Howrah Bridge in the background, which is the perfect place to watch sunrise or sunset and take a walk along the cool breeze of the river. This ghat is located between 4th William and the Watergate, which are also some popular tourist attractions.
Location: Prinsep Ghat 1, Prinsep Ghat, Ganga access ghat, Kolkata, West Bengal
Timings: O24*7
Entry Fees: N/A
9. Take A Tour Around Santiniketan
Photo: Billjones94 / Wikimedia Commons
Santiniketan is a less popular place in Kolkata but is one of the most important places as it was the home of Rabindranath Tagore. It has now been converted into a university. Santiniketan is located in a small town that mainly comprises Visva Bharati University. This university was set up by Rabindranath Tagore’s father and later became popular to change the concept of education in India.
Location: Santiniketan, West Bengal 731204
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: N/A
10. Visit Sonajhuri Forest
Photo: Arky1993 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Sonajhuri Forest is one of the hidden gems of Kolkata, which is considered to be one of the cleanest forests in India. This forest is surrounded by lush green trees with blooming flowers and picture-perfect views. This forest is inhabited by tribals who lead simple lives. There is a river flowing alongside this forest, which is magical to look at. This place is named after a tree called Sonajhuri, which translates to droplets of gold. These freeze-shared yellow flowers occur during the winter season, which looks like the entire forest is scattered with gold.
Location: Sonajhuri, 40/2, Barrackpore Trunk Rd, Rabindra Bharati University, Satchasi Para, Kolkata, West Bengal 700002
Timings: 24*7
Entry Fees: N/A
Kolkata, which is known as the city of joy and is located in West Bengal, is known for its amazing architecture, historical significance and natural beauty. Places to explore and things to do in Kolkata for an amazing time during your trip. There are various types of activities to do, from taking a walk around places to planning a picnic. Plan a trip with TripXL today!
Cover Photo: Amitav Hira / Unsplash
