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World Travel Guide > Guides > Asia > India > Kolkata (Calcutta)

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Introducing Kolkata (Calcutta)

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Places in Kolkata (Calcutta)

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Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport

Kolkata (Calcutta) tours and excursions

Kolkata (Calcutta) tours

Walking tours

Enjoy a series of cultural and historical walks, including a 'Confluence of cultures' tour focusing on different communities that have set up home in Kolkata and 'In the footsteps of the Raj' tour.

Tel: +91 33 4005 2573
Website: http://calcuttawalks.com

Boat tours

The boat tours of Hooghly River take in some of the city’s most important sights, including Belur Math and the Botanical Gardens, home of The Great Banyan Tree, which is over 250 years old and occupies 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) of land.

Tel: +91 33 4005 2573
Website: http://calcuttawalks.com/category/our-walks/mode/river-boat/

Kolkata (Calcutta) excursions

Sagar Island

The point at which the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal is the site of mass pilgrimage in January for the Gangasagar Mela. To get to Sagar Island, head to Diamond Harbour, 51km (31.7 miles) south of Kolkata and take a bus to Hardwood Point, just before Kakdwip (one hour) from where you get a ferry to the island.

Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary

The World Heritage-listed Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary (south of Kolkata) has one of the healthiest populations of tigers left in the world and straddles the Indian/Bangladeshi border. Getting there and around independently is not simple, so it's best to join an organised tour. For more information contact the tourist information office.

Tel: +91 92 1277 7225
Website: http://www.sunderbannationalpark.in/

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City Highlight: Kolkata

Kokata is India's second biggest city and the former capital of British India.

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Featured Hotels

ITC Sonar

Spreading over 6.5 hectares (16 acres), this deluxe hotel has a gloriously tranquil ambience. Its top-class rooms surround a huge pool and are tastefully minimalist, with contemporary designs and fresh tones. Each room comes with Internet access, personalised vaults and 24-hour butler service. Guests can enjoy the health spa and beauty salon, with a variety of massage treatments, gym and collection of fine restaurants including delicious Dum Pukht.

Lytton Hotel

A comfortable, friendly, hotel in the heart of busy Sudder Street, the Lytton has pleasing rooms, all with air conditioning, fridge, Wi-Fi access, television and writing desk, making it a good value (for Kolkata) hotel for business travellers and tourists alike. It has a business centre, a good restaurant and a cosy bar – and it's just around the corner from the Indian Museum.

The Oberoi Grand

Set back from the chaos of Chowringee, this elegant Victorian structure has long been one of Kolkata's (and the subcontinent's) finest, and indeed most historic, hotels. Its courtyard is filled with columns and plants; the exquisitely restored hotel has beautifully decorated rooms (including sumptuous suites with grand four-poster beds and teak wood floors) in addition to a handful of superb restaurants, a tea lounge, spa, fitness centre and pool.

The Park

A great location in the heart of Park Street, this upmarket property is a member of the Design Hotels of the World. Standard doubles are very comfortable with soothing warm tones and there are also more opulent suites and larger 'Luxury rooms'. It's stylish, well run and home to the trendy Tantra nightclub as well as some commendable restaurants. Other treats include an inviting swimming pool, gym and spa (which offers traditional Ayurvedic treatments and heavenly body scrubs).

Hotel Lindsay

The Lindsay offers a degree of comfort that belies the price. A nice feature is the rooftop restaurant, which affords good views of the teeming city below. It also has Wi-Fi in the rooms, and all the usual 'mod cons' expected from a modern hotel.

Fairlawn Hotel

A living part of the city's history, this small-scale property harks back to the late 18th century and has retained a creaky charm, and the charming, eccentric octogenarian owner is proud to talk about the interesting photos lining the walls. Extensively renovated in 2010, the hotel is crammed with bric-a-brac, old wicker furniture and Raj-era memorabilia. Rooms aren't flash but are comfortable enough, with some bathrooms featuring great old free-standing bath tubs.