City of joy, Kolkata is renowned for its nostalgic vibes, old-world charm, soulful music, vibrant nightlife, lively festivals, ‘gorom cha’ & ‘adda’ culture, and the warmth of its people. Whenever one visits Kolkata, they must take a ride on its historic tram, the yellow taxi, and try the famous ‘phuchka’, ‘rosogolla’, ‘egg kathi roll’, and many more. Be it a winter morning at Maidan, or a delicious breakfast at Flurys, Parkstreet or even at Tiretti Bazar, Kolkata has something to offer to everybody only to make them full with love and warmth!.
Bengalis eagerly await this time of the year, marking the arrival of Goddess Durga and Durga Puja, which now holds the UNESCO World Heritage Recognition. As the city prepares for another festive year, the sound of dhak, the aroma of ‘shiuli phool’, the blue sky, the delicious food, pandal hopping, and the splendid artisan art await you.
If you are a citizen of Kolkata or are new here, wanting to explore the tourist places in the city, here are five must-visit tourist places in Kolkata to explore before welcoming Ma Durga and embracing the festive zeal:
Princep Ghat
Princep Ghat is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River and is known for its colonial architecture and scenic views. This historic riverside spot offers a tranquil escape from the city and is popular for hangouts, photoshoots, or family time.
Princep Ghat has been built in honor of James Prinsep and was constructed during the time of the British Raj in the year 1841. James Princep made important contributions to Indian archaeology and numismatics. In the initial years, Princep Ghat was the primary jetty for prominent British dignitaries who arrived in Kolkata.
One can enjoy the panoramic view of the Vidyasagar Setu and the Hoogly River from Prinsep Ghat and can relish delicacies from food stalls around the area.
Princep Ghat is one of the popular destinations for photographers who often visit the place to capture its picturesque landscape, charming beauty, heritage architecture, greenery, and more.
One can reach Princep Ghat by car/taxi or by metro. Esplanade is the nearest metro station, and the nearest railway stations are Sealdah and Howrah.
The serenity and soulful atmosphere of Princep Ghat make it one of the Five Must-Visit Tourist Places in Kolkata.
Victoria Memorial
Another place falling under the Five Must Visit Tourist Places in Kolkata is the cultural heritage of Kolkata, Victoria Memorial. It is a majestic and iconic white marble monument that is located at the heart of Kolkata and was built in memory of Queen Victoria after she died in the year 1901. It was opened for the public formally in 1921. Victoria Memorial is a significant tourist attraction in Kolkata, and the idea behind its construction is credited to Lord Curzon, who was the Viceroy of British India during that time. The Indian population, which included local rulers and princes, largely financed the construction. Earlier, the site was the location of the Presidency Jail, which faced demolition for constructing the new monument. In the year 1943, at the time of World War II, the shining white marble was covered in mud and dung in a deliberate way in order to protect it from possible Japanese air raids.
Victoria Memorial particularly lights up during the evening and night time. The scenic beauty of the gleaming monument adorned with the shine of the stars, coupled with the sound and view of the racing horses, with a ice cream stand at the corner, makes it the ideal destination for a whimsical, winsome, delightful night out, turning it one of the Five Must-Visit Places in Kolkata.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is a historic landmark in Kolkata and is known as the first Episcopal Church in Asia, being a good example of Indo-Gothic Architecture. It is situated on the Cathedral Road, at Maidan’s Southern end. It is located near the Birla Planetarium, Victoria Memorial, Nandan, etc.
The Cathedral was constructed in a Gothic Revival style taking into consideration the tropical climate of Kolkata and was designed by Major William Nairn Forbes and architect C.K. Robinson. The exterior of the building is adorned with a durable lime plaster for protecting it from the humid climate, and high ceilings constitute its interiors for enabling improved air circulation. St Paul’s Cathedral is open every day from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sunday from 7:30 am to 6 pm. Photography is not allowed inside the Church premises. The holiday season and especially Christmas is the best time to visit St Paul’s Cathedral. The nearest metro station to St Paul’s Cathedral is the Maidan metro station.
St Paul’s Cathedral is a place to surrender all our worries, anxieties, and just soak in the peaceful and sacred atmosphere inside the Church where one finds their lost self in the silence and the soulful piano strings. It’s a place where you can submit your prayer request through ‘chits’. Its serenity, warmth, and sacredness makes it one of the Five Must Visit Places in Kolkata.
Birla Planetarium
The M.P Birla Planetarium is considered as one of the largest planetariums in the world and is an important astronomical research and learning center. Its architecture has derived its inspiration from the Buddhist Stupa at Sanchi. It is located near the St Paul’s Cathedral and the Victoria Memorial and is open everyday from 12 pm to 6:30 pm. It remains shut on the first Thursday of every month. The shows are available in three languages – English, Bengali, Hindi, with ticket prices standing at INR 140 per person and are issued half an hour prior to each show.
One can experience out-of-the-box cosmic shows supported by the advanced Zeiss Hybrid Projection System of the planetarium. The system exhibits an optical mechanical projector with high resolution digital projectors for creating an immersive and realistic display of the night sky. It houses an astronomy gallery consisting of astronomical paintings, models, and a work collection from famous astronomers. The planetarium also offers educational and research activities, conducting workshops, seminars, and courses which are offered to enthusiasts and students.
The idea behind constructing the planetarium is credited to philanthropist and industrialist M.P Birla and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru led the inauguration of the planetarium in the year 1963 on July 2nd. It is known as the first public planetarium in India and the second in the Commonwealth.
It has gone through an important renovation in the year 2015 for upgrading its technology and projection systems, and was reopened to the public in 2017.
Parkstreet
The vibrant Park Street that lights up particularly during Christmas and New Year and is famous for its modern cafes, legacy restaurants, charming nightlife, and splendid architectural style exhibiting a blend of modernity and heritage, is officially called as Mother Teresa Sarani. It is popular as a shopping, nightlife and dining destination. It was regarded as the center of the infamous nightlife of Kolkata, showcasing live jazz as well as other performances at clubs and restaurants such as Oly Pub, Trincas, Mocamo, The Park, and others, from the 1940’s to the 1980’s.
Some of the most popular eateries in Parkstreet are Peter Cat, famous for its iconic Chelo Kebab, Flurys, famous for its royal English breakfast, tea, pastries, Tung Fong, famous for its Indian inspired Chinese delicacies, Mocamo, known for its old world charm, Indian and continental cuisine. It is also known for other popular spots such as Bar-B-Q restaurant and new age cafes such as The Parkstreet Social, etc. Park Street is also famous for its Kathi Rolls from Kusum Rolls (established in 1971) and others, which are a winner among people of all age groups because of its flavourful spices, succulent fillings, freshly made paratha, as part of its authentic recipe, as well as its affordability.
The Parkstreet metro station and St Xavier’s College are located in Parkstreet along with tourist attractions such as Allen Park, shopping destinations such as Biswa Bangla Store, Mumuso, and others.
One can also hangout at Taco Bell or the iconic Oxford Book Store in Parkstreet.
Park Street is often called the ‘Queen of Kolkata’s Streets’, the ‘cultural hub’, and is revered for its easy access to other parts of the city, making it one of the Five Must-Visit Tourist Places in Kolkata.
