Attractive tourist destinations near Kolkata

Nothing can be more exciting than a break from the mundane and finding a weekend getaway. Kolkata can be taxing in terms of traffic and the chaos, but scratch the surface, and you will find enough places that will make your trip. If you are also looking for Kolkata trip with a difference, then here is a list of attractive tourist destinations that will make your trip worth the while:

• Tarakeshwar (58 kms from Kolkata): Situated in the Hoogly district, this Shiva pilgrimage is 58 kms from Kolkata, and its major attraction is Taraknath Temple. The best time to visit this attraction is around Shivratri in February or March, and during Shravan month from July to August. Mondays are auspicious days to visit any Shiva temple. There is a legend that anyone who takes a bath in the Dudhpukur Tank here would have all his wishes fulfilled.

Tarakeshwar Temple (Photo Courtesy: http://blog.clearcarrental.com)

• Kamarpukur (90 kms from Kolkata): Located on the banks of River Damodar, this is the place where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was born, and its major attraction is Sri Ramakrishna temple. The place has the saint’s marble statue, and also has a dispensary, a school and a library. Yoga classes and meditation sessions are held to train the youth. Do not forget to visit the deer park, where you can have a nature walk, and see the different varieties of deer. Best time to visit is from October to February.

Kamarpukur (Photo Courtesy: http://ziptrips.in)

• Mandarmoni (165 kms from Kolkata): This is a seaside hamlet that has a 13-km long driveable beach, perhaps the longest motorable beaches in the country. The waves are gentler in this area, but you need to keep a tab on the high tide before beginning your drive.

Mandarmoni (Photo Courtesy: http://www.tripadvisor.in)

• Krishnanagar (100 kms from Kolkata): Located in the Nadia district in the south of Jalangi River, is renowned for its art, literature and culture. Clay artists of Ghuni are known for their statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. The Jagaddhatri Puja is celebrated with great pomp and show. Jhulan Mela is celebrated every July to August at the Royal Palace. Do not forget to taste the sweets made by local moyras, especially the sarpuriya and sarbhaja.

Clay Dolls of Krishnanagar (Photo Courtesy: http://bhramansangi.blogspot.in)

 

Jagaddhatri Puja in Krishnanagar (Photo Courtesy: http://10utsav.blogspot.in)

• Bakkhali (125 kms from Kolkata): This is a seaside resort having an 8-km long beach stretching till Frasergunj. Hire a motorized boat and travel to Jambu Dwip, which is a must-see reserved forest island. Visit the Watch Tower which allows you to see the entire Sundarbans forest, in addition to the crocodile park. You can also drive to the Henry’s Island, and enjoy its wildlife and mangroves.

Jambu Dwip (Photo Courtesy: http://mytripmap.blogspot.in)

Henry’s Island Way to Beach ( Photo Courtesy: http://www.tripadvisor.in)

These are some of the most famous tourist destinations near Kolkata. So, browse through the best deals on Kolkata flights, reach the city, and find your ideal getaway. To top it off, a number of airlines in the country are offering great discounts and deals on flights to Kolkata during the summer months. So go right ahead, block your dates and make the most of the offers.

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10 Family-friendly destinations in Kolkata

Kolkata, also known as Calcutta is situated on the banks of river Hooghly. Rich in its culture and history, it is known for its literary, artistic, and revolutionary heritage. The first newspaper in India, ‘The Bengal Gazette’ was also published in Kolkata. It is also known as the commercial or financial hub of east India.

Kolkata also offers some beautiful and informative places to visit. The top ten family-friendly places for sight-seeing in Kolkata are:

• Victoria Memorial: A magnificent museum designed by Sir William Emerson comprises the photos and history of prominent personalities who left a mark in the glory of India. 

Victoria Memorial Hall (Photo Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org)

• Howrah Bridge: Located on the Hooghly River, and stands on two 270 feet high pillars, Howrah Bridge is known to be the busiest bridge of the world. It has two sister bridges called Vivekananda Setu and VidyasagarSetu respectively.

Howrah Bridge (Photo Courtesy: www.outlookindia.com)

• Birla Planetarium: One of the largest museums in Asia. A centre of Science, communication and environment, built by Birla Education trust, attracts a large audience with its astronomical presentations. It is a must visit place for Astronomy lovers and it also has a gallery comprising of paintings and models of renowned astronomers.

Birla Planetarium (Photo Courtesy: www.flickr.com)

• Fort William: One of the most famous tourist attractions in Kolkata is Fort William. A lot of fairs and exhibitions take place in the ground situated there.

Fort William: (Photo Courtesy: www.kolkatabest.com)

• Writers building: Serving as an inspiring place and abode for the junior writers of the East India Company, this building is known to have a gothic and unique architecture. 

Writers building: (Photo Courtesy: wikimapia.org)

• Kali ghat Temple: Kali Ghat Temple is a magnificent temple situated on the banks of river Hooghly attracting innumerable religious tourists and devotees. It has a lot of religious and mythological context.

Kali ghat Temple: (Photo Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org)

• Alipore zoo: Alipore zoo is India’s oldest Zoo. Spread over an enormous area, offering a wide species of animals and birds. You can also spot the rare white Bengal tiger if you are lucky. It also includes a separate reptile zoo, children’s zoo and an aquarium. 

White Tiger at Alipore zoo: (Photo Courtesy: www.telegraphindia.com)

• Nicco Park: One of the biggest amusement parks in India, Nicco Park, is a very celebrated amusement park receives fun-lovers of all ages. It has a number of exciting rides and games. It also has a rose garden and an ecstatic view. It also is a treat for the food lovers with a huge variety of dishes from different cuisines.

Nicco Park: (Photo Courtesy: calcuttanow.blogspot.com)

• Eden Gardens: Eden Gardens is the second largest stadium in the world. Though this is a famous Cricket ground, it also serves as a tourist attraction because of it legendary tales and past events.

Eden Gardens: (Photo Courtesy: www.bcci.tv)

• NetajiBhavan: This was originally the house of NetajiSubash Chandra Bose and now serves as a museum including his photographs, belongings and letters.

NetajiBhavan: (Photo Courtesy: kolkataonwheelsmagazine.com)

Summers in Kolkata are really hot and humid with May being the hottest month. Winters last for around 2 months, which is a good time to visit the city.

Kolkata flights connect Kolkata to all the major cities with its NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose International airport. It also connects Kolkata to many international destinations.

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Best Restaurants in Kolkata

Capital of West Bengal, Kolkata is one of the busiest cities of the country. Located on the east bank of river Hooghly, it is the oldest operating port of East India making it a vital trading centre and a hub of commerce, culture, education and industry. Covering an area of 185 square kilometers, Kolkata has an extensive transport system including a tram line and the Kolkata Suburban Railway. It is also the centre for the growth of the Bengali film industry as well as Bengali Literature. The city is famous for its exclusive expertise in seafood and traditional Bengali dishes and sweets.

Known as the “cultural capital of India”, Kolkata has produced world famous film makers, poets, artists and songwriters. The National Library of India prides itself in preserving the works of visionaries like Satyajit Ray, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda. In addition, the Victoria Memorial has documented the history of the city. Social circles in Kolkata are formed on the basis of closely knit neighbourhoods known as paras and intellectual exchange among members of same socio-economic statuses known as addas.

Some tourist spots of the city are the Howrah Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Vidyasagar Bridge and the  Shaheed Minar or Ochterlony Monument. Known as the “City of Palaces”, Kolkata has some of the finest memorials and architectural monuments of the country. Statues of  Sir James Outram,  Rabindranath Tagore,  Karl Marx, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose are honoured at different locations. Some historical hotels are conventional to the city’s heritage. The Great Eastern Hotel has a tale attached to its sense of Orientalism and eastern tradition. The Grand Hotel, that began humbly is now a sophisticated mansion that caters to the needs of high end tourists.  

The 4.5 million residents of the city are found to celebrate Bengali culture in grand occasions like Durga Pooja and Navratri. Bengali sweets are made in large numbers during such festivals. Every Bengali restaurant has an array of desserts including Rasgulla, Cham Cham, Sandesh, Mishti Doi and Rasmalai. Bengali cuisine has gained widespread popularity all over the world and remains an integral part of the tradition in Kolkata.

A Bengali meal is characterized by the use of aromatic spices, savouries and sweets. Rice with fish curry or Macher Jhol is the most popular Bengali dish. The food in Kolkata has extensive flavour with a tinge of tamarind and sweet. A full course meal consists of a starter, Shak (leafy vegetables), Dal with roti, two main courses of fish gravy along with other items, chutney and dessert. Most of the dishes are infused with spices, gravy and mouth watering flavour.

Visiting Kolkata should be in one’s Bucket List at least for the food. Kolkata has a tropical wet and dry climate with hot and humid summers. Monsoon brings heavy rains and thunderstorms. The best time to visit is from October to February when the weather is more pleasant and suitable for tourists.  Kolkata flights are plenty in number and transport people both within the country and internationally. 

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48 hours in Kolkata

This lovely city is one that puts old and new together - it still has all the colonial era beauties intact and is rich in its Indian culture and heritage. It combines the old and the new. On the road, you see hand pulled rickshaws and fancy cars alike. Culture rich, the home of Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray and more talented people in the past and today, this, without a doubt, is a city that you must see!

If you plan well, you can see all that Kolkata has to offer in 48 hours. Make sure to carry water with you because Kolkata is hot and humid.

Victoria Memorial  (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Victoria memorial - Established in 1921, this is one of India's finest museums. The collection in this museum includes photographs, statues and a whole lot of history. Definitely something you should make the for time for.

Eden Gardens Kolkata  (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Eden gardens - This is a big haunt for particularly those who are cricket fans, but being the largest and oldest cricket stadium in the country, you must pay it a visit even if you're not one.

The Birla Planetarium, Kolkata (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

The Birla planetarium - This is one of the largest museums in Asia. Add a touch of astronomy to your life by visiting this planetarium cum museum.

Howrah bridge - Built in 1874, this is one of the busiest bridges of the city. There are two big bridges in Kolkata, but the Howrah bridge is definitely one you must drive past if not drive on.

Howrah Bridge  (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Howrah bridge seen from Babughat in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Marble Palace - Constructed in 1835, this is an art gallery you must see! Besides an exquisite art collection, the marble palace also has a zoo that hosts a rare collection of birds.

Marble Palace, kolkata (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Besides this, it's really relaxing to simply walk along the streets and take in the sights and sounds of quaint, beautiful Kolkata. Go back in time when you pass by old buildings and watch people use age old modes of transport. Take a walk along the Hooghly river or hop into a taxi and listen to the stories the taxi driver has to share.

Each of these will take at least an hour to tour, if not more. Take your time and soak it all in. If you want to take a break from all the sightseeing, remember that Kolkata also happens to be a foodie's paradise! Don't forget to try the chaats, the sweets and the street food! Make sure to get a bite of the chilkas, the jhaal muri, all the different types of fish preparations like macher jhol and chingri macch. Don't forget to have the rasgullas for dessert.

So take a flight to Kolkata, take this list of things to see and do with you and see the best of Kolkata in 48 hours! 

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