KOLKATA VACATIONS

Kolkata

‘City of joy', ‘City of dreams’, ‘city of palaces’- these sobriquets given to Kolkata over the years are enough to prove that the present capital of West Bengal is a vibrant, colourful and interesting city. Founded in1690, by an English merchant Job Charnock,Kolkata was once the showpiece capital of the British Raj. The city today, is the heart of culture in India with artists receiving high prominence and respect. Numerous art galleries, Indian classical music festivals, the Bengali language theatre and cinema enlivens the city throughout the year.

Calcutta is perfect for a holiday during September to March . A pleasant weather makes for a memorable holiday. Being a metro, Kolkata is well connected with the rest of India and the world. Even within the city, transportation poses no problem. Metro rail, trams, buses, taxis are easily available promising a smooth and hassle-free trip. Calcutta offers variety of holiday options for tourists having varying interests. Adventurous tourist often make Kolkatta their base to start off on a trekking expedition to the hills in the vicinity of Kolkata. Kolkata is also an attraction for history lovers and pilgrims who return to the city time and again to check out on their favourite spot.

Tourist Attractions

Indian museum
Founded in 1814, the Indian museum is one of the oldest museums in the Asia. Incredible as it may sound, this museum is called ‘jadughar’ by the local people! A must see in this ‘jadughar’ is the 4000 year old mummy that has become the centre of attraction for all the tourists. There is also an urn that contains the ashes of Lord Buddha. The rest of the collection ranging from natural history to art archeology also amaze the visitors with their uniqueness and variety.

Victoria Memorial
A visit to Victoria Memorial is high on the agenda of any tourist visiting Kolkata. Located near the the huge green expanse the ’maidan’ (once a major attraction), it was built by Lord Curzon in 1905 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 25- years reign in India. This white marble monument has huge grounds allowing the tourists to amble around for as much time as they want.

Raj Bhavan
This erstwhile official residence of British Viceroy now houses the Governor of the West Bengal. Built during the period of 1799-1803, the Raj Bhavan is spread over a vast area of 27 acres.The main suite as well as the residential suite exude a royalty that was intrinsic to the imperial power. It is a must see for all the tourists.

Howrah Bridge
The first suspended bridge in India, the Howrah Bridge is yet another classic example of colonial engineering. Also known as the Rabindra Setu, this bridge connects Calcutta from Howrah and is one among the three bridges on the Hooghly river. Though old and high on traffic, the bridge still attracts tourists who enjoy an early morning walk on the bridge.

Kalighat Temple
The Kalighat temple is dedicated to the destructive side of Lord Shiva that takes the form of Goddess Durga . Built in 1809 the temple continues to attract a large number of devotees throughout the year, however this number is greatest during the Durga puja festival (which is the major festival of the Bengalis).

Shopping in Kolkata

Shopping in Kolkata is a major tourist attraction. From the old time bazaars to newly set up shopping malls, Kolkata offers its visitors a whole gamut of products (textiles, Bengali sweets, cotton & silk saris, electronic items etc.). Some of the old market places like the Burra bazaar remains the traditional market as before, while other market places especially the ones located at the Salt Lake have developed into a modern shopping area. Apart from Charnock City, Kolkata’s first mall, the new City Centre Mall provides shoppers a complete shopping experience.