Get to know more about Kolkata before booking your tour packages
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal. With numerous city tour places, Kolkata is the second largest Indian city which shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitors with its rich cultural and natural heritage. Kolkata was the first capital of British India. It was established in the year 1686 as a result of the expansion plans of the British Raj by Job Charnock, who was also believed to be the founder of Calcutta. With a reliable and cost effectively priced Kolkata tour package, one can witness the royal past of this city in every nook and cranny. The streets of Northern Kolkata and other parts of the city are still home to many historic buildings and structures which are now declared as 'heritage structures'. Some of these historic buildings for Kolkata travel are Victoria Memorial, Raja Ram Mohan Palace, Fort William, Belur Math, and Writers Building.
Experience Kolkata
There are plenty of ghats where one sit, relax, and enjoy the sunset while sipping on tea on a low-cost Kolkata trip. With modernisation and development in various sectors, Kolkata is also becoming a bustling metropolis with modern metro, high rise buildings, vibrant nightlife, large corporate offices, shopping malls, etc. Along with numerous day tours, Kolkata is also popular for its lively nightlife, which houses innumerable bars and pubs. This city is also famous all across the country for varieties of eateries and food stalls. At every corner of this city, one can savour local Bengali food or try out local snacks such as jhalmuri and ghugni chaat. If you have a great interest in literature and cultural history of India, then you should book a reasonably priced Kolkata package and plan your travel itinerary accordingly. There are various travel companies offering various Kolkata tour packages at most competitive prices. Do some research and get the best one booked to visit and explore this city located on the banks of the river Hooghly.
Things to Do in Kolkata
The city of joy boasts of an illustrious past that is associated with fascinating art, marvellous architecture, and rich literature, which can be observed during Kolkata travel. Kolkata is also considered the cultural and intellectual hub of India. One who wants to witness the artistic grandeur, dazzling culture, and literary legacy of Kolkata must book a Kolkata trip package online that covers all the major sightseeing places of the city.
Here are some of the best places to visit in Kolkata which form an essential part any Kolkata tour:
• Dakshineswar Temple
This temple is one of the most famous and greatest religious sites in Kolkata. Devotees from various parts of the country book an online Kolkata package to visit this holy place. This temple is a beautiful spiritual retreat, which is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Rani Rasmani, the queen of Janbazar, founded this temple the construction of which started in the year 1847. The temple is spread over an area of 25 acres and is located adjacent to the banks of river Hooghly. Goddess Kali is worshipped in this temple and the statue of the Goddess is composed of black stone which is embellished with gold jewellery. During the month of Bhadra, Paush, and Chaitra, thousands of devotees visit this place. Thus, it is one of the most visited Kolkata city tour places.
• Shantiniketan - the hometown of Shri Rabindranath Tagore
This is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal and forms an integral part of every Kolkata tour. It is about 212 km north of Kolkata, which was formed by famous Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Earlier, Shantiniketan was known as Bhubandanga which was owned by the Tagore family. Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 started a school at Shantiniketan and named it Brahmacharya Ashram. This school was modeled as per the ancient gurukul system. Later, this school was expanded into a university and was renamed Bishwa-Bharati. The campus of Shantiniketan is adorned with splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings of Ramkinkar, Rabindranath, Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay, Nandalal Bose and others. Moreover, this place is also popular for celebration of festivals like Poush Mela (December), Joydev Mela (January), Basanta Utsav (Holi) and other fairs. In addition to this, the famous mystic Baul Singers also attract visitors from various parts of the country to travel to Kolkata during vacations.
• Sunderbans
The unique and amazing Sundarbans National Park is the largest mangrove forest in the world. This national park is known for the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. This world heritage site is a delight for every photographer and nature lover, and is among the top visited Kolkata city tour places. Most of the travel companies include this place in their Kolkata tour and travel packages to attract more clients. Moreover, this park is also home of a large array of wild species of flora and fauna.
• Belur Math
If you are planning a Kolkata trip this vacation with your parents or grandparents, then you must visit this place. This is one of the most important pilgrimage places in India. It was established in 1938 by Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He established this math as a gesture of paying homage to his guru. This temple spreads over a large area of land which encompasses a big prayer hall with a statue of Ramakrishna. This temple is a beautiful monastery which also has several other temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, and Sri Sarada Devi. Located near the Hooghly River, this is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math. The temples here highlight a great fusion of Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, and Christian styles of architecture. The math stands proud as a symbol of secularism and the principle of universal faith. By visiting this place, one’s soul fills with contentment and peace. Thousands of tourists from various parts of the world look for Kolkata packages at reasonable costs to spend their vacations in this city. It is open for visitors from 6 am to 12 noon and then again from 4 pm to 9 pm.
Best Time to Visit Kolkata
The best time to take a Kolkata trip is in autumn and winter, that is, in the months between October and February. During this period, the weather is perfect and various festivals are celebrated here. For this reason, Kolkata witnesses the peak arrival of travellers from various parts of the country in this season, especially during Durga Puja. During this time, most of the travel companies offer Kolkata tour package with additional discounts and coupons to attract more people. Because of the eastern tropical climate, Kolkata has light winters and hot and humid summers. Travellers should try to avoid a Kolkata day tour in summers. They can choose monsoons, although that will not exactly be the best season to pay a visit. However, during the off-season, Kolkata tour packages are available at the cheapest rates.
