Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India’s West Bengal state. Founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India’s capital under the British Raj from 1773–1911. Today it’s known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries, and cultural festivals. It’s also home to Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, whose tomb is on site.
B.B.D. Bagh (formerly Dalhousie Square) is home to colonial-era landmarks like St. Andrew’s Church with its tall white steeple. It’s also a setting for the General Post Office, featuring a monumental rotunda, and the 18th-century Writers’ Building, which housed the East India Company’s administrative offices. Nearby is the Maidan, a sprawling park with the Eden Gardens cricket stadium, a golf course and the white-marble Victoria Memorial, containing several art galleries. Other notable sites include the Indian Museum, displaying fossils and Mughal antiques, and Kalighat Kali Temple, dedicated to Kolkata’s Hindu patron goddess.
Things to do
Maidan
Massive green space with sports grounds
Eco Park
Outdoor recreation, a lake & gardens
Science City Kolkata
Science museum with interactive exhibits
Howrah Bridge
2,300-foot cantilever road bridge
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Striking 19th-century spiritual complex
Victoria Memorial
Grand museum for art & Indian history
Nicco Park
Water rides, carousels & a rollercoaster
Alipore Zoological garden
Long-running zoo with diverse animals
NewMarket Kolkata
Massive shopping center for varied goods
Belur Math
Temples & shrines dedicated to guru
Indian Museum
Cultural museum established in 1814
Eden Gardens
Large-scale, 19th-century cricket ground
Kalighat
Mid 19th-century temple to Goddess Kali
James prinsep
Landmark ghat with a stately monument
মিলেনিয়াম পার্ক (Millennium Park)
Waterfront garden park with rides
Santosh Mitra Square
Urban park & events site with a pool
Muhammad Ali Park
Park
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden