India is a diverse country with great traditions, culture, and monuments with a long history. Each state in India has its own different and beautiful history of traditions, famous places, and cultures that attract that audiences from all over the world. West Bengal is a state that has plenty of places to grab your attention.
West Bengal is one such state of India that is filled with a lot of places that will attract you to visit at least once in your life.
West Bengal’s capital is Kolkata which has many places that can be visited on your tour of West Bengal. Kolkata is also known as the cultural capital of India. Kolkata was a major hub for trading and entering India during the British rule. It helped Kolkata to get beautiful places that not only reveal its beauty but also the Indian culture and traditions. In this article, you will learn about the 10 places to visit in Kolkata that help you make beautiful memories.
Kolkata is not an expensive city in comparison to other Indian cities. It has a low cost of living. You can easily find low-cost dining, entertainment options, and places to roam around here.
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Why should I visit Kolkata?
The oldest port in India is located in the city of Kolkata. Due to its many different cultures, Kolkata has been referred to as one of the top tourist attractions. Kolkata, the most significant hub of Indian history, art, and culture, is a place that every person should visit at least once in their lifetime.
10 Places to Visit in Kolkata
1. Victoria Memorial Hall
One of the beautiful architectural works of Britishers is represented by Victoria Memorial Hall. It was built under Lord Curzon in memory of Queen Victoria and it took 15 years for construction from 1906 to 1921. It is one of the most photographed sites of Kolkata made with white marble and is situated in the heart of the state. It consists of a museum inside it that depicts the British Era in India with paintings, arms, and statues. There is a light and sound show every evening that shows a glimpse of Indian history under British rule.
Location: Victoria Memorial Hall, Queens Way, Kolkata.
Timing 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fee:100 rupees
Why to visit: to view resplendent and majestic British architecture
2. Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens is the oldest cricket stadium in India which was built in 1864 with a sitting capacity of 66000. It is also referred to as the home of Indian cricket or the Mecca of cricket. The first ever match played in this stadium was between India and England which was a test match in 1934. It is the best stadium for a cricket lover to witness their favorite players playing their favorite game.
Location: Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata
Timing 9:00 am to 6:00 am
Fee: Nil
Why to visit: second-largest cricket stadium in the world
3. Indian Museum
Indian Museum also known as Jadu Ghar is the largest and oldest multipurpose museum of India that was established in 1814. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was the founder of this museum. The museum showcases a large collection of ornaments, skeletons, Mughal paintings, and antique armor. Six categories, including Anthropology, Art, Archaeology, Zoology, Botany, and Geology, make up a total of 60 galleries.
Location: Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata
Timing 10 am to 6:30 pm (Monday closed)
Fee: 50 rupees
Why to visit: largest and the earliest multipurpose museum
4. Birla Planetarium
Birla Planetarium is one such place that you should not miss to visit in your Kolkata visit. It is also known as Taramandal which was built in 1962 and was inaugurated by the first PM of India Jawahar Lal Nehru. Some shows are in English, Hindi, and Bengali every day and share amazing facts and knowledgeable content about the galaxies. Its design is inspired by Sanchi Stupa. It displays a huge amount of artwork of many renowned astronomers that consists of paintings and models.
Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata
Timing 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Fee 100 rupees
Why to visit: Collection of fine paintings and celestial models of renowned astronomers
5. Alipore Zoo
Alipore Zoo is the must-visit place in Kolkata especially when you are traveling with children. It is the oldest Zoo in India established in 1876 that has different species of animals, reptiles, and birds. Some of the animals like one-horned rhinoceros, white tigers, and swine pheasant are the major attractions of the Zoo. Alipore Zoo is one of the famous tourist attractions places to visit in Kolkata that should be on your list.
Location: Alipore, Kolkata
Timing 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Fee 30 rupees
Why to visit: home of the Aldabra giant tortoise Adwaita
6. Nicco Park
If you are an adventure lover then Nicco Park is a must-visit place in Kolkata for you. One of the best places to visit in Kolkata for a family to enjoy their free time is by visiting this amusement park that was opened in 1991. There are many types of rides whose counts go up to thirty-five. The major attraction of the park is cable cars and the Eiffel Tower which gives the best view of the park. So if you are looking to spend quality time with your children and family then you must visit this place in Kolkata.
Location: Jheel Meel, Kolkata
Timing 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fee 300 rupees
Why to visit: professionally managed amusement park
7. Kolkata Race Course
The largest horse race venue in India is in Kolkata which is managed by Royal Calcutta Turf Club. It was built in 1820 to organize horse racing and to attract people from all over the world who have an interest in horse racing. Most of the events are organized every weekend from July to September and from November to March. It is the best place with a beautiful landscape view to enjoy your holidays.
Location: Hastings, Kolkata
Timing: 12:00 am to 12:00 pm
Fee: 20 rupees for nonmembers, Rs.50 for phone
Why to visit: best horse racing grounds
8. National Library
Kolkata is a place in India that has the largest national library. It was built during British time in 1891. It not only includes books of native language but also holds a prominent collection of various other languages like Punjabi, Telugu, Hindi, Sindhi, Urdu, and many more. It is spread over an area of 30 acres that is managed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Indian government. Moreover, the library provides a separate collection of books for the children to study and learn amazing facts about life, adventure, fantasies, and history. It is an entry-free library so that anyone can enjoy the facilities for gaining knowledge without any financial problems.
Location: Belvedere Estate, Alipore, Kolkata
Timing 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (all working days)
Fee: Nil
Why to visit: collect, disseminate, and preserve printed material
9. Fort William
Fort William is a fort that is situated on the eastern bank of River Hooghly and is named after King William Fort III. The Fort is spread over 5 acres of land and designed in an octagonal shape. It is believed that William Fort is the only fort in the world that can be besieged with a capacity to hold 10,000 security personnel at a time.
This Fort William represents the major historical events in the history of India. One of the historic events that led to the Battle of Plassey in 1757 happened here, also known as the Black Hole tragedy in which 142 Britishers were killed. Other than the historic relevance of the William Fort it also has a Swimming pool, Boxing ring, movie theatre, and shopping complex. Every year the Indian army organizes the celebrations of Vijay Diwas on 16 December. There is no entry fee to visit this fort.
Location: Maidan, Fort William, Hastings, Kolkata
Timing 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Fee: Nil
Why to visit: hillwalking and climbing
10. Mother House
Mother House is also famously known as Mother Teresa’s house, as she lived and worked here for the welfare of society by doing countless charitable works. She was an Albanian Indian who founded the Missionaries of Charity to look after orphaned children. Most of the people come here and visit the Mother House to do charitable work so that orphaned children can also live happy and prosperous lives and achieve their goals in life. It is an entry-free house that welcomes everyone who comes with an open heart.
Location: Ripon Street, Kolkata
Timing 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 (Thursdays off)
Fee: Nil
Why to visit: to view the Tomb of Mother Teressa
Are 2 days enough for Kolkata?
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and a very old city in Eastern India is difficult to tour in a short amount of time, so I advise staying at least two days to see the main sights. Allow me to show you around my hometown, the “City of Joy.”
Conclusion
The list above indicates a wide range of diversity and experiences. The city offers a wide variety of activities whether you’re traveling alone, with family, friends, or a spouse. These renowned tourist places to visit in Kolkata have close ties to history, art, and culture.
You can choose a location from it to enjoy during your trip to Kolkata. You may experience the old-world charm and redefine fun with these tourist attractions. You can transform your trip into a memorable adventure in every way by diving into exploring the layers of fun.
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