What is Kolkata best known for?
Kolkata is famously known as the 'City of Joy'. Kolkata has not just one reason to boast about but many from its cuisine, nightlife, festivals, literature to historical places. The metropolitan city is based along the Hooghly River's eastern bank. The charming city is the capital of the Indian state West Bengal. Kolkata has one of the fastest-growing economies of the country and is one of the financial hubs of India. Kolkata is a city that never sleeps. Locals in the state are equally enthusiastic about art and literature, music, food and politics. The charming city has so much to offer to its visitors that one needs to plan accordingly before travelling to Kolkata.
Here are the top experiences in Kolkata:
The best time to explore the city of joy is from October to March as the weather is perfect in these months.
- Victoria Memorial: Visitors can witness a blend of both British and Mughal architecture at Victoria Memorial. The structure houses European painting of the 17th and 18th century, Persian manuscripts, ancient textiles, Mughal era arms and weapons and Queen Victoria's piano.
- Indian Museum: It is one of the world's oldest museums and also believed to be the largest museum in Asia-Pacific that showcases Indian Heritage. The museum houses some unmatched antiques and artefacts like mummies, ornaments, Mughal paintings along with 35 galleries for different science branches.
- Birla Temple: Birla Temple is dedicated to Lord Narayana and Goddess Laxmi. The temple has Rajasthani style architecture with white marble. The temple looks stunning in the evening with all the lights and ambience.
- Belur Math: If you are planning a spiritual tour in Kolkata, visit Belur Math. The place is famous for being the place where Swami Vivekananda spent the last few years of his life.
- Dakshineswar Kali Temple: The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in the 18th century. One can witness flawless Bengali architecture at the Kali Temple.
- Birla Planetarium: Birla Planetarium is renowned as the largest planetarium in Asia and second-largest in the world. Inaugurated by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962, it has celestial models designed by famed astronomers, a vast astronomy gallery, an electronics laboratory and beautiful paintings.
- Gorge yourself on Bengali cuisine: Kolkata is famous for its mouth-watering cuisine. Try Kolkata's famous Biryani, Macher Jhol, Kosha Mangsho, Alur Torkari etc. when in West Bengal. There are a variety of sweets that Kolkata boasts about that visitors must gorge on before leaving Kolkata.
Airport address - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Jessore Rd, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal
Airport IATA code - CCU