Kolkata is the bustling and fascinating capital of West Bengal state in India. It was founded as Calcutta, an East India Company trading post. The city is well-known for its striking colonial architecture, cultural festivals, museums, monuments and art galleries. One worth visiting is the domed, white marble Victoria Memorial which exhibits art and also offers displays about the history of the city. Another interesting site is the Dakshineswar Kali Hindu Temple in Dakshineswar nearby. Mother House, which was founded by Mother Teresa and is the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, is also in the city and is well worth a visit. Get some retail therapy in Park Street, a famous street that runs through Kolkata and what was formerly a deer park. Alternatively, take a tour of the various bazaars and markets throughout the city, gazing at and purchasing items to take home. See the other side of the city by touring the slum areas and learning about the hardships of the people living there. Learn about the culinary traditions of Kolkata, with their own unique dishes, see how they are cooked and then enjoy the meal. Scroll below to see a selection of short tours in Kolkata, India.
1. Alleyway food tour of Kolkata (from USD 41.0)
There’s nothing better than buying street food and experiencing the cuisine of a country or city. Kolkata is known as a food lover’s paradise and you will soon find out why. The new Alleyway Food Tour takes you through the winding, often mysterious and narrow alleyways of Kolkata, discovering the century-old food stalls and sampling their delicious, spicy street food.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
If you are a foodie, you must explore old Kolkata's cafe culture and there is no better place to do it than Mitra Cafe, a landmark that has been feeding people since 1910! They have newly opened branches all around Kolkata and in other cities as well, but the original outlet at Shobhabazar, just opposite the metro station, is the best. This quaint little eatery may not be much to look at, but trust me, the food is phenomenal. I have never had their famous brain chop (batter-fried mutton brain) as they sell out very fast, but the rest of the items they serve more than make up for it. The must-have dishes here are the 'dim-er devil' (a local version of scotch egg), fish kobiraji (fish fillet encased in golden-colored egg chiffonade), fowl cutlet, and, my favorite, mutton kosha with toast.
Alleyway Food Tour
Duration: 3 hours
2. British Raj walk in Kolkata (from USD 74.0)
Go back in time and take a five-hour walking tour of the beautiful architecture built in the 18th and 19th centuries when Kolkata was the British Raj’s capital. Visit Victoria Memorial and the Governor’s House and learn about the struggle the Indian people went through to achieve the independence of India. This fascinating tour includes all entry fees plus refreshments along the way.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
This walking tour around the city and its colonial past is one of my favorites. What I absolutely love about the tour is how they take you through the most iconic buildings built during British rule, and how as a local, I can see my birth city in a whole new dimension. You can expect the guide to take you to The Writer's Building and tell you anecdotes about how it used to be the workplace for clerks of the East India Company. The Telegraph Office, Raj Bhavan, and the Currency Building are also some of the places I like to see during the tour.
British Raj Walk in Kolkata
Duration: 4 hours
3. Kolkata uptown food tour (from USD 35.0)
Learn about the culinary culture, unique to Kolkata, and sample the food along the way, including jumbo prawns, curried fish mousse steamed in banana leaves, spicy chai tea, onion bhajias and Kolkata’s famous sweets. On the tour, you will get to sample more than a dozen different traditional food items, while your knowledgeable guide will speak about each option as you go.
Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings
Duration: 4 hours
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4. Slum tour: a different side to the 'City of Joy' (from USD 69.0)
See how the other half lives in Kolkata, away from the main tourist sites. A guide will take you through this walking tour and provide background on each district. Find out what hardships the inhabitants are going through to try and make a living for themselves and their families.
Slum Tour: A Different Side To The 'City Of Joy'
Duration: 2 hours
Kolkata Tour Guide
Nibedita Sen
A hearty WELCOME to our page Happiness Activist. We are here to solve the problems of foreigners who come to explore India. Firstly, we suggest them to stop visiting the wonders and mundanes of social media advertisements about overrated traveling. We provide them the basic needs and guidelines that the audience requires when they first step into an unknown land which we have already explored. ... Read more
Tours by Nibedita
5. A private morning malk through Kolkata's markets (from USD 191.0)
This early morning tour takes you to the open-air markets in Kolkata and provides an insight into the city’s bazaar culture. Your knowledgeable local guide will take you to College Street and Burra Bazaar, where you will interact with the sellers and learn about their daily lives. Take home keepsakes, textiles, books and handicrafts along with hundreds of other interesting and colorful items. Along the way, visit the fruit market at Machua Burra Bazaar, the Spice Market and the Boi Para Book Market.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Every student and bibliophile in Kolkata has visited 'boi para' (book alley) in College Street more than once in their life. From textbooks for school and college to novels in different languages - all kinds of books are available here. Many leading Bengali publishers, such as Dey's Publishing and Ananda Publishers, have their headquarters here. I have bought many Bangladeshi novels, which are not easily available in India, from College Street. Apart from new books, there are many pavement stalls, where you may even come across some rare finds!
Don't forget to get a glass of 'sharbat' (drinks made from fruits and other ingredients) at the famous Paramount, running since 1936, after you have got the books you came for. I also make it a point to get the sweet white curd from Putiram Sweets.
A Private Morning Walk Through Kolkata's Markets with Lunch
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
6. Morning bazaar walking tour in Kolkata (from USD 105.0)
Wake up with the city for this early morning tour which takes you through the colorful bazaars of Kolkata, visiting the eclectic stalls and interacting with the sellers to find out more about their lives. Visit College Street and Burra bazaar where you can see and buy a wide range of colorful, locally-made items, including handicrafts, art, fabrics, books and souvenirs to take home to loved ones. The tour includes free hotel pickup and drop-off.
Morning Bazaar Walking Tour in Kolkata
Duration: 4 hours
7. Two-hour traditional Bengali meal in a private Kolkata home (from USD 46.0)
This is your chance to learn about the local cuisines first-hand, with a visit to a private home in Kolkata to enjoy a two-hour traditional meal. You will experience India’s culinary traditions and learn about family life in the city. Watch as your host prepares traditional Bengali dishes, including chingri malai curry (coconut prawns, pulao (saffron rice) and other meat and vegetable specialties plus a delicious dessert. After learning how they are prepared, relax and enjoy the food with the family.
Kolkata 2-Hour Traditional Bengali Meal in a Private Home
Duration: 2 hours
8. Small-group Kolkata walking and food tour (from USD 32.0)
This evening walking tour through Kolkata takes you to visit the local vendors selling delicious traditional foods which are normally difficult to find without a guide. Visit Prinsep Ghat on the River Hooghly and Park Street Lane to taste famous Kolkata foods, including the momos (dumplings), paani puri, Indian masala chai (tea) and pav bhaji. Your English-speaking and knowledgeable guide will give you information about the various dishes along the way. The tour includes the food samples, a taxi ride and pickup and drop-off at your hotel.
Small-Group Kolkata Walking and Food Tour with Hotel Pickup
9. Kolkata cultural tours (from USD 67.0)
Meet a tour expert on a six-hour cultural tour for learning the culture of certain locations. Kolkata is full of interesting history, culture and sights. Get a picturesque view of both the landmark bridges Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu, walk around the Dalhousie square and capture the historical sites. Hotel pick-up can be arranged.
Kolkata Cultural Tours
10. Morning tour of Kolkata in flower market (from USD 27.0)
Your local guide will collect you at your hotel and take you to the local flower market. Enjoy tea at the Prinsep Ghat after the visit on the banks of the river. Along the way, visit St. Paul Cathedral Church and the Victoria Memorial. The tour includes a boat trip, where you can see the various sights from the water.
Morning tour of Kolkata with Flower Market
Take time to tour and learn about Kolkata, India
Once a colonial city, Kolkata is a fascinating place to learn about the traditional West Bengal culture, food, bazaars and markets, museums, art galleries and monuments, while enjoying short private tours through the city with a knowledgeable, English-speaking local guide.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Despite being born and raised in Kolkata and having lived here my whole life, I sign up for these walking tours from time to time to see my city from a fresh perspective. I enjoy strolling around iconic buildings and temples and sitting on the river ghats to get a glimpse of the rich heritage of my city. Kumartuli is also one of my favorite places to visit during a tour - it is where the potters make beautiful idols of the Goddess that we see during Durga Pujo across the city. Some of the walking tours like to end it on a sweet note - they will treat you to some of the most famous Bengali sweets! A delightful treat for anybody who has a sweet tooth.
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