Last Updated on August 14, 2021 by admin
As the “City of Joy”, Kolkata is increasing the beauty of West Bengal state in India as well as the capital of the state. It is also famous as Calcutta that name came under British rule when it was the capital of India. This capital city is the blend of gorgeous sights, sounds feel and colors that attract visitors from worldwide. You will get here the modern style places as well as the historical spots and architectures. Some of these specialties become the reason to visit here again and again. This city offers lots of fabulous tourist places in Kolkata to explore the local.
Kolkata boasts glorious colonial architecture that effects lookup in lots of spots here. With various temples, museums, mosques, parks, churches, and river-front; it becomes one of the best choices of travelers. Its arts & culture give different experiences in the country where the Bengali language, local sweet Rasogula, and fishes in food make the heart winning taste. We will read here about a few list of tourist places in Kolkata.
Top 8 Tourist Places in Kolkata for Religious Visit
Kolkata holds a mixed religious population where maximum Hindus live then comes Muslims and then others. Same like, you will get the mix pilgrimage spots in the city like temples, Mosques, and Churches. Let’s see some of them: –
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
On the banks of Hooghly River, Dakshineswar Kali Temple is making the religious hub in Kolkata. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is also the place of stay of the great Yogi Ramkrishna Paramhansa. Dakshineswar Kali Temple has a series of 12 Temples dedicated to Radha-Krishna, Lord Shiva, Bathing Ghat, Rani Rashmoni’s shrine, and various others.
Dakshineswar Temple is built in Navratna style Bengali architecture and is the three-storey temple that stands with a fleet of stairs at a high platform. It is just a boat ride away from Belur Math and has the aesthetic value for the tourists visiting from worldwide. Just 10KM away from Kolkata Railway Station and Kolkata Airport that is much easier to visit by booking a taxi service in Kolkata for a local visit.
Birla Mandir
The stunning structure of Birla Mandir adorns the streets of Ballygunge is hard to miss once you visit the city. Birla Temple belongs to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha but you will also find the other deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, and many others. From all around the globe, the visitors visit here in lacs per year. Especially during Krishna Janmashtami, it attracts huge pilgrims and other visitors who visit for pleasure reasons.
Kalighat
Kalighat is a sacred place for Hindus where one can visit with family or friends easily whether from Ballygunge or Tollygunge. Located in the heart of the city, Kalighat Kali Temple is the most famous Kali Temples where thousands of pilgrims visit every day. Also, it is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas of India where the various parts of Sati’s body have fallen as it is said. At this place, Sati’s right foot fall-down during the Tandava of Lord Shiva. It is very easy to visit by public transport or by hiring a local taxi in Kolkata.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The St. Paul’s Cathedral is located right next to the Birla Planetarium with a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. When you step inside the church, you can read about its history of St. Paul’s Cathedral. On the walls of the church, you will read the memorials over the last two hundred years. Its Gothic architecture makes it different & amazing and took away in history when it was built between 1839-1847. With beautiful architecture and interiors, the surrounding gardens increase its beauty twice.
Magen David Synagogue
To the Magen David Synagogue, the Archaeological department controls. And, the normal visitors are not allowed except on Sundays as rest all days either only jews or people with permission allowed. The interiors of these synagogues are majestic and awe-inspiring and has the owner to the best synagogues in eastern India. The Magen David Synagogue is built with red brick in the Italian Renaissance style and situated at Burrabazar in Kolkata near the Howrah Bridge.
Nakhoda Masjid
Nakhoda Mosque is the major Mosque of Kolkata and has the Islamic architecture and Mughal architecture. It has a magnificent architecture that attracts visitors from all religions & castes. Nakhoda Masjid is located very close to the Barabazar area with eye-catching views. The hall of this mosque has the capacity of 10,000 people to accommodate and gives the tranquil feeling. It is situated near Howrah Bridge and just 5km away from Kolkata railway station and 14 km away from the airport of Kolkata.
Tipu Sultan Masjid
The Tipu Sultan Masjid was specially made for Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore. It was built in 1842 AD by Prince Ghulam Mohammed in the memory of his Father Tipu Sultan. Its beautiful architecture makes the charm for tourists from worldwide. This Mosque is the relic of architectural and cultural heritage that attracts all types of visitors who visit Kolkata.
For visiting Tipu Sultan Masjid, you can easily come from Kolkata Airport that has a distance of just 16 km also from the Kolkata Railway Station just 8 km away. From there, you can easily book an online cab service for local use or pick up and drop.
Historical & Cultural Tourist Places in Kolkata
To explore the historical and cultural beauty of Kolkata, You will get here a variety of tourist spots in Kolkata.
Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial Hall will take you in the imagination of the British Era. You will find here the magnificent paintings and great art along with the English history of colonization. It was built in the memory of Queen Victoria and its marble structure blends the various architectural styles like British Style, Indian Style, Egyptian, Venetian, Mughal, and more. You will get here lots of historic things to see in the museum and enjoy the pleasing moments in the lawns and gardens.
To visit the Victoria Memorial, you can book a car rental Kolkata from Airport to ride approximately 22 km and from Howrah railway station for 7 km. Also, you can easily visit Victoria Memorial if you are exploring Howrah Bridge, Indian Museum, or Birla Temple.
Fort William
Fort William is a historic Fort that has the majestic architecture with wide aisles, high roofs, and solid structures. As the headquarter of Eastern Command Indian Army, you will find it as the witness to many historical events for the last two hundred years. It also has a Church, Gurudwara, and a Temple for the soldiers who belong to different religions. Also, you will find here a club, shopping centers, cinema hall, restaurants and various other all the needed things. This Fort William is near Eden Gardens and 23 km from the Kolkata Airport.
Belur Math
As the headquarter of Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Belur Math is founded by Swami Vivekanand. Its architecture is as a symbol of all religions the blend of Buddhist, Islamic, Hindu, and Christian art design. It is said that this temple design was designed to celebrate the diversity of Indian Religions that is the mixture. You can visit here to get the calm atmosphere and to see the historical beauty. It is just 6 km from Howrah Railway Station and 15 km away from Kolkata Airport.
Marble Palace
Marble Palace Kolkata is one of the best preserved and most elegant houses of 19th century Kolkata. It has its popularity due to its marble walls, floors, and sculptures that make it special and beautiful. The Marble Palace was built by Raja Rajendra Mullick in 1835 AD and it has a Neoclassical style of Architecture. This spot is just 13 km away from Kolkata Airport and 5 km away from Kolkata railway station where you can take the help of Kolkata airport cabs or taxi from the railway station.
Tagore’s House
In this house, the great poet Ravindra Nath Tagore was born and spent most of his childhood. It is also famous as the ‘Jorasanko Thakur Bari’ and has also a Tagore Museum that has a collection of history. There are 40 original paintings of Ravindra Nath Tagore and currently, it has the location in the Rabindra Bharati University campus. This building was built in 1785 by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore who was the grandfather of the poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum is the largest museum in India and the ninth oldest museum in the world. This museum is also famous as ‘Jadughar’ and it has a good collection of contemporary paintings, Egyptian mummies, and ancient sculptures with sacred relics of Buddha. While visiting here you can explore the history of Art, Geology, Zoology, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Economic Botany. It has its location near New Market Kolkata where you can easily visit from any corner of the city to explore here and surroundings.
Nizam Palace
The Nizam Palace offers an insightful peek into the lifestyle of Kolkata city. You can explore its architecture and spend some leisure time with family or friends. This archaic building always participates in socio-political, cultural, and religious activities. The Palace is also famous as “Galstaun Park” and as the heritage building, it is one of the most popular spots in Kolkata.
Writers Building
This building belongs to 1777 AD built by East India Company for Junior Servants. The Writers Building has a stunning architecture that attracts huge visitors from each part of the country as well as from worldwide. It is one of the most iconic buildings in the Joy City but due to become a Government office now, you can not fully enjoy its beauty but explore around.
Pleasure Points to Visit in Kolkata
Birla Planetarium
The Birla Planetarium is the single-storey circular structure that has design in the typical Indian style. This Planetarium is located at Chowringhee Road right in the proximity of Victoria Memorial. It is the planetarium in Asia and the second-largest in the world after the Nagoya City Science Museum. You can enjoy here English, Hindi and Bengali language show between 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Also, it has an electronics laboratory with an astronomy gallery that has various paintings & astronomical models collection.
Town Hall
The Town Hall is near Eden Gardens and it has construction of the two-storey building. And, it shows the beautiful heritage site of Kolkata city. Situated in the heart of Kolkata, it presents the memory of 1814 AD British architecture and style. It has a wonderful museum that shows the culture & history of old Kolkata. With light & sound shows, you can also enjoy various other activities.
Botanical Gardens
With the name as the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, it is located in Shibpur, Howrah. It has various other names like Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta Botanic Garden, Royal Botanic Garden, and many others. This Garden is under the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Botanical Garden has collections of living plants that help in scientific research.
For nature lovers, it is one of the best natural places in Kolkata where you will explore various plants, gardens, and a lake as well as an open natural environment. It is good for planning a picnic and getting some fresh air that is rare in Kolkata city.
Eden Gardens
The Eden Gardens is a multipurpose ground where Cricket & Football played. It is publicly popular the “Lord’s of Asia” and the oldest cricket stadium in India. This playground is the second-largest cricket stadium in India after Sardar Patel Stadium situated in Ahmedabad. You will find a museum in the Eden Garden and also you can visit the stadium on a non-match day.
Howrah Bridge
If you are looking to enjoy natural beauty, you should visit Howrah Bridge. It spans its width on the River Hooghly and is made of steel & iron connecting central Kolkata with Howrah station. The Howrah Bridge is one of the best spots in Kolkata. Early in the morning when visiting through here, it may be a beautiful moment to get a natural view.
New Market
New Market in Kolkata is also popular as the ‘Hogg Market’. And it is a shopping area in the heart of the city where you can purchase your daily routine articles. It may be the best spot for those who like to hunt for a good bargain because of more than 2k stalls in the market. Here, you can enjoy the variety of clothes shopping, sweets, and spices during your trip. This market is closer to Esplanade and also would be easy to visit from Park Street.
Park Street
This spot is the major hub for bars, cafes, restaurants and lots of shops. All these specialties attract the visitors towards it along with an ambient atmosphere. You can taste here some of the authentic food of Bengali culture and enjoy the full night in the 5-Star restaurant and hotels. For a good lunch or dinner, it is the best place when visiting with family or friends. Especially for marketing and fooding, it may be the best spot in the Joy City.
South Park Cemetery
South Park Cemetery has both visiting reasons- heritage and pleasure. As well as, it is one of the largest burial grounds and a heritage site in the city, it has glorious scenic views that attract visitors. It is the 18th-century non-church cemetery that opened in 1767 and closed in 1790. Now, Its protection is under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It would be a beautiful spot to spend a few hours of the day.