Things must see and do in Kolkata

Kolkata is a land of art and culture . It is a wonderful city with lots of things to offer to the travelers. It is a very famous destination in West Bengal as it has alluring cuisine , lively culture , lovely vibes and great places for sightseeing . You will find joy in every part of the city and that’s why for me it is a city full of joy and is absolutely worth visiting . There are many activities you can do in kolkata to make your trip more interesting . I visited Kolkata last year and it was indeed the best choice . Before travelling you should know the things you must see and do while in Calcutta. So , here in this blog let’s explore all those things together . Let’s start and discover all about this city .

# Explore Victoria Memorial 

This monument is a must visit place in Kolkata and is one of the best monuments of India. This museum is so beautiful from inside as well as outside. Its architecture is so fascinating and appealing to the eye. It also has amazing galleries inside with oil and watercolor paintings , weapons , stamps etc. The beautiful huge lawns outside the monument add so much grace to it and a great place to sit and have fun with friends and family . Don’t forget to capture stunning photos of this masterpiece. I loved the lawns and relaxed there for hours and had so much fun . The other thing I enjoyed the most was a horse carriage ride right outside this monument and I ended up clicking so many pictures for my travel blog and instagram account. 

# Visit Mullick Ghat Flower Market

This flower market is known to be the biggest market in India and is a very vivid place with a wonderful display of colours, sights, smells and sounds.  It is one of the top things to do while in Kolkata. You will find wholesalers displaying and selling their roses, garden balsams ,marigolds, sunflowers and many more colorful flowers. This market is usually very crowded and gets even more crowded during weddings and festivals.

If you wish to visit this market I suggest you come early in the morning ( before sunrise) and get to see the raw and vibrant part of Kolkata . That smell of fresh flowers while exploring the streets of Old Calcutta was an unforgettable experience for me. 

# A walk across the famous landmark “Howrah Bridge”.

After exploring the flower market , you should definitely have a walk across the world famous ‘Howrah Bridge’ which is very near the flower market . This Bridge is so iconic and also many bollywood movies are shot here too . This bridge is made without nuts and bolts and constructed with rivets only. If you ever decide to come to one of the best cities of India , make a note to visit this bridge and also it is a great spot for clicking pictures too. Your vacation will be incomplete without visiting this place. I ended up spending quite a good amount of time on this bridge trying to capture the bustling market, the sunrise, life and its different phases. 

# Attend Durga Puja Festival

Durga Puja is a festival celebrated in Kolkata in honour of Goddess Durga during the months of September and October . In my opinion , it is the best time to visit Kolkata when the whole city is beautified with countless lights and the city looks like a living art exhibition during that festival. Everybody is dressed in beautiful attires and enjoys the cultural programs , street food , arts and handicrafts and so much more . This festival lasts for at least 5 days and you will experience the magic in the air during these days. People worship the goddess Maa Durga with wholeheartedness and dedication . You will get to see many pandals (temporary stalls) where you can visit and seek blessings of the goddess and have spiritual experience. Luckily i visited Kolkata during this time and i was so amazed to see all the decorations and programs. I will never forget this and I feel so lucky to experience this in my life.  Thus , I highly recommend you to visit Kolkata and be part of this grand religious festival.

# Take a ride in Yellow Taxi

A gift left by the British is the yellow cab which one can find all over the city. Kolkata, a city of tradition and modernity, is also a city of colors and their yellow taxis are the proof . These taxis are very comfortable and spacious as any other cabs . Before travelling to Kolkata I was really excited to take a ride in this yellow taxi .The driver was so helpful and friendly that he even suggested good restaurants to visit in Kolkata. Without any doubt have a ride at least one time in the streets of Howrah for an unforgettable experience. 

# Try the traditional Bengali Dishes

Kolkata cuisine will amuse you with its flavours and tastes . Your trip would not be complete without having the delicious and traditional Bengali dishes . Once you try these dishes I am pretty sure you would love to know their recipes. In Kolkata, there are many fish dishes that are served as fish is very famous here . Bengali cuisine has an essence of sweet and spicy both which makes it more appetizing. Some of the popular dishes of Kolkata are Bengali Lamb Curry (Lamb prepared in mustard oil , mustard seeds and sweet are is served with yogurt) , Luchi (it is a fried bread offered with lentils or potatoes) , Bengali Chana Dal (Lentils made with coconut and lots of spices served with indian flatbread and is perfect for dinner). There are more dishes that you can taste and enjoy and after a perfect meal it is time for sweet dishes . Kolkata is very popular for its varieties of sweet dishes like Mishti Doi (sweetened curd) , Rasgulla (ball shaped indian cottage cheese and semolina dough prepared in sugary syrup) , Sandesh (cooked with milk and sugar ) etc.  I really love these Bengali sweets that melts in your mouth and leaves you craving for more and my favorite one is Rasgulla which I can eat daily . Make sure to check out these amazing dishes.

# Visit Mother Teresa Home

I am sure you must have heard the name of Mother Teresa . She is an inspiration for everybody as she did a lot of great work and served the nation . If you wish to know about her works then you must come and explore Mother Teresa Hom . She lived in this home and now her tomb is known as Mother House . You can also visit a museum and her room too.

# Visit Park Street

This street is a very famous commercial hub of kolkata where you can find numerous hotels, shopping places, restaurants and nightclubs . The whole place looks so beautiful especially at night and is a perfect place for people of every age group. You can visit a restaurant and spend a beautiful evening with your family or can do shopping with your friends and hangout with them. When i visited there i could not stop myself and did a lot of shopping for myself and my family and later went to a pub and enjoyed live music. The place was so happening and joyful. You should also visit Park street and spend good moments here.

# Visit the emblem of new and modern Calcutta – Biswa Bangla Gate

Biswa Bangla gate is one of the most iconic landmarks of Kolkata because it is Kolkata’s first hanging restaurant. The oval shaped restaurant made of steel and glass looks so unique and is fine dine heaven. There is a specific time slot and you have to book the tickets in advance . People can visit from 12 pm to 7 pm and after the entry gets closed for general public viewing. Biswa Bangla gate also has a gallery displaying Bengal’s rich culture and history and the gallery remains open from 12 pm to 5 pm.The entire place is mesmerizing and is great for clicking pictures. I think having a romantic candle dinner here will be just perfect while enjoying the city view and trying delicious dishes with your loved one. 

Now that you know about great places and things to do in Kolkata . Plan your trip as soon as possible . I miss being in Kolkata and will definately plan a trip with my family very soon.