35 Things To Do And Explore In Kolkata Before You Turn 35

Starting off simple yet monumentous, visit Victoria Memorial once. Not just the outside gardens and lakes surrounding it but the actual museum. Read about the magnificent history of British India and how it defined the space for the Independent India. The Victoria Memorial Hall also organises regular special exhibitions, cultural programmes and interactive educational activities throughout the year, which you should definitely visit. The gallery or the museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM from Tuesdays to Sundays while being closed on Mondays. The entry fee per head for Indians is INR 20, and for foreigners, it is INR 200.

Metcalfe Hall, located on Strand Road, is a grand structure built in the British Imperial style, incorporating Neoclassical elements such as the Corinthian pillars at the entrance. It was once home to the iconic Calcutta Public Library. Lord Metcalfe, the then Governor-General, transferred over 4,600 books from Fort William College to the library. Today, this museum remains somewhat of a hidden gem, so make sure you don’t miss it. Inside, you’ll find antique hand-drawn rickshaws, old boats, and galleries that celebrate the lives of the people in the city. Best part? Entry is free. Metcalfe Hall is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and is closed on Mondays.

West Bengal is known to worship goddesses with all vigour, and the famous Kalighat Temple is proof. It is dedicated to the blood-thirsty warrior goddess Kali. It is also the home to a Shakti Peetha. Daily queues can take hours, so Brahmin’s (higher caste priests) usually charge a ‘VIP’ fee for tourists. Usually, it's for INR 300, which is a good deal if you're able to do the darshan properly. At least once, you should enter the temple, be blessed, and receive the red-yellow thread or Kautuka from the Pandits here. The timings are 5 AM to 2 PM in the morning, then it shuts down for a bit in the afternoon and reopens at 5 PM to 10:30 PM at night. It is located in Kalighat near Chittaranjan Park, as the name of the temple suggests.

One of our favourite things to do in Kolkata, which we are sure will be yours too, is to visit the Potter's Quarter of Kumartuli. This lane is a labyrinth of streets with over 500 workshops that make the idols of Durga Ma for Durga Puja. Although the potters there make idols of many Gods and Goddesses throughout the year, the best time to visit is around Durga and Kali Puja. Interestingly, the statues here are made from clay from the Ganges River (Hooghly). During Durga Puja, they immerse the statues in the river. So, the statue goes through a full cycle, and Hindus believe the Goddess has returned to its essence. Hatkhola is the place where this lane is located.

Parasnath Jain Temple is one of the most impressive temples for the Jain community. It was built in the 19th century by Ray Badridas Bahadur in honour of Parasnath. The temple complex is split into four separate temples and is made of thousands of mirrors, jewels, and glass. Some even call it the temple of a million mirrors! The work is immaculate inside and out, and you could spend hours admiring the architecture in this peaceful place. An eternal flame inside the temple burns with ghee every day, every hour. People claim it has been burning since it opened in 1867! The temple is located in Belgachia and is open from 6 AM to 11 AM and then from 3 PM to 7 PM.

The world's largest second-hand book market is right here in Kolkata, unknown to many! College Street, also known as Boi Para or 'Book Town', has long been associated with the area's universities, colleges, and learning centres, providing books for literally everything. You can find rare books here, including first editions at dirt-cheap prices. So, keep your eyes peeled for a bargain that you wouldn't luck out on finding anywhere else. A highlight of any visit here is meant to end at the old Indian Coffee House, visited by many famous writers, including Rabindranath Tagore.

Mullick Ghat is a paradise for flower lovers and nature enthusiasts. Every morning, thousands of flower sellers come to Mullick Ghat to sell their freshly cut blooms by the kilo! Every minute of dawn, they will be bartering and making sales with locals and wholesale purchasers. The best time to visit is at sunrise, as this is when the flowers are freshest. So, you’ll get to see all the nice colours and the best of the bunch! It can be a bit of a maze making your way around, so you make sure you take care of your belongings. It is located right under the southeast end of the Howrah Bridge, where the market runs along the riverside.

Horror movie enthusiasts, this one's for you —a fascinating hidden place is the South Park Street Cemetery. Often labelled as the most haunted place in all of Kolkata, there are 1,600 gothic tombs that make up the graveyard. It was established in 1767 and was primarily made only for European members of society, like the officers of the British East India Company and their families. It fell into disuse around 1790 and was completely abandoned in 1830. Today, it is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Some notable tombs are a bust of Henry Derozio, a radical Indo-Portuguese thinker, Walter Landor Dickens, Charles Dickens’ Son, and Sir William Jones, the founding father of the Asiatic Society. The graveyard is open from 10 AM to 5 PM and costs INR 50 to enter.

In Kolkata, you've got to taste the best of the Bengal-style Roshogullas, which was invented right here in the city by Nobin Chandra Das in 1868. It’s a spongey, syrupy dumpling made of chhena and semolina dough. The most famous sweet shop to try in Kolkata is K. C. Das. Other famous spots from where you can get these are Gupta Brothers, Balaram Mullick, Nani Lal Ghosh, Kotal's Satyanarayan, Suresh Mistanna Bhandar and Nobin Chandra Das & Sons. People literally queue up to buy boxes of this sweet to take home. So, you must try some to see if they live up to the hype.

There's nothing like it to spend a serene evening watching the sunset on the banks of the roaring Hooghly River or Ganga. Vivada Cruises makes this happen and is a highly-rated day cruise company in Kolkata. You can opt for the three-hour evening cruise, which includes chai, snacks, and a stop at Belur Math for the evening aarti. We bet it will be an unforgettable experience, with good food and even better views. It cost INR 1,000, which is incredible value for money. They also do a lunch and dinner cruise for INR 1,500.

Sundarbans National Park is a gem in West Bengal that you should definitely explore if you're in the area. It’s a vast mangrove forest and biosphere reserve, also home to tigers. The park spans both Bangladesh and India on the Ganges Delta. Day trips are possible from Kolkata, but you'll need to depart at 4 AM to arrive by the afternoon. Alternatively, you can opt for an overnight trip to the Sundarbans with Sundarbans Chalo, a budget tour company that organises tours to the Sundarbans. One trip costs around INR 4,500, which includes a double room with a private bathroom, all meals for two days, an enriching cultural dance performance, a full 8-hour day cruising in the Sundarbans, and all necessary permits, such as photography and entrance fees.

Words would fall short if we ever were to describe the immense contributions Mother Teresa has made to humanity. Humanitarian, missionary and above all, a woman of strength who devoted her life to serving those in need, Mother Teresa is someone we all have been in awe of. If you visit Kolkata, take a trip to her former home and charity, also known as the Motherhouse, to take a closer look at how she lived and to know more about her ideologies. The place houses Mother Teresa’s tomb and a museum where all her personal belongings have been preserved. It is located on Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road and is open from 9 AM to 12.30 PM and again from 3 PM to 5.30 PM, all throughout the week. The entry fee is INR 60 (for Indians) and INR 200 (for foreigners).

While there are plenty of things to do near Howrah Bridge, it in itself is a marvel where one can spend a quiet evening. A symbol of Kolkata, the bridge is constructed without any nuts and bolts (which is absolutely mind-boggling) and is the third longest cantilever bridge in the world. With plenty of pedestrians and vehicles crossing it every day, we recommend you become a part of this crowd for one day and simply soak in the view of the beautiful Hooghly River from the bridge and the flower market below the bridge.

LBB Tip: In winter, you can visit the flower market first, followed by a stroll over the bridge, and cover both places in a single day. Also, don’t forget to take your camera along with you if you want to take some amazing shots.

There's nothing like taking a panoramic snapshot of Eden Gardens and posting it on the 'gram while a cricket match is going on! Almost resembling the Colosseum of Rome, the stadium is a kind of pilgrimage site for all cricket lovers. The cheering crowd will send you goosebumps. So, while you're in Kolkata, keep an eye out for any upcoming matches that might be happening there, book those tickets, and treat your inner sports nerd to a time that will forever be remembered fondly. It is located on the BBD Bagh and is open from 5 AM to 11 PM, depending on the time of the match.

Science geeks, this one's for you. Opened to the public in the year 1997, Science City is one of the major tourist attractions in Kolkata. After all, it is one of the biggest and most diverse science museums in the entire Indian subcontinent. Designed to make science fun and interesting for all age groups, it has different sections dedicated to some amazing genres. For example, there is an optical illusion section on the ground floor. If you are interested in underwater species, there is an aquatic world with detailed representations and aquariums to help you bolster your knowledge about them. It is open from 9 AM to 8 PM, with an entry fee of merely INR 50.

Kolkata is still home to some of the marvels from the British era like the trams and the hand-pilled rickshaws. It is a must for you to take the tram once while ditching the convenience of Uber and Ola. It will surely take you back in time, and you will feel like you're in a retro Bengali movie. You never know how long these trams are here for, so experience it before it is gone. The College Street Junction station is the central interchange point for many routes, so you can easily catch a tram there. Fare for Regular Non-AC Trams starts from INR 5, and AC Trams (Chareibeti and Rupashi Bangla) will cost you INR 20.

Nicco Park is Kolkata's very own amusement park, perfect for all age groups. It has family rides, kids rides, thrill rides, shows and attractions. A part of it is also the Nicco Wet-O-Wild Water Park, which offers respite from the sweltering Kolkata heat. The Nicco Super Bowl is a recreational facility located inside Nicco Park, offering visitors various indoor games and activities. They've got four bowling lanes so that you can enjoy a game of bowling with friends and family. If nothing, sit at the open park to take in some Vitamin D. It is located in Sector IV, Bidhannagar, and is open from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM.

The catchy Gothic architecture (Indo-Gothic, to be more precise) and the huge size of St. Paul's Cathedral will take your breath away. Dedicated to Paul the Apostle, it is considered the first Anglican cathedral in Asia and the biggest church in the City of Joy. Notable personalities like Bishop Daniel Wilson, Sir John Paxton Norman and Arthur William Garnett were buried here. Beautiful stained-glass windows, tall spires and a lush, manicured garden make this cathedral extremely popular among photography enthusiasts and religious tourists. It also has an extensive library too. It is located in Rabindra Sadan and is open from 10 AM to 6 PM. There is no entry fee to visit St. Paul's Cathedral.

Want to have a cosmic affair with stars on a lazy Sunday evening? Visit the M. P. Birla Planetarium. Inspired by the Sanchi Stupa, it is an impressive circular infrastructure inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru. It uses one of the latest hybrid projection systems by Carl Zeiss, which makes sure that everyone can fall in love with the mysterious space and planets. The dome, which is 23 metres in diameter, coupled with comfortable progressively reclining seats, will make your star-gazing experience surreal. Shows are conducted in English, Bengali and Hindi to cater to a large audience. There is a library, exhibition gallery and seminar hall on the premises too. It is located on Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Maidan and is open from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM from Monday to Saturday and 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM on Sundays. Entry Fee is INR 100 per person and INR 40 per student when in a group of 25 or more.

Famously known as Mini Chinatown or Old China Market, Tiretti Bazaar is where you can find Chinese items in Kolkata. This place sells everything from vibrant vegetables to various fish to fresh pork. Once you land on Sunyet Sen Street, many stalls sell aromatic and yummy street food that will make your mouth water. It’s no wonder that having a Chinese breakfast here is among the top things you can do with your family in Kolkata. You will find everything here, from piping hot soups made with fish meatballs and congee (rice porridge of sorts) to deep-fried and steamed dumplings or momos. It is usually bustling from 10 AM to 8:30 AM from Monday to Saturday and 2 PM to 8:30 PM on Sundays.

Bed-rotting is the new cool, but what's cooler is lying on lush green grass and reading a good book; it's probably one of the best things in life! And Maidan will give you the perfect place for just that. It is Kolkata’s vastest urban park, boasting plenty of playgrounds, football stadiums, the Calcuttaa Racecourse, and the well-known Eden Gardens, if you are a sports enthusiast and want to stretch your limbs. Apart from the Kolkata skyline, you can photograph beautiful monuments like the Victoria Memorial, Shaheed Minar, and Raj Bhavan. By the end of your leisure time, enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage around Maidan to create unique memories with loved ones.

This sprawling mansion is a museum where the milestones of Rabindranath Tagore’s life have been preserved and beautifully displayed. It features striking red and bright green windows with aesthetic interiors. The museum perfectly highlights the Tagore family’s contribution to the Bengal Renaissance. On Pochishe Boishakh, which marks Tagore’s birthday, and Baishe Shravan, his death anniversary, Jorasanko Thakur Bari sees many visitors, so be sure to visit on those days. It is located on Rabindra Sarani, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, and is open from 10:30 AM to 5 PM and is closed on Mondays.

Kolkata is not all serene and flowery. A part of it is also the hustling roads of the civilians going about their days, which is equally fascinating to experience. If you wish to feel the real pulse of warm and friendly Kolkata, explore Gariahat Market. It has countless shops (both big and small), whether you want clothes, shoes, handicrafts, jewellery, electronics, household items or anything else. This is also the place where you can find all things authentically Bengali. The street food stalls selling phuchka, bhelpuri, ice cream, kulfi and delectable Bengali sweets are sure to attract foodies or even tired shoppers. The market is open from 10 AM to 8 PM.

There exists a Gothic-style New Market made in 1847, a fascinating place full of shops selling literally everything, from delicate lace and silver to the best steak cuts and exotic vegetables. Inside this market exists a Jewish cheese samosa at the iconic 1902 bakery, Nahoum and Sons, established by Iraqi-Jew Nahoum Israel, who came to Kolkata from Baghdad. It is one of the tastiest dishes you will try in town. Other popular items here are the brownies and the freshly baked biscuits. The garlic bread here is also to die for. It is open from 9:30 AM to 8 PM, but we'd suggest you go there early to grab everything before they run out of it for the day.

Ever heard of a Pen Hospital? Guess what, Kolkata has it. The Pen Hospital’s clientele includes a long list of noted Bengali writers, filmmakers, politicians, judges, doctors, journalists, college professors, and high-ranking government officials who come here to purchase fountain pens. The shop has repaired the pens of many famous personalities, including the pen of Oscar-winning director Satyajit Ray. With the changing times where fountain pens are losing their space and charm, this shop still preserves heirloom and antique fountain pen collections. It is operated by Mohammad Imtiaz, a third-generation pen doctor. Situated in a narrow alleyway of Chowringhee Road in Esplanade, you will not find this one-of-a-kind hospital anywhere else. It operates from 1:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

On the night of Diwali, one of India’s biggest festivals, the Chinese Kali Mandir organises Kali Puja for Goddess Kali. This temple is unique, created by the Chinese community of Kolkata in Tangra, a region in East Kolkata also known as Chinatown. For many generations, it housed several tanneries owned by people of Hakka Chinese origin. The temple is visited throughout the year by both local Chinese and Bengali people, not just on special occasions like Kali Puja. So, be sure to visit on the night of Diwali to experience Kali Puja in a unique way. It is located on Matheswartala Road in Tangra.

There's more to Kolkata than just temples, food or architecture. Its nightlife scene is very vibrant, and you should experience it at least once. It is loaded with several pubs and bars where you can have great nightlife with your friends, cousins, partners (or even parents if they are cool enough) in Kolkata. These places include LMNOQ, 145, Perfect Place in Town, The Junction, Aqua, Shisha, and more.

Birla Temple never fails to ooze the essence of spirituality and calmness from every corner. It is one of the most magnificent temples to visit in Kolkata that is beautifully constructed and visually striking. Located on Ashutosh Chowdary Avenue in Ballygunge, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha, attracting a large number of pilgrims who come to pay their homage and seek the Lord's blessings. The interior of the temple embraces traditional architectural styles while incorporating modern touches. It is open from 5:30 AM to 11 AM and 4:30 PM to 9 PM.

A quick retreat from Kolkata will take you to Belur Math, located amidst lush green lawns and blanketed with palm trees. It is one of the most peaceful places to resort to from the constant hustle and bustle of Kolkata. It was founded by Swami Vivekanand and acts as the current headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math organisation. The architecture of Belur Math has been inspired by Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It will take about two hours to reach Belur Math from Kolkata by road. Timings are from 6:30 AM to 12 PM and 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Entry is free for all.

Kolkata is a gem when it comes to gastronomical delight for all sorts of tastebuds, especially those with a sweet tooth. A few of its popular dishes include Telebhaja, Kathi rolls, Churmur, Puchkas and Luchi Aloor Dum, amongst many more. Other than these, sweets like Roshogullas, Sondesh, and Mishti Dohi find a place on the menus of almost all authentic Kolkata restaurants. So, when you're in town, taste all of these from authentic places to fill your tummies and souls. A few of the places where you can find these dishes are Kewpie’s, Flurys, Mocambo, Oh! Calcutta, Aaheli, and Yauatcha Kolkata.

For all things shopping, head to New Market. You'll find everything you need here, from clothes, jewellery, electronic goods, leather items, dry fruits, cookies and cakes, crystal items to groceries, kitchen items, household goods, flowers and much more. It has street and branded shops and is one of the busiest places in the city. It was set up in the late 19th century by the East India Company, yet it has still not lost its charm amongst the locals and travellers. The market operates between 10:30 AM to 8 PM from Monday to Friday. On Saturday, it stays open till 7 PM.

Built by Raja Nabakrishna Deb in Sovabazaar, this residential building used to house the royals of Shobhabazar. It is known to host the city's grandest Durga Puja Pandals during the festival in its large central courtyard surrounded by delicate arches and grand double-story wings, which expects crowds in huge numbers every year. If you are in town during Durga Puja, you can't miss out on visiting these pandals and, most importantly, paying a visit to this particular iconic Rajbari.

We can't forget to cover one of Kolkata's most visited tourist attractions —The Mother’s Wax Museum. Established in 2014, it has a spectacular collection of wax figures of many great people. It's the best place to visit with kids and friends, and click as many pictures as possible with realistic-looking wax figures of many famous personalities to show them off on the 'gram! It is located in the HIDCO Tower, CBD-1, New Town, and is open from 12 PM to 7:30 PM. The entry fee is INR 250 per person.

Wait, is this for real? Well, yes. There is literally an Amitabh Bachchan temple in Kolkata. For all those Bollywood fanatics, particularly die-hard fans of Amitabh Bachchan, this temple has an idol of him inside. Along with that, it also houses various portraits of the actor, and montages from many of his films. Interestingly, his shoes from the film 'Agneepath' are on display too. It is situated on the Shri Dhar Roy Road in Kolkata and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Nothing's better than enjoying one's own company with a perfect sunset in sight. Once you have finished doing everything on this list, wind down by visiting the Ghats of Kolkata. Situated near the banks of the Hooghly River, Prinsep Ghat is one of the oldest ghats built under the British Raj and is now one of the most romantic places. It offers the best views of the River Ganges and lets one enjoy many street food varieties. Enjoy your evening while riding a boat in the river and sipping on your favourite cup of coffee while the views of the place enthral you. It is located near Fort William, Hastings, and is open throughout the day.