Explore Kolkata

Dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, this majestic memorial is constructed of white Makrana marble, similar to the Taj Mahal, in the Indo-Saracenic Revival style. The domed beauty houses a soaring central chamber, an informative historic exhibition and formal gardens.

Acting as the green lungs of the city, the Maidan stretches as far as the eye can see, accommodating all of Kolkatan society who congregate here to exercise, play, date and socialise. The huge urban park includes famous cricketing venue, Eden Gardens.

Housing rare collections of antiques, art, armour, ornaments and fossils, this is one of the most significant museums in Asia-Pacific, displaying both Indian and trans-Indian specimens across 35 galleries – from archaeology to zoology, art to geology.

Shopping arcades and local markets are a must, even if just drinking in the bustling atmosphere. Popular stops include the sprawling New Market, distinguished by its red-brick clock tower, while Mullik Ghat Flower Market is a fascinating feast of colour, 24 hours a day.

Prinsep Ghat was built in 1841 during the British Raj, along the bank of the Hooghly River. The Palladian porch was designed by W. Fitzgerald in the memory of the eminent Anglo-Indian scholar and antiquary James Prinsep and was constructed in 1843. Located between the Water Gate and St George's Gate of Fort William, the monument to Prinsep is rich in Greek and Gothic inlays. It was restored by the state's public works department in November 2001 and has since been well-maintained. In its initial years, all royal British entourages used the Prinsep Ghat jetty for embarkation and disembarkation.

The Basilica of the Holy Rosary commonly known as Bandel Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in West Bengal, India. Situated in Bandel, Hooghly district of West Bengal, it stands as a memorial to the Portuguese settlement in Bengal. Founded in 1599, it is dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Our Lady of the Rosary. It is also a parish church, part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta. It is one of the most prominent historical churches in West Bengal as well as in India.

Netaji Bhawan in Kolkata is the ancestral home of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great patriot of the freedom movement in India. It was the residence of Netaji built in 1909 during his childhood. This memorial hall has been wonderfully restored and maintained by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Netaji Bhawan is the center of the Netaji Research Bureau. It also houses a museum, which showcases the life and time of Subhas Chandra Bose. The site is on Lala Lajpat Rai sarani and has an immense historical importance.

The National Library, India is the largest library in the country. It is an institution of national importance under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve the printed material produced in the country. The library is situated on a scenic 30 acres Belvedere Estate, in Kolkata.