India · City Guide
Kolkata
Kolkata is the former capital of British India and one of the great cultural cities of Asia, a city of magnificent colonial architecture, outstanding literary and artistic tradition, the finest Bengali cuisine in the world, vibrant durga puja festival culture and a human warmth and intellectual energy that is entirely its own. From the Victoria Memorial and the Howrah Bridge to the College Street book market and the brilliant Durga Puja celebrations, Kolkata rewards those who take the time to understand it.
Explore Kolkata →Elect's take
"Kolkata is the Indian city that has surprised me most on first visit and rewarded me most on subsequent ones. The combination of extraordinary food, genuine intellectual culture, magnificent colonial buildings and the warmth of the Bengalis creates a destination of remarkable depth."
The Victoria Memorial is the most magnificent building of the British Raj, a gleaming white marble edifice of extraordinary scale housing excellent collections of colonial era art and artefacts. The Howrah Bridge, a massive cantilever bridge across the Hooghly River, carries over 100,000 vehicles and pedestrians daily and is one of the most impressive sights in India. The College Street book market is one of the largest in the world. The Bengali food culture — macher jhol, kosha mangsho, mishti doi, rasgulla and the finest sweets in India — is outstanding. The Durga Puja festival in October transforms the city into the world's largest open-air art installation.
Best time to visit
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What to expect
Victoria Memorial
The most magnificent building of the British Raj in gleaming white marble.
Howrah Bridge
One of the most impressive cantilever bridges in the world, an icon of the city.
Bengali Cuisine
Outstanding macher jhol, kosha mangsho and the finest sweets in India.
Durga Puja
The world's largest open-air art installation transforming the city each October.
Literary Tradition
The city of Tagore, Ray and a remarkable intellectual and artistic heritage.
College Street
One of the world's largest book markets in the heart of the university district.