Holiday at Kolkata - the Indian 'City of Joy'. Kolkata has been the capital city of Indian under the British Raj for very long. Thus, unlike any other city of India it boasts of a unique culture and heritage. There are a number of monuments from the period of Raj that have been landmarks of Kolkata today.

The city of Joy is also refereed to as the intellectual capital of the country. Some of the best-built buildings in India are the colonial buildings in Kolkata. Thus, when you are holidaying in Kolkata there are a number of landmarks worth visiting. The Victoria Memorial is the most important tourist spot in Kolkata. As the name suggests, it was built in the memory of Queen Victoria. Howrah Bridge is another milestone synonymous with Kolkata. Kolkata is home to the second largest planetarium in Asia, the Birla Planetarium. On the banks of Hooghly River there is Vidyasagar Setu too.

The oldest museum in India is also located in Kolkata, Indian Museum. For the sports lovers Eden Gardens is a must check out. The garden is a well laid-out garden that has the renowned cricket ground also. For those spiritually inclined in Kolkata the Kali Mandir is a must visit. The temple is dedicated to Kali Ma, the goddess of destruction. The best time to visit Kolkata is during the winter months from October to March. Durga Puja is another occasion when the city is at its best.

Places to see

If you wish to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Calcutta then too there are several options. Shanti Niketan located 136 km northwest of Calcutta was the residence of Rabindranath Tagore and is a renowned university. Then there is the unexplored holiday destination of Bishnupur. The terracotta temples attract innumerable tourists. Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa, delicately carved shells and bell metal artefacts make excellent souvenirs from Bishnupur. Towards north of Calcutta is the world famous Dakshineshwar Temple that is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, spent most of his life here. Close to the Dakshineshwar Temple is the Belur Math. Belur Math is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission where people across castes and creed come. The Botanical Gardens in Shibpur besides Hoogly River are also worth visiting.

The Botanical Gardens in Shibpur besides Hoogly River are also worth visiting. The chief attraction in the botanical gardens is the 250-year-old banyan tree. Bandel, 43 km from Kolkata is worth visiting for Bandel church. Chinsura at a distance of 46 kilometres from Kolkata is home to a Dutch factory that was built in 1628. Just 25 kms. from Kolkata is Chandernagar that was once a French settlement. Quai Dupleix, Eglise Du Sacre, and image of Joan of Arc are the must visits here. The ethnic food of Kolkata is not to be missed. Sweet curd and mishti doi is regular with all meals. For usual meal will include boiled rice with fish curry, saag, and mutton kalia. Rasgullas and Chumchums are the Bengali sweets that are popular across India.