7 Beautiful Visits Of Kolkata: New Destination added to the Bucket List
From versatile Satyajit Ray to the eminent Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata is itself a place of the soul. The area where writers seek words, where songs find a rhythm, and every visit gets engraved into a beautiful memory- Kolkata is beautiful in indefinite ways.
And when you look for places that you can explore without exceeding your budget, Kolkata fulfils all the ticks in your wish list. So if you are planning to visit, mark your calendars to see the place after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The food, the people, the places, and everything surrounding you makes you feel at ease and personify love. You can see two Kolkata during any part of the time: The Kolkata bustling with the people on the overcrowded local trains heading to reach home and the Kolkata where people jam on songs in the Coffee House and discuss their stories.
But, wherever you go, its beauty never gets diminished.
So, here I move forward with the article discussing all the places you must visit, haats you must go to if you are a street shopping addict, and foods you must try. In a nutshell, we will discuss all the beautiful places in Kolkata that are worth visiting.
New Destination added to the Bucket List: 7 Beautiful Visits Of Kolkata
Victoria Memorial: The gigantic, marvellous beauty that stands in the heart of the city of Kolkata is made under the rule of George Curzon, Viceroy of India. This takes us back to the colonial rule where Calcutta present-day Kolkata was considered to be the capital of the country; the monument is an integral part of Kolkata’s tourism and holds a high site of attraction for the tourists.
The memorial was built to commemorate Queen Victoria between 1906 and 1921.
However, in recent days, it has been converted to a museum that houses antique artefacts displayed in the 25 galleries. This makes Victoria Memorial one of the most visited places in Kolkata.
The memoir receives visitors from the globe throughout the year. The architecture is designed in Indo-Saracen style, taking inspiration from British architecture and concepts borrowed from different parts of the world. This includes the various regions like Egypt, Deccan, and many more.
The monument can be visited on all the days of the week, which is open from 10 AM to 5 PM. The entry fee starts from 20 INR.
Howrah Bridge:If you are traveling the city by train, then you would have come across the long Bridge. Howrah bridge has gained popularity for being the fourth busiest Cantilever Bridge in the world. If you ask the localities about the places to visit in Kolkata, this would be the first suggestion.
The celebrated beauty lies upon the mighty river Hoogly and connects the Western and Eastern Banks of Howrah to Kolkata, respectively. The first wall was laid out in 1939, and the Bridge is also famous by the name Rabindra Setu- to honour the Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. 
The best view you can enjoy is when you visit the Bridge early in the morning. You can see the fishermen laying out their nets, people bathing in the banks of river Hooghly, people carrying luggage in their carts.
But beware of the pickpocketers. The place is also famous for theft.
Park Street: If you are known to the phrase “A city that never sleeps”, this place stands true the word “A street that never sleeps.” Park Street has owned up to its name of having a vibrant nightlife dating back to the 40s. Many artists, musicians, and writers have walked around the place and have gathered inspiration. The area still can awaken the people’s creativity if you walk past the roads.
Park Street has plenty of restaurants and pubs. Thus, it is regarded as one of the best places to hang out with your loved ones. The historic street houses, some age-old monuments, and buildings built under colonial rule increase the cultural value of this beautiful street.
The street has now officially been changed into the name of Mother Teressa Sarani and was previously known as the Burial ground Road.
Park Street should be mainly visited during Christmas when the lights are laid down the streets and people can hear the sound of Christmas carols while shivering with chills.
Dakshineshwar Temple: Kolkata is mostly famous for representing its cultural values, and Dakshineshwar temple is one of the most beautiful places to get the blessings of the holy goddess.
The temple of the goddess is believed to “liberate her devotees from the ocean of existence”. Bhavatarini, the goddess, is another manifestation of Goddess Kali is worshipped in the temple. The temple was constructed with the help of the philanthropist Rani Rashmoni in the year 1855.
The architecture is based on the Nava-Ratna style, and the holy spot receives a huge number of devotees throughout the year. The temple was believed to be one of the resting places of the Hindu mystic- Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
What makes the place more interesting is the fact that you have to ride a boat to reach the temple as it is situated in the Eastern Banks of the Hooghly river.
Prinsep Ghat: You must be aware of the place’s name- Prinsep ghat from the Bollywood movie- Dhadak.A scene was shot in this beautiful place. The British built the region during their power in the year 1841. The place is situated on the banks of the Hooghly river and is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset and start a relaxing evening.
A picnic basket with some warm chai and the beautiful breath-taking scenery as you silently watch the water flowing near the Vidyasagar Setu is worth a shot. What makes the place a must-visit for the lovers is that if you are looking for some new ideas for dates, they have covered you. Boating services are also available.
The picture-perfect location was designed in elegant Greek and Gothic styles.
National Library:
If you are a book-lover and love the smell of old books, this is your go-to place. What makes this place unique and intrigues the book-lovers to visit is the reason that the library holds a stunning and massive collection of books from all the parts of India. If the topic of history and books intrigues you, this should be on your priority list.
The library has the most collection of books with a count of 2.2 million. Just walking around the library and feeling the touch and smell of the antique books is indeed a wholesome moment. The building was constructed in the year 1836.
Moreover, the library is also rumoured to be haunted and falls on the list of the haunted places in Kolkata. Well, given that it is old and one can imagine the souls of the Britishers are trapped on the books, who can blame the localities, right?
Shantiniketan:
The place is considered to be the abode of learning. The famous poet and Nobel laureate- Rabindranath Tagore- the area was brought to notice. From his poems to his songs, this place will give a feeling of nostalgia and most importantly- a sense of belonging.
The place is an agglomeration of cultures. The students of the Vishva Bharati University will take you to the famous sites of the town in charge of a minimum fee.
The place holds prominent alumni such as the famous filmmaker Satyajit Ry and the former Prime Minister of the nation- Indira Gandhi.
Shantiniketan is also a place for shopaholics. You will find many beautiful hand-made products including leather bags, jewellery, and terracotta. All these will come in your budget.
Shantiniketan is not precisely located in Kolkata. It is 163kms apart from the city of Kolkata, but it is worth a visit.
If you want to get a quick representation of Kolkata and its rich, diversified culture, this place stands true and humble to its name.
The best time to visit this solace is September to March, where the town organizes fairs (melas) and festivals. December seems to be the perfect time to visit the place. It is the start of Poush month (in Bengali) and initiated by the organization of various melas and festivities filled with music, crafts, and enjoyment.
What delicacies to try in Kolkata?
Since I have promised that I would mention the delicacies you can try in Kolkata, I would give a brief description to plan your meals accordingly. Kolkata is famous for its sweets is an understatement. Everything tastes delicious in Kolkata. Baked Rosh Gulla is something that you can try in Kolkata. It is something unique that is not present in other parts of the world. Other than that, Nolen Gur er mishti is something that you would want to take a bite off, and still, you can’t get enough.
Other than that, try the typical Bengali thali comprising daab chingri (prawns cooked in the tender coconut) and Eilish maacher bhapa (Hilsa cooked in mustard). Kolkata is also famous for its street food. Rolls are much commonly preferred by the people over there as it is pretty delicious and come at a pocket-friendly price.
Let us know about the places and what else you want to know about the beauty.
Do let us know about the places and what else you want to know about the beauty.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
