Things to Do in Kolkata

About Kolkata

Coal smoke slaps you first. Century-old trams wheeze past Kalighat temple where incense snakes skyward, and every second kitchen in Shyambazar pops mustard oil like gunfire. You're done—Kolkata owns you by 7 AM on Howrah Bridge. The muezzin from Nakhoda Masjid duels bells at Dakshineswar while clerks in starched dhotis line up for ₹7 (₹0.08) chai in clay cups at College Street's Indian Coffee House. North Kolkata still lives inside the crumbling mansions along Chitpur Road; their Venetian windows droop like exhausted eyelids. South Kolkata rides the gleaming metro to Quest Mall where one coffee costs more than three meals in New Market. Durga Puja turns every alley into a bamboo-scaffolded carnival with 4 AM drum circles. Come in June and you'll wade ankle-deep while the Hooghly swells and taxi drivers triple their fares. The trade-off is brutal—and perfect. Nowhere else do College Street booksellers recite your grandfather's name, or the phuchkawala outside Victoria Memorial greets you with extra mustard. Kolkata won't tidy up for you. It just figures you're family who arrived late.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Yellow taxis still run the old fixed-meter system—don't let them win. They'll bargain hard. Insist on the meter, or use the yellow-top app taxis at ₹25 (₹0.30) per kilometer. The metro is your lifeline: grab a Smart Card for ₹100 (₹1.20) including balance, and dodge the crush at Esplanade during rush hour. Tram line 24 rattles from Shyambazar to Esplanade for ₹7 (₹0.08). Slower than walking. You'll ride wood-paneled carriages from the 1950s. Airport to Park Street: pre-paid taxi booth inside the terminal charges ₹400-₹500 (₹4.80-₹6). The AC Volvo bus (route V1) does it for ₹50 (₹0.60) and drops you at Vardaan Market.

Money: ATMs charge ₹21-₹23 (₹0.25-₹0.28) per foreign transaction — withdraw larger amounts at HDFC or ICICI rather than multiple small hits. Street stalls and even some mid-tier restaurants prefer cash; keep ₹500 (₹6) in ₹10 notes for phuchka and tea. Mobile payments work everywhere now — download PhonePe or Paytm before you land, but they need an Indian SIM. Money changers near New Market offer better rates than banks; Thomas Cook on Park Street gives competitive USD conversion but closes at 6 PM sharp.

Cultural Respect: Shoulders and knees covered at Kalighat temple—non-negotiable. Shoes off before entering any Bengali home, even for a five-minute chat. Always. Add "dada" or "didi" after names—skip it and you'll sound rude. Durga Puja in October means every pandal welcomes everyone, but photography rules shift: ask before shooting idols, at Kumartuli workshops. Bhog invitation? Eat with your right hand only—the left gets politely ignored. Smoking in public is technically illegal but tolerated—just step away from religious sites.

Food Safety: Street phuchka is safer than you think—watch them use boiled water. The cart outside Victoria Memorial changes water every hour. The guy's been there 30 years. Avoid cut fruit after 4 PM when flies multiply. The steamed momos at Tiretti Bazaar's Sunday morning Chinese breakfast (₹40/₹0.48 for six) disappear before they cool. Filter coffee at College Street's Indian Coffee House comes in ceramic cups washed in one bucket. Your stomach might protest. Locals swear it builds character. Carry Oral Rehydration Salts. The combination of spice, humidity, and sweet tea dehydrates faster than you'll notice.

When to Visit

October to March is when Kolkata remembers it has seasons. Temperatures crash from the soul-crushing 38°C (100°F) of May to a manageable 25-30°C (77-86°F), and hotel prices in Ballygunge drop 35% from peak October rates of ₹4,500 (₹54) to January bargains at ₹2,900 (₹35) for boutique guesthouses. Durga Puja (late September/early October) turns the city into a five-day art installation. Expect crowds so dense you'll walk shoulder-to-shoulder down Park Street—but also pandals so elaborate they hire lighting designers from Mumbai. Flights from Delhi double during Puja, leaping from ₹4,000 (₹48) to ₹8,500 (₹102). November brings clear skies good for boat rides to Belur Math. December mornings start foggy enough that 8 AM feels like 5 PM. March begins the slow climb back toward summer, yet the Holi colors in Shantiniketan (3-hour train, ₹65/₹0.78) make the heat worthwhile. April through June is punishment: 42°C (108°F) with humidity that fogs your sunglasses indoors, plus pre-monsoon storms that flood Gariahat knee-deep. Monsoon proper (June-September) means daily 4 PM downpours and waterlogged streets, but Victoria Memorial surrounded by rain-washed red earth is postcard-perfect—just budget extra for Uber increase pricing when every taxi refuses to drive through flooded Jessore Road. Families favor December-January for the 2 PM winter sun at Alipore Zoo; solo travelers score better deals in February when crowds thin but the weather holds. Budget travelers: come in August, when even Park Street hotels drop to ₹1,800 (₹22) and the rain scares most tourists away—just pack quick-dry everything.