Things to Do in Kolkata in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Kolkata
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- February is the absolute sweet spot for Kolkata weather - you get warm days around 29°C (84°F) but genuinely pleasant evenings that drop to 18°C (64°F), which means you can actually walk around Park Street or the Maidan after sunset without melting. This is the only time of year locals voluntarily eat outdoors.
- The city shifts into celebration mode with Saraswati Puja typically falling in early to mid-February - you'll see every school, college, and neighborhood transform with elaborate pandals, students in yellow saris and kurtas, and a palpable energy that's completely different from the more touristy Durga Puja. It's genuinely participatory rather than performative.
- Virtually zero rainfall despite those 10 'rainy days' listed - what this actually means is occasional light drizzle or morning mist, not the monsoon deluges that shut down the city. You can plan outdoor activities with confidence and won't need to factor in weather backup plans for most days.
- The winter cultural season hits its peak with the Dover Lane Music Conference wrapping up early month, theater performances across venues like Academy of Fine Arts, and book fairs drawing massive crowds. You're catching Kolkata when it's most intellectually and artistically alive, not just tourist-processing mode.
Considerations
- That 70% humidity combined with 29°C (84°F) temperatures creates a sticky, uncomfortable middle ground - not hot enough for air conditioning everywhere, but too humid to feel truly comfortable. Your clothes will feel perpetually damp, and you'll shower twice daily like everyone else does.
- February is wedding season for Bengali families, which means accommodation prices spike 30-40% above January rates, especially on weekends. Hotels in Alipore, Ballygunge, and near the airport get block-booked months ahead for wedding parties, limiting your options if you're booking late.
- The city's notorious air quality actually worsens in February compared to December-January - temperature inversions trap pollution, and AQI readings frequently hit 200-300 range. If you have respiratory sensitivities, early mornings near traffic corridors will be genuinely uncomfortable.
Best Activities in February
Walking Tours Through North Kolkata Heritage Areas
February mornings between 7-10am offer the only comfortable window for exploring the narrow lanes of Kumartuli, Sovabazar, and Pathuriaghata on foot. The temperature sits around 20°C (68°F), the light is perfect for photography, and you'll catch potters preparing Saraswati idols in their workshops. By 11am it gets too warm and crowded. These heritage walks typically cover 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 miles) over 3 hours, passing through areas where tourist infrastructure barely exists but the architecture and street life are extraordinary.
Sundarbans Mangrove Wildlife Tours
February is genuinely the best month for Sundarbans trips - water levels are perfect for navigating narrow creeks, tiger sightings peak as animals come to water sources, and temperatures stay bearable on open boats. The two-day tours involve 4-5 hours daily on boats, and February's lower humidity means you won't be miserable. You'll also catch migratory birds that leave by March. The 100 km (62 miles) drive from Kolkata to the boat launch points takes 3-4 hours.
Terrace Restaurant and Rooftop Bar Experiences
February evenings are the only time Kolkata's rooftop venues become genuinely pleasant rather than survival exercises. From 7pm onwards, temperatures drop to 20-22°C (68-72°F) with occasional breezes, making places like the rooftops in Park Street, Hindustan Park, and along the Hooghly actually enjoyable. You're experiencing the city the way locals do during this brief window - outdoor dining isn't possible most of the year here. The views over the lit-up Victoria Memorial or Howrah Bridge become Instagram-worthy without the sweat.
Ganga River Boat Rides and Ghats Exploration
The Hooghly River becomes navigable and pleasant in February - water is cleaner post-monsoon, morning mist creates atmospheric conditions around Prinsep Ghat and Babughat, and sunrise boat rides around 6:30-7:30am happen at 16-18°C (61-64°F) which is genuinely comfortable. Evening rides catch the Howrah Bridge illumination without the summer heat. These typically run 1-2 hours covering 8-10 km (5-6 miles) of riverfront, showing you the city from an angle most visitors miss.
Bengali Cooking Classes and Market Tours
February brings seasonal vegetables like broad beans, radish, and winter greens that define Bengali cuisine but disappear by March. Morning market tours through Gariahat or Hatibagan at 7-8am show you the city waking up, followed by hands-on cooking classes that typically run 4-5 hours total. The comfortable temperature means standing over a stove isn't torture, and you'll learn dishes like shukto and chorchori that use these specific winter vegetables.
Victoria Memorial and Maidan Evening Visits
The Maidan becomes actually usable in February evenings - locals flood the 3 km (1.9 mile) green space for cricket, football, and family picnics between 5-7pm when temperatures drop to comfortable levels. Victoria Memorial stays open until 6pm, and the evening light at 5-5:30pm creates perfect conditions for photography without harsh shadows or heat shimmer. The 64-acre grounds require 2-3 hours to explore properly, and February is the only time you'll want to spend that long outside.
February Events & Festivals
Saraswati Puja
This worship of the goddess of knowledge typically falls in early to mid-February and transforms every educational institution in the city. Unlike Durga Puja which is tourist-focused, Saraswati Puja remains genuinely local - students dress in traditional yellow and white, neighborhoods create elaborate pandals, and there's a festive energy without the commercial overlay. Visit college campuses like Presidency University, Jadavpur University, or City College between 10am-2pm to see the celebrations at their peak. You'll see book worship ceremonies, cultural programs, and can participate if you're respectful.
Kolkata Book Fair
The Antarjatik Sahitya O Prokashak Sammelan runs for 12 days typically in late January through early February at Central Park in Salt Lake. This is one of the world's largest non-trade book fairs with 2-3 million visitors, and it's a genuine cultural phenomenon rather than just a shopping event. Publishers launch new titles, authors do readings, and the evening sessions from 5-9pm become social gatherings for the city's literary crowd. Entry costs 30-50 rupees, and the sheer scale - over 700 stalls - makes it worth visiting even if you don't read Bengali.