Itinerary
Day 1: Premium Tour Day 1
Stop At: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1 Queen's Way, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
Victoria Memorial is one of the famous and beautiful monuments of Kolkata. It was built between 1906 and 1921 to commemorate Queen Victoria's 25-year reign in India. After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British government gathered the reins of control of the country directly, and in 1876 the British parliament made Victoria the Empress of India. Her reign ended with her death in 1901.
The Victoria Memorial is possibly the most awesome reminder of the Raj to be found in India. This huge white-marble museum, made from Makrana marbles from Rajasthan, is filled with a vast collection of remnants from the period of British Empire rule in India. The forms in the museum like the great dome, clustered with four subsidiary, octagonal domed chattris, the high portals, the terrace and the domed corner towers speak of a splendid richness in architecture. The Memorial is situated on 64 acres of land with the building covering 338 ft by 228 ft.
Lord Curzon, who was then the Viceroy of India, placed the question of setting up a 'stately' memorial for Queen Victoria, on her death in January 1901 to the public. The princes and people of India responded generously to his appeal for funds and Lord Curzon derived the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, five lakhs of rupees (Rs.1,05,00,000) from their voluntary subscriptions. The Prince of Wales, King George V, laid the foundation stone on January 4 1906, and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.
The Victoria Memorial is a landmark in the history of Indian architecture and the credit for that justly goes to Lord Curzon who chose persons like Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects, to design and plan the building and entrust the construction work to the very famous Messrs. Martin & Co. of Calcutta.
This grandiloquent structure presently houses a museum of British India memorabilia like a large collection of oil paintings and watercolours by famous European artists like Charles D'Oyly, Johann Zoffany, William Hadges, William Simpson, Tilly Kettle, Thomas Hickey, Bultzar Solvyns, Thomas Hickey, Emily Eden, and others. Besides these, the Memorial also houses the largest collection in the world of the paintings by the Daniells.
The Royal Gallery is a storehouse of oil paintings of Queen Victoria receiving the sacrament at her coronation in the Westminster Abbey in June 1838; her marriage with Prince Albert (1840), the christening of the Prince of Wales, the marriage of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) with Princess Alexandra and others.
The Memorial's grandeur at a height of 200 feet (184 ft up to the base of the figure of Victory, which is again 16 ft high) is accentuated by the serenity that engulfs you in its corridors. The groups of figures above the north porch represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity, etc.
The vastness and splendor of Victoria Memorial can be comprehended from the fact that it has been divided into different divisions like the garden, library, and others for maintenance and also houses a host of valuable articles like the dagger of Tipu Sultan, a cannon used in the battle of Plassey, rare books that date back to 1870, valuable manuscripts like the Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazal, rare postage stamps and Western paintings to entice the visitors to this awesome monument.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Prinsep Ghat, Strand Rd, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
Prinsep Ghats is a ghat built-in 1841 during the British Raj, along the Kolkata bank of the Hooghly River in India. The Palladian porch in the memory of the eminent Anglo-Indian scholar and antiquary James Prinsep was designed by W. Fitzgerald and constructed in 1843.
Located between the Water Gate and the St George's Gate of the Fort William, the monument to Prinsep is rich in Greek and Gothic inlays. It was restored by the state's public works department in November 2001 and has since been well-maintained. In its initial years, all royal British entourages used the Prinsep Ghat jetty for embarkation and disembarkation.
View of the River Hooghly and Vidyasagar Setu from Prinsep ghat
Prinsep Ghat is one of the oldest recreational spots of Kolkata. People visit it in the evenings on weekends to go boating on the river, stroll along the bank and purchase food from stalls there. One stall selling ice-cream and fast food has been there for more than 40 years. A 2-kilometer (1.2 mi) stretch of the beautified riverfront from Princep Ghat to Babughat (Baje Kadamtala Ghat) was inaugurated on 24 May 2012. It has illuminated and landscaped gardens and pathways, fountains, and renovated ghats. One of the songs in the Bollywood film Parineeta was shot here on the ghats.
Prinsep Ghat also has a railway station named after it. The station is part of the Kolkata Circular Railway which is maintained by Eastern Railway. The station code is PPGT.
There is a jetty nearby called the Man-O-War jetty that belongs to the Kolkata Port Trust and commemorates the role played by the port in the Second World War. The jetty is mainly used by the Indian Navy.
Duration: 35 minutes
Stop At: Birla Temple, Ashutosh Chowdhury Road 29 Ashutosh Choudhury Avenue, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700019 India
Birla Mandir is a stunning structure that adorns the streets of Ballygunge, Kolkata dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. An imposing structure amalgamating traditional style of architecture with modern reflections, the temple is the perfect specimen of craftsmanship and engineering genius. The construction of this splendid edifice began in the year 1970 and after meticulous work spanning over 26 years, it reached its completion on 21st February 1996. The unique patterns on the wall of the temple are sculpted by the artisans specially called from Agra, Mirzapur, and Muzaffarpur. Although the chief deities of the temple are Krishna and Radha, other Gods revered here are Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, ten avatars of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Durga.
The magnificent structure of the Birla Temple is hard to miss once you reach its vicinity. Towering domes covered in intricate stonework and design adorn the main facade of the temple, while the complex itself is a pearl white marble marvel. In addition to these, some artifacts in the temple are made up of silver and Belgian glass which impart a unique divinity to the shrine. As the dusk approaches, the beautiful Birla Mandir sight to behold adorned with electric diyas and gleaming chandeliers. The continuous chanting and soft music only add to its spiritual charm. With spectacular architecture, devotees and visitors come here from all around the globe, especially during Janmashtami which is celebrated here with great vigor.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Howrah Bridge, Jagganath Ghat 1, Strand Road, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
An iconic landmark of Kolkata, Howrah Bridge is a massive steel bridge constructed over the Hooghly River. It is considered to be among the longest cantilever bridges in the world. Also known as Rabindra Setu, it connects Howrah and Kolkata. It carries a daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles and countless pedestrians and is as historic as it is grand. The opulence of the bridge, however, comes alive in the night time as it is all lit up. You can also take a ferry ride as it runs between Kolkata and Howrah, from the launch ghat. The view of the city from the ferry, especially in the night, is priceless, to say the least.
Howrah Bridge was the third-longest cantilever bridge at the time of its construction, but now it is the sixth-longest one of its types. It was renamed Rabindra Setu on June 14, 1965, after the name of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It spreads about 1500 ft over the Hooghly River and is 71 ft wide. There is a total of 8 lanes of strand road, bicycles, and pedestrians. What makes this bridge unique is the fact that it was built without a single nut or bolt and is held together by rivets.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: New Market, Lindsay Street at Free School Street, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
One of the oldest shopping areas, dating back to the colonial era, New Market is a shopper's paradise. Amidst the rush of excited shoppers, one can find a range of products, extending from shoes, sarees, exotic flowers and rare cheese. Name it, and you have it all. True to the proverb, all the shops of similar items are clustered in a block, thus making it more orderly. One can choose from over 2000 stalls that are clumped in the region. Located on the Lindsay Street, New Market offers everything that is there to ask.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: College Street (Boi Para), Kolkata (Calcutta) India
A literal heaven for bibliophiles, the College Streets has books spilling from the pavements as far as your sight goes. The largest book market in India, the College Street is a fantastic place to be. One can get rare volumes of writing and books at almost throwaway prices. The place is also credited with being the world's largest second-hand book market. The place also has a bunch of really old Bengali book publishing houses like Dey's Publications, Ananda Publications and much more. There is also an incredibly old coffee house by the name Indian Coffee House, bubbling with nostalgic feelings. One can grab that much-needed cup of coffee here.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Botanical Garden Road, Botanical Garden Rd, Botanical Garden Area, Howrah, West Bengal 711103, India
The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, better known as the Botanical Garden, is a sprawling garden spanning a total area of 273 acres that is located in Shibpur, Howrah, near Kolkata. The gardens were established in the year 1787 and were commonly known as the Company Garden at that time. It is presently under the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Today, the vibrant garden is considered to be one of the most stunning landscaped gardens in the entire country with undulating land topography and astonishing artificial lakes. It is a pure delight for nature lovers to visit this area and to spend some quiet and peaceful time in the lap of nature at the gardens.
The Botanical Garden boasts of being home to 12,000 living perennial plants as well as thousands of dried out plants that have been collected from all across the globe. Thousands of astounding orchids and multicolored flowers can also be found in the garden. The major attraction of the garden, however, is the vast and widespread Banyan tree, which is popularly known as the Great Banyan Tree. This enormous tree is reputed for forming the second most extensive canopy in the entire world. The Botanical Gardens were originally founded in 1786 by Colonel Kyd, and are the oldest botanical garden that can be found in the whole country. In fact, the tea that now grows in Assam and Darjeeling was first developed in these gardens.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hyatt Regency Hotel, a 5 Star Hotel.
Day 2: Premium Tour Day 2
Stop At: Alipore Zoo, Belvedere Road, Alipur Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700025, India
The Alipore Zoo, also known as the Calcutta Zoo or the Zoological Garden of Alipore, is the oldest zoological park to have been established in India and is a major tourist attraction in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Alipore Zoo attracts tourists from all across the nation who visit the zoo to explore the wildlife that thrives here. The Alipore Zoo is perhaps the most known for being the home of the expired Aldabra giant tortoise 'Adwaita', a tortoise who had lived for over 250 years before he died in the year 2006. The place is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, or for families with children, to explore the abundant and plentiful wildlife of the country at its best. Spread over an area of 46.5 acres, the zoo has been operating since 1876, when it was first opened to the general public.
The Alipore zoo is home to a variety of exotic animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, White Tiger, Grant's Zebra, Antelope, Deer and more. At the same time, the zoo is also the home to various attractive birds like Macaws and Lorikeet, colorful and flamboyant birds like Swinhoe's Pheasant, Lady Amherst's Pheasant and Golden Pheasant, large birds like Ostrich, Emu, Hornbills and more. During the winter season, the Alipore Zoo also becomes the dwelling place of a few migratory birds like the Sarus Crane.
The Alipore Zoo becomes especially crowded during the winter seasons when tourists flock to this popular destination in Kolkata in huge numbers. Modernization of the zoo, including the addition of new glass-walled enclosures and building of aviaries, has further led to an increase in the popularity of this zoo.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Malik Ghat Flower Market, Southeast end of Howrah Bridge, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
The Flower Market in Mullick Ghat is one of the few places where tourists can experience a different Howrah so to speak. The lane is lined by vendors who get a wide variety of flowers ranging from Marigold, Jasmine, Roses, Sunflower, Daisies, Lillies, Chrysanthemum, Lotus, Orchids, etc., which are sourced from the farms nearby. They are displayed all along the street for the customers interested in buying.
The Flower market is an integral part of Howrah since 1855. It is the only place where one can find a wide variety of flowers being sold every single day. Usually, the market remains open the entire day and sometimes well into the night, but it is best when visited early in the morning because huge fresh shipments of all sorts of flowers start coming in just a few hours before sunrise. There are daily auctions through which retailers purchase flowers at wholesale rates and sell them in the market at retail prices for the remaining part of the day. The market is a minute away from the east side of Howrah Bridge and is located on the eastern bank of Hooghly River. It is lined up by temporary shacks where the flowers are sold.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Near Bali Bridge P.O. :Alambazar, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700035 India
Dakshineswar temple is one of the most revered, sacred temples in Kolkata, dedicated to goddess Kali. Dakshineswar Temple is one of the largest temples near Kolkata and it is also an architectural treasure. The temple was built in conventional Nava-Ratna style. It boasts a towering height of more than 100 feet. The 12-spired temple with its massive courtyard is flanked by 12 other small temples, devoted to Lord Shiva. It was founded by Rani Rashmoni on the 31st of May 1855. The holy tithi was of Jagannath Deva Snanyatra. This widely famed temple of Dakshineswar is famous among pilgrims all over the world. It was at this very place that the Rama Krishna Paramhamsa, the highly revered religious thinker attained his spiritual vision and advocated the unity of all religions.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Mother House A J C Bose Road, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700016 India
The Missionaries of Charitys Mother House is a holy place of pilgrimage and reverence for those who are searching for a more meaningful existence. It was established by the Blessed Mother Teresa in 1950 with the purpose of selfless service to mankind and to uplift the plagued humanity towards the path of salvation. After Mother Teresa left her mortal body in 1997, she was laid to rest in a tomb inside the house where she lived and served. The site of the tomb is very simple yet it exudes an enormous amount of benign and pure vibration that fills the heart with gratitude and peace. Situated amidst noise and crowd, Mothers tomb is a true reflection of her life which contemplated the example of soulful and mindful meditation.
Attached to the building, a small museum named Mother Teresas Life, Spirit and Message displays Mother Teresas worn sandals, battered enamel dinner-bowl, sari, crucifix, rosary, a few handwritten letters, and spiritual exhortations. The Mothers Room is preserved in all its simplicity with a crown-of-thorns above her modest camp-bed.
Prayer petitions can be placed in the box on Mother Teresas Tomb during the visit. All petitions are offered on the altar during the weekly Friday Mass.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
South Park Street Cemetery is an 18th-century non-church cemetery, one of the earliest in the world. It is now a heritage site in Kolkata and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Most of the tombs in the South Park Street Cemetery are aesthetically beautiful and very attractive. It, thus, has a unique charm that draws tourists in large numbers. Some tombs have a mysterious while some have a soothing vibe. One such tomb is grave number 363 which is the oldest and belongs to a woman who never wished to have her name revealed. The tomb architecture is mostly a mix of Gothic and Indo-Saracenic with miniature replicas on stone.
The cemetery was opened in 1767 on a marshland to take off some load of the old Burial Ground in Kolkata. The location has also been featured in several Bengali and Tollywood movies like Gorosthaney Sabdhan, which is a movie based on a novel written by Satyajit Ray. The cemetery is very well-maintained and has spacious pavilions lined with tall green trees and monuments for the dead. South Park Street Cemetery has a melancholic charm that cannot be missed. If one wishes to pay their respects or just explore this heritage site must visit the South Park Street Cemetery.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Eco Tourism Park, Major Arterial Road , Action Area II Kolkata, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700156 India
Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata is an expansive urban park designed to promote eco-tourism in the city. It is the biggest urban park in India and occupies over 475 acres of land. The beauty of the location increases ten folds because of a water body that surrounds the park and forms an island in the middle. It is often visited by picnickers or those who want a quick escape from mundane lives. The beautiful and well-maintained landscape is a perfect retreat for nature lovers. All the facilities provided inside the park are designed to decrease the adverse effects on nature through non-pollution and preservation of the natural landscape.
The idea of an Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata was proposed by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal. HIDCO - Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation of West Bengal coordinated with several departments and brought about the construction of the Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata. It has three major parts - the ecological zones, the gardens and the recreational zones making it a perfect getaway to relax and unwind. They have some activities that visitors can choose from to suit their requirement. They also have cottages and conference halls that can be rented for personal or business needs. The Eco Park is a beautiful respite from the developing concrete jungle in the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hyatt Regency Hotel, a 5 Star Hotel.
Day 3: Trip to Sundarban Forest.
Stop At: Sundarban, Sundarban, South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal
This will be 2 Days 1 Night Tour.
DAY 1 : Gosaba Becon Bunglow & Rabindra Nath Tagore Bunglow, Hamilton Sahib Bunglow, Birds Jungle, Pakhiralaya.
DAY 2: Pirkhali, Gajikhali, Deul Varani, Banbibi Varani, Do-Banki Tiger Reserve Forest & watch tower, Panchamukhani (Five Rever Junctions), Sudhanyakhali Tiger Reserve area & Watch tower, Pakhiralaya Island.
Duration: 2 days
Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at Boat or at a Hotel as preferred by the Guest.