Places of Interest

Kolkata is a gate way to the east. Nature has been kind to the state of West Bengal. It has beautiful beaches, dense forests and the Himalayan mountains. There are also historical sites, hot springs and other places of interest in close proximity to Kolkata. During the course you will be free on most of the weekends and can make good use of them to travel around.

For all kinds of tours and travels you ca contact the West Bengal Tourism Office at West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation’s office at 3/2 BBD Bagh (East), Kolkata (Tel: 248 5917 / 210 3199)

1. Day Trips

City Tour

Historical

Victoria Memorial – commemorates British rule
Town Hall – chronicles Kolkata
Writers Building
Assembly House
Governor’s House
Fort William

Natural

Zoological Gardens
Botanical Garden – oldest banyan tree
Agri- Horticultural Garden
Babu Ghat- water front

Religious

The Birla Temple
The Kalighat Temple
Dakshineshwar Temple
Armenian Church
Jain Temple
St. Paul’s Cathedral

Heritage

National Museum
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum
Swabhumi – Heritage Park

Others

Mother Teresa’s House
Kumartuli – artisan town
Nicco Park- entertainment park
Science City- advances in science
Nehru Children’s Museum
Aquatica- Water theme par

Day Trips around the city

Mayapur is located on the banks of the Ganges river near Navadvip, West Bengal, India, 130 km north of Kolkata (Calcutta). It is considered a holy place by a number of other traditions within Hinduism, but is of special significance to followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism as the birthplace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, regarded as a special incarnation of Krishna and Radha. It is visited by over a million pilgrims annually. Buses and taxis can help you reach Mayapur.

Diamond Harbour is within easy reach of Kolkata, just around 50 km, it is generally a day out picnic spot for city dwellers. It is in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, on the banks of river Hughli quite near where the river meets the Bay of Bengal. This small town is a popular weekend tourist spot located in South 24 Parganas district. There is an old lighthouse nearby. Diamond Harbour is well connected with Kolkata by road and rail. The tourist lodge, Sagarika, located on the riverbank, has been popular for many years. It also has a number of private hotels.

Belur Math, sprawling over forty acres of land on the western bank of the Hooghly (Ganga), in Howrah district, an hour’s drive from Kolkata, is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world professing different religious faiths. Even people not interested in religion come here for the peace it exudes. The organization aims at the harmony of religions, harmony of the East and the West, harmony of the ancient and the modern, spiritual fulfillment, all-round development of human faculties, social equality, and peace for all humanity, without any distinctions of creed, caste, race or nationality.

Bandel Church - There was earlier a Portuguese settlement at Bandel. There are the Church and the Monastery, which were built around 1660 by the Portuguese. Bandel Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in West Bengal. It is dedicated to Nossa Senhora di Rozario. The keystone of an older church with the year 1599 on it adorns the riverside gate of the monastery attached to it. It is 40 km from Howrah Station which is the main railway junction in kolkata.

Cruise on the River - The West Bengal Government Tourism Department organizes steamer cruises on the River Hooghly. Contact the office for further information.