I was travelling to Hyderabad and Kolkata for some official meetings and that is how this trip came to ideation. We had been thinking of visiting Kolkata, including recently when we hopped through the city on our Andaman Visit. However, for some reason or other, it had not materialized yet. This looked like a perfect opportunity, especially with Holi approaching. Thus the plans firmed up and we decided to spend a few days over the official part of the trip to have a small vacation for ourselves. The idea was that I travel alone for the official trip and then the family joins in later.

I have spent quite some time in Kolkata during my childhood and this was going to be a trip down the memory lane (another article from an earlier trip - Kolkata Reunion – Old City New Places). Incidentally, I had never been to Sundarbans and I wanted to cover that as part of this trip. Once the plan was finalized, we had our tickets booked and hotels reserved. We planned to spend two days in Sundarbans, exploring the wilderness, and then another two days in Kolkata, absorbing the rich culture and heritage.

Reaching the Destination and Moving Around

We had a few different flights to take to reach Kolkata. While the family had to travel from New Delhi, I was traveling from Hyderabad after completing my work obligations. Both Hyderabad and Kolkata are connected to New Delhi with very frequent flights, however, the same is not true for Kolkata and Hyderabad. There are limited connections and not all service providers cater to this sector. Below is our summary of flights:

We had not planned a package tour for this trip as we felt fairly comfortable with the city. For local transportation in Kolkata, we relied on public transportation including the metro, iconic yellow ambassador taxis, and modern Uber cabs. Kolkata has good coverage of metro which is a faster and more reliable way to travel for long distances. While Uber and Ola services in Kolkata are better than Delhi NCR in terms of reliability, we found ourselves using a lot of yellow Ambassador taxis. One reason was the novelty but the other was the convenience. It was easy to find one waiting at most of the tourist places and metro stations and had fares comparable to that of radio cabs. The city also has a pretty dense city bus coverage but we did not end up using one. The trams are now almost extinct because of safety considerations.

For the Sundarbans trip, we engaged a tour operator especially since the boats are not available on-call. The operator we had chosen was Tour De Sundarbans based on various reviews online. Our review on TripAdvisor is available here - A trip to rustic nature.

Some Details - Itinerary and Accommodation

What to Explore when you are in Kolkata

Kolkata has so much to offer that any trip would find itself lacking the adequacy of time. If you add places around Kolkata, you could well settle down here. However, broadly, we think the key attractions can be categorized as below:

Natural and Wilderness

Kolkata has a varied offering of nature's beauty and one has to step behind the scenes to explore it in its entirety. Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forests in the world and are standing strong on marshy land. We were able to spend 2 days in the wilderness and the way it brings you closer to nature is wonderful. We stayed at a traditional organic cottage and enjoyed family-like hospitality. In addition to that, there are marvelous opportunities to enjoy rowing boat rides amidst the tranquil background. Within the city, step beside the Prinsep Ghat (or any other ghats along the river) and enjoy an evening boat ride on the Hooghly River (the name for the Ganges in this region). The views of Ravindra Setu (the cable-stayed bridge) and Howrah Bridge in the backdrop of the setting sun are mesmerizing.

For more about Sundarbans, visit our article Sundarbans – A Mystic Mangrove Excursion

Religious and Spirituality

The city has a strong deity in Maa Kali and the fervor of devotion to the Goddess is unparalleled. Each festival related to goddesses is celebrated with enthusiasm. The electric environment during the Durga Puja is simply astonishing and folks should definitely plan to spend some time in the city during the puja. For a tourist visiting at other times, there are two must-visit Kali temples in the city - one is the Dakineshwar Kali Temple which is relatively a recent construction, and the Kalighat Temple, which has been the seat of devotion for ages.

History and Heritage

Kolkata was where the East India Company settled to start with and enjoyed the stature of the capital of British Colonial Powers (known as Calcutta then) until 1911. While this may remind us of the brutal history of colonization, it also gives this city a unique flavor of heritage. Museums of Victoria Hall, Might of Fort William, the architecture of Prinsep Ghat and the bright-red colored buildings sprinkled across the city - all offer a glimpse into the past of the city.

Science and Modernity

While we say that the City of Joy is rich in art, culture, and history, it has all the traits of modernity spread around. The early British establishment gave it some of the modern marvels early in its development. Whether it is the metro train, the trams of masses, or the Science City - it has many firsts for the country. While there are all of these across India, if you look at where the madness started, you may come back to this town.

The Science City is a great stop to spend almost an entire day channelizing your inquisitiveness and marveling at the world of physics and mathematics. Further, Birla Planetarium is the place to get beyond the Earth and enter out of the world. The city has recently got an Eco Park, as well, which is spread across acres and provides a good hangout place in addition to the replicas of the seven wonders of the world.

Food and Sweets

You may explore it all but if you haven't tasted the Bengali Rosogulla, your trip to the city is incomplete. The city has a unique cuisine to offer - more for non-vegetarians with fish and seafood delicacies, but there are vegetarian options as well. This is further enhanced by the richness of Bengali Sweets which provide such an exquisite flavor to life. If you are visiting in the winter months (we barely made it), you get to experience the gur wali mithai (sweets made of jaggery) which has a different tonality in itself. While there are many popular outlets including K C Das & Ganguram Sweets, if you want it all in one go, visit the Misthi Hub near gate number 3 of the Eco Park. It has all the big names under one roof, some of them serving dishes not even available in their city outlets.

For more about Kolkata and things to do in the city, visit our article

Kolkata – A Center for Art, Culture, History & Food

Things to Remember

Kolkata is a wonderful destination and I am sure any visitor would have a good time in the city. However, below are some things to consider to explore the city and enjoying its uniqueness.

• Travel at the right time - There are specific times of the year when the city is on adrenaline and those are the best time to visit. Our recommendation is to visit during the Durga Puja where the pandal hopping and related activities add a very different experience to your trip. The disclaimer is, you should not be averse to crowds.
• Choose the right days - Visiting the temples could be a nightmare for a tourist if you choose the wrong days. Kali temples are especially rushed on festivals and on Tuesdays. Also, a lot of historic sights and monuments are closed on Mondays.
• Have the right clothes - During summer, Kolkata can be pretty hot and humid. Choose appropriate attire to keep yourself comfortable. Also, for the temples, prepare to be dressed modestly and have socks (to slightly avoid the heat from below)
• Carry your identities - This is true anywhere but especially at Sundarbans, you need to get a permit and need to present your identities for verification. Have them ready to avoid scrambling on the boat!
• Pack enough food and munchies - Again this is specific to Sundarbans where there are limited (actually no) outlets for your everyday munchies and snacks. Most of the food is simple and authentically Bengali. If you are stuck to specificities or bottled water, carry enough yourself.
• Be prepared to be patient and rustic - The name City of Joy is not for nothing. Bengalis are a satisfied community and are not hurried in their lifestyle (compare this to Mumbai, a city that never sleeps). Also, if you are on a row boat, you are there for the calm and serenity, not to reach your destination.