What is Kolkata Famous For: Top 22 Places to Visit and Things to do

The city's unbridled passion for embracing its customs, literature, history, cuisine, and other aspects of its culture has earned it the moniker "City of Joy." Kolkata is the ideal synthesis of contemporary India and old-world elegance. This city is packed with tales that will enthral and fascinate you in every nook and cranny!

Curious to know more about what Kolkata is famous for and how the city can fascinate you? Keep reading.

Here is a list of places for which Kolkata is famous.

1. Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is a stunning White Marble museum whose construction began in 1906 and finished in 1921 with the initial intention to be a memorial to Britain's Queen Victoria. The artistic museum combines Mughal and British architectural styles with 25 galleries and exhibits of sculptures, portraits of historical figures, weapons, etc.

Additionally, it contains original compositions of Omar Khayyam and William Shakespeare.

2. Howrah Bridge

Howrah Bridge, a sizable steel bridge built over the Hooghly River, is a well-known landmark of Kolkata. It is regarded as one of the world's longest cantilever bridges. This bridge connects Howrah and Kolkata and its other name is Rabindra Setu. It is grand and historic, carrying over 100,000 automobiles and countless pedestrians daily.

However, when the bridge is fully lit up at night, its magnificence truly comes to life. Further, from the launch ghat, you can also board a ferry that travels between Kolkata and Howrah.

3. Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden, or the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, located in Shibpur, Kolkata is a large garden spread over 273 acres, currently being managed by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). The Garden is home to 12,000 perennial plants, and a myriad of plant specimens gathered from across the world.

4. New Town Eco Park

A large urban park which caters to encourage ecotourism in the city of Joy is the popular Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata. Spread over 475 acres of land, it is India’s largest urban park. Further, this park is ideal for unwinding on your vacation because it includes three main components: natural zones, gardens, and recreational zones.

By avoiding pollution and preserving the natural scenery, the amenities offered inside the park intend to lessen its negative consequences.

5. Mother Teresa House

Mother Teresa founded the religious order known as the Missionaries of Charity, sometimes known as Mother House, in 1950. Saint Teresa of Kolkata is a Latin Church or a Roman Catholic religious order.

Regardless of religion, the missionaries offer free services to those in need. They assist the sick, underprivileged, disabled, dying, former prostitutes, addicts, those affected by natural disasters and epidemics, etc.

6. Fort William

The massive Fort William structure is on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in the city of Kolkata. The fort, which bears King William III’s name and was the first British stronghold in the nation, was constructed in 1696. This beautiful building spans 70.9 acres and is decorated with countless arched windows that gaze out over lush green gardens. In addition, the building’s exterior is adorned with meticulous stonework that took up to ten years to complete.

7. Marble Palace

The Marble Palace in North Kolkata, which Rajendra Mallick built in 1835, is notable for its art collection, which includes works by Reuben and paintings by other well-known international artists, including Reynolds, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt. Further, the Palace also offers a zoo with various unique animals and birds.

8. Dakshineshwar Temple

It is customary to practise to hold celebrations at the Dakshineswar temple in West Bengal, India, for holidays including Yatra, Snana, Kalpataru Day, and Kali Puja. Rani Rashmoni built the temple complex back in the nineteenth century spending only about Rs 42,500 encompassing a total area of about 54.4 bighas. Apart from that, the temple is revered as the home of Goddess Kali.

9. Alipore Zoological Gardens

The earliest zoological park to have been founded in India is the Alipore Zoo, also known as the Calcutta Zoo or the Zoological Garden of Alipore. This Zoo draws visitors from all over the country and is possibly best known for housing the deceased Aldabra giant tortoise named “Adwaita,” who lived for more than 250 years before finally passing away in 2006.

10. Kalighat Kali Temple

You might find it interesting to know that Kalighat Kali Temple has been around for more than 200 years. Interestingly, the temple contains a distinctive Kali idol and is one of India’s 52 Shakti Peethas. The shrine is claimed to be the location where Sati’s right foot toes dropped, and gold and silver were used to construct and preserve the last components of Kali, which featured the hands, tongue, and jewellery.

11. Eden Gardens

The Cricket Association of Bengal owns and operates the 66000-seat Eden Gardens. It’s interesting to know that the gardens, which had a refurbishment to increase their capacity from 40,000 to 94,000, hosted the World Cup in 1987. However, the fact that the stadium is now more than 150 years old could surprise you.

You might already be aware of The Eden Gardens for having the third-biggest seating capacity in the globe and the greatest seating capacity in India. It is frequently described as “cricket’s response to the Coliseum.” It is a must visit place for all cricket lovers.

12. Indian Museum

One of the oldest museums in the world is the Indian Museum maintained by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata that was founded in 1814. Further, the impressive building features 4 galleries in total, two of which are devoted to zoological material and natural history. It offers a sizable collection of paintings, sacred Buddha literature, antique sculptures, mummies, fossils, skeletons, etc., for people interested in ancient treasures.

13. Princep Ghats

Having been built in 1841, Princep Ghat is currently one of Kolkata’s oldest public spaces. Additionally, there are leisure amenities, including boat excursions at the location. Moreover, due to the gorgeous Howrah Bridge in the background, millions of visitors come to the location for a special pre-wedding shoot. Apart from that, Princep Ghat is the ideal spot for you to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of surroundings.

Here is a list of the most famous things in Kolkata.

14. Bengali Food

The eastern state of West Bengal offers an abundance of variety in its cuisine that can appease even the pickiest of palates. It features some of the most excellent vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals and a myriad of mouth watering sweets. Given the abundance of restaurants and the variety of foods they serve, Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is perhaps the greatest location in the area to experience all these delicacies.

15. Trams

The tram service in Kolkata has been running on the city’s streets since 1902, making it the oldest in Asia and one of the last to exist. The tram is one of the greatest and most affordable methods to get around or take a tour of Kolkata, with more than a hundred cars running around the city every day. Access is further made simple by depots in Belgachia, Rajabazar, Park Circus, Gariahat, Tollygunge, Kalighat, and Khidirpur.

16. Biryani

If you are a foodie and wonder what Kolkata is known for, biryani is one of the food items you would not want to miss. Indians often argue over which biryani tastes better, between the Hyderabadi and the Bengali biryani, with the main distinction being that Bengali biryani comes with a steaming hot potato. The Kolkata Mutton Biryani is the city’s signature dish be it at Arsalan, Aminia, or any other location.

17. Durga Puja

Attending the Durga Puja event in Kolkata is a must if you want to really experience the culture and life of Kolkata. The Durga Puja dates back to the first decades of the sixteenth century. In the Hindu calendar's Ashwin month, this event takes place for ten days. Typically, it takes place in September and October. Moreover, the people of Kolkata celebrate the final four days, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami, and Dashami, with a lot of grandeur and ceremony.

18. Love for Literature

Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize, was born in Kolkata, a city with a long history of literary appreciation. This city is home to several art-related events and a fantastic destination to visit during the Kolkata Book Fair and International Literary Festival. Moreover, every January, writers and thinkers from around the world come here to partake in this feast for the mind.

19. Kolkata Metro

The subway system known as the Kolkata Metro has served the city of Joy for more than 30 years till date, being one of the earliest and oldest metro services in India that came into existence in 1984. Further, this Metro network offers unparalleled access to the majority of the city's key locations with more than 500,000 people using this service daily. Also, it is India's first underground and above-ground metro rail network.

20. Hand Pulled Rickshaw

Another fantastic way to see the city is by rickshaw, but not the enclosed, fast-moving, loud tuk-tuk kind; it is the kind that local rickshaw cart pullers manually drive to happily take you anyplace within a few kilometres. This hand-pulled mode of transportation throughout the city is useful for tourists, and the pullers are always happy to let you try it out for yourself. It's a fun and thrilling way to move around, which you can find only in the city of Joy.

21. Street Food

Street food and crowded cities simply go together, and Kolkata is no less crowded than any other city, and as a result, there is no shortage of roadside food kiosks, carts, stalls, and stands. As a result, every visitor to Kolkata is in for a gastronomic adventure, from the regional egg roll and phuchka to the momos and chow mein influenced by the East, the dosa from the South, the Tikka rolls from the North, and even the Vadapav from the West.

22. Bengali Sweets

While talking of popular things in Kolkata, the Bengali mishtis or sweets got to have a special mention. One of the most popular sweets in West Bengal is the traditional cottage-cheese balls known as  rasgulla. During your visit to Kolkata, do not forget to visit establishments like Mouchak, Balaram Mallick, Mithai, Ganguram, etc. to try a variety of Bengali sweets like rasgulla, sandesh, gulab jamun etc.