Meeting Point: Pick up from your Kolkata Hotel (City Centre – Park Street) 

 

We will start our day by paying a visit to Fort William, one of the most famous historical sites in Kolkata and once a British stronghold. Built in 1696, the fort was named after King William III, a.k.a William of Orange. Standing tall as an evidence to all tales of victories, defeats as well as oppression and rule, Fort William is the only fort in the world from which not a single shot was ever fired. This massive fort is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River stretching over an area of 70.9 hectares and boats of six different gates.  Presently, the fort is owned by the Indian Army and it serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. It can accommodate around 10,000 army personnel. Due to its importance with respect to Indian intelligence, access to the interiors of the fort is limited to army personnel and their relatives. However, you can visit the palace for its stunning architecture.

Kolkata is a city of different cultures and religions and it is seen in the tourist destinations of the city. There are temples, mosques and even churches that allow tourists to experience the vibrancy of the city. St. John's Church Kolkata, also known as Stone Church or Pathur Church, is a place in Kolkata that take us back to the colonial period. St. John's Church is one of the oldest churches in the city and was built during the time when Kolkata was the British capital. The Neoclassical style architecture has tall ceilings, columns and pillars. It attracts architecture enthusiasts, while the rich history associated with the church attracts history lovers and tourists. The church is surrounded by lush green gardens, adorned with tall trees, a view that gives you a pleasant feeling even before entering the church that encourages visitors to maintain silence and sit in peace.

 

Next up on our day trip is the Victoria Memorial. If there is one place in Kolkata that should top the list of places for all to see, it is the Victoria Memorial. This building is the most famous relic of the British Raj and is a grand display of British architecture and elegance. After the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British India, proposed to erect a state monument in the form of a grand white marble building to commemorate her reign as Queen of India. In addition to being primarily a memorial to the Queen, Lord Curzon was also interested in opening the Memorial Hall to the public as a national gallery that would display some of the Queen's personal belongings.

The monument now serves as a museum that houses original artefacts that once belonged to the Queen. Apart from these, the gallery also displays a valuable collection of paintings and original manuscripts, as well as memorabilia from Viceroys and Governor Generals who held important administrative positions during the Raj. The gardens of Victoria Memorial are spread over 64 acres of land with tastefully manicured lawns, flowers of all colours and seasons, pools and fountains and is a popular place to visit among youths and picnic goers.

While in Kolkata, a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral is a must. It is of architectural and historical importance and is a reflection of the rich splendor of colonial era. The Cathedral is an Anglican Church, the first church of its kind outside of Great Britain. Originally built in the Gothic style, the present structure has Indo- Gothic elements of Gothic Revival architecture to stand the strong tropical climate of Kolkata. The cathedral building is built with specially made bricks that were lightweight and at the same time, with extremely compressive strength that would allow them to withstand extreme temperatures and weather disasters. The interior of the cathedral is one single hall without any side aisles. The sculptures in the church building were designed by some of the finest artists associated with the British Empire. The cathedral is surrounded by a very well-maintained garden with over 184,700 species of trees planted till date. 

On our next stop we will be paying a visit to Mother Teresa's Home, one of the most heart-warming places you will have the opportunity to spend time at. Mother Teresa established Mother House or Missionaries of Charity as a religious congregation in the year 1950. Mother House still runs effectively even after Mother Teresa’s death. Her selfless service and kindness have inspired generations, and today there are several branches operating around the world that carry forward Mother Teresa's legacy. There are 4,500 sisters of the congregation who continue to provide free service to the ones stricken by poverty and disease. An area of the House is reserved for devotees to pay their respects to Mother Teresa. This area houses Mother Teresa’s Tomb and a small museum that displays rare photographs, her famous saree, awards and articles.

 

After the Mother House visit, we take a break for lunch. 

Our next stop after lunch is The Indian Museum. This museum is the ninth oldest museum in the world and the largest museum in India with its foundation stone laid in the year 1814. The Indian Museum was established in February 1814 by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish Botanist. The present building of the Indian Museum is another magnificent structure which is still strong to this day. The structure was designed by Walter Granville, one of the most famous architects of the Victorian period, who is credited with creating some more of Kolkata's landmarks. It has exhibits of some finest collection of artefacts that include, armours, fossils, skeletons, antiques, ornaments, Egyptian mummies and contemporary paintings as well as paintings from the Mughal era. There is a library inside the museum that houses a vast collection of some 50,000 books and journals along with a museum shop that sells children’s books, art albums, photographs and picture postcards.

 

Along the way to our next destination we drive past Boi Para (College Street) - The World’s Largest Second hand Book Market. The mile long avenue is dotted with hundreds of bookstores, big and small, and is also home to India’s biggest publishing houses. The bookstores range from standard brick-and-mortar affairs to small makeshift stalls made from bamboo, canvas, or sheets of metal. Should you wish to meet a literary genius hop over for coffee at the India Coffee house a meeting place for the literary inclined.  The history of the Coffee House at College Street can be traced to Albert Hall, which was founded in April 1876.  The Coffee House is of historical significance for being the rendezvous of innumerable versatile people, like Rabindranath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose, Manna Dey, Amartya Sen & the list will go on.

  

Lastly wind up the day tour with a visit to the iconic symbol that defines the city is the Howrah Bridge. One of the earliest engineering and architectural wonders of Bengal, the bridge is the sixth longest suspended span cantilever bridge in the world. The Bridge stands strong for the last 76 years, with no pillar supporting its suspension on the Hooghly River and has also witnessed many historical events including World War II. Tourists who want to photograph the bridge are recommended to hire a ferry ride that plies between Kolkata and Howrah every day. The rides are offered from Launch Ghat, Princep Ghat, Babu Ghat and Outram Ghat. This great bridge is 71 ft wide and has a total of 8 lanes of strand road, bicycles, and pedestrians.

After witnessing the Historical landmarks of Kolkata, we head back to the comforts of your hotel.