Kolkata beyond museums: 7 offbeat experiences most tourists completely miss

Kolkata, also known as “City of Joy”, is the capital of West Bengal. Earlier, Kolkata was known as ‘Calcutta’, and was founded in 1690 by the British East India Company; it served as their capital for the longest time. The city is renowned for its vibrant culture and rich heritage. It is even considered the cultural hub of India.

Kolkata holds the main essence of eastern India with its delicious cuisine, historical places, and its literature. This city is the perfect blend of the vintage and the modern times. There is a lot more to Kolkata than the historical events; you can experience them too.

Let’s look at what we have for you:

What better than exploring Kolkata during its prime time, the Navratri season, when the whole city is illuminated with lights and at every corner a puja pandal is set up. Durga Puja in Kolkata is an annual festival that celebrates the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga and the victory of good over evil. The atmosphere during this time is very lively, filled with music, dance, and cultural performances.

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A small locality of Kolkata formerly known as Coomartolly, here, you will find a potter’s quarter where they beautifully sculpt clay idols of gods and goddesses throughout the year for different festivals in West Bengal. The idols are painted with natural colours and adorned with vibrant sarees, ornaments, and accessories. It is a wonderful sight watching these artisans work on these idols as you roam around Banamali Sarkar Street. Kumartuli remains the heart of idol-making, with over 500 workshops and nearly 4,000 artisans crafting thousands of idols each year. This lane will mesmerise you and you will feel a sudden sense of devotion once you visit it.

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The electric tram was introduced in the year 1902 and is the oldest tram network in Asia. Kolkata is the only city in India where one can have the privilege to ride an electric tram while exploring its rich cultural heritage. It is a once in a lifetime experience for all those missing the older times. While travelling in this tram, you will pass by colonial-era buildings, bustling markets, and iconic landmarks. The tram goes through different routes like Shyambazar to Esplanade, Shyambazar to Howrah Bridge, and Tollygunge to Ballygunge station, and you can choose from where you want to board.
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This colourful flower market is located just under the famous Howrah Bridge. This flower market is the largest in Kolkata as well as one of the biggest in Asia. Earlier, Mullick Ghat used to be known as Nimai Mullick Ghat; it was built by Rammohan Mullick in 1855, in memory of his father Nimai Charan Mullick. You can find all varieties of flowers here. A lot of people come to the market-vendors or regular people to buy fresh flowers during early morning or evening. Garlands of orange marigolds strung together forming huge chains, bouquets of lotus, roses, sunflowers, and all sorts of flowers, along with their distinctive fragrances, enchant you as soon as you enter the market.

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Prinsep Ghat was built in the year 1841 and holds great historical significance as it was built by the British Raj in India. The ghat has been named after an ingenious Anglo-Indian researcher and scholar, James Prinsep; he contributed greatly in the field of Indian scriptures and archaeology. This ghat is located on the banks of the River Ganges where you can wind down by watching a beautiful sunset, even click some aesthetic pictures, and go on a boat ride with your loved ones.

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Kolkata’s Kathi rolls are famous all over the world. It is considered that kathi rolls were started by Nizam’s, a popular Mughlai eatery founded in 1932 by Raza Hassan Saheb in Kolkata, and is everyone’s go-to street food there. Kathi rolls are basically heaven wrapped in a bite; it is made with a parantha and is filled with marinated or grilled meat with spices and chutneys. Although many variations of it have been created over these years, one should try the original one.

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The College Street is famous for its small and big bookstores, which gives it the nickname Boi Para (Colony of Books). This street is widely loved by book lovers. Here, you can find old or new books, even different editions of it, which is why it is the largest book market in India. Once you reach College Street, you can even go to the famous Kolkata coffee house on the street and chat with the other literature geeks.

(Image: Istock)