Kolkata Travel Guide

Kolkata was the capital of British India until 1911, and its colonial-era architecture, from the marble Victoria Memorial to the grand Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly river, still shapes the city's centre. It has long had a reputation as India's intellectual and artistic capital, home to a strong literary and film tradition, and its food, particularly Bengali fish curries and sweets, is one of the best reasons to visit.

Bengali cuisine, built around fish, mustard oil and a distinct sweet tradition (rasgulla and sandesh among them), has a devoted following within India, and Kolkata is the place to try it properly, from street-side stalls to long-established restaurants.

October to March is the comfortable season, avoiding the city's hot, humid summer. If your dates allow, Durga Puja, usually in September or October, is Kolkata's biggest festival and transforms the city for several days. Two to three days covers the main sights and enough meals to do the food justice.