India’s “City of Joy” Kolkata, along with being the capital of West Bengal, is famous all over the world for its historical heritage, cultural diversity, literature, art and food. Situated on the banks of the Hooghly River, this city has been counted among the most prominent cities of India since the British period. The markets, temples, colonial buildings and intellectual atmosphere here attract every tourist.
Let us know in detail about the 10 major sightseeing places of Kolkata
1. Town Hall, Kolkata
Town Hall, located at B.B.D. Bagh (Esplanade Row West), is an important civil and historical building, built in 1813–14 by British architect Colonel John Henry Garstin in Roman Doric style. It was a major venue for social and political events during the British period, where later indigenous leaders and agitators deliberated on the freedom struggle. The building now houses the Cultural Centre and Town Hall Museum, which displays fascinating exhibits on the city’s history, literature and art.
Entry Timings and Closing Time:
Official Opening Time: 11:00 am
Closing Time: 6:00 pm.
Entry Fee: General entry to Town Hall is free.
If you also wish to visit the Town Hall Museum, the fee is as follows:
Tuesday to Friday: ₹10
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: ₹15
School group: ₹5
2. Wax Museum of Kolkata
Located in New Town, Kolkata, Mother’s Wax Museum is India’s first wax museum, which was launched in November 2014. The museum is located on the fifth and sixth floors of the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) building.
It displays more than 50 life-like wax statues from the fields of history, politics, literature, science, sports, Bollywood, Hollywood, music, etc. These include eminent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Rabindranath Tagore, Virat Kohli, M.S. Dhoni, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Michael Jackson, Lata Mangeshkar and Albert Einstein. Wax Museum is the best places to visit in Kolkata.
Entry Fees: ₹150 on weekends/state holidays, ₹100 on other days
3. Aquatica Water Park
It has a wide range of attractions—adventure rides like Jungle Safari, Black Hole, Raft Slide, Cyclone, Tornado, Surf Racer, and lazy rides like Wave Pool (capacity 4000 people), 500-meter long Lazy River, Niagara Falls (water falls from a height of 65 feet, can accommodate up to 400 people at a time), and Aqua Dance Floor where one can enjoy water disco with DJ. Apart from this, it also provides a resort and banquet facility—55 well-appointed rooms, party hall, conference hall, food court, etc. are available. Aquatica Water Park is the best places to visit in Kolkata.
Entry Fees:
Weekdays: Adults ₹900, Children ₹450
Weekends/Holidays: Adults ₹1000, Children ₹500
Opening and closing times: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day.
4. Kolkata Science City
Science City, Kolkata is the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent, inaugurated on 1 July 1997 by President Inder Kumar Gujral, and its convention complex was first inaugurated on 21 December 1996.
Opening Time: 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm; ticket counters close at 7:00 pm.
Entry Ticket: ₹ 70 per person
Space Theatre: ₹ 120 per person
Dark Ride: ₹ 50 per person
This fee is same for all—Indians or foreigners
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5. Belur Math
Belur Math, the headquarters of the Rama Krishna Mission, is located on the banks of the Hooghly River in Belur, Howrah (West Bengal). It was inaugurated by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 and its architecture blends Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and Christian styles, symbolizing the unity of universal religion. Belur Math is the best places to visit in Kolkata.
Timings (Opening and Closing Timings):
Morning: 6:30 am – 11:30 am
Evening: April–September: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm;
October–March: 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm
6. Indian Museum, Kolkata
The Indian Museum is the oldest and largest museum in Kolkata. It was established in 1814 by the Asiatic Society. It is considered to be the largest museum in Asia and the oldest museum in India. It is often also called “Jarghar”. The museum houses countless rare objects related to archaeology, geology, paleontology, zoology, art and anthropology. Buddha statues, mummies, fossils, ancient coins, weapons, jewelry, paintings and heritage of various civilizations are kept here.
The museum building is a wonderful example of colonial architecture and thousands of tourists from India and abroad come to see it every day. This place is very useful for students, researchers and those interested in history.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Mondays and government holidays).
Entry fee: ₹50 for Indian citizens and ₹500 for foreign tourists.
7. Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge is a world famous bridge built on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. This bridge connects the cities of Howrah and Kolkata. It is also called “Rabindra Setu”.
Howrah Bridge was constructed in 1943. Its length is about 705 meters and width is 30 meters. It is a cantilever bridge made of steel. Its biggest feature is that not a single nut-bolt was used in its construction, but steel plates were joined with riveting technology.
This bridge is not only an engineering marvel but also the identity of Kolkata. About one and a half lakh vehicles and 40 lakh pedestrians pass over it every day. This bridge is extremely important from the point of view of trade, transportation and tourism.
Tourists from India and abroad come to see Howrah Bridge. When it is lit up with lights at night, its beauty increases further. Howrah Bridge is the best places to visit in Kolkata.
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8. Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata
Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a major religious and tourist destination of Kolkata. This temple is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River and was built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855. The temple is famous for its grand architecture and spiritual atmosphere.
The presiding deity here is Bhavatarini Kali. It is believed that Maa Kali helps her devotees overcome the difficulties of life. The temple is built in Bengal style Navratna (nine peaks) architecture. Twelve Shiva temples, a temple of Radha-Krishna and Natmandir are also located in the complex.
The great saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa meditated here and received direct darshan from Maa Kali. This is why the temple attracts devotees from all over the world. Dakshineswar Kali Temple is the most famous places to visit in Kolkata.
Open timings:
Morning: 6:00 am – 12:30 pm
Afternoon/Evening: 3:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Entry fee: Entry to the temple is free. There is no ticket required for darshan.
9. Victoria Memorial
Its construction began in 1906 and was completed in 1921. It was built by the then Governor General Lord Curzon in memory of Queen Victoria.
This building is a unique example of Indo-Saracenic style in which there is a beautiful combination of British and Mughal architecture. Made of white marble, its height is about 184 feet. On top of it is the statue of “Angel of Victory”, which rotates with the wind.
There are 25 galleries inside the memorial in which British era paintings, rare books, manuscripts, artifacts and historical objects are stored. Gardens spread over about 64 acres make its beauty even more grand. It is a major center of attraction for both tourists and locals.
Opening hours:
Museum – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Monday and national holidays).
Museum Garden – 5:30 am to 6:15 pm daily.
Entry Fee:
Museum – Indian citizens: ₹50, Foreign tourists: ₹500.
Only garden – ₹30 per head.
10. Marble Palace, Kolkata
The Marble Palace of Kolkata is one of the most famous historical buildings in India. It was built in 1835 by the wealthy businessman Raja Rajendra Mallick. This palace is famous for its grand architecture, marble walls and magnificent sculptures. Built in European style, this palace has a lot of Italian marble, which is why it is named “Marble Palace”. There is a huge collection of paintings, ancient statues, chandeliers, furniture and rare artifacts. Artworks of famous artists like Rubens and Rembrandt can also be seen here. There is also a beautiful garden and a small zoo along with the palace, which is a center of attraction for tourists. This place is no less than a treasure for those interested in art, history and architecture. Marble Palace is the most famous places to visit in Kolkata.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed days: Monday and Thursday
Entry rules:
Entry is free, but it is mandatory to obtain a permission letter from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) before entering.
The permit can be obtained from the ASI office at 24, Beliaghata Road in Kolkata.
Photography and videography are generally not permitted.
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Final Words
Exploring all these places with family, friends, or colleagues becomes even more enjoyable when you travel together in comfort. From architectural masterpieces such as Victoria Memorial and Marble Palace to spiritual hotspots like Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Belur Math and from enjoy-at-your-own-pace destinations such as Aquatica Water Park and Science City to iconic spots like Howrah Bridge, the city has something unique to offer all visitors.
Visiting all these locations with family, friends or co-workers becomes all the more fun when you go in comfort together. That’s where Ac Tempo Traveller Hire makes your trip hassle-free and memorable. Be it a short city tour or a long journey throughout India, we offer safe, comfortable, and budget-friendly tempo traveller services as per your requirements.
So, the next time you are planning to visit the beauty of Kolkata and more, pick Ac Tempo Traveller Hire as your companion and be a part of comfortable, joyful, and memorable journeys.
