10 amazing things to do in Kolkata

India's City of Joy, Kolkata - formerly Calcutta - may be gritty at first sight, but there are many happy-making pleasures waiting for those who take the time to look

By Nicole Douglas-Morris

8 December 2017

Traders at Mullik Ghat Flower MarketGetty

Go flower-shopping at sunrise

Get up at 7am to experience the heady scent of 1,000 ochre roses, spindly men carrying giant baskets of who-knows-what atop their heads and the greatest assortment of people and flowers you'll ever see. At Malik Ghat flower market, on the banks of the Hooghly River, you're guaranteed to witness the morning rituals as a smiling woman places a beautiful garland over your head.

The Marble PalaceAlamy

Explore a palace filled with baroque art and flamingos

Where else might you find works of art by Rubens and Titian, grinning monkeys, and a neoclassical mansion all in one place? You may well be the only person wandering around the cavernous halls of the eclectic Marble Palace, the home of 19^th-century philanthropist Raja Rajendra Mullick. Don't miss the zoo hidden in the lush gardens.

Flower garlandsBasil Pao

Play tennis at a 19th-century country club

Do as the Kolkatans do at the Tollygunge Club; have a relaxed game of tennis, followed by dinner overlooking the 100-acre golf course. If you're in need of cooling down afterwards, take a dip in one of the recently renovated pools. If you can wrangle a stay here, you'll be reluctant to leave.

Get a front-row riverside spot for sunset

Hop in a yellow cab to the riverside Prinsep Ghat, the best spot in the city to watch the blazing sun dip below the horizon. And while you're here, make sure to hire a boatman to take you out on the water for some well-timed photo opportunities.

Matteo Carassale/4Corners

Lose yourself in a labyrinth of quirky shops

Navigating the throngs of people and piles of wares that line the streets of Gariahat market isn't for the faint-hearted, but if you're looking for an immersive moment of real India, this is it. Come here to find quirky gifts and henna stalls.

Spot Bengal tigers

Sharpen your eyes and keep limbs close; saltwater crocodiles and majestic tigers roam the UNESCO World Heritage Sundarbans, which means 'beautiful forest' in Bengali. The 140,000 hectares of mangroves lie about two hours from hectic Kolkata and make up the largest tiger reserve in India. Book tours through your hotel or West Bengal Tourism.

Anokhi Kolkata

Brush up on Indian fashion

Jaipur-based brand Anokhi is known for its ethically sourced clothes and iridescent jewellery (great for pretty much every occasion). Pick up some of its intricate block-printed designs at Kolkata's Forum Mall.

6 Ballygunge Place

Sip cocktails with city views

Head to Blue and Beyond on the rooftop of the Lindsay Hotel at night for glittering vistas of the sprawling skyline (and, of course, a punchy cocktail or two). If you fancy a more traditional setting for a drink, the offbeat Fairlawn hotel is around the corner: a moss-green, vine-entangled building crammed with colonial memorabilia.

Play cricket with locals

You're sure to find a locals' game to join on the Maidan, an immense urban park known as the lungs of Kolkata. The jade expanse stretches back towards the marble Victoria Memorial, a colossal monument that's well worth a visit, preferably in the haze of sunset.

Getty

Taste the best West Bengali cooking

For a real Kolkatan feast, go to 6 Ballygunge Place and order with reckless abandon (and help from the waiter). And if you've had one lassi too many, head to Café Mezzuna at Forum Mall for a post-supper espresso.
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