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CCU · 22.56° N · 88.36° E · India

Kolkata

Eastern India's cultural capital and close to home for travellers from Bangladesh: the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, College Street's books, Durga Puja and the sweets.

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About Kolkata

In short

  • The Victoria Memorial
  • Howrah Bridge
  • College Street book market
  • Dakshineswar Kali Temple
  • Kumartuli, the potters' quarter

At a glance

Country
India
Region
South Asia
Local time
GMT+5:30
Time difference
0.5 hours behind Dhaka
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)
Languages
English
Main airport
  • CCUNetaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport
Best time to visit
November to February

Kolkata, once Calcutta, feels close to home for many travellers from Bangladesh: Bengali is spoken all around you, and the city shares a love of books, music, film and sweets. It was the capital of British India until 1911 and the home of the poet Rabindranath Tagore.

See and do

  • The white marble Victoria Memorial
  • Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly, with the flower market below it in the early morning
  • The book stalls of College Street
  • Dakshineswar Kali Temple and the potters of Kumartuli

Durga Puja

The festival falls in September or October, and in 2021 UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Getting around

The Kolkata Metro, running since 1984, crosses the city, buses cover much of the rest, ferries cross the Hooghly to Howrah, and auto rickshaws are usually shared. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) serves the city, and the main rail stations are Howrah and Sealdah.

Eat

Leave room for rosogolla and mishti doi.

Before you go

Entry and visas

Check India's visa rules for your passport before you book. With a Bangladeshi passport, start with the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, linked below. On another passport, apply only through India's official visa portal, and avoid sites that ask for extra payment.

Health

See your doctor or a travel clinic a few weeks before you go. Guard against mosquito bites and take care with food and water. From March to June it is hot and humid, so drink plenty of water and use sun protection.

Money

India's currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Carry cash for markets, street food and shared auto rickshaws, and ask your bank what your card costs to use abroad.

General information only, not legal or medical advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you travel.

Checked on 14 October 2026

When to go

  1. JanuaryBest
  2. FebruaryBest
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. JuneNot ideal
  7. JulyNot ideal
  8. AugustNot ideal
  9. SeptemberNot ideal
  10. October
  11. NovemberBest
  12. DecemberBest

November to February is mild and mostly dry. March to June is hot and humid, with highs around 35°C in April and May. Heavy monsoon rain falls from June to September, and Durga Puja comes in September or October.

Pictures of Kolkata

  • The steel lattice of Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River in Kolkata, with a small wooden boat on the water below
    Howrah Bridge, a cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River
  • A yellow taxi with a blue stripe in front of an old colonnaded building overgrown with hanging roots on a Kolkata street
    A yellow taxi on a Kolkata street lined with old buildings
  • Wooden boats with orange covers moored on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, below the cables of the Vidyasagar Setu bridge
    Boats moored on the Hooghly River, with Vidyasagar Setu above
  • A clay idol of the goddess Durga with many arms, draped in silver cloth under a pink canopy in Kumartuli, Kolkata
    A clay idol of Durga in Kumartuli, Kolkata

Questions about Kolkata

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How do I get around Kolkata?

The Kolkata Metro, running since 1984, is a simple way to cross the city, and an extensive bus network covers much of the rest. Ferries cross the Hooghly between Kolkata and Howrah, and auto rickshaws are usually shared and unmetered.

Which airport serves Kolkata?

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) serves Kolkata. If you arrive by rail, the city's two major stations are Howrah, across the river, and Sealdah.

Do I need a visa to visit India?

The rules depend on your passport and the reason for your trip, and they change. With a Bangladeshi passport, start with the High Commission of India in Bangladesh. On another passport, use only India Visa Online, the official portal. Check before you book and again before you travel.

Checked on 14 October 2026

When is Durga Puja in Kolkata?

Durga Puja falls in the Hindu month of Ashvin, which corresponds to September or October, so the dates change from year to year. The festival lasts several days, and in 2021 UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

When is the best time to visit Kolkata?

November to February is usually the most comfortable time, with mild, mostly dry weather. March to June is hot and humid, and the monsoon brings heavy rain from June to September.

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