Kolkata Itinerary

Two days — the essentials

Day 1 — Colonial Kolkata and the centre

1. Early morning: Mullick Ghat flower market beneath Howrah Bridge, then a ferry across the Hooghly
2. Mid-morning: Dalhousie Square (BBD Bagh) colonial architecture
3. Late morning: Indian Museum
4. Lunch: Bengali thali or Kolkata biryani
5. Afternoon: Victoria Memorial and St. Paul's Cathedral
6. Late afternoon: South Park Street Cemetery
7. Evening: Park Street — dinner at one of the older establishments

Day 2 — Temples, books and the river

1. Morning: Dakshineswar Kali Temple, then ferry or bridge across to Belur Math
2. Lunch: local Bengali restaurant
3. Afternoon: College Street book market and the Indian Coffee House
4. Late afternoon: Kumartuli potters' quarter
5. Evening: Prinsep Ghat at sunset, then a kathi roll and dinner

Four days

Days 1 and 2 as above.

Day 3 — South Kolkata and food

1. Morning: Kalighat Kali Temple
2. Late morning: Mother House, Missionaries of Charity
3. Lunch: Tangra Chinatown for Indian-Chinese
4. Afternoon: Gariahat shopping — sarees, Kantha work
5. Evening: Bengali sweets tour, then a cultural performance at Nandan or the Academy of Fine Arts

Day 4 — Across the river and out

1. Morning: Indian Botanic Garden, Shibpur, for the Great Banyan Tree
2. Lunch: Howrah side or back in the city
3. Afternoon: Marble Palace (check permit requirements in advance), then north Kolkata walking
4. Evening: tram ride, then dinner

One week

Add a Sundarbans trip (2–3 days, organised, with boat-based accommodation, for mangroves and the possibility of tiger sightings) and/or Shantiniketan (2 days, Tagore's university town, about 4 hours north).