Kolkata the city of joy
Legacy of City of Joy
Kolkata experience is a full day tour of Kolkata led by a local guide where guests will discover the City of Joy. The experience commences at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the founder of Kolkata and covers St Johns Church, the iconic Writers Building, the magnificent Governor’s house, Shahid Minar, and the legendary Victoria Memorial. The experience fittingly ends after a short boat ride over the River Ganges.
Charnock Memorial
We will start the full day tour of Kolkata at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock the founder of modern Kolkata. In 1690 Charnock bought the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata from Bengal subedar Azim Usman and over time Kokata became the capital of East India Company. A recent High Court ruling has discredited him as the founder of Kolkata after looking at evidence of the existence of the city in earlier times!
St John's Church
St John’s Church which was built in 1787 by architect James Agg. This majestic stone and brick structure became the principal Cathedral of Calcutta in 1815. A highlight of his Church is the “Last Supper” painting on its walls.
Victoria Memorial
The legendary Victoria Memorial built by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, this architectural gem built in marble is a great place to experience the essence of Victorian-era set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata.
Writers Building
The iconic Writers Building had a very humble beginning. Built in 1777, it was meant for the lower bureaucracy of East India Company. Today this Greco-Roman masterpiece is the seat of the West Bengal state government. Our guide will narrate to you all the landmark events which took place in India’s freedom struggle with the Writers Building as the backdrop. Since this is a working office, we will see it from outside.
Shaheed Minar
Shaheed Minar was built in 1848 with a blend of Egyptian, Syrian and Turkish design styles. Originally it was called the Ochterlony Monument and was built to honour Major General Sir David Ochterlony’s triumph against the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1825. Today this monument commemorates the sacrifice of Indian freedom fighters
Governor's House
The Governor’s House is a remarkable building which was built for Marquess of Wellesley who came to Kolkata as the Governor General of East India Company in 1798 and found his rented accommodation unsuitable! Built-in 1803 by the famous English architect Charles Wyatt, the Governor’s House follows a Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones. The building became the residence of the Viceroy of India after the Crown took over the reins of India from East India Company. Today it serves as the office and residence of the Governor of the state of West Bengal and hence we will see it from outside.
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum was built by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1814 with Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist as the founder curator. It has a magnificent collection of relics, ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armors and paintings of different eras.
Guided Tour
Kolkata tour is a guided tour where a cultural evangelist will provide the cultural context during our visit. Our cultural evangelists unpack authentic India for better comprehension and appreciation of the cultural and heritage of the ancient Indian civilization.
Private Tour
A private tour ensures that we are able to focus all our attention on you and adjust the pace of the tour according to your interests. Pick and drop from your hotel in an airconditioned vehicle is included in the Kolkata tour.
Strenghening local community
Our company is helping the local community by training & employing local guides. This initiative is to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.
Boating on the Ganges
In the last leg of the Kolkata tour, we take a 30 minute small boat cruise over the holy River Ganges to explore the City of Joy from its waters. We pass through numerous ghats and the iconic Howrah Bridge before this magnificent experience of Kolkata comes to an end.
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Pricing chart
- Pick & drop
- Travel by Innova
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- Indian lunch
- Pick & drop
- Travel by sedan
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- Indian lunch
- Pick & drop
- Travel by sedan
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- Indian lunch
Trip Itinerary
Experience cultural immersion in the Kolkata city tour.
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