Kolkata Travel Tips

Do's & Don'ts
Kolkata is a very renowned place in India. The city gates are always open to the tourists and travellers and one really receives a hearty welcome by the resindentia. Kolkata incorporates a very liberal society. The influence of some of the greatest scholars of India has been more or less direct. This is what a person feels once inside the city premises. However, there are certain things which must be avoided to make the stay or journey in Kolkata more meaningful. Some of these practices are:

If you are planning for a visit to the city then winter season is the most appropriate time. The summers are hot and humid and in monsoons there is lot of down pouring. October to February is the best time to move into the place.
Before starting the journey be sure to carry minimum of the luggage. Kolkata is a very crowded place and to carry heavy luggage means lots of hassles.
The public transport is very crowded and there are good chances of your pocket being picked in buses and metro. So act wise and travel by bus or taxi.
There are many places of interest contained in Kolkata. Leaving aside the monuments, make sure to check out the famous learning centres.
Kolkata is a place with a rich and polished culture. The Bengali people are quite lively and eloquent. In Kolkata try to get the experience of interacting with the locals.
Fish and Sweets are two things Bengali food never misses. Have a taste of the popular food served in Kolkata.
Make sure to visit some of the oldest coffee houses in Kolkata.
Try to avoid intermediaries and fraudulent travel agents. It is better to take some pain and consult government information offices.

Do not attempt to travel without tickets in public transport.
Avoid to commute in the peak office hours as the streets are often jammed with traffic.
Always make sure to carry a small litter bag. It won't be a good practice to dump the litter at public places.
Kolkatans are very particular about their culture. Do not make any kind of nuisance regarding the popular culture.

Must Know
Kolkata, the former capital of India presents the cultural splendor of the east. The city bears the impressions of the historical landmarks set by some of the greatest reformers of India. The city has progressed with an immense pace and today stands as one of the leading cities and metropolis of the developing nation. Kolkata is the hub of commercial activities in India East. The city presents a mouthful of attractions that have a great historical importance. Before making a trip to it is important to know some facts about that place some of which include:

The nomenclature of the city has been quite uncertain which has lead to so many names by which it is popular. The city has been popular as Calcutta but local population prefer Kalikata, the supposed original name. In 2001 the city was officially renamed as Kolkata and the said stands till date.
Kolkata is the largest metropolitan city of India. The city is also home to a great population, about 13 million. Kolkata is the birth place of some of the legendary people of India like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Subhash Chandra Bose.
The places worth visiting in Kolkata are Eden Gardens, Maidan and Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Nakhoda Mosque, Marble Palace, Paresnath Jain Temple, Belur Math, Kali Temple, Mother Teresa’s homes, Botanical Gardens.
The city is one of the largest jute producing city in the world.
If you happen to land in Kolkata never miss the chance to taste the palatable Bengali sweets.

Things To Do :
Kolkata city is one of the places they normally say as LIVE. The city with multifarious avenues has so much to offer that the tourists who are more than eager to pack their stuff often complain about missing a whole lot. We therefore recommend such tourists to have prior knowledge of the places they must visit and the things they must do so as to avoid the popular jargon 'Back To The Square One'. The following tips will prove quite handy to the city seekers.

Travelling in Kolkata means travelling among lots of people. There are more than 13 million people in the city and the chances of getting lost in the crowd are quite obvious. It is advised as such not to visit the commercial centres in the working hours.

BBD Bagh and the adjoining region constitute the heart of the city. The region is provided with some of the best accommodational and catering facilities.

The places worth visiting in Kolkata include Maidan, Fort William, Eden Gardens, Victoria Memorial, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Nakhoda Mosque, Marble Palace, Paresnath Jain Temple, Belur Math, Kali Temple, Botanical Gardens and Mother Teresa's homes.

While visiting any of the places make sure that you hire a taxi or an agency providing the tour. Public transport would be a bad choice, unless you prefer the over-overloaded buses. Commutation in Kolkata is an experience in itself. One can ride in a bus, taxi, subway car, tram, boat, autorickshaw. The people there seems to go for every means to have the money in your coffers.

The day may end well but try to get hold of the night. The nightlife in Kolkata is full of excitement. For those who like to get a bit of soaked, checkout the bars and pubs in the heart of the city. Those who like to tune their body to the frequency, its discotheques. For food connoisseurs we have mouth watering dishes served in the restaurants. And for the aesthetic part we have theatres. For think tanks there are coffee houses.

To fulfill religious obligations do not forget to visit the holy places like Dakshineswar Kali Bari (Temple), Belur Muth, Nakhoda Mosque, Paresnath Temple, St Paul's Cathedral and Portuguese Cathedral.

While shopping in Kolkata always remember this line, " It Is All About Haggling".