Kolkata Trips & Tours

In the far east of India, just next to the border with Bangladesh, is the state of West Bengal and its capital, Kolkata. The seat of the British Empire until 1911, the city is a colourful collision of chaotic India and colonial England and you’re just as likely to find a fragrant Bengali curry on a menu as you are a cucumber sandwich. The splendid, if a tad faded, architecture is a feast for the eyes and displays some of the region’s complex historical heritage: the Marble Palace, Victoria Memorial, old St John’s Church and the Raj Bhaven all spring to mind and should feature on any itinerary, as should a cruise down the Hooghly River. But these buildings certainly do not define the city. With a population of 13 million, it’s as frenzied, mad and dynamic as you might imagine and a burgeoning younger (and very trendy) population is giving Kolkata quite the name as an artistic and cultural hub.