Kolkata

Kolkata Cricket Holidays & Tours

From the late 18^th century to 1911, Kolkata (Calcutta) was India’s political capital and you’ll find echoes of its illustrious past everywhere you go. Here, in the former Raj’s seat of government ornate Victorian buildings and crumbling monuments, rub shoulders with teeming temples and raucous traders. It is home to flamboyant festivals and lively markets, and a day on its packed streets will often leave you invigorated and inspired.

Cultured Kolkata

India’s second largest city was once the genteel hub of the British Raj. Now it has been transformed into a crowded, polluted and chaotic metropolis. But it has also become India’s artistic capital with a thriving cultural scene. Many feel this is a legacy of hometown hero Rabindranath Tagore, Asia’s first-ever Nobel Literature Prize winner. Another notable resident was, of course, Mother Theresa whose work with the homeless gained her worldwide fame.

A Day at the Races

If you fancy a flutter while in Kolkata, then you’re in luck. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club was founded in 1847 and has been a homely host to the gee-gees ever since. The racecourse is a time-honoured Kolkata institution and stages regular Saturday and bank holiday race days from November to March. Take a punt and head for the track for a colourful spectacle and a great day out.

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary

For anyone with a few extra days to spend in Kolkata, this wildlife sanctuary in the foothills of the Himalayas offers an unforgettable trip. Spread across a lush, varied landscape, the Jaldapara reserve is notable for its large colony of one-horned Indian rhinos. Alongside these impressive beasts, you’ll also get the chance to see Royal Bengal tigers, Indian elephants and bison.

Eat and Drink in Park Street

Park Street has long been the epicentre of Kolkata’s thriving restaurant and bar scene. While upstart entertainment hotspots have begun to muscle in on the scene, Park Street still remains ‘the street that never sleeps.’ Combining a pleasing cocktail of colonial architecture and Indian flamboyance, bars like Aqua, Someplace Else in the Park Hotel and the Roxy buzz late into the night.

Grand Designs

Kolkata is quite rightly renowned for its epic edifices. Here you can wander the streets and ogle at some sensational structures. The domed Victoria Memorial is redolent of the Raj, while the peaceful Belur Math and modern Birla Temple offer a glimpse of Hindu worship. Spanning the Hoogly river, the Howrah Bridge is one of the wonders of the bridge-building world and in the top ten longest cantilevers on the planet.

Take a Tram Ride

You may get to your destination quicker on foot, but a jaunt on a Kolkata tram is highly recommended. These colourful cabins clatter through the crowded streets on the last remaining tram system in India. They are so revered that in 2015 the Calcutta Tramways Company, which has been operating since 1902, launched a bid for world heritage status which, if granted, will ensure their survival for decades to come.

Kolkata