Kolkata Holidays

Charming, cultured and chaotic in equal measure, Kolkata is bursting at the seams with warmth and energy. Three centuries ago, what became the capital of the Raj was just a bare-bones East India Company trading post on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. But over the next 200 years, it grew into one of the empire’s leading ports, a boom town that attracted fortune-seekers from around the world.

You'll find tangible reminders of this cosmopolitan, colonial past in historic districts such as BBD Bagh – aka Dalhousie Square – with its wedding-cake Victorian edifices and in the synagogues, churches and Chinatown in the warren of narrow streets to its north. But much of the unique spirit of the ‘City of Joy’ lies in the things you can’t see, from its reputation for producing much-garlanded poets and writers to its vibrant culinary, art, film and classical music scenes. In this intellectual hub, there’s even a special word for long, free-flowing conversations about everything and nothing much in particular at the same time.

Our destination gurus can help you make sense of Kolkata by sorting out the most characterful accommodation and putting you in touch with the locals who understand it better than anyone.