Kolkata (Calcutta) Travel Answers

Hi Without a doubt the most fun hotel in Kolkata (especially tomeet people and fellow travellers) is the Fairlawn Hotel. It is also the most interesting place to be. I have a review of the Fairlawn Hotel on my KOLKATA page (link is on my homepage) You would absolutely have to book your train trip in advance. (Rajdani Express is good).Leaves from main Delhi station. Street food is everywhere in Kolkata-but choose carefully. Park Street has great eateries. On my Kolkata page I have listed under 'things to do' tips that may help you. Its a fascinating and vibrant city.

i was in Kolkatta for a month last xmas. wander park street thereis hotel Zeeshan (any taxi driver wil get u there) and near zeeshan u will get yummy chicken roles. Go at Strand and have a ride in small fisher boat in hubali river (just in 150 bucks - 3). Go and feel the spirit of st. Paul's cathedral and Victoria palace. actually Kolkata is full of fun.. especially food. also visit new-market area.. for some shopping purpose. have fun lady! and let me know how do ya find it.

Dear friend, Enjoy your trip in India:).. If you would like to book cheaper hotel/flight & train, visit this online website, www.cleartrip.com...i usually booked my hotel & flight ticket from this website. Regarding train ticket for Kolkata from Delhi, it will be better for you to book in advance, otherwise you might not get the seat and will feel inconvenient on this regard. love n smile..vivek

Hi I can suggest you a good company which will take care of all ur needs - www.thegreatindianadventure.com - they are a group of young professionals who were extremely helpful and unlike other travel companies they dint stress me out with anything! The GITC staff will help u in your hotel bookings and serve your travel needs according to your budget.... I personally dealt with the company for some hotel, rail, flight and taxi bookings in India - the attendants were very attentive and helpful. They definitely are much more efficient than other agents that I tried before and are generally very responsive. The best part is they have contacts all over the country (India) and also offices abroad and they are based in Delhi. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone! Best Mandhira Naidu India

hey, its nice to someone who's coming to our city..well let me tell U u are in for a big ride i mean theres a lot to offer in here...culture food art..u just name it...well i am from kolkata only and i wuld be my pleasure to show u around..well mainly plp live near to park street which is the center of the city..u can find a lot of travellers there and its a gud place to wind-up... well around tht area u have some very famous eatery which are just delicious and a lot of street food..well if u want to do some yoga then i can arrange for it.. well it wuld be better to book a ticket in advance because this is a rush season..u better book a train from rajdhani it leaves delhi airport @ 4 p.m and reach kolkata by 9 a.m.... Well looking forward to hear from U.. Bye Ashish

hey, its nice to someone who's coming to our city..well let me tell U u are in for a big ride i mean theres a lot to offer in here...culture food art..u just name it...well i am from kolkata only and i wuld be my pleasure to show u around..well mainly plp live near to park street which is the center of the city..u can find a lot of travellers there and its a gud place to wind-up... well around tht area u have some very famous eatery which are just delicious and a lot of street food..well if u want to do some yoga then i can arrange for it.. well it wuld be better to book a ticket in advance because this is a rush season..u better book a train from rajdhani it leaves delhi airport @ 4 p.m and reach kolkata by 9 a.m.... Well looking forward to hear from U.. Bye Ashish

Hi Hattie, I went thru' your question in detail. I shall recommend you to stay at Fairlawn, as suggested by my friend Lynne. It's really nice and cool place with European style facilities. Once, you stay there you shall realize why it is recommended by both of us. Otherwise, in Sudder Street area there are several back packer's hotels ranging from US$2 to US$10. There are also several small and mid range hotels in that area like hotel Shalimar, Hotel Lytton, Hotel Prince on Marquize street etc. i shall also recommend you to spend little time on my Kolkata page, you shall get enough material for your seven night's stay. There is a river cruise show with live band on the river Ganges every Saturday/ Sunday and holidays for one hour. It starts from Millenium Jetty, on Strand Road ( you can see it from Howrah station). There are two shows 5.30 and 6.30 pm and if there is enough people they extend the third show. Besides this there are several cultural programs going on in Kolkata at this time of the year. You may go thr' Time of India for details. There is one Yoga school at Sarat Bose Road ( old Lansdowne Road)at the junction of Southern Avenue ( Next to Silver Oak restaurant), you may try that.The place is in South Kolkata. I dont' recall the name right now but shall check. You may try Kolkata, street food but be safe. In case this reply is helpful please let me know or you may write to me in VT. I stay in Kolkata.

Dear Hattie, There are a few along Sudder Street / Kyd street where most of the western people stay. Choose from them. There is YWCA too. My friends uncle owns a very well renowned Yoga center (last 20 years) near Kakurgachi...If you are interested I can find out his number. You may work out the details with him for an introductory week's course (about 1 hour a day). If you would like to sample street food try out the road side lunch hour vendors near : Dacres Lane BBD Bagh Park Street / Jawaharlal Nehru Road Crossing. Do Always carry your own water. From Delhi the charges of Flight / A.C. 3tier train would be a difference of only 15 USD, if booked early.So I suggest taking the flight to save 15 hours of travel. If needed I can provide you the link for the Others must do should be 1. A visit to Nandan/cultural area ..enjoy some good food/ culture meas and other Addas. 2. A visit to Babughat for a boat ride over the ganges -- Be aware of tricksters/ unscrupulous boatmen 3. A visit to Dakshinehwar / Belur Math (Hindu Temple and spiritual Place) 4. Digha - a seaside tourist attraction 180 Kms from Kolkata 5. Villages and a completely diff experience of mingling with the common agrarians. If required, let me know and I can fix up someone to help you out while your stay. Thanks, Samit Also.. from Delhi is it best to book the train in advance (on say the 24th NOvember?) Or should i just rock up at the train station ? (which Delhi train station?) any other must dos in Kolkata while I am there? sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance for any help! Hattie

Samitbabu- the original poster has long ago been to Kolkata.........Nov 2009. Your reply is good, though. You could maybe make a page on Kolkata?