Top Things to do in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Top Restaurants in Kolkata (Calcutta)
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Top 10 Museums in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal
This former British colonial stronghold boasts evidence of over two millennia of habitation, with ornate, architecturally diverse buildings, ranging from crumbing ruins to Victorian treasures. Home to lively festivals and a vibrant artistic community, clamorous markets and packed temples, this city is crowded and polluted, but ultimately invigorating.
Restaurants in Kolkata (Calcutta)
1. M P Birla Planetarium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Dr_Vimal_Saradava - Rajkot, India
Kids loved the show very much. There are different shows in different languages of Bengali, Hindi and English. We showed 2 p.m. Hindi show. 30 minute show will be loved by children and adult both. Ideal time to spare there is approximate one hour. Nearby attraction is Victoria Memorial, which is at walking distance of 5-10 minutes, where you can spend 1-2 hours.
2. Rabindra Bharati University Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By adityainc
The museum is one of the finest in the city which offers great collection of literary stuff which must be experienced.
3. Victoria Memorial Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,599 reviews
Reviewed By neelamlegal - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
A beautiful building built in the British era surrounded by endless green well maintained gardens interspersed with small water bodies will lift the hearts of everyone. The children can enjoy the endless gardens while the grown ups can add to the experience by visiting the museum. If u are visiting from another city make sure to keep a full day aside for a complete experience.
4. CIMA Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
5. Tagore House
6. Birla Industrial & Technological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By atulya_sinha - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, established in 1959, is the oldest science and technology museum of the city. The building was originally the residence of Raja Baldeo Birla (1863-1956) and it was donated to the Government by his heirs for setting up museum. Now a new wing has been constructed perpendicular to the original three-storied building and some exhibits are displayed outdoors as well. There is a well-maintained garden, where statues of great scientists have been installed. In addition to basic physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, electricity, electronics etc., there are galleries devoted to technologies such as television, motive power, transport, metals, etc. A special feature is a mock-up of a coal mine. There is a dedicated gallery for children as well. There are several small auditoriums, where documentary films are regularly screened. As a mechanical engineer, I was particularly interested in the motive power and transport galleries, both of which have rich collections. The latter includes a narrow gauge steam locomotive and a vintage car which belonged to Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose, the eminent scientist. The exhibits are generally well-maintained and efforts are made to improve them from time to time. For example, the interactive exhibits which were operated by touching a button are now modified to be activated without any physical contact. The museum is visitor-friendly and their website is quite informative. Parking facility is available inside the compound, but there is a separate charge for it. Washrooms are well-maintained
7. Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda's Ancestral House and Cultural Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By traveliswhereyougeto - Mumbai, India
The house of Swami Vivekananda creates peace and awe in equal measure. Restored from a practically dilapidated structure this has been immaculately restored to what it may have been when Swamiji lived here. During the restoration process, the original map of the house was obtained from the archives of the Calcutta High Court. It was bulit in mid 1800 and stands strong till today! Visitors can see the room where he was born, the prayer room with shiva linga where his mother used to pray for a child, the room where she read out the Ramayana to him (the original document has been preserved in a glass case for over 150 years), the thakur dalan (where family pujas were held) which was the most difficult structure during the entire restoration process. One cannot miss the beatifully restored red floors so typical of bengali homes in yesteryears. Swamiji's pictures in San Francisco and Chicago have also been displayed. There are audio visuals as well for the interested visitor. Overall, a very fulfilling experience in the house of a thinker, a reformer and a preacher, whose influence extended to the global stage.
8. Netaji Bhawan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By abhisheksengupta2006 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Netaji Bhawab in the ancestral house of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. This is a nostalgic place for all Indians. This the place from where Bose planned his "The Great Escape. This can be easily reached. Nearest metro station is Rabindra Sadan. Nearest Bus stand is Elgin Road. App cabs - Ola and Uber - is available readily. It has collection of best writings by Netaji. Good to see the siting room and bed room of Netaji. Bed room is the place from where he planned his Great Escape. Best to see is The Wanderer - BLA 7169 - The car in which Netaji Escaped from Kolkata to Gomoh as first phase of escape. One more thing worth mentioning is INA Cap of Netaji This is well maintained and must see for all.
9. Kolkata Tram Museum Smaranika
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Avishek_Banerjee - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Kolkata has a long association with tramways. It is the oldest operating electric tramways in Asia. It is evodent that such a city will preserve its heritage in a museum. Smaranika is a humble approac to do so. Inaugurated in 2014, Smaranika, the tram museum in Kolkata is the brainchild of CTC to preserve the fading history and heritage of tram in Kolkata. The small museum and café is located deep inside Esplanade CTC Depot, very close to the shopping district but away from the chaos of moving traffic. Interestingly the museum has no separate building, but has been thoughtfully housed in an actual retired rolling stock. The particular tram was built in 1938 and belonged to the Bombay Fleet of trams. It has been refurbished at the Nonapukur Workshop in Kolkata, retaining the wooden vintage look of the car. Of the two bogies of the car, the first one is a small café while the second bogie houses the museum and the exhibits.
10. Aakriti Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Aakriti Art Gallery began its journey in the first decade of the new millennium and geared up an evolution in the modern and contemporary art in India. For nearly a decade, Aakriti has showcased some of the unique and finest exhibitions of modern and contemporary art in India building up a gateway of Indian art in the world market. It has constantly hosted workshops, art camps, talk shows and seminar and made a landmark success in promoting Indian contemporary art at the global level. Aakriti Art Gallery presently operates from two places – one gallery is in Kolkata and the other is in New Delhi. Keeping with the latest trends of the art market, Aakriti has come up with best solutions for a wider audience of fine arts from traditional paintings, sculptures, printmaking, and graphics to new media like conceptual art, video art, installations and experimental art and started an online art shop where a buyer can opt to select and buy a piece of modern and contemporary art of his or her choice from a variety of collections. Aakriti Art Gallery since its inception has been instrumental in promoting the upcoming artists and newer generation art works. The whole idea of ‘Gen Next’ exhibitions profusely dealing with contemporary art of India as well reaching out to young artists from different corners of the globe happens to be exclusively Aakriti Art Gallery’s brainchild, which has revolutionized the concept of looking at contemporary art in the new millennium and given birth to a new generation of groundbreaking contemporary artists who are doing extremely well in the art world. Authentic and original art by the Indian modern masters like Jogen Chowdhury, Satish Gujral, Kartick Pyne, Partha Pratim Deb and many others are available with the gallery and can be directly collected from different exhibitions the gallery hosts from time to time or can be purchased from home through online. In the list of groundbreaking contemporary artists, Aarkriti Art Gallery has largely showcased the works of Sekhar Roy, Samindranath Majumdar, Akhil Chanra Das, Sunil Deb, Amitava Dhar and from the new generation artists - the names are Sagar Bhoumik, Rajesh Deb, Sourav Jana, Nantu Behari Das, Priyanka Lahiri, Partha Guin and many others. One can always come across their works and experience their aesthetic beauty whenever they visit in any of the galleries of Aakriti in Kolkata or New Delhi. And if someone happens to miss it in the exhibition/s, then just browse it online and make the best deal just sitting at home. The concept of ‘Affordable Art’ is very much an in-thing and Aakriti Art Gallery once again vouches on providing the best of contemporary and modern art works to its audience and collectors/buyers at the most convenient and affordable price. To make them readily available to the collectors, Aakriti has concentrated and devised easier ways to make the sale and purchase through online art shop available in the online galleries apart from direct sales from the galleries’ physical sites. Buy Art Online is the simplest trading mechanism, Aakriti is providing to its collectors and viewers where you can make the best of your deals, also bid and buy in the form of auction/s with full faith and conviction with every transparency of authenticity in each deal made.
Reviewed By SatataM - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Aakriti Art Gallery is one of the most popular gallery in Kolkata. Art lovers have the option to buy modern and contemporary art paintings from an online art shop too.
