Kolkata In 24 Hours: What To Eat, Where To Go And More – Explore The City In A Day

Kolkata rightly referred to as the ‘City of Joy’, is known for its rich history, culture, and heritage. The documented history of the city begins with the arrival of Job Charnock on behalf of the British East India Company in 1690. However, anthropologists believe that the region was inhabited for at least a thousand years which adds to the versatility of the place. That’s not all. Over the years, we have seen immigration of various communities in the city, leaving a huge impact on its overall characteristics. All these add to the mysticism of Kolkata, making it a great destination for exploration. In this article, we have curated a customised guide for you to make the most of the city in just 24 hours. So, without further ado, let’s get going.

24 Hours In Kolkata: The Ultimate Food And Destination Guide To Explore The City:

Stop 1. 5am Chinese breakfast at Tiretti Bazar (approx. 2 hours):

Did you know that Kolkata gave birth to the cuisine that we relish as desi-Chinese (or Indo-Chinese) today? Having settled in Kolkata as early as the 1780s, the Chinese-Indian population has historically played a major role in defining the city’s food culture. And proof of the same is the Chinese-Indian breakfast they serve, especially at the morning market in Tiretti Bazar. The entrance to the market is dominated by fresh vegetables and fish, but once you enter the lane, the magic begins. You will find people sitting on the sides of the streets, selling fresh homemade sausages, momos, fish ball soup, noodle soup, wonton, pork rolls, and more.

The market opens as early as 5-5.30 in the morning and gets closed by 8.30 am. However, the timing may vary on Sundays. So, we suggest getting to the place by 6 am to start your day on an indulgent note.

Address: 23/1, Chatawala Lane, Near Poddar Court, Tiretti

How to reach Tiretti Bazar breakfast place: The closest metro station is Central Metro station. You need to take the Poddar Court exit and then, it is a five-minute walk from there. But we suggest taking a bus or cab early in the morning to reach your destination easily.

Stop 2. Explore College Street (approx 3-4 hours):

Once you are done by with the authentic Chinese breakfast, it’s time to explore the city. Walk to the nearest bus stop and take a bus to the famous College Street to soak in the old charm of Kolkata.

Option 1. Start with a coffee break at The Indian Coffee House:

After a wholesome breakfast, it’s time for your morning coffee and what better to enjoy it with a slice of history. Located in the hustling lanes of College Street, the thriving ‘Coffee House’ was established in the city in 1876. And since then, the place has been welcoming thousands of students, intellects, office goers and people from different walks of life to enjoy their brew, good discussions and those high ceilings that tells the tale of rich and prosperous Kolkata (the then Calcutta). We suggest having the classic ‘infusion’ or ‘cold coffee’.

Address: 15, Bankim Chatterjee Street, College Square West

Option 2. Walk down the lanes:

After a coffee break, start exploring the lanes of College Street – the book hub of Kolkata. From the latest edition of your favourite author to the curated copies of long lost treasures, you can find it all at College Street. In fact, it won’t be an exageration to say that this place is the ultimate destination for every bookworm across the globe. However, most of these book stalls remain closed on Sundays.

What adds on to the beauty are the old school architectures and buildings, situated on both the sides of the streets – a perfect destination to enjoy some nature and landscape photography. And yes, do not miss out on some of the oldest education establishments of India – Presidency College, Hindu School, Sanskrit College – which are also located in College Street.

Option 3. Refreshment at Paramount:

You are surely tired by now. So, we suggest taking a break and enjoying some refreshing sharbat at Paramount. Founded in 1918, this place has been selling just sherbat for more than a century now – daab sharbat being the most popular drink on their menu. According to multiple reports, the owners of Paramount state that the recipe of the drink was given to the founder by eminent Indian chemist and educator Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy. He encouraged the founder of Paramount – Nihar Ranjan Majumdar – to sell this concoction at a pocket-friendly price. Since then, it has become a popular choice for people across Kolkata. Besides the refreshing drinks, what will surely charm you is the old-school setup and a board with names of the famous personalities who were patrons of Paramount. Hint: you will find names of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and filmmaker Satyajit Ray on the board.

Address: 1,1, Bankim Chatterjee Street, B.C. Street, College Square

How to reach College Street: The nearest metro station is Central Metro Station. Take the college street exit and then a bus that will drop you at the destination in not even five minutes. And then, walk around. You can even walk from Tiretti bazar to college street – the distance between the two is around 800-meter.

Stop 3. The afternoon indulgence (approx 1-2 hours):

It’s time for a wholesome Bengali meal – afterall, you are in Kolkata! We suggest ditching the fancy restaurants and enjoy the authenticity of the city at the renowned pice hotels and small-sized eateries.

Option 1. Swadhin Bharat Hindu Hotel:

We understand, you are super hungry after all the explorations at College Street. Hence, we got you the nearest food destination to hit. Located near the Presidency College, this place was founded by Man Gobindo Ponda in 1927. Besides the quintessential dal, fish and meat, this place offers more than 25 types of vegetarian dishes, impressing the veg patrons to the core. Food here is served on simple stainless steel plates, with banana leaf on the top. The setup is basic and homely, but the food you will get there can easily give the best of the restaurants a run for money.

Address: 8/2, Bhawani Dutta Lane, below Raja Guest House, Calcutta University, College Square