Things to do & places to visit in West Bengal, India

West Bengal #12 destination in India 2023. The average rating score is 4.28 based on 53.6k traveler reviews, of 483 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Kolkata, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 6:26.

West Bengal Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

101°F - 80°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Very warm with a gentle breeze

Feels like

14%

Chance of rain

118.0 millimeters

Amount

12.6 mph

Wind speed

62%

Humidity

13.2

Daylight length

4:57 AM

Sunrise

6:10 PM

Sunset

53%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt

What to wear

Top things to do (28)

Top destinations in West Bengal 33

See more 21 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Sandakphu (206 reviews)
- Sandakphu Trip
Friday: 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Mountains

We stayed at Hotel Sunrise on 30th and 31st December , 2019. The experience was just awesome. The hotel was awesome, Location was awesome, food was awesome. The overall management was just flawless on the altitude of approx 12000 ft.The most big thing was the Owner Mr. Tsering Sherpa and his wife and Subhasji are most cooperative and energetic persons at this hotel. Rest of staffs were also perfect . We had a great time at the end of 2019. Happy New Year Hotel Sunrise and Thanks to all of the staffs for your generous hospitality. God bless you all. See more..
4.5 Victoria Memorial Hall (4.661 reviews) from $62.58
- A monumental memorial
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

Kudos to the authorities for the maintenance of this mammoth structure and the calming well maintained gardens and water features around it. One can purchase a ticket to enter the garden area only and enjoy the duck ponds, shady trees and benches. The flower beds are beautifully maintained as well. The structure looks fresh and almost brand new, the inside exhibition was well put together and in theme (we visited around 15 August). Pick a map of Kolkata and postcards from the seller, to send to family and friends on your way out of the gardens. See more..
4.5 Dakshineswar Kali Temple (2.946 reviews)
- Huge Cosmic Energy flowing at this place
Friday: 5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

Mobiles and footwear not allowed, hence better to leave them in your car or any shop at the 'Dala arcade', from where you buy dala or offerings for Kali Maa. Security is now strict and people then have to queue up to enter the temple premises. Once we enter the temple our mind changes to go up in sync to the Energy, left behind by the many eminent monks that continuously stayed/visited this place. They include Ramakrishna, Bijoykrishno, Vivekananda amongst others. Initially there will be Radha Krishna temple on our left, then the main Kali temple. There are two queues to have darshan of Kali Maa. Better to take the one that sees Maa from the front. On reaching Maa face to face, need to keep eyes open and take in everything. Darshan will be short unless one is a vip. Next come down and from the 'Natmandir' (now under renovation) sit, close your eyes and speak with Kali Maa whatever you wish to. There are 12 Shiv lingas besides the Ganga. Before or after visiting them, have a wash in the cool waters of the Ganga. There is also the room where Ramkrishna Paramhansa stayed. It is a must visit as this is the room great men visited and great teachings/discussions took place. Next to visit is Sarada Maa's home. Also need to visit 'Panchabati' where SRi Ramkrishna had meditated. See more..
4.5 Howrah Bridge (2.626 reviews)
- Timeless Beauty
Bridges

If you are visiting India and especially Kolkata, you just cannot miss this timeless beauty and the iconic wonder of the world called Howrah Bridge. Anytime is a good time to visit the ghats or the river banks and enjoy the beauty of this wonder of the world. If you can, try to to take one of the boat rides to witness evening Arati or the magnificent lamp lighting over the Ganges and it's reflections in an offering to the higher reality. As the say in "mono kautha hobe nah" or it's best to just zip your lips when you are here and feel this wondrous structure! See more..
4.5 Park Street (2.090 reviews)
- Walking Down a Lane of Legacy!!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Walking on this street takes you to a time travel where you witness something that has remained as one of the India's most happening streets for more than a century. There are still some restaurants and pubs that are being run by Anglo Indian families since the time of the British Raj. There are lot of food and shopping options and all the major attractions of the city are very near to this place. See more..
4.5 Mother House (1.586 reviews)
- Peaceful
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

This was the house where Mother Teresa lived & served, and where today she’s entombed. Entry is free. I was shown to Mother’s tomb where I sat awhile & brooded over her life. The entire Mother House & specially the tomb room are peaceful; you can hear your own heartbeat. Next to the tomb room is a small museum named ‘Mother Teresa’s Life, Spirit and Message’. Here you see & read through displays of Mother Teresa’s enamel dinner-bowl, crucifix, handwritten letters etc. Then climb the stairs to view the Mother’s Room, i.e., the room Mother Teresa occupied. Its small size will amaze you. Note that photographs are allowed only at Mother Teresa’s tomb and of her statue. See more..
4.5 Eden Gardens (1.351 reviews)
- Largest Cricket Ground In india
Arenas & Stadiums

Worth watching IPL matches. In case possible take lounge or stand club stand. You will love the atmosphere. You can also go inside and have a glimpse certain days. Outside food and drinks not allowed. Quality of food is below average litterally local taste. See more..
4.5 Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (1.339 reviews)
- For Mountaineering Students But..
Speciality Museums • Educational sites

Just at the end of the zoo, one can find the HMI Darjeeling and there is no entry fee for this. You will find a statue of Tenzing Norge and a Museum. This place is mainly for aspiring Students interested in Mountaineering and we found a group of young boys and girls just completed a training and waiting for their certificate. Tourists can try four types of adventure games for total Rs 100/- which we did and it was great. There is a eating place inside to have food which is quite good. We had Darjeeling tea with French fries which was fantastic considering the chill outside. Altogether, you will love this. See more..
4.5 Belur Math (1.285 reviews)
- Calm and serene temple
Friday: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Religious Sites

$Belur Math image$
The headquarters of the international Ramakrishna Order. See more..
4.5 Japanese Peace Pagoda (1.103 reviews)
- Very serene
Religious Sites

Mere 10 minutes from Darjeeling city, on the slopes of the Jalapahar hills, you will come across this peaceful abode. The Peace Pagodas designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds to help unite them in their search for world peace. Just loved the inner sanctum - such calmness and peace. Very beautiful place! See more..
4.5 Kanchenjunga Mountain (1.026 reviews)
- Breathtaking view
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Mountains

Just came down to plains and missing Kanchenjunga। Weather remains bit unpredictable but whenever there is no cloud Kanchanjunga with mesmerize you with its beauty। Morning around 5.30-6am it wears a golden overcoat.. then it starts dressing up in her white gown as the sun comes up. I just felt like sitting and staring at its beauty. I was lucky enough to be there during Holi ....so I even got lucky to witness the full moon above the kanchenjunga. It's a lifetime experience for me See more..
4.5 Eco Tourism Park (941 reviews)
- A pleasant surprise at the Eco Park!
Friday: 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Parks

Eco Park is certainly a wonderful place to spend the day with the family. Probably better to visit in the late afternoon when it is less humid. We visited the 7 wonders of the world with our young children and found it to be a nice evening stroll as we imagined ourselves travelling around the world to see these UNESCO heritage sites. The surrounding offers some green space with some play equipment for the children. There were a few carts and shops that offer food and drinks. The toilets were gross so be prepared to bring toilet paper and lots of hand hand sanitiser. The park is huge, we didn’t get to see the butterfly park, toy train, cycling and many more other activities that were available there. See more..
4.5 College Street (Boi Para) (826 reviews)
- If you have the energy, go for it. Stock your books.
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The places has changed & become much more crowded from when I last visited it many years back. If you have the energy to rummage your way through narrow footpaths, please visit & pick up books at very cheap rate. You can visit some old stores such as Dasgupta & co., for legacy sake. If you're interested in reading english translations of Bengali literature you can find that too, just ask for it.There are stalls on footpaths as well as proper bookstores. See more..
4.5 Deolo Hill (558 reviews)
- Deolo hill
Points of Interest & Landmarks

When searched for places of interest in Kalimpong,Deolo hill feature in the top. On clear day it provide 360 degree panoramic view of Kalimpong town as well as snow clad mountain peak. However we have visited in cloudy day, so we couldn’t got any view. At the top of the hill beautiful Deolo tourist lodge is there and adjacent to the tourist lodge there is a huge beautiful landscape garden was built for recreation purposes which is open for local people as well as tourists @20 rupees per head. Horse riding is there for kid. Interested people can do paragliding also. Outside the park there are few eateries although I didn’t checked into those eateries so I can’t comment on food quality and other aspects. Recommended in clear weather. See more..
4.5 South Park Street Cemetery (540 reviews)
- My favourite cemetery.
Cemeteries

This was my third visit here. The graves are so interesting so make time to read a lot of head stones. They have their own nursery inside now and are producing heaps of colourful plants. They have a lot more gardeners now and the place is looking good. If you go after 3.30pm it turns into "lover's lane" young Indian couples everywhere. See more..
4.5 Birla Temple (481 reviews)
- Visit at Aarti Time
Religious Sites

The Birla Mandir is built in a contemporary style & has three impressive shikhars. Shlokas & pictorial depictions from the Bhagavad Gita are engraved on the marble walls. All the idols inside – Radha Krishna, Shiv, Durga, Shakti, Hanuman, Ganesh, Dashavtars – are bewitching! Visit at the time of the aarti. Note – Photography is prohibited inside. Cell phones have to be switched off. The shoe counter is located at the bottom of the stairs. See more..
4.5 Jorasanko Thakur Bari (328 reviews)
- Jorasanko Thakurbari - Legendary poets home
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

Located in the northern fringes of the city of Kolkata is a place where Rabindranath Tagore was born.the place has magnificent collection of artefacts that are related to Tagore clans and especially Rabindranath Tagore. A very peaceful and clean place. A must visit for anyone coming to Kolkata. See more..
4.5 Quest Mall (328 reviews)
- High street Retail
Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Shopping Malls

Every large city has a High street Retail to boast off and this mall is Kolkata’s answer to the likes of UB City , Bengaluru or Palladium , Mumbai. The security measures in place to maintain overall hygiene and safety protocols during Covid are in place. I found the security taking special care to disperse crowd gathering together in a group with a smile and politeness. The mall boasts of brands like Michael Korea, Coach, Gucci etc. Some of the items are way beyond affordability of common folks but that doesn’t stops you from checking out isn’t it ? Pls go and browse across the stores to give yourself a happy kick of Retail therapy. Importantly there are enough food outlets where you can afford to eat so it’s a good day outing in the right temperature in the city of joy too. Go and enjoy ! See more..
4.5 Mahakal Temple (306 reviews)
- Peaceful and calm environment with rhythmic chimes
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites

Pros: 1. Nice and well maintained 2. Very clean 3. Beautiful atmosphere early morning with rhythmic chimes. 4. Priest take care of the puja for sufficient time. Cons: 1. Slight challenge for elderly as one has to do a steep climb for 5 mins though a very short distance. Inclination around 40 degrees, but the road are concrete and paved. Note: Those who plan to offer puja, can collect the items for Rs 10/20 from the shop once you climb the road and reach the landing at the entrance. See more..
4.5 Hazarduari Palace Museum (242 reviews)
- Time travel
Friday: Speciality Museums

The palace as named has indeed numerous doors. But many of them are false. However, the name palace associated with the name does not signify that it had few zamindars or nawabs to stay there. Actually, this building was built by the British to camafledge their intention of strengthening their footings in Bengal. They dramatised the rulings of justice by a nominated nawab who imparted their ruling in front of masjid which apparently created the confusion that the nawab is following the rule of justice. But actually he passed the dictum of the British only. But the building is majestic in appearance and housed many beautiful paintings along with few articles which were used by the nawab families over a great period of time. As a whole the travel reveals a lot of untold stories. See more..
4.5 Rabindra Sarovar (242 reviews)
- Clean, green, peaceful
Bodies of Water

This beautiful stretch of green in the heart of south kolkata is easy but just on the eye but also on the feet. One of the few places in the city where people can go to walk safely (& not pay a fee) while they breathe easy. It’s lush, green and the view of the lake too, is spectacular. At this time of the year, one gets to see a wide variety or migratory birds too, so making it even more special. There are different points of entry and exit and also timings for walking. The park closes for the day at 6pm See more..
4.5 Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (205 reviews)
- Good place to bring young kids
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Speciality Museums • Science Museums

Please visit this place if you have school-going children. All the info are available in their website, including timings, fees, programs, etc. If you reside in Kolkata, try to enrol your kid to one of their many summer programs. See more..
4.5 ISKCON Mayapur (181 reviews)
- Amazed at the purity of the place
Religious Sites

Travel to Mayapur and Nabadwip and be amazed with the purity of the place. You can easily spend one day in Iskon Mayapur. Iskon provides accomodation which are booked well in advance. We stayed at the gada bhavan which was the epicenter of the whole iskon complex, with bhog served during lunch and dinner both. Evening are well spent in the temple seeing the aarati. The next morning we walked from iskon to the ferry ghat. Enjoy the street shops and the 20-30minutes walk to the ferry ghat. There are both ferry and boats which ply frequently and takes you to Nabadwip. We reserved a Toto which takes you to a bunch of religious places for Rs 250-300. Spent a good 3 hours in nabadwip. See more..
4.0 Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (2.054 reviews)
- Must visit in your Darjeeling Trip
Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Zoos

Darjeeling Trip is practically incomplete without a visit to the zoo, especially if you are travelling with kids. The best attraction is no doubt the red panda. Its an absolute delight to spot these cute creatures in their enclosures. There are colorful birds in the aviary. The Tiger and Snow leopard is also an added attraction. This time we found that the security was checking that everyone wears a mask. There was no check on total people entering, which should be controlled during this time. See more..
4.0 Tiger Hill (1.813 reviews)
- Absolutely crowded, and still worth it.
Lookouts

We walked up from Jorebungalow. Recommend this only if you start at 4:00 am, to be ahead of the endless rush of fume and dust spewing jeeps. Thousands at the top, with huge viewing structure useable, but still under construction. Interestingly, while we were focused on the High Himalaya views, most were focused on the sunrise to the east. So photo ops easier for us. After the thousands rushed out to the next stop on the jeep tour, the walk down was absolutely beautiful in solitude. See more..
4.0 Batasia Loop (1.163 reviews)
- Fabulous experience
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Feel that the location must be watched from above when trains run through the real loops. Better experience was when we were outside the train on land. A patriotic site with excellent panoramic views and many photo chances too. Must visit.... See more..
4.0 Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar) (996 reviews)
- The Life of Buddha in Indian Art
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Natural History Museums • History Museums

I am a staunch believer in Buddhist philosophy. Quite recently I attended the exhibition titled - Indian Buddhist Art, organized by The Indian Museum in Kolkata. The exhibition illustrated the inspiring life of Gautam Buddha and why he left his heritage and riches in search of true enlightenment. The reason I appreciate Buddhism is because it focuses on building inner peace, rather than controlling external chaos. Even though this exhibition was a limited-time event, experiencing it virtually was immersive and true to life. I would recommend this Virtual tour to anyone who wants to get a deeper insight into Buddhism. See more..
4.0 Metro Railway (987 reviews)
- Great and Easy Way to Commute
Public Transportation Systems

We were very happy with the Kolkata metro. It can be somewhat crowded in rush hour times, but it brings you to the right place without getting stuck in traffic. The drawback is that you have to buy per trip a token, instead of having a pre-paid card system. In rush hour, the ticket counter can be very busy and there is a long Indian "line". See more..
4.0 Mandarmani Beach (880 reviews)
- Excellent beach Mandarmani
Beaches • Beach & Pool Clubs

Mandarmani beach is very attractive place for nature lover. If you want to enjoy with your family, this is the point which will give you maximum enjoyment. In my view August- September is the best time to come Mandarmani beach and book a beachside hotel which has private access to the beach. Seven km long beach has full of hotels. Every details are not possible here but I have enjoyed 4 days at the beach and can tell you that I never enjoyed other beaches in India as I have visited Puri, Digha, Rushikonda, Marina, Kovalam, Varkala, Alappuzha, Murdeshwar, Agonda etc. See more..
4.0 New Market (809 reviews)
- Must visit
Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Flea & Street Markets

New Market is not your regular mall though it has everything you need. There building itself is beautiful. The shops here sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to great souvenirs at competitive prices. Yes it’s crowded and not very posh, but one thing is for certain - This place has soul See more..