Kolkata tour in private car with guide & lunch for immersive cultural experience
Overview
The City of Joy Experience is a day tour where guests will discover why Kolkata is indeed the City of Joy. The experience commences at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the founder of British Kolkata and covers St Johns Church, the iconic Writers Building, the magnificent Governor’s house, Shahid Minar, India’s oldest museum and the legendary Victoria Memorial. The experience fittingly ends after a scenic 3-hour cruise over the River Ganges.
Inclusions
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Private car
- Entry/Admission - Job Charnock Cemetery
- Entry/Admission - Writers' Building
- Entry/Admission - Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar)
- Entry/Admission - St. John's Church
- Entry/Admission - Howrah Bridge
- Entry/Admission - Victoria Memorial Hall
- Entry/Admission - Raj Bhavan
- Entry/Admission - Shaheed Minar
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Job Charnock Cemetery, H8CW+77G, Church Ln, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
8AM- Hotel Pick up
We will start at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock the founder of modern Kolkata. In 1690 Charnock bought the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata from Bengal Subedar Azim Usman and over time Kokata became the capital of East India Company. A recent High Court ruling has discredited him as the founder of Kolkata after looking at evidence of the existence of the city in earlier times!
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: St. John's Church, 2/2 Council House Street Opp Dewars Garage, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
We will visit St John’s Church which was built in 1787 by architect James Agg. This majestic stone and brick structure became the principal Cathedral of Calcutta in 1815. A highlight of his Church is the “Last Supper” painting on its walls.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Writers' Building, BBD Bagh N Dalhousie Square, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
Our next destination is the iconic Writers Building which had a very humble beginning. Built in 1777, it was meant for the lower bureaucracy of East India Company. Today this Greco-Roman masterpiece is the seat of the West Bengal state government. Our guide will narrate to you all the landmark events which took place in India’s freedom struggle with the Writers Building as the backdrop. We will see this building from outside.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Raj Bhavan, Near Sahid Minar, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
The Governor’s House is a remarkable building which was built for Marquess of Wellesley who came to Kolkata as the Governor General of East India Company in 1798 and found his rented accommodation unsuitable! Built in 1803 by the famous English architect Charles Wyatt, the Governor’s House follows a Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones. The building became the residence of the Viceroy of India after the Crown took over the reins of India from East India Company. Today it serves as the office and residence of the Governor of the state of West Bengal and hence we will see it from outside.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Shaheed Minar, Dharmtalla, bus stop, Dufferin Rd, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700069, India
The Shaheed Minar was built in 1848 with a blend of Egyptian, Syrian and Turkish design styles. Originally it was called the Ochterlony Monument and was built to honour Major General Sir David Ochterlony’s triumph against the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1825. Today this monument commemorates the sacrifice of Indian freedom fighters.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar), 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700016 India
We visit India’s largest and oldest Museum. The Indian Museum was built by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1814 with Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist as the founder curator. It has a magnificent collection of relics, ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armors and paintings of different eras.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1 Queen's Way, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
After lunch, we visit the legendary Victoria Memorial built by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, this architectural gem built in marble is a great place to experience the essence of Victorian-era set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Howrah Bridge, Jagganath Ghat 1, Strand Road, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
We take a cruise over the holy River Ganges and over the next 2 hours we explore the City of Joy from its waters. We pass through numerous ghats and the iconic Howrah Bridge before this magnificent experience of Kolkata comes to an end.
8PM- Drop back to hotel
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Job Charnock Cemetery, H8CW+77G, Church Ln, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
8AM- Hotel Pick up
We will start at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock the founder of modern Kolkata. In 1690 Charnock bought the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata from Bengal Subedar Azim Usman and over time Kokata became the capital of East India Company. A recent High Court ruling has discredited him as the founder of Kolkata after looking at evidence of the existence of the city in earlier times!
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: St. John's Church, 2/2 Council House Street Opp Dewars Garage, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
We will visit St John’s Church which was built in 1787 by architect James Agg. This majestic stone and brick structure became the principal Cathedral of Calcutta in 1815. A highlight of his Church is the “Last Supper” painting on its walls.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Writers' Building, BBD Bagh N Dalhousie Square, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
Our next destination is the iconic Writers Building which had a very humble beginning. Built in 1777, it was meant for the lower bureaucracy of East India Company. Today this Greco-Roman masterpiece is the seat of the West Bengal state government. Our guide will narrate to you all the landmark events which took place in India’s freedom struggle with the Writers Building as the backdrop. We will see this building from outside.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Raj Bhavan, Near Sahid Minar, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
The Governor’s House is a remarkable building which was built for Marquess of Wellesley who came to Kolkata as the Governor General of East India Company in 1798 and found his rented accommodation unsuitable! Built in 1803 by the famous English architect Charles Wyatt, the Governor’s House follows a Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones. The building became the residence of the Viceroy of India after the Crown took over the reins of India from East India Company. Today it serves as the office and residence of the Governor of the state of West Bengal and hence we will see it from outside.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Shaheed Minar, Dharmtalla, bus stop, Dufferin Rd, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700069, India
The Shaheed Minar was built in 1848 with a blend of Egyptian, Syrian and Turkish design styles. Originally it was called the Ochterlony Monument and was built to honour Major General Sir David Ochterlony’s triumph against the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1825. Today this monument commemorates the sacrifice of Indian freedom fighters.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar), 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700016 India
We visit India’s largest and oldest Museum. The Indian Museum was built by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1814 with Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist as the founder curator. It has a magnificent collection of relics, ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armors and paintings of different eras.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1 Queen's Way, Kolkata (Calcutta) India
After lunch, we visit the legendary Victoria Memorial built by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, this architectural gem built in marble is a great place to experience the essence of Victorian-era set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Howrah Bridge, Jagganath Ghat 1, Strand Road, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700001 India
We take a cruise over the holy River Ganges and over the next 2 hours we explore the City of Joy from its waters. We pass through numerous ghats and the iconic Howrah Bridge before this magnificent experience of Kolkata comes to an end.
8PM- Drop back to hotel
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
PG123914
November 2019
The full day city tour of Kolkata with Abhishek was very satisfying. Not only was he a great company, he also knows so much about the history and traditions of Kolkata that we could unravel what’s happening in the city. We also enjoyed the pipe organ in St John’s church. What a fantastic experien...
The full day city tour of Kolkata with Abhishek was very satisfying. Not only was he a great company, he also knows so much about the history and traditions of Kolkata that we could unravel what’s happening in the city. We also enjoyed the pipe organ in St John’s church. What a fantastic experience! The boat ride on the river was fantastic. We also had a great time in the museum where abhishek brought alive the exhibitis. This is a great way to explore kolkata if you have a full day.Richard_M
October 2023
Our guide was fun, knowledgeable and proud to share her culture. She diverted standard tour to a Hindu temple in the neighborhood she grew up. Great experiences all day
Our guide was fun, knowledgeable and proud to share her culture. She diverted standard tour to a Hindu temple in the neighborhood she grew up. Great experiences all dayMaps54635847097
March 2023
Anirban was a fabulous host and we saw many of the attractions of Kolkata. The flower market was beautiful and we also took a ferry ride across the Ganges. The india national museum and St John's church. We had a delicious lunch and then the Victoria monument. Just a lovely day, highly recommend!!
Anirban was a fabulous host and we saw many of the attractions of Kolkata. The flower market was beautiful and we also took a ferry ride across the Ganges. The india national museum and St John's church. We had a delicious lunch and then the Victoria monument. Just a lovely day, highly recommend!!sallypears
November 2019
The full day city tour of Kolkata is a great way to experience Kolkata. In one day, I got to see important landmarks as well as got a great flavor of the city. Abhishek was a fantastic guide. We started at the memorial founder of Kolkata. Then we visited magnificent architecturally beautiful ...
The full day city tour of Kolkata is a great way to experience Kolkata. In one day, I got to see important landmarks as well as got a great flavor of the city. Abhishek was a fantastic guide. We started at the memorial founder of Kolkata. Then we visited magnificent architecturally beautiful buildings like the Writers, Victoria memorial and Raj Bhavan. Lunch was a simple local cuisine and tastefully prepared. The cruise over the Ganga river was really the highlight of this trip for me. Simply amazing and a must do for every traveler to Kolkata!Samj68p
September 2023
We booked the the full day tour of Kolkata and Sauvik was our guide. It was an amazing experience as we learnt about the colonial heritage and influence of East India company. The Bengali lunch was amazing. The tour ended over a nice boat ride on the Ganges River. A fitting end to a fabulous d...
We booked the the full day tour of Kolkata and Sauvik was our guide. It was an amazing experience as we learnt about the colonial heritage and influence of East India company. The Bengali lunch was amazing. The tour ended over a nice boat ride on the Ganges River. A fitting end to a fabulous day.alankF2600MW
March 2020
Our Kolkata experiance was conducted by a very engaging young man Abhishek Roy whose knowledge of the area and command of English was excellent. We started quite early and finished, at our request, around 4:30. Our tour included comercial district, St Johns church, various monuments, museums alwa...
Our Kolkata experiance was conducted by a very engaging young man Abhishek Roy whose knowledge of the area and command of English was excellent. We started quite early and finished, at our request, around 4:30. Our tour included comercial district, St Johns church, various monuments, museums always with good detailed history. Lunch was at local restraunt with a varied choice of regional food. It was only my wife and self running out of steam that prevented more being revealed. Overall a very interesting tour. Alan & Mo Keal