Indian Museum: Another important landmark is the Indian Museum, which was built in 1874. The oldest museum in India, this museum has one of the rare collections of antiques, armour & ornaments, fossils, coins and Mughal paintings. The entrance to the museum houses an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India.

Victoria Memorial: The most prominent landmark in Kolkata, Victoria Memorial is a huge white-marble structure and the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. Quite popular among tourists, the Victoria Memorial is located in Central Kolkata and it is a pleasure to visit its sprawling lawns and the huge lake.

Kali Temple: An important temple in Kolkata is the Kali Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. This is the temple from which the old village Kalikata took its name, which, in turn, also gave the city its name. It is located at Kalighat in South Kolkata.

Belur Math: The headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission is another popular tourist attraction. The Math is located across the Ganga on the other side of the Dakshieshwar Temple. In fact the Math is a must visit along with Dakshineshwar Temple in Kolkata.

Birla Planetarium:  India’s largest planetarium is located close to Victoria Memorial and St. Paul’s. A must visit with your kids, the planetarium provides useful information about our solar system, galaxies, life span of stars, space, planets and other heavenly bodies in the most interactive manner via audio video aids.

Fort William:  It is situated on the banks of river Hooghly and was named after King William III of England. Fort William was build during the British era in 1696. It was the guardroom of this two-storied building, where the black hole tragedy took place. During the Plassey war in 1757, Siraj Ud Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal attacked the fort and defeated the British.

Nicco Park: Also known as Jheel Meel, the Nicco Park is located in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata.  It is an amusement park that opened in 1991. The park has lots of wonderful games and rides. One of the highlights of the park is the Cave ride that is not only exciting but adventurous too.

Howrah Bridge: Also called ‘Rabindra Setu,’the Howrah Bridge is located over the Hoogli River and connects the city of Howrah to Kolkata. The bridge was built in 1874 and it stands on two 270 feet high pillars.

Other important places of tourist interest in Kolkata include Maidan, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan, Town Hall, Birla Temple and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Mayapur: Besides being a place where Lord Chaitanya was born, Mayapur today is known for ISKON Temple and the Krishna Cult that can be seen steeped in the chants of Hare Krishna…. The main temple here has beautiful Radha-Krishna idols.

Shanti Niketan: The residence of Rabindranath Tagore, Shanti Niketan is today an internationally acclaimed as a cultural gem. The must visit places here are - Uttarayan, the complex where Rabindranath lived, which has a museum and art gallery. Shanti Niketan is 180 km from Kolkata.

Bishnupur: The temple town of Bengal, Bishnupur is another interesting place to visit. It is home to a number of brick temples. The architecture of the temples is simple yet touching.
Beaches: There are some beautiful beaches, most of which can be planned as day visits from Kolkata. The popular beaches near Kolkata are Digha, Shankarpur, Junput and Bakkhali (Frazergunj).

Click here to know on short trips around Kolkata

Kolkata hotels range from luxury hotels to guest houses and budget hotels. There are a number of hotels spread around the city, which provide cheap and comfortable accommodation for visitors to the city. For people travelling on a shoe-string budget Kolkata has a number of budget hotels and bed & breakfast options as well. Kolkata also has various mid-priced hotels.
Check hotels in Kolkata for IPL matches.