Kolkata tour in private car with guide & lunch for immersive cultural experience
5.0
10 Ratings
Kolkata
Embark on a private car tour of Kolkata with a knowledgeable guide, indulge in a delicious lunch, and immerse yourself in the city's rich cultural heritage. Discover iconic landmarks, visit historical sites, and enjoy a scenic cruise on the River Ganges. Book now!
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Job Charnock Cemetery - 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!

  • St. John’s Church - 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.
  • Writers’ Building - 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.
  • Raj Bhavan - 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.
  • Shaheed Minar - 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.
  • Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar) - 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.
  • Victoria Memorial Hall - 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.
  • Howrah Bridge - 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

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off service included
  • All taxes, fees, and handling charges covered
  • Lunch provided
  • Transportation via private car
What's Not Included
  • Drinks
Additional Information

The ‘City of Joy’ Exploration is a one-day adventure where visitors can explore the reasons why Kolkata is truly known as the ‘City of Joy’. This tour begins at the impressive Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the creator of British Kolkata, and includes key sites such as St Johns Church, the famous Writers Building, the grand Governor’s house, Shahid Minar, the oldest museum in India and the iconic Victoria Memorial. The tour reaches its climax after a 3-hour picturesque cruise on the River Ganges.

  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Location
Job Charnock's Mausoleum
Council House Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Jet54741170104
Jan 20, 2024
Excellent tour. Brilliant guide. - Had a great guide ( Mr. Parmananda )with historic knowledge of city Kolkata. A senior citizens who knows history in and out @ the back of his mind.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariaiindien
Dec 25, 2023
Take a day off and get to know Kolkata - A full day might be long however the city is big and places of interest are plenty. Small walks in between refreshing and boat tour lovely but short. I recommend 45 min. Delicious lunch. Professional and friendly guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meander26456523568
Dec 14, 2023
Excellent Experience! - The tour was great! Param was very informative and an excellent tour guide! We enjoyed the whole day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
252rynes
Dec 13, 2023
5Senses does it AGAIN! - I had a long layover in Kolkata and 5Senses worked with me to arrange a tour that would fit my schedule. My Cultural Ambassador Anirban (“tour guide”) met me at the airport, we hopped in the car and it. It takes about an hour to get into the city so this definitely beat taxi or Uber. Anirban took me to several locations of cultural significance and I truly got a feel for Kolkata, the cultural capital of India. Anirban was clearly knowledgeable and personable. I would definitely do this if you want a guided way through a very complex city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_m
Oct 27, 2023
Great cultural experiences - 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
Review provided by Viator
Samj68p
Sep 24, 2023
Mesmerizing Kolkata - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps54635847097
Mar 10, 2023
Great day seeing the sights of Kolkata - 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!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alankf2600mw
Mar 2, 2020
City tour of Kolkata with Guide - 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
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pg123914
Nov 10, 2019
City tour - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sallypears
Nov 8, 2019
City of joy tour! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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