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Kolkata Tour in Private Car
5.0
12 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!
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:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Job Charnock’s Mausoleum - 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…
- Job Charnock’s Mausoleum - 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 boat ride over the holy River Ganges and over the next 30 minutes we explore the City of Joy from its waters. We pass through 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
- 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
- Drinks
Additional Information
The City of Joy Experience is a day tour that allows guests to explore why Kolkata is known as the City of Joy. The journey begins at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the founder of British Kolkata, and includes visits to St. John’s Church, the iconic Writers’ Building, the magnificent Governor’s House, Shahid Minar, India’s oldest museum, and the…
The City of Joy Experience is a day tour that allows guests to explore why Kolkata is known as the City of Joy. The journey begins at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the founder of British Kolkata, and includes visits to St. John’s Church, the iconic Writers’ Building, the magnificent Governor’s House, Shahid Minar, India’s oldest museum, and the legendary Victoria Memorial. The tour concludes with a picturesque 30-minute boat ride on the River Ganges.
This tour is organized by Five Senses Tours, a private limited company recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and a member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). The tour is designed to support local livelihoods by employing local guides and supporting local businesses, aligning with the company’s mission to ensure travel dollars benefit the local community.
- 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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(12 Ratings)
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Samwoodward
Mar 4, 2025
Great tour of Kolkata and Bengal - This visit was part of our third private tour with 5 Senses (first tour, So. India for a month; second No. India for 5.5 weeks; third East and South India, one month). You might have guessed that we are very happy with the company. All three tours were fantastic, this one no exception.
Kolkata is a vibrant city and worth a visit. In addition to the normal tourist sites, local guide Dev also helped us find ayurvedic massage studios. Like all major Indian cities, air pollution is a real problem--consider wearing a good mask when outdoors.
Bishnupur is an interesting site with terra cotta temples, and is often paired with a visit to Kolkata. It took 3.5 hours to drive there, but 5.5 hours to return because we got back to the outskirts of Kolkata after 19:30, when they let the trucks in and traffic becomes miserable Try to get home before that happens.
The Sundarbans--the largest mangrove forest in the world--are a couple of hours outside the city. We spent two nights there. It was a nice break from the urban environment. There is wildlife, but don't count on seeing tigers.
The primary strength of 5 Senses is its people. The owner, Mr. Narayanan, is a great travel planning partner (he’ll work with you to craft exactly the trip you want) and he is super-responsive during trips if any problems arise. I am confident that Narayanan will fix it if it needs fixing—he has helped us several times in that way, and he has done it quickly.
The state-based “cultural ambassadors” he has recruited (the guides who accompany you for days, across multiple sites) are excellent and soon become friends. For this month-long tour, I’d particularly like to call out Kannan (Tamil Nadu) and Mohan, and Chandra Shekar (Karnataka). If you are touring other parts of the country, we highly recommend Balwinder (Punjab and Rajasthan) and Vivek and Ram Sewak (Varanasi, Khajuraho and environs).
It is basically a fool’s errand to try to price shop local tour operators—there are too many variables, including the type of accommodation, the quality of guides and the quality of transport (both of which can’t be assessed ahead of time). That said, over the course of the three tours, we feel that 5 Senses has been very good value for money. And I can say for certain that you would pay three times as much for the same Smithsonian or Nat Geo or other corporate tour, plus you’d be on a bus with many other folks and stuck with the group schedule. With 5 Senses you’re in your own car deciding where and when you want to go, where you want to eat, and when you want to take it easy.
My advice to friends looking for a private tour in India is “don’t bother contacting other companies, just talk to 5 Senses. You won’t regret it.”
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide62273450969
Dec 3, 2024
Discover beautiful Kolkata under guidance - On arrival warmly welcomed, the guide and the driver first brought me to my hotel to refresh. Then the 4-day Kolkata city tour started. The old cemetery was the first of the series of sights I visited. Personal highlight is Mothers House, every attraction however big remains in the shadow of the simple Mothers House.
Have had several guides, all equally enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. In short, visiting Kolkata with a guide is highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
