A vibrant city rich in art and history, Kolkata is famous as the cultural capital of India. The city is also known for its warm and friendly attitude towards tourists.
Kolkata is best visited between the cooler months of September and January. The weather at this time remains pleasant with the minimum temperature dropping to about 12°C. Come March, the weather gets progressively hotter and more humid till June. The monsoons last from May to September. Kolkata has festivals and attractions one can enjoy the year round. Durga Puja, a religious festival held in October, is the biggest festival here. November sees another big festival called Kali Puja, which is celebrated with lights and firework displays. Other than this, there is the Kolkata Book Fair in January, and the Kolkata International Film Festival, held in November.
Bengali is spoken most widely in Kolkata, but most citizens understand Hindi too. The low cost of living is another aspect that attracts tourists to the city. Even cheaper than New Delhi, an extensive thali (set meal) in Kolkata will cost just about Rs. 130, while dining at a bigger restaurant will fetch you a bill of approximately Rs. 350.
Kolkata has a good public transport network that visitors can avail, right from the moment they land. AC buses leave frequently from the airport and travel to central Kolkata for just about Rs. 50 - Rs. 60. Pre-paid taxis can be hired at the arrivals lounge, near exit number 3B and 4. There is a range of accommodation options one can choose from too. Mid-priced and luxury hotels can cost anywhere between Rs. 1,500 - Rs. 5,000 per night, while cheaper hotels and hostels near Sudder Street and Howrah station are available for Rs. 700. For getting around, non-AC buses and trams are the most economic options, with fares as low as Rs. 6-7. Alternately, three-wheeled tuktuks, locally called autos, run along fixed routes and have pre-decided fares. The Metro railways offer an extremely well-connected network within the city and the fare can be anywhere between Rs. 5 to Rs. 30 depending on distance. Taxi fares start at Rs. 25 for the first 2 kms and subsequently cost around Rs. 18 for every extra km travelled.
| Flight duration | min. 02:15 / max. 06:05 |
|---|---|
| Return flight duration | min. 02:05/ max. 06:35 |
| Distance | 1386 km |
| Flights per week | 132 |
| Departure airport | Airport Chennai (Madras) (MAA) |
| Arrival airport | Airport Kolkata (Calcutta) (CCU) |
| Destination country | Flights to India |