Begin your full-day tour of Kolkata at the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, the founder of modern Kolkata in 1690. 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 the Church is the “Last Supper” painting on its walls. The next destination is the iconic Writers Building. 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. Your guide will shed light on the landmark events which took place in India’s freedom struggle with the Writers Building as the backdrop. Since this is a working office, you will see it from outside. Proceed then to the Governor’s House, a remarkable building which was built for Marquess of Wellesley in 1803 by the famous English architect Charles Wyatt. The Governor’s House follows a Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones. After lunch, 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 the Victorian Era, set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata. On the last leg of the tour, take a cruise over the holy River Ganges and explore the City of Joy from its waters. Pass by numerous ghats and under the iconic Howrah Bridge before this magnificent experience comes to an end.

Greet your guide outside Esplanade metro station at 5:00pm and catch the train up to a district little visited by foreigners and known for its cuisine. When you disembark, you'll dive straight in with an exotic lasse found at a local street vendor before hopping into a tiny joint that's been whipping up some of the best masala curries in Kolkata for more than a century. As you eat, your guide will tell you stories of old Calcutta. Jump aboard a local bus for a short journey up to one of Kolkata's most celebrated seafood restaurants where you'll try their signature jumbo prawn covered in chingri coconut cream sauce and a mouth-watering curried fish mousse steamed in a banana leaf. After leaving you'll clamber aboard one of the old richshaws, the only place where these wooden carts still exist in India and take a short tour of the area en route to the next foodie stop. Gorge on a prawn kabiraji at a legendary kitchen started by a Scot in the 19th Century. Kolkata might seem busy, but your guide will take you on a walk down through a peaceful district pointing out temples and local life along the way. As you meander the backstreets of old Kolkata, you'll try tasty titbits from the city's most famous onion bhajis to zingy gram salads made from herbs and pulses. Sip on local ginger infused chai tea before jumping on board one of the old trams that have been plying the streets of Kolkata for over a century for a short journey to College Street. Here, piles of school book sellers are passed by university students on their way back from lectures. Drop into a local cafe to sample a famed coconut sherbet drink and then dive into Begali treats at a nearby sweet shop. The evening finishes in the faded grandeur of an old colonial coffee shop where students are busy debating, ceiling fans whirl overhead, and waiters serve coffees in traditional garb. This isn't just a foodie tour, it's a tour into the heart of Kolkata.

Embark on a journey to capture the essence of Kolkata as you explore on foot some of the most iconic and prominent landmarks of the city’s Colonial heritage. Choose from flexible options of a private tour or a shared tour to meet other travelers with optional hotel pickup and drop-off. The tour's first stop is the Writer's building, built in 1777. Once used for the lower bureaucracy of the East India Company, today this stunning Greco-Roman masterpiece is the seat of the West Bengal state government. Next, walk to the Mausoleum of Job Charnock, who in 1690 bought the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata and over time transformed the region into the capital of East India Company. At the site, learn about how in recent times, a High Court ruling has discredited him as the founder of the city. Continue to St John’s Church, a majestic stone building from 1787, which became the principal cathedral of the region in 1815. Marvel at a painting of the Last Supper on its walls. Follow your guide to the Governor’s House, built for the Marquess of Wellesley who came to Kolkata as the Governor General of East India Company in 1798. Admire its Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones as you learn about how the Crown gained rule over India during the Colonial era. Finally, visit the legendary Victoria Memorial, an architectural gem built from marble. Here you can really experience the essence of the Victorian era, set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata.

Start your journey at 8:00 with hotel pickup in a private AC cab and drive to different streets of Kolkata. First visit the flower market, one of the largest in India. The market over here provides a paradise for street photographers with all the action and scenery of this market. We stay here for one hour. Your next stop, known as Sudder Street, is famous for tourist and backpackers due to its abundance of cheap hotels and eateries. From food carts, pulled rickshaws, ambassador taxis, street vendors, cows, goats, smells, colors, and people everywhere you look. It’s never boring around Sudder Street. Next, drive to the College Street, home of the largest second hand book market in the world. Small colorful book stalls line the streets for just under a mile. You'll stay here for forty-five minutes. Later as you head for your lunch, click the streets sitting in the car on the way to the restaurant. After lunch, you'll move to the Park Street, Lined with cafes, restaurants, bars and shops, it’s more upscale here than the rest of Kolkata. While it’s lost a little of its luster with more commercialization than the rest of Kolkata, it still retains some of its old world charm. The duration of your stay over here is around 40 minutes. Next you'll drive to your last destination for the day, known as Queens Way/Victoria Memorial. The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building on Queens Way that was built over a century ago in dedication to the memory of Queen Victoria. Now it’s also a museum, but the reason you should come here for Street Photography isn’t for the building, but for the 64 acres of grounds and gardens surrounding it. At the end of the tour, get dropped back to the hotel.