6.45am - Your walking guide will meet guests at the hotel lobby

7am - Heritage Walk of Dalhousie Square, now a World Heritage Site. The walk takes place in the morning so that you can leisurely take in the architecture and history of the city’s many unique and spectacular buildings without any traffic on the roads. There is an option to begin at The Flower Market on the River Hoogly – where it really “all” began. The walk then starts at the site of the terrible ‘Black Hole’… takes you past the famous Writer’s Building, the former HQ of the infamous East India Company, around the square to, among others, the magnificent Governor’s House and the almost forgotten Charnock Mausoleum. The whole experience takes you back to the 18th and 19th century when the British ruled the entire subcontinent from Calcutta – at that time the most fashionable city in the world after London. It is also a chance to experience a special side of the city as it is waking up in the morning with many interesting city characters to interact with along the way.

10am - “Breakfast at Bomti’s” offers a rare glimpse of the old Calcutta way of life, now sadly endangered. Mr Surojit ‘Bomti’ Iyenger, an art collector and socialite, is delighted to welcome visitors to his charming flat in perhaps the most interesting heritage building on historic Chowringhee. Authentic and home-cooked Bengali cuisine served up with hot cups of fresh Darjeeling tea and stimulating insights into Bengali Art (with some for sale) and Modern Kolkata make up Bomti’s salon.

12.30pm - Shopping and sightseeing with Devika Duncan (a break at the hotel can also be taken). Sightseeing could include The Marble Palace, The Park Street Cemetery, The Indian Museum and/or The Victoria Memorial. Shopping could include local handicrafts, jewellery, textiles (including the famous Bengal Katha stitch work), antique furniture, food, spices and books.

4pm - Boat cruise up the River Hoogly. In a private river boat, guests are able to discover a hitherto unseen side of Kolkata, with a ring-side view of the myriad happenings on the river’s ‘Ghats’. This was the view that greeted many a 19C adventurer as he stepped up to the Princep’s Ghat. You will sail past Belur Math, headquarters of The Ramakrishna Mission, as the city’s two huge and famous bridges, Howrah and Vidyasagar Setu pass overhead.

6.30pm - Drop back to your hotel

Day 1: As per full day city tour above

Day 2:

9.30am - North Calcutta Heritage Building Walk –This walk takes you to the narrow alleys of the “Black Town” where a parallel culture to the British arose amongst the pioneering Bengali families whose fortunes grew as they assisted their colonial rulers in their quest to rule the subcontinent. The impressive mansions hold some rare treasures and interesting stories. The Marble Palace is perhaps the most bizarre of them all! The day provides an interesting contrast to the rest of the sightseeing you will be doing.

Guests may also visit the home, and now University, of the famous Bengali Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. One of the leading families of the Bengali Renaissance, the family lineage is rich in accomplishments in the fields of art, culture, science and literature.

You will also visit Kumartuli, the “potters” market, where all the idols for religious festivals in the city are made, and a collection of four intriguing Jain and Hindu temples adorned with shimmering mirrors and ceramic tiles and chandeliers brought over to India by rich merchants from lands as far away as Persia, Japan and Europe.

1pm -Lunch at a restaurant of your choice – There is a lovely little Bengali Restaurant situated in the newly restored Star Theatre, where Bengali Theatre has its roots, along with much of the drama that initiated the freedom movement in Bengal, and later the rest of India. Alternativley, there is a nice South Indian restaurant if you’d like to try a different cuisine today.

3.30pm - Visit to a Textile Factory – Rangeen is the weaving, dyeing and printing unit for Weavers Studio in Calcutta, famous for their high quality cotton and silk garments. You will have a chance to watch the artisans at work weaving at their looms, dyeing using diverse techniques such as tie and dye, batik, Japanese Shibori and African Adire, block printing and stenciling on fabric, as well as hand painting, mud and screen printing. The Resource Centre also has a textile library and museum with a collection of antique fabric from around the world. The history of the world’s most popular natural dye – Indigo – weaves its story into the visit as well. Indigo has a huge connection with the history of Bengal, and is thought to have played a major role in the start of the struggle for a free India.

After the factory, we will visit Weavers Studio, where you can have a look at the finished products!

5.30pm - Tea at Weavers Studio or Flury’s Tea Room on Park Street.

7.30pm - Return to your hotel

Day 1 and 2: As per two day package above

Day 3:

The 3rd day remains flexible and guests may choose from a number of activities:

A visit to the Botanical Gardens with a picnic lunch

The Park Street Cemetery

Charitable institutions and schools

A game of golf at The Tollygunge Club or The Royal Calcutta Turf Club

Shopping – Bengal Handicrafts, Contemporary Bengal Art, Jewellery – traditional/ modern/western, Textiles – silk/cotton, Embroidered Textiles – Katha Work, Missionary style table linen, antique furniture, Bazaars – food/flowers/ spice/ fruit/ furniture, Books, Designer clothes/accessories and lifestyle products.

Specific sightseeing – The Indian Museum, The Asiatic Society

A visit to the Tea Auction Centre

An Afternoon at the Calcutta Races – racing runs on certain days from noon to 5pm.

The Royal Calcutta Turf Club with its panoramic views of Victoria Memorial and the River Hoogly is one of the oldest and grandest in India and the ambience positively ‘Raj’. Guests are entertained by hosts closely associated with the Club and lunch and tea are served in a Member’s Box. Betting before, and meeting the jockeys, trainers and horses after, is all a part of the glorious afternoon.

Lunch is brought to the box itself, but is mainly “snacky” in nature. Drinks are available for sale, but lunch is included.

The day ends with a Bengali, Chinese or Mughlai Meal at one of Calcutta’s famous restaurants.

Trip includes:
 
Expert Guide fees
Transport in an air conditioned car
All meals mentioned in itinerary
All activities mentioned in itinerary
A mobile library (a collection of books relating to the History, Art, Culture and Food of Bengal)
Entry Fees
Tips
Complete flexibility
Pleasant surprises where possible!