2. Kolkata: 3-Hour British Heritage Walking Tour
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, exclusive to your booking, or a join-in tour, where you can meet other travelers. You can also request a hotel pickup and drop-off for added convenience.
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 the tour onto St John’s Church, a majestic stone building built in 1787, which became the principal cathedral of the region in 1815. One of the church’s highlights includes a painting of the Last Supper on its walls.
Follow your guide to the Governor’s House next, a remarkable building built for the Marquess of Wellesley who came to Kolkata as the Governor General of East India Company in 1798. Built in 1803 by the famous English architect Charles Wyatt, the Governor’s House follows a Neoclassical style with distinct Baroque overtones. As you admire the fine architecture of the building, 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 Victoria-era, set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern Kolkata.