Cheap flights to Kolkata
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Quick summary
Country
India
Continent
Asia
Airport
CCU
Currency
Indian rupee
Time zone
UTC+5:30
Deals already spotted to Kolkata
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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The Howrah Bridge
Start at the river, ideally at sunrise
Opened in 1943 and renamed Rabindra Setu in 1965, the Howrah Bridge spans 705 meters across the Hooghly, 82 meters above the water. It holds together without a single nut or bolt: the whole structure is riveted, from 26,500 tons of steel. It is the busiest cantilever bridge in the world, crossed every day by around 150,000 pedestrians and a huge flow of vehicles. A flower market spreads out beneath it, and sunrise is said to be the most atmospheric time to come.
Cultural capital
Visit Kolkata, the city of Tagore, Ray and Mother Teresa
If you visit Kolkata, you are in the city known as India's cultural capital, called Calcutta until 1 January 2001. It is the city of Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray and Amartya Sen, linked to four Nobel laureates and two winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity here in 1950.
The former capital of British India
The East India Company obtained a trading licence in 1690, completed Fort William in 1712, and the Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757. Calcutta remained the capital of British India until the early 1910s, when the seat of power moved to Delhi. Today the city has about 4.5 million inhabitants, and some 14 million live in its metropolitan area, the third largest in India.
A city of firsts
What makes Kolkata unique in the world
| Since | A Kolkata rarity |
|---|---|
| 1873 | Asia's oldest tram network, although its future is uncertain |
| 1943 | The Howrah Bridge, the busiest cantilever bridge in the world |
| 1984 | The Kolkata Metro, India's first modern metro |
| 2021 | Durga Puja in Kolkata inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage |
Victoria Memorial
A white marble memorial to the Raj
Indo-Saracenic marble and 25 galleries
Built between 1906 and 1921 by architect William Emerson in white Makrana marble, the Victoria Memorial rises 56 meters, crowned by a 4.9-meter Angel of Victory. It stands in 26 hectares of gardens and holds about 50,000 items across 25 galleries, drawing some 5 million visitors a year. A light-and-sound show runs in the evening, and most sources say the museum closes on Mondays.
Durga Puja
The festival of pandals and clay idols
Every autumn, usually in October, Kolkata fills with more than 3,000 pandals for a festival built around temporary art. The clay idols are made in Kumartuli, the idol-makers' quarter, and immersed in the river at the end of the festival. The exact dates change every year, so check them before booking. Hotels can cost up to three times their usual rate during the festival, and three to four days give you time to see the city and the pandals.
Sweets and street food
Mishti doi, rosogolla and phuchka
Start with the sweets: mishti doi and rosogolla are the classics. For a full meal, try luchi with cholar dal, or a fish fry. On the street, look for phuchka, jhalmuri and kathi rolls.
Temples, books and churches
More of Kolkata in two or three days
The colonial city
The Victoria Memorial, St Paul's Cathedral (1840-1847) and the Indian Museum, founded in 1878 and closed on Mondays.
The river and its temples
Sunrise on the Howrah Bridge and its flower market, then Kumartuli, the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and a ferry across the Hooghly.
Books and devotion
The book stalls of College Street, Kalighat Temple, built in 1809, and an evening of street food.
Kolkata airport
Getting to and around Kolkata
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International
The city's international airport lies about 17 km from the center.
The metro is the easiest way to cross the city, and ferries link the two banks of the Hooghly. The famous yellow Ambassador taxis are being phased out under a 15-year age limit for vehicles, though some heritage cabs are coming back. The trams still exist, but reports point to the network being wound down, so check before you plan a ride.
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When to go
When to visit Kolkata?
November to February
The best time to visit, with temperatures of roughly 15 to 25 degrees C.
June to September
Monsoon season, when most of the year's rain falls. Kolkata receives about 1,800 mm of rain a year.
October
Durga Puja season. The city is at its most festive, and hotels at their most expensive.
In pictures
Kolkata in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Kolkata
Which airport serves Kolkata?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), about 17 km from the city center.
What's the best time to visit Kolkata?
November to February, when temperatures sit around 15 to 25 degrees C. Come in October for Durga Puja, but book early, as hotel prices climb sharply.
When is Durga Puja in Kolkata?
Usually in October, but the dates change every year. Check the exact dates before you book your flight.
How many days do you need in Kolkata?
Two to three days for the main sights, food and colonial architecture, or three to four during Durga Puja.
How much does a flight to Kolkata usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Kolkata drops below my budget?
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