Kolkata is very popular among the tourists owing to its historical monuments, nostalgic ambience of the British era, markets, museums, gardens etc. In Kolkata, you won't come across those historical monuments which are the heritage of most Indian cities. Kolkata’s development begins when a new chapter was being written in the history of the subcontinent: the beginnings of the British Empire in India. Victoria Memorial is the best introduction to colonial era Kolkata. The oldest archeological collection in the country, the Indian Museum, has some priceless relics of ancient civilizations. The British left many other marks of their presence: neo-gothic St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fort William, Government House (Raj Bhavan), the High Court, etc. Next to Kolkata University is the Ashutosh Museum showing Bengali folk art in all its aspects. Among places of worship Dakshineshwar Kali Temple , Kali Ghat Temple , Nakhoda Mosque and Parasnath Jain Temple merit a visit. Crossing ungainly but impressive Howrah Bridge, one can visit the Botanical Gardens and further north Belur Math, seat of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Like all big Indian cities, Kolkata is best seen between October and March. At an altitude of 20 feet and close to the sea, the capital of West Bengal can be a very humid place indeed at other periods of the year when the thermometer often reaches bursting point. Avoid to visit Kolkata during rainy season.
Visiting Kolkata in Winter Season: Winter season (October to March) is the best time to visit Kolkata. The temperature varies between 14°C to 30°C. Pleasant weather conditions and flurry of colorful festivities make the winter the best season to explore Kolkata. This is the duration when several festivals like Durga Puja, Dussehra, Navratri, Dipawali, Basant Panchami, Holi etc are observed.
Visiting Kolkata in Summer Season: April & May (summer) are the warmest months in Kolkata. Scorching heat waves, locally known as ‘loo’, make the sightseeing inhospitable but, definitely, the evening gets cooler to roam around. The temperature varies between 28°C to 40°C.
Visiting Kolkata in Monsoon Season: Monsoon season, staring from June and lasting till September, is marked by heavy and intermittent downpour. It brings the temperature down, varying between 25°C to 35°C. Though the temperature is comfortable but humidity level remains very high. Rainfall and puddle roads make the city exploration difficult.