Whether you’re seeking spiritual inspiration from ancient Hindu temples, interested in British Raj-era history, looking to take in the in-your-face mixture of modernity and antiquity that is metropolitan India, or simply want to be amazed in your travels, Kolkata is everything you’re looking for.

Power lines and sleek train stations about stunning hundreds-year-old temple architecture, and businessmen in suits stride past priests in traditional dress asking for donations along bustling streets. Kolkata is an experience from another world, that anyone traveling in India should visit.

Once known as Calcutta due to the British mispronunciation of the name Kalikata, the name Kolkata simply derives from the Bengali pronunciation of the British name. The history of the city is intricately tied in with the history of the British empire in India. As one of the major headquarters of the East India Company and later the official capital of British India in the 18th and 19th Centuries, Calcutta was home to many palaces and palatial mansions — many of these still exist today, and several of them are open to visitors as museums or municipal buildings.

Notably, the Marble Palace and the National Library were once Raj-era residences, and both are worth checking out. The extravagant National Library, in particular, was once the residence and office of the Lt. Governor of Bengal, and now holds in excess of 2.2 million books. The Victoria Memorial, while not originally a Raj-era palace,was built in 1921 in the British Bengali style. As one of the premier museums of British colonial history in India, it is a must-see attraction for any traveler.

The Marble Palace, located in historic northern Kolkata, was once the residence of Raja Rajendra Mullick, one of the upper-class Indian nationals who sought to anglicize his lifestyle in order to reap the benefits of British occupation. The Marble Palace is a fascinating mix of neoclassical, gothic, and traditional Bengali architecture, and is host to a museum of classical sculpture, Victorian furniture, and European paintings, as well as gardens and a zoo. It is still a residence of the Rajendra family, so permission must be obtained from the tourist bureau twenty-four hours in advance of a visit.

The original name of the town, Kalikata, is said to be a reference to the goddess Kali, and her temples abound all over Kolkata. The Kalighat Kali Temple in the south and Dakshineswar in the north are two such attractions for religious seekers. The difference between them roughly represents the cultural difference between the two areas.

Located in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the south, Kalighat is associated with many legends (as one of the Shakti Peethas, it is literally part of the body of Sati, Shiva’s wife) and is often swarmed with devotees of the Shiva/Kali/Shakti Hindu sect. It is wild, loud, ecstatic, and filled with old-time Hindu spirituality. Kalighat is especially exciting during festivals such as the Durga Puja (a celebration of Kali), when all commerce in the city stops and converges on the temples to pay respects to the goddess.

Meanwhile, Dakshineswar is somewhat quieter and more serene. Built by an Indian devotee of Kali in 1855, it is well-known as the home of the famous mystic Sri Ramakrishna. It is very large, with a main temple and twelve separate shrines along the Hooghly River, and travelers can easily spend a day here, getting away from the bustle and noise of Kolkata.

If you’re interested in traditional Indian cuisine, be sure to try some rasagolla for dessert. These Bengali delicacies consist of sweet cheese balls dipped in syrup, and are served fried, covered in yogurt sauce, or plain.

So do you need anything else to plan a trip to Kolkata?

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