Welcome on arrival in Kolkata by Singapore Airlines and transfer to the hotel. Kolkata is the city of joy, contrast, and culture. Once the capital of British India – now the capital of West Bengal. A visit to kolkata will bring visitors in touch with a combination of a rich 400 years old heritage, vibrant modern life, and different cultures.

Morning 8.30 AM starts the half day city tour with an introduction to the glory of Bengal, visit the Flower Market – a unique wholesale market of flowers which is situated on the bank of river Ganges near the famous Howrah Bridge. Drive around the Heritage Buildings of Dalhousie Square, Visit the Mother Teresa’s House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity followed by Victoria Memorial, Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Hop on to an old charming Local Tram and travel to the famous Kali Temple, experience a short Hand-pulled Rickshaw ride, and Transfer to the Hotel for Lunch.

After early breakfast proceeds for an excursion trip to bansberia (55kms) to see the two unique temple architecture of Bengal terracotta which lies adjacent to each other I.E. Which are Ananta Vasudeva temple and Maheshwari temple. Ananta Vasudeva temple is octagonally built by raja Rameshwar Dutta in the year 1679. Sculptured inscriptions from Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Krishna Lila are worth watching. Adjacent to it lies the hanseswari temple, wherein the deity worshipped is maa hanseswari another form of goddess Kali in Hindu mythology. The temple depicts a special architectural pattern consisting of minars each blooming in a bud. Further, drive to Hooghly to see the imambara constructed by MD. Mohsin in 1861. This prayer hall of Shia Muslims is beautiful evidence of Islamic architecture. The building is a two-storied structure, which a tall clock tower over the entrance gate. The mosque within the complex has intricate designs and texts from the Quran engraved on the wall. The interior of the mosque is decorated with marbles, candles, and hanging lanterns.

Post visiting the imambara drive to chinsurah, which was once a Dutch colony and now is a very crowded place in district Hooghly. Here the main exhibits are an octagonal dutch church, the residence of the dutch general which is now Mohsin college, an Armenian church, chinsurah court, a commissioner bungalow, and a circuit house.

After having a look at chinsurah we drive down to chandernagore, which was a french colony and still carries the touch of the bygone days in the museum, institute de chandernagore. Sacred heart roman catholic church, hotel de Paris (presently city civil court), and the strand.

Late afternoon visit Serampore, the last point to be covered in this circuit. This danish colony was previously known as fredericknagore. The most important evidence of danish settlement is Carey’s college built by sir William Carey in 1818. This college is now named Serampore college. Other architectural sites are the college of textile technology, the roman catholic church, and the danish governor’s palace (presently the city civil court). The final leg of the journey ends with a drive to Belur math followed by a boat ride to dakshineshwar across the river Ganges. Transfer back to kolkata, overnight at the hotel.

The morning after breakfast drive to antpur to see the temple of Radha Govinda (130ft). This operational temple is another example of the Bengal thatched-roof style. The beauty of the sculpture lies on the panel of the front side of this temple and the walls. From Anantapur, we drive down to bishnupur. Check-in at the hotel followed by hot lunch. Post lunch tour of a cluster of terracotta temples and other relics. Here also you can take subject diversion if the architecture makes you tired. Here you can meet the scroll painters and dashavatar card makers. Evening free for individual activity and leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

The morning after breakfast drive to panchmurah (village of terracotta artisans) and further drive to Shantiniketan. Shantiniketan translates to the abode of peace. The place was a small village inhabited by Santhal tribes once. Later in Shantiniketan, with the initiation of the development of a world-class university and the vision of the Rabindranath Tagore, the education system started its transformation and led to the establishment of Vishwa Bharati university thus leading to people from all parts of the world congregating their thoughts. Enjoy the evening with a traditional ball performance (Bengal ballad singer). Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. Evening visit the local village to enjoy the dance performance of the Santhal tribes. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

The morning after breakfast visit Uttarayan Complex which is a beautifully constructed complex with tree-lined avenues and buildings built in architectural styles varying from art deco to rural Benga. One is the residence of Rabindranath Tagore, the complex now houses a museum and an art gallery that is worth visiting. Evening free for individual activity and leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

The morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to maluti – a tiny village that is revered because of its temple architecture, there are 72 temples each being edifices to the kings of the Pala dynasty, and various sequences from the Ramayana & Mahabharata adorns the temple walls primarily from the Hindu mythology. After maluti we drive down to maldah. Overnight at maldah. Maldah or English bazaar as known earlier – owing to a factory established in 1771 by the British, was once the capital of Bengal. The town rose to prominence as the river port of the old capital of pandua.

The morning after breakfast proceeds to visit gaur covering ramkeli, piasbari, baroduari, dakhil Darwaza, Firoz Minar, qadam rasul, Chika mosque, daton mosque, gumti Darwaza, lukochuri(hide & seek) gate, tantipara(weaver) mosque and lotion mosque. Later in the afternoon proceed to visit pandua covering eklakhi mosque, Qutub shahi mosque, Adina Mosque, bari dargah, and salami Darwaza. Overnight at the hotel.

The morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Murshidabad (143kms/04hrs). The last capital of the independent state of Bengal – Murshidabad was a town district of British India under the Bengal presidency. The history of Murshidabad dates back to the Mughal era, when in 1704 the then dewan of three states of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, nawab murshid quli khan under Aurangzeb’s rule transferred the capital from Dacca (now Dhaka), renamed the city of Murshidabad after his name. Murshidabad gives one a sneak peek into the Muslim and colonial rule that blossomed in the eastern part of India with river life-bearing testimony to the trade and commerce that flourished at the time.
Evening free for individual activity and leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

The morning after breakfast proceeds for a tour of Murshidabad covering Hazar duari palace, Manipur palace, imam bara, Madina Mosque, clock tower, wasef manzil, or new palace, Katra Mosque, qadam sharif, Armenian church, kunjaghata palace, Kasim Bazar palace. Later in the afternoon visit azimgang to see the jain’s influence on architecture. Back to hotel and overnight.

The morning after breakfast check out and drive to kalna, the last leg of our journey of architecture. Here at kalna explore the nabakailash ( monuments of national importance), pratapeshwar temple. After visiting kalna drive back to kolkata.

The morning after breakfast departure/transfer to Airport to board connecting flight for the journey towards onward destination. Tour Ends.