5 KOLKATA CITY EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CANâ€™T MISS

sayan chakraborty 26-Aug-2016 Image Source

Kolkata city has a lot to offer to those who really want to know about the city and enjoy. Starting from heritage, to food, to culture to latest trends, Kolkata has everything for everyone. But there are some experiences which you cannot miss while you’re in the city.

From tram rides in the city to boat rides in the Hoogly River, there are numerous experiences in Kolkata that have stood the test of time. Play a match of football like the locals at the 18^th century Maidan, marvel at numerous species of birds and animals at the almost 140 year old Alipore Zoological Gardens or get an insight into the world of stars and galaxies at the 50 year old Birla Planetarium.

1. Star gazing at the Birla Planetarium

The largest and the oldest planetarium in Asia, the Birla Planetarium is one of the most popular crowd pullers of Kolkata. The Single storey circular structure is inspired by the Great Stupa at Sanchi. Inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, the planetarium was thrown open to the public in 1963 and is locally known as Taramandal.

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2. Tram Ride in Kolkata

Kolkata, the City of Joy is known for its old world charm and one of the best ways to experience this, is to opt for a tram ride through the city. A legacy of the British, the tram service in Kolkata was launched in 1873 and is operational till date. The Kolkata Tramways are the oldest operating electric tram system in Asia running since 1902.

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3. Boating at Hooghly River

One of the major landmarks of Kolkata, the Hooghly River pulls a lot of crowd to its banks every day. While a flurry of typical activities begins at the river at the crack of dawn, boating on the country boats at Hooghly River is definitely a fascinating experience.

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4. Bird watching at the Alipore Zoological Gardens

Built on the lines of the London Zoo, the Alipore Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in the country, opened for public viewing way back in the May of 1876. It goes without saying that the zoological garden is a major tourist attraction of Kolkata and drawn tourists in thousands almost every day. During Christmas and New Year it records nearly a million footfalls.

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5. Play football at the Maidan

If you are a lover of outdoor activities, then you must include Maidan â€“ the largest urban park in the city, in your itinerary. Developed in the 18th century by the British as their parade ground, today Maidan is one of the most prominent landmarks of Kolkata and is often referred to as the cityâ€™s respiratory system.