Your luxury Kolkata tour extension is best connected to the rest of your itinerary by direct flight from Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi or Mumbai. A member of our team will meet you at Kolkata airport and accompany you to The Oberoi Grand, an elegant colonial-era hotel in the city’s heart, close to the bustling markets and cultural landmarks. Rooms are traditional yet tasteful and offer a view of the city or the pool and gardens. (Those who prefer intimate, boutique properties would be happier at Calcutta Bungalow.) The rest of the day, if any, is yours at leisure. Your car and driver are always available, though you may like to take this opportunity to explore the bustling markets on foot surrounding The Oberoi Grand hotel.

Accompanied by your experienced local guide, today your luxury Kolkata tour introduces you to the architectural highlights of the city, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and the city’s most celebrated landmark – Victoria Memorial. Continue to BBD Bagh, the heart of Kolkata, to visit highlights such as Writer’s Building (the original “writers” were the clerks of the British East India Company), St John’s Church and the General Post Office. Built in 1864, it is still Kolkata’s main post office. Board the famous tram, an integral part of the city, for a pleasant if rattly experience.

We recommend starting the day at the vibrant flower market; it’s a riot of colour, fragrance and activity, and, in our opinion, the highlight of our luxury Calcutta tour. Continue to Kumartuli, literally the “Area of the Potters” and a maze of alleys, where craftsmen make images of various Hindu gods and goddesses. It’s captivating to watch them work, moulding the clay reinforced with straw and pith to craft images of the goddess Durga. Her face is often modelled on popular Bollywood film actresses, with her hair long and flowing. Nearby there is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Next, we recommend heading to College Street, the heart of intellectual life in Kolkata and home to some of its most elite educational institutions. Stalls along the crowded pavements sell textbooks, exam guides, classics and second-hand books of all kinds, with some even claiming to have discovered valuable first editions. Just across the road is the Indian Coffee House, a dark and cavernous favourite of the city’s intellectuals since it opened in the early 1940s. Even today, waiters in shabby cummerbunds serve endless cups of strong coffee to teachers, students, writers and poets.

Today, you’ll be chauffeured back to the airport in time for your onward flight. Depending on your itinerary (we’ll tailor it to best suit your needs), this could be an internal flight back to Delhi or Mumbai or an international flight. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar offer international connections from Kolkata to several destinations, including London, Los Angeles and New York via the UAE.