Calcutta Private Tour: Victoria Memorial, Kumartulli & Lunch

Watch artisans carve statues by hand in Kumartulli, then walk through colonial gardens at Victoria Memorial.

A private Calcutta tour with an English-speaking guide covers Victoria Memorial, the Jain temple's Italian chandeliers, Kumartulli's working sculptors, Mother Teresa's tomb, and a boat ride on the Hooghly River. The itinerary includes lunch, all entrance fees except museums, bottled water and hotel pickup. The route takes seven to eight hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Victoria Memorial45m
2. Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity30m · entry included

Explore Kolkata's iconic sites and culture

• Visit Victoria Memorial Hall
• Tour Marble Palace Jain temple
• Watch artists sculpt statues
• Visit Mother Teresa's Tomb and Museum
• Enjoy exclusive country boat ride
• Drive past British colonial landmarks

The experience

Seven to eight hours takes you through Calcutta's layered history: the Victoria Memorial's Raj-era gardens and galleries, the Marble Palace with its Parisian tiles and Murano chandeliers, and Kumartulli's open-air workshops where artisans shape clay into life-size statues. An English-speaking driver guides the route and commentary, moving between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle so the heat and traffic stay outside.

The day opens at Mother Teresa's tomb and museum at the Mother House, a quiet counterpoint to the city's pace. From there you pass through the British colonial quarter, Raj Bhavan, St. John's Church, the Black Hole Monument, the old GPO: before heading to the Flower Market's chaos and color. A country boat ride on the Hooghly River breaks up the driving. Lunch, included, happens partway through so you're not navigating restaurants on your own.

Entrance fees to the main sites are covered. Museum entries are optional and paid separately at checkout if you want them. Pickup from your hotel is included, and the itinerary works for children from age one onward and for travelers of any fitness level. Bottled water comes with the vehicle.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• bottled water.
• entrance fees to Victoria Memorial, the Jain temple, Mother Teresa's Mother House, Kumartulli and the boat ride.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Calcutta City Guide Tour

Is this one for you?The English-speaking guide means you follow the commentary without translation or a separate headset, so anyone fluent in English gets the full context of each stop without extra effort.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Marble Palace and why is it worth visiting?

The Marble Palace is a Jain temple notable for its Italian Murano chandeliers and Parisian tiles, which are the main reason to step inside. It's included as a stop on the tour.

Can I see artisans actually working in Kumartulli, or just finished statues?

Kumartulli is a working neighborhood where you watch sculptors carve and shape statues by hand in their open studios, not a museum display of finished pieces.

Does the tour include entry to museums like the Mother House?

Entry to the Mother House museum and Mother Teresa's room is included. Other museum fees are optional and charged separately if you choose them at checkout.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is included and described as authentic Bengali food. The operator arranges the meal as part of the day's itinerary.

How much time do we spend driving versus walking and exploring?

The tour mixes driving between sites with time on foot at each stop (Victoria Memorial's gardens, the temple, Kumartulli's studios, and the boat ride), so you're not sitting in the vehicle the whole time.