Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour: Asia's oldest electric tram

Ride the tram that's been running since 1902 and see Kolkata's landmarks from the inside

The Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour is a two to three hour guided journey on the only operating tram network in India, passing through heritage buildings, churches, mosques and the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity where Mother Teresa is buried. The tour includes a live guide in English, Hindi, Bengali or Urdu; local snacks and coffee or tea; bottled water; and a tour memento. Groups of thirteen or more travel in reserved tram cars. Smaller groups ride in unreserved cars.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kolkata heritage sites by tram

• Board heritage tramcar
• Pass Birla Mandir temple
• Pass historic church with unique architecture
• Pass Lower Circular Road Cemetery
• Pass Assembly of God Church School
• Pass Maulana Azad College
• Visit Portuguese Church of Sacred Heart
• Visit Tipu Sultan Shahi Mosque
• Pass Thoburn Memorial Methodist Church
• Pass Lord Jesus Church
• Pass The Muslim Institute
• Pass West Bengal Urdu Academy
• Pass Heritage Book Store
• Visit birthplace of Calcutta Tramways
• Visit Mother Teresa's House
• Enjoy local snacks
• Receive Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour memento

The experience

The tram system running through Kolkata has operated continuously since 1902, making it Asia's oldest electric tram network still in use. This tour moves through the city at tram pace, stopping at heritage sites that mark Kolkata's religious and cultural layers: the Birla Mandir temple, the Portuguese Church of the Sacred Heart built in 1834 after a mother's prayer, the Tipu Sultan Mosque erected by the exiled son of Mysore's ruler, and the Lower Circular Road Cemetery where twelve thousand graves include Commonwealth war dead from the Second World War. The route also passes the birthplace of Calcutta Tramways itself and heritage institutions like Maulana Azad College, founded in 1926.

The Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity, where Mother Teresa spent her final years and is buried, anchors the spiritual weight of the tour. Beyond the named stops, the tram passes through innumerable other heritage buildings woven into the city's fabric (colonial architecture, old churches, educational institutions), so the journey itself becomes the discovery rather than a checklist of arrivals and departures.

A live guide travels with you in English, Hindi, Bengali or Urdu, narrating the sites and their histories as the tram moves. The tour includes local snacks, coffee or tea, bottled water and a memento. If your group has thirteen or more people, you'll have a reserved tram car. Smaller groups ride in the unreserved cars where you share space with local commuters, which is part of how the tram functions as a living piece of the city.

What’s included

• Live guide in English, Hindi, Bengali or Urdu.
• pickup included.
• local snacks.
• coffee and tea.
• bottled water.
• tour memento.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 to 66 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Bangla, Hindi and Urdu

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Trips & Tours

Is this one for you?The tour picks you up without requiring your own transport, so it works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere in Kolkata and don't have a car. The two to three hour duration fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming a full day.

Traveler reviews

4.19★★★★★★★★★★

400 verified traveler reviews

5 ★187

4 ★133

3 ★58

2 ★13

1 ★9

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Bangla and Urdu.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity and why is it on this tour?

The Mother House is where Mother Teresa lived and worked, and her final resting place. It's the spiritual center of the Missionaries of Charity and a major stop on the tour because of Mother Teresa's significance to Kolkata's history and her work with the city's poorest residents.

Can I ride this tram if I'm visiting Kolkata without a car or staying in a different neighborhood?

Yes. The tram operates as public transportation, so pickup is included and the tour starts from the tram network itself. You don't need your own transport to join, and the guide will direct you to the boarding point.

How old is the Kolkata tram system and what makes it special?

The tram system has been running since 1902, making it the oldest operating electric tram network in Asia. It's the only tram network still operating anywhere in India, so riding it is a way to experience a transport system that has carried the city for over 120 years.

What's included in the tour besides the tram ride?

The tour includes a live guide, local snacks, coffee or tea, bottled water and a tour memento. WiFi is available on board.