Kolkata is enjoying the last of its winter spell, but with winter definitely on its way out, it’s one last chance to enjoy the serene outdoors of the city before the sweltering heat pushes us back into air-conditioned rooms. My Kolkata brings you a list of places and activities from south and central Kolkata to enjoy on your winter day outings so you can sign off from winter in true Kolkata style.
Vivekananda Park
A favourite spot for chaats and phuchka for those in south Kolkata
Soumyajit DeyOne of Southern Avenue’s favourite spots, Vivekananda Park offers a plethora of food options through the day, from ghoogni and dim-toast early in the morning to several chaat and phuchka stalls in the evening and night, including the popular Dilip da’s phuchka. During the day, take a stroll through the park and catch some of the cricketing action as there is always a game happening. Several fresh fruit sellers can be found around as well, if you fancy a healthy snack, making Vivekananda Park a perfect spot for you to enjoy a nice winter day out.
Entry: Free
Timings: 5.30am - 8pm
Pocket Pinch: Approx Rs 200 per head
Rabindra Sarobar
Leisure or exercise — the lake area suits all needs
TT ArchivesAnother hot favourite in south Kolkata is Rabindra Sarobor. Early mornings, you will find people exercising and you could even catch a few people rowing at the lake. Strolling around the lake on a winter day is a peaceful exercise and it’s the perfect place to relax while basking in the sun. The evenings offer a romantic touch with couples enjoying endless conversations in the green, breezy environs surrounding the water body. Outside the Sarobor compound, one can always enjoy a quick bite with several shops readily available in the vicinity opposite Menoka Cinema. From momos and chowmein to rolls and chaats, you have endless options to choose from to go with your cup of tea.
Entry: Free
Timings: 5am-8pm
Alipore Zoo
The zoo makes for the perfect picnic spot during winters, especially for the kids
TT ArchivesA winter in Kolkata is considered incomplete without a visit to the Alipore Zoological Gardens, and many who grew up in the city have fond memories of spending winter vacation days at the zoo. Filled with animals and birds of different kinds, a stroll around the zoo is sure to make you hungry and if you have packed a picnic basket, then you can sit on the grass and enjoy the parting winter sun. While it is the children who often enjoy going to the zoo and looking at all the animals, adults too can have a very relaxing experience. Don’t forget to buy a hat on your way in.
Entry: Rs 20 for visitors under 5 years old and Rs 50 for others; Rs 250 for video photography
Timings: 9am- 5.30pm, ticket counter closes at 4.30pm
Victoria Memorial
The charm of Victoria is one that never fades
TT ArchivesA gem at the very heart of the city, Victoria Memorial is one of those spots that is a must visit, whether for a stroll around the gardens or a visit to the museum inside. Regular morning walkers at Victoria feature people across ages and from various walks of life who enjoy exercising at the beautiful spot in the heart of the city. If you are a history buff, the Victoria Memorial Hall Museum is a must-visit, and if that’s not your thing, then take a walk around the lush, expansive gardens while enjoying a spectacular view of the monument. An evening walk in the garden is even more special with the right company — a spot for many a proposal, it is also much coveted during Valentine’s Day. The charm of spending a day under the dappled winter sunlight on the grounds of Victoria is one that never fades.
There is also a light and sound show held at Victoria Memorial, which should be on the list of visitors and locals alike!
Entry for Museum: Rs 50 for Indians, Rs 100 for SAARC Nationals carrying passports, Rs 500 for other nationalities. School children with uniforms and identity cards can enter for free
Museum timings: 10am - 6pm
Victoria Gardens entry: Rs 30
Garden Timings: 5.30am - 6pm
AJC Bose Indian Botanical Garden
A walk among 17,000 trees as you take in some fresh air is a great winter activity to enjoy in the city
TT ArchivesCrossing over the Hooghly, this next spot is an oasis of green in a bustling city. The Calcutta Botanical Gardens — earlier Royal Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, and now known as AJC Bose Indian Botanical Garden — in Howrah is famous as the location of the Great Banyan. Estimated to be over 250 years old, this is the largest banyan tree in the world to exist without its trunk — damaged by disease and cyclones, the main trunk of the tree was cut off years ago, but it has continued to grow. Due to some damage caused by the Amphan cyclone in 2020, the tree is now in an enclosed area but it can still be viewed in all its glory. Apart from the Great Banyan, there are an estimated 14,000 plants, from trees to shrubs and flowers of various species, to explore in this garden created in 1787. Located in Howrah’s Shibpur area, the Botanic Gardens are easily accessible with several buses going to the region. It is the perfect place for an educational day out with the kids, or just to enjoy some oxygen-rich air in the winter. Make sure to stroll along the Nature Trail — a walkway shaded by trees inside the garden. You might not be able to enter with food, but this one should still make your list if you are a nature lover. Bonus, you cannot take any plastic items inside the gardens.
Entry: Rs 10 for Indians, Rs 100 for other nationalities; Rs 20 for still photography
Timings: 8am - 5pm, ticket counter closes at 4pm
Maidan
Bask in the winter sun at the Maidan
TT ArchivesAnother one of the city’s biggest green lungs, the Maidan is iconic. Cricket, football, horses and cattle, dogs playing and families enjoying picnics, the versatile Maidan offers something for everyone, and is a hotspot for picnic lovers in the winter. With several sports coachings set up all around the region, the place is always buzzing and more so in winters when the fog allows for a nice run in the mornings. Walks in the evening are also recommended but people are asked to clear out by 6pm. Head over to the Maidan with a group of friends for a day of sporting activities or even to have a nice cosy picnic. With no entry fee and no real concept of gates, Maidan is open for everyone. You have a dog who wants to run around in open spaces? Maidan is your go-to spot. Want to lay on a blanket and spend the afternoon reading? You’ll find a nook at the Maidan. So head on over and bask in the last few rays of the winter sun because the summers won’t allow it.
Entry: Free
Timings: Early morning - 6pm approx
Nandan
Nandan is a showpiece of Bengal’s rich artistic culture
TT ArchivesJust like Coffee House, Nandan is another central figure in Kolkata’s rich history when it comes to art. The home of the Kolkata International Film Festival, Nandan remains open to everyone if you have a movie ticket or not. The artistic ambience outside the theatre is a hub for intellectuals and a perfect adda spot in the city. A winter evening at Nandan is perfect for chai and chatting, aside from the fact that you don’t really know if the people jamming next to you are going to make it big in music. Artistes from various cultures come together at Nandan, exchanging ideas and engaging in deep conversations that often lead to artistic masterpieces. Going alone or with friends, it hardly matters, you get a sense of inclusivity when you are at Nandan and that is what makes it special. Take a guitar and just strum and destress, the vibe of Nandan will lead to you having a good time.
Entry: Free on premises
Timings: 9am - 9pm
New Market
150 years into its existence, New Market is still the go to shopping spot in the city
TT ArchivesNew Market (Hogg Market) might be 150 years old, but it is still the go-to shopping centre in the city for many things, despite the growth of several malls. The prices here are unmatched and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that if you are looking for something you’re sure to find it here. Clothes, food, accessories, toys anything — New Market has anything you might want and not just in one shop but multiple, and at very good prices. Outside New Market, there are plenty of food options — a sweet corn chaat on a winter evening would seem like fun, plus there are some popular phuchka vendors you should visit. There are also several stalls set up outside on the street leading to the market complex. The other draw of this old Kolkata market is the meat market and if you are looking for the perfect spicy pork sausages, UP Cold Stores behind New Market offers delectable cocktail sausages that aren’t found anywhere else.
Timings: 10:30am - 9pm
Shiraz's winter breakfast
Shiraz Golden Restaurant offers a winter special breakfast menu
Soumyajit DeyHave you had your fill of paya this winter? If not, this is your cue to head over to Shiraz as early as 5.30am. There are few better ways to get a winter morning started than a breakfast of mutton paya and dalpuri. Shiraz Golden Restaurant in Park Circus offers a special breakfast menu only in winters from 5.30-10am. Try their Mutton Paya for Rs 180 or the Mutton Magaz for 160. Even their Mutton Stew is worth the price at Rs 150. Shiraz does not serve these items through the year so while winter still hovers above us, get up early and go for some delectable mutton delicacies before you get FOMO.
Address: 135, Mother Teresa Sarani, behind Neuro Science Hospital, Park Circus, Beniapukur
Timings: 5.30am -10am for the special winter breakfast
Pocket pinch: Rs 250-300 per head
Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Spend a morning with birdsong at the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Pintu MandolIf you take a metro to Kavi Nazrul, you can hop onto an auto that will take you to the Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary in the Narendrapur-Ramchandrapur area. While the EM Bypass extension outside buzzes with activity, there is a small green space where silence reigns and birdsongs echo. If you are a birding enthusiast, or just enjoy the quiet of nature, the bird sanctuary is great for you and the cooler climes make it a pleasant walk, minus the sweaty affair during summers. Popularly known as Kayaler Bagan, the bird sanctuary shelters a wide range of birds, butterflies,insects and several plants and trees of indigenous origin that offer medicinal benefits.
Timings: 7am - 5pm
Entry: Rs 50
