Our morning today begins with a visit to the traditional household puja sites in North Calcutta. After breakfast, our guests are driven to the northern part of the city to witness the quintessential ‘Shaabeki’ – or traditional form of Durga Puja.

Here, our guests witness the morning rituals of Navami & also interact with the organizers to
understand the social significance of this festival. After a morning of exploring North Calcutta, our guests are driven back to their hotel. Later in the afternoon, guests are escorted for a drive around Victoria Memorial – built in dedication of the memory of Queen Victoria, Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. This memorial is one of the largest monuments in the world which is dedicated to a royal and is now maintained by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Further, we proceed to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and Mother’s House. St. Paul’s Cathedral, built in 1847, is regarded as the first Episcopal Church in Asia and is a perfect example of Indo-Gothic architecture. This church is also the biggest church in Calcutta. Mother’s House, the last resting place of Mother Teresa, is a peaceful, serene place amongst the bustle of the city. Built in 1950, Mother’s House is the Head Quarter of the Missionaries of Charity that pulls thousands of visitors from all around the world and serves the single purpose of selfless service towards the underprivileged.

Our guests are then driven back to the hotel, with the evening at leisure and overnight at the hotel in Calcutta.

HIGHLIGHTS:-

Morning visits to North Calcutta to witness traditional Durga Puja.
Interactions with the Durga Puja organizers & committee members.
Afternoon drive around Victoria Memorial.
Visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral & Mother’s House.

This morning, after breakfast, our guests are escorted for a guided walking tour of the Dalhousie Square area – The Second City of British Empire in India. The area near around the Dalhousie Square provides one of the most interesting walks through the eighteenth and nineteenth century history and architecture of Calcutta. The walk starts from the Governor’s House (Raj Bhavan) goes past the Treasury Building to St. John’s Church, up to the Calcutta General Post Office (GPO), and around past the Collectorate Office and the Writer’s Building – the seat of the state government. Further through the course of the walk we will view St. Andrew’s Kirk, the Old Court House Street, the Old Currency Building, the Central Telegraph Office, Wellesley Place (now Red Cross Place), as well as walk past the Great Eastern Hotel, ending our excursion near Curzon Park. The guests are then escorted back to the hotel for lunch & sometime at leisure.

In the evening, our guests are taken to a traditional Durga Puja pandal to experience the ritual of ‘Sindoor Khela’, a major event of Dashami. First, the married women greet the Mahadevi for one last time, accompanied by various rituals. They perform an Aarti, put ready-to-chew paan-leaves in the hands of the goddess, put sweets on the lips of the idol, wipe the idol’s eyes as one does to wipe off the tears when leaving a loving place. This event is called “Durga Baran”. They apply vermilion to the Goddess’s head and to each other and greet each other with sweets.

Further, guests are taken to the Ganga ghat to witness the immersion ritual, also known as ‘Bhashaan’. The immersion brings an end to the five day long festival. After an eventful day, the guests return to their hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Calcutta.

HIGHLIGHTS

Morning guided city walk in Dalhousie area
Evening experience of witnessing Sindoor Khela – vermillion game & Bhashaan
– immersion of Durga idols in the Ganges

After breakfast at the hotel, rest of the morning is at leisure. We recommend visiting the nearby markets – Esplanade, New Market, Park Street & Gariahat – if guests would like to taste some of the local delicacies. As guests check-out of their hotel, they are driven to the airport from where they embark on their onward journey.

Alternatively, we propose tour extensions including the Sunderbans, Murshidabad and other destinations in Eastern India.