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Kolkata (Calcutta) Tours
Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour
5

Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour

By Calcutta Photo Tours
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 6-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Street side local food
  • Bottled water
  • Local chai
  • All Fees and Taxes


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Indian Airlines Office, Central Ave, near Air India Limited, Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700012, India
    Between the Chandni Chowk and Central Metro Station, opposite Yogayog Bhawan. P.S. Drop us a message if the mentioned start times do not work for you. Maybe we can schedule according to your convenience.
Pickup details
  • Any other city hotels, BnBs and private residences. Pickup timings will be relative to distance. Approximately 30 mins before tour start time for locations within city limits. Please note that unless there is a scheduled pickup, the minimum requirement for pickup is 2 pax. P.S. Drop us a message if the mentioned start times do not work for you. Maybe we can schedule according to your convenience.
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    End:
    • Brabourne Road, Brabourne Rd, Bara Bazar, Barabazar Market, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 144033P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 144033P1

    From
    â‚ą3,000.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 1
      Some of the neighbourhoods and places we cover on this tour include Bow Barracks, Zoroastrian Fire Temple, Old Chinatown, Old Jewish neighbourhoods, Jain Temple, Portuguese Church, Armenian Church and the Chitpur neighbourhood. Covid restrictions apply. Some places may have restricted entry or may have banned entry. Depends on the day and time of the day.
    • Brabourne Rd, Bara Bazar, Barabazar Market, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Calcutta Photo Tours
      831
      Kolkata (Calcutta), India
      Joined in June 2012
    • amymP5293QR
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Informative and engaging
      The tour was excellent. Very informative. We are not photographer's but we came back with some great shots. This tour is absolutely worth it! Manjeet really cares about the city and it shows.
      Written 3 January 2025
    • georgesh472
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Marigold Clicks
      Fantastic tour. Manjit makes you discover the finest photography spots of this amazingly colorful and incredibly busy place and he provides the full-immersion experience. Highly-rated and worth every single rupee.
      Written 25 December 2024
    • palashb2024
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      As always had an amazing tour.
      As always had an amazing tour. Manjit ensures he shares his view of the place and makes people around him comfortable, specially when the surrounding is challenging and chaotic. His ability to pace the tour and give space to the photographers in the tour makes it even more enjoyable. Look forward to the next one.
      Written 19 October 2024
    • jane W
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Calcutta flower market
      We both absolutely loved this tour, Manjet is great and we felt so much at ease wandering through the market and learning about the history. Defo worth 5* and the cost. Would not use another guide his knowledge is fantastic.
      Written 7 October 2024
    • Journey63059864812
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome street photography tour!
      Wonderful opportunity to see Kolkata up close and capture amazing street photography images! My guide was super knowledgeable and helpful in finding hidden gems that a visitor probably wouldn’t find on their own. A great way to spend a morning in Kolkata!
      Written 24 September 2024
    • Coastal58582882640
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Flowermarket tour
      I recently joined a photo tour with manjit that exceeded my expectations in every aspect. The tour was well-organized, with clear communication from the start. The itinerary was thoughtfully crafted, allowing ample time at each location to capture stunning shots without feeling rushed. The transportation provided was comfortable and efficient. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their photography skills while exploring amazing places.
      Written 24 September 2024
    • 610anjab
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tour to do for an in-depth experience of Kumortoli
      Awesome tour, this is the tour to do when you want an in-depth experience into Kumortoli. Manjit has been doing this tour for such a long time, that he has personal connections with a lot of the artists, which makes it extra special.
      Written 11 April 2024
    • 610anjab
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Flower market photo tour you should take
      Fabulous photo tour through the flower market and the surrounding ghats. Manjit has been going here for years, so he knows the sellers and the in and outs of the market. Loved the super relaxed atmosphere he creates and the in depth stories he tells along the way. Had the best time.
      Written 8 April 2024
    • Travel09303164582
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tour par excellence
      Booked this private tour for myself, an amateur photographer, and my wife who carries the lenses and loves culture and history. I used on the day a Canon 90D with an Extreme Pro super-fast SD card and stayed with my 18-55mm kit lens most of the time. We met Manjit at the hotel and, having done a tour the previous day with Manjit, we headed straight out. This tour proved more challenging than the kaleidoscope tour however Manjit very quickly realised I was struggling with the low light and crowded subjects and moved us to a better area. The tour was exactly as described with a never-ending supply of subjects to point the camera at with Manjit seeming to know everyone we passed. The biggest plus for us (apart from the most amazing opportunity to capture real life images) was that we didn’t have to worry about where we were (or how to get back), if we could point a camera at that person on not or if we were staying safe as Manjit was the perfect guide. He also has a great personality – warm and funny, and reads people and situations really well. After three hours we were exhausted and very pleased that Manjit had arranged a car to collect us at the start and finish of the tour. We would highly recommend either of the tours we took with Manjit and have gone away with memories money can’t buy.
      Written 28 February 2024
    • palashb2024
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended
      Fantastic experience…. Never felt I met Manjeet for the first time ….. Being originally from Calcutta and a very proud Bengali …I must admit it is tough to impress me with facts about Calcutta…having said that Manjeet opened my eyes to the cast iron import from Glasgow … he was also brilliant in terms of how he not only knew the place but the people around it ….look forward to doing more such walks with him.
      Written 17 February 2024
    • vbmam
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastically colourful tour, by an even more fantastic guide.
      Great tour. Very colourful. I need to be shown around a place like this, else on my own I would have been in and out too quickly and missed so much wonderful experiences. Manjit is a lovely guide who is known by so many people in the market which obviously helps those of us who are taking a walk around with him. It is tours like this that made our stay in Kolkata feel so special!
      Written 8 January 2024
    • amitkG6552DR
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Walking tour of European Calcutta
      It was a awesome walking tour , Manjit is a great story teller and we learnt so much about Calcutta. I highly recommended.l it , will plan to do thr cultural kaleidoscope tour in the future.
      Written 23 December 2023
    • medhak2019
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Can’t miss — great tour for locals and tourists alike
      Truly amazing experience — Manjit is a gifted storyteller and makes you wish your history classes in grade school were taught this way. He mixes historical context with humor and personal anecdotes from his loved experience that make this tour one you won’t forget! Would recommend his other series too — cultural kaleidoscope. This tour focused on the European history of Kolkata, starting from when the East India company first came to Kolkata all the way to colonization. Our group was mixed — second gen kids from America as well as Kolkata locals, and yet everyone had a blast.
      Written 23 December 2023
    • Q3508XBandyr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant tour
      Absolutely brilliant travel experience with photography opportunities around every corner and led by Manjit who provided tips, tricks and insights that made the whole experience one of the most remarkable travel experiences.
      Written 18 November 2023
    • 304kelliw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Seeing the real Calcutta
      During my recent trip to Calcutta for Durga Puja I was lucky enough to experience all the tours on offer under the glorious guidance of Manjit. Manjit's love of his city, it's people and various enclaves poured from him during these yours. He guides with enthusiasm and care, going out of his way to ensure your experience is a good one; willing to assist and support in any way he can. His tours are not only informative but allow you to really see the communities you visit, not always feeling like the obvious tourist. I would recommend that you don't miss an opportunity to take a tour or 2 or more with Manjit. You won't regret it.
      Written 12 November 2023
    See all 831 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles654 reviews
    Excellent
    635
    Very good
    14
    Average
    4
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    0

    Sarah
    New Delhi, India9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022
    Manjit cares - authentically - about what he does as he takes you into Kolkata's back streets early in the morning as the city stirs into action, to places I would never know how to navigate on my own. He has an eye for the fine detail, easily overlooked in the bustle. He shares his knowledge with passion and a sense of great fun. A clear highlight of my time in India!
    Written 15 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Mudit K
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021
    This tour was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted somebody to narrate tales about the history of Kolkata and how the old typical neighborhoods and the lovely people residing there are relevant to the history of the city. In the COVID times we never thought we could do this but Manjit made it possible. We had a great time tasting the delicious local snacks and learnt how the specific snacks have had a legacy through the people who settled in the lovely looking neighborhood. Old Kolkata was felt by us to a great extent. We are sure to do more of these trips with Manjit next time we visit the city of joy!!
    Written 31 October 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sinchana T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2022
    I stumbled upon this website through one of the YouTuber's video.
    For someone who's very keen on knowing our roots and is always intrigued by the diversity of this country, there was no other way I could have spent my time Kolkata.
    Manjit is extremely passionate about what his work and he truly loves the city, and that's clearly evident.

    The 3-4 hours we spent on the tour was easily the highlight of my entire Kolkata trip.
    Manjit was extremely patient and gave me all the time I needed to click the pictures and the best part was, he also ended up teaching me a few necessary photography and editing skills which may come handy.

    On the way, he also introduced me to some delicious local food and chai which was like cherry on the cake.

    On a whole, I would genuinely recommend this to everybody who deeply interested in the history and stories, and also someone who loves to capture some true essence of this country, that's on the streets!
    Written 13 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Budhaditya Pyne
    Sagamihara, Japan2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I am an NRI Calcuttan but living in Tokyo for 8.5 years. I was visiting home after 2 years with my close friend Maria from Russia. It was her first time in India. This walking tour with Manjit was recommended by my cousin Rahul who lives in London. It was quite a unique and fascinating experience for both of us: for me to learn the deep-routed history of North Kolkata: the colonial partitions of the White Town, Black Town and Grey Town: seeing the Portuguese, Zoarastrian, Jewish and Chinese buildings, corners and alleyways amidst the crowded streets was like a mysterious historical scavenger hunt. Being from South Kolkata, North Kolkata has always been rather a distant enigma, so it was great to explore and learn about its history with real-time explanations from Manjit. For Maria, although she is very well travelled across Europe, it was her first time in a developing country and this tour was quite the eye-opening experience for her as each corner of the alleyways had its distinctive cultural and economic contrasts.

    As the tour guide Manjit is simply brilliant: his knowledge, love and passion for Kolkata is quite remarkable: it transcends that of most Bengali locals. And on top of that he is jovial and humorous and I simply loved the way he interacted with Maria, made her feel at ease courtesy his jokes and ended up getting her addicted to Limca lol. I thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining banter haha.

    We’re very thankful to Manjit, we’ve kept in touch with him and would love to meet him again.

    I highly recommend this tour for anyone (not just foreign tourists). Times are tough during the pandemic, we wish Manjit all the very best.

    Cheers,
    Budha
    Written 3 February 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    BBentele
    New York City, NY5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Solo
    Fantastic tour! Manjit is incredibly informative and fun to be with. He took us through streets and sights that I doubt I would have found on my own, all the while bringing the area to life with history and story and good humor. He let us take our time wandering and musing and answering questions. And he treated us to sampling of food and drink. I’m looking forward to taking another tour with Manjit.
    Written 24 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Josef M
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Couples
    This is a tour I would truly recommend to anyone. Starting early in the morning, we experienced the city of Kolkata waking up in amazing areas of the city that me and my wife would otherwise have missed. It was a great opportunity to see the amazing mixture of religions and people that dwell in the city. Remember to taste the delicious food!

    Also, it was a pleasure to meet Manjid who was a great and knowledgeable guide!
    Written 31 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Nupur
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021
    If one really wants to visit the rustic Kolkata and feel the history through short stories, this trip does it for you. We wanted to walk around old Kolkata but connecting the people, architecture, streets and the local food but it is often difficult if there isn't a story woven around it. Manjit's story telling in this wonderful walking trip was thoroughly engrossing and it was heartening to see the neighborhood so happy when they saw Manjit backs with tourists. Yes , one could do the usual hangout places in a city but we wanted a slice of history and this trip gave us that and reasons enough to come back do more of these tours.
    Written 31 October 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the lovely review Nupur. It is always a very special moment for us when Indian guests from other parts of India come on a little adventure to Calcutta and fall in love with it. And we are glad you took this decision to visit Calcutta at it's craziest - the Pujas. There is nothing more fascinating than Calcutta during the Pujas. It was lovely to walk through our favourite part of the city with you. Looking forward to the next time you are here and sign up for another of our adventures.
    Written 2 November 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    1land2ps
    Australia959 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2020
    This is probably my favourite tour in Kolkata, which is such a fascinating mix of communities, and continues to be so with people moving in from country areas and from over borders.
    It really does give a sense of the LIVING culture of this fabulous city, and Manjit and his guides introduce the tour to friendly and informative residents in different parts of town who have stories of their own histories and communities.
    I've done this tour a few times pre COVID but the system won't let me put earlier dates.
    Written 15 November 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    neotraveller_12
    gurgaon27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Friends
    While going over the pictures on my phone I realised that I have not reviewed the best walking tour that I have ever been on.
    What Manjit offered was more than a tour, a glimpse into the history of Bow Barracks captured in coloured visuals of the narrow lanes that change their nature with every turn. The experience included tasting the chai made at the base of a tandoor, the softest naan ever with Nihari, freshly made besan gathiya with mooli and mirchi.
    He was patient with a group of 4 women who took longer at every stop than expected. Obviously, we took around 4 hours to soak in Bow Barracks and Manjit was a gracious host.
    Loved the experience and recommend it to everyone who wants to see the religious and cultural tapestry of Bow Barracks.
    Written 8 July 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Mich613
    Boston, MA65 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022
    We spent a wonderful morning with Manjit on this tour. We thoroughly enjoyed Majit's insight on Kolkata and photography as well as spending time together. Manjit is full of knowledge of the city, talent as a photographer, and the patience of a guide and teacher.
    Written 14 February 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour provided by Calcutta Photo Tours

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