Christmas at Park Street
Park Street is popularly known as the Christmas hub. Park Street Carnival in Kolkata in December is when the entire street gets dressed with charming fairy lights and Christmas décor. The decorations start at Camac Street, where you can find a Christmas tree accessorised with ornaments. With the sweater weather at its prime, Christmas carols fill the air as musicians and bands come to perform at Park Street. The street is also filled with home-run businesses that sell plum cakes for the merry season.
Boat Rides in Early Winter Mornings
The natural beauty of the calming Princep Ghat makes it an Instagram-worthy location. The cool breeze that caresses your skin while you indulge in a serene boat ride is one of the most calming things to do in Kolkata in winter. As you cruise through River Hooghly, witness the poetic sunrise from the horizon in the company of your dear friends. Close to Princep Ghat resides the only floating hotel in India, Polo Floatel. The luxury hotel offers a comfortable stay on River Hooghly for guests travelling from outside. The hotel’s open deck presents itself as an event venue where you can celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities.
Places to Visit in Winter in Kolkata
Due to the pleasant climatic conditions, Kolkata during winter months become gratifying to fulfil your wanderlust. One of the most travelled places during the chilly weather is Raichak, a village in West Bengal. It is roughly 52.7 km from Kolkata, where explorers go to embrace the fresh air of the nippy weather. This location used to be home to an 18th-century Dutch Fort turned into a luxury hotel. Sit for long hours by the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River with your loved ones and immerse your soul in the cool weather with a hot cup of chai in your hand. Other places to visit in winter are Gangasagar and Tarapith for spiritual beings and Mandarmani for beach lovers.
Devour Winter Delicacies
The City of Joy brings a smile to everyone’s face, especially food enthusiasts! The city is home to several world-renowned dishes - from Arsalan’s biryani to 6 Ballygunge Place’s Ilish macher preparations. However, some lip-smacking delicacies are exclusive to a specific season. The winter season brings many dishes that people can devour only during November, December and January. One such is the famed Nolen Gur, which means the items are made of jaggery that remains available during winter.
Nolen Gur is used to make several sweet dishes like ice cream, mishti, sandesh, rasgulla and cheesecakes. Kolkata also bestows food enthusiasts with the flavoursome plum cakes that flood Park Street as the Christmas bells begin to ring. For a more savoury turn, experiment with the popular non-vegetarian dish, tehari. It is a slow-cooked mutton or beef dish prepared with a lot of ghee and an array of aromatic spices. Sufia, a renowned restaurant in Barabazaar, is known as the hotspot for tehari!
