Temple tour
In short: A 2-day, 1-night private temple tour of Kolkata (Calcutta), the city of the goddess Kali. You visit Kalighat, one of India's 51 Shakti Peethas, the Dakshineswar Kali Temple where Sri Ramakrishna lived, and Belur Math, headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, crossing the Hooghly River by ferry for the evening aarti. Day 2 covers the flower market, the idol-makers of Kumartuli and the Calcutta Jain Temple. Prices from US$149 (3-star), US$179 (4-star) and US$229 (5-star) per person.
Tour at a glance
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
|---|---|
| Route | Kolkata Airport → Kalighat → Dakshineswar → ferry → Belur Math → Mullick Ghat → Kumartuli → Jain Temple → Kolkata Airport |
| Starts / ends | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) or Howrah / Sealdah railway station |
| Temples | Kalighat Kali Temple, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Belur Math, Calcutta Jain Temple |
| Best season | October to March; Durga Puja (September–October) is spectacular but very crowded |
| Pace | Relaxed – planned around temple opening hours |
| Meals | Breakfast at the hotel; vegetarian food available everywhere |
| Ideal for | Hindu pilgrims, spiritual travellers, families and culture lovers |
| 3-star tour price | From US$149 per person |
| 4-star tour price | From US$179 per person |
| 5-star tour price | From US$229 per person |
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Kolkata – Kalighat, Dakshineswar and Belur Math aarti
Meet at Kolkata Airport and drive to Kalighat for darshan of Maa Kali. After lunch, continue north to the Dakshineswar Kali Temple when it reopens in the afternoon, then take the short ferry across the Hooghly River to Belur Math for the evening aarti.
Kalighat Kali Temple
Why it matters: One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where, according to tradition, the toes of Sati's right foot fell. The present temple dates from 1809, and the city's name is believed to come from Kalighat.
What you see and do:
- Darshan of Maa Kali, with her long golden tongue
- Flower, sweet and sindoor stalls in the lanes around the temple
Tip: Queues can be long and the temple has many touts offering quick darshan; your guide will help you avoid them. Leave leather items in the car.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Why it matters: Built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni on the east bank of the Hooghly, it is where the saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa served as priest and lived for 30 years.
What you see and do:
- The nine-spired Bhavatarini Kali temple
- Twelve Shiva temples along the river
- Sri Ramakrishna's room and the Panchavati grove where he meditated
Belur Math
Why it matters: The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897. Its main temple blends Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Islamic architecture as a symbol of the unity of faiths.
What you see and do:
- Sri Ramakrishna Temple and the evening aarti with devotional singing
- Swami Vivekananda's room and samadhi temple on the riverbank
Tip: Silence is kept in the main temple. Photography inside the shrines is not allowed.
Day 2: Flower market, Kumartuli, Jain Temple – departure
Start early at Mullick Ghat flower market beside the Howrah Bridge, then walk through Kumartuli, where artisans sculpt clay idols of Durga and Kali. Visit the ornate Calcutta Jain Temple and drive past Victoria Memorial before your airport transfer.
Mullick Ghat flower market and Howrah Bridge
Why it matters: One of Asia's largest flower markets, piled with marigold garlands for the city's temples, under the cantilever Howrah Bridge (1943).
Tip: Go before 9:00 am for the best colour and activity.
Kumartuli
Why it matters: A 300-year-old potters' quarter where families of artisans make the clay idols used in Durga Puja and Kali Puja.
What you see and do:
- Idols at every stage, from straw frame to painted goddess
Calcutta Jain Temple (Parshwanath Temple)
Why it matters: A Svetambara Jain temple complex built in 1867, decorated with mirrors, glass mosaic and marble, set in a formal garden.
Tip: Leather items are not allowed inside.
Travel distances and realistic journey times
Times are realistic door-to-door estimates for the roads as they are, including traffic and a short stop, not map-app minimums.
| Day | From | To | Distance | Journey time | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kolkata Airport (CCU) | Kalighat Temple | 22 km | 1 to 1.5 hrs | car |
| 1 | Kalighat | Dakshineswar | 20 km | 1 to 1.5 hrs | car |
| 1 | Dakshineswar | Belur Math | across the river | 20 min | ferry |
| 1 | Belur Math | Hotel | 15 km | 45 to 60 min | car |
| 2 | Hotel | Mullick Ghat, Kumartuli, Jain Temple | 20 km | half day | car |
| 2 | Central Kolkata | Airport (CCU) | 20 km | about 1 hr | car |
Total road distance on this tour: about 100 km. Kolkata traffic is slow at rush hour; we leave buffer time for flights.
Hotels: 3-star, 4-star and 5-star
| City | 3-star | 4-star (or similar) | 5-star (or similar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata | 3-star hotel | The Peerless Hotel / Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata | The Oberoi Grand / Taj Bengal / ITC Sonar |
Hotels are confirmed at booking, subject to availability. If a listed hotel is full, we book one of the same standard. Every room has a private bathroom, hot water and air-conditioning, on a twin-sharing basis; single rooms are available at a supplement.
Meals
Breakfast is included at your hotel. Kolkata is famous for its sweets (rasgulla, sandesh, mishti doi) and vegetarian Bengali thalis; we can recommend restaurants. Temple prasad is vegetarian.
Guide languages
A licensed local guide accompanies all sightseeing days. Standard languages: English and Hindi. On request (subject to availability): Thai, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, French, Spanish and German.
Airport arrival and departure
- Arrival: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU); Howrah or Sealdah railway station on request. Our representative meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board and escorts you to an air-conditioned vehicle. Transfers are included at any hour, including late-night flights.
- Departure: Kolkata Airport (CCU) or Howrah / Sealdah station. We drop you at the terminal with enough time for check-in (about 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights).
- Delays: we track your flight number, so a delayed flight does not mean a missed pickup.
- 24/7 support: phone and WhatsApp +91-9794122849 for the whole trip.
Tour prices: 3-star, 4-star and 5-star
Comfortable 3-star hotels
4-star hotels – our most popular choice
Luxury 5-star hotels
Prices are per person in US dollars for land arrangements, based on 2 travellers sharing a room with a private car (sedan or Innova), and include GST. The final price depends on travel dates, group size and hotel availability; peak dates (Christmas, New Year, Diwali, Durga Puja and Kali Puja) may cost more. Families and groups of 6 or more get better rates; ask for a quotation.
Inclusions and exclusions
Included
- 1 night' accommodation on a twin-sharing basis in your chosen hotel category
- Daily breakfast
- All transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned car (sedan or Innova)
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- English-speaking licensed local guide for sightseeing (other languages on request)
- Dakshineswar–Belur Math ferry tickets
- Daily bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Driver allowances, tolls, parking and state taxes
- GST (Indian goods and services tax)
Not included
- Flights and train tickets (we can book them for you at actual cost)
- India visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (recommended)
- Lunches and dinners
- Puja offerings and donations at temples
- Victoria Memorial entry (optional; closed Mondays)
- Camera and video fees at monuments
- Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Single-room supplement
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and drinks
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Good to know before you travel
- Temple hours: Most Kolkata temples close for a few hours around midday, and Belur Math closes in the early afternoon. We plan the day around opening times.
- Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; shoes removed at shrines. Leather items are not allowed in the Jain Temple and are best left in the car at Kali temples.
- Best time: October to March (15–30°C). April to June is hot and humid; June to September is the monsoon.
- Festivals: Durga Puja (September–October) and Kali Puja (October–November) are magical but crowded; book early.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 2-day Kolkata temple tour cost?
Our 2-day, 1-night private Kolkata temple tour costs from US$149 per person with a 3-star hotel, US$179 with a 4-star hotel and US$229 with a 5-star hotel, based on 2 people sharing. Prices include the private car, guide and Dakshineswar–Belur Math ferry.
Which are the most famous temples in Kolkata?
Kalighat Kali Temple, a Shakti Peetha; Dakshineswar Kali Temple, linked with Sri Ramakrishna; and Belur Math, headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. The Calcutta Jain Temple and Birla Mandir are also popular.
Can I visit Dakshineswar and Belur Math on the same day?
Yes. They face each other across the Hooghly River and are linked by a 20-minute ferry. We visit Dakshineswar in the afternoon and reach Belur Math for the evening aarti.
What is the best time to visit Kolkata’s temples?
October to March, when it is cooler. Visit Kalighat in the morning, Dakshineswar in the afternoon and Belur Math at sunset for the aarti.
Can non-Hindus enter these temples?
Yes. Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Belur Math and the Jain Temple welcome visitors of all faiths who dress modestly and follow temple customs.
Related tours
Plan this trip with us. Tell us your dates, number of travellers and hotel category, and we will send a detailed quotation within 24 hours.
Plan My Trip WhatsApp +91-9794122849Prepared by the Prime Value Tours team in Varanasi, Govt. of India approved and an IATO member, organising tours across India since 1999. Last updated November 2026.