Calcutta is notably one of India’s less touristy cities and getting to know the place is not as straightforward as in other mega-cities in India. Calcutta Walks does an excellent job at introducing the city from the perspective of proud citizens – and they do so with a great sense of humour and lively discussion. The price for the cultural walk seemed a bit steep at first glance, but at the end of the day it was one of my more memorable experiences in India.
True to famous Bengali hospitality, Ifte and the rest of the team certainly go out of their way to ensure a warm and friendly welcome – and their efforts don’t stop at the walk. They provide a “one stop shop” for travellers. On a recent trip to India with my mother, they arranged all the hotels and transportation in Calcutta and beyond (Darjeeling, Kurseong), pointed us in the right direction for authentic Bengali restaurants and provided suggestions for shopping and day trips. They took the hassle out of our travel planning and we were impressed with all the arrangements they made.