Capital of the British during the earliest days of the Raj, Kolkata abounds in some of the finest examples of colonial architecture in India. Sprawled along River Hooghly, its two halves are connected by the imposing 450m span of Howrah Bridge – a feat similar in size to Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge. Once mother Teresa’s home, the city is often referred to as India’s friendliest metropolis.

Kolkata is well connected by air with most major cities of India. It is the ideal take-off point for off the beaten track destinations such as tea estates around Darjeeling, Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary, and gorgeous temples at Bhubaneshwar and Puri.