Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and spreads along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. The maidan which is often referred as the city's lungs, is an enormous open expanse occupying about 1,300 acres (500 hectares) along the river and is the chief recreation area used by Kolkattans. Within its vast stretch it engulfs the city's famous football playing ground of East Bengal, Mohan Bagan and Mohamedan Sporting club. It also serves as open air gathering for political parties as well as fresh air for early morning joggers.  

Looking straight from the maidan, at the southern end stands the huge white-marble constructed Victoria Memorial.  It is one of the citys classic architecture representing a mixture of classical western and Mughal style. 

The administrative centre of  Kolkata is BBD Bagh which was earlier known as Dalhousie Square with a lake at the centre. The Writer's Building which stands on the north side of the square dates from 1880 is of Gothic-style architecture. The building derives its name from those days of clerical workers who were known as 'writers' by the East India Company. This building is now the administrative office of the ruling Marxist Government. The West Bengal tourist office stands on the eastern side of the square. On the western side is the the General Post Office, with its majestic dome and Corinthian columns. The original Fort William used to stand on the site of the present-day post office until it was abandoned in 1757. 

Though all indications of  legendry black hole of Kolkata has been removed since independence, it actually stood at the north-east corner of the post office. It is a tiny underground cellar where 146 people were forced into it on an uncomfortable humid night when the city fell to rule of Siraj-ud-daula. Next morning only 23 were only alive due to overnight suffocation. 

The city's other attractions includes the Indian Museum which is  the largest and the best museum in the country, the Botanical Gardens, home to a 200-year-old banyan tree, the cantilevered Howrah Bridge, considered to be the busiest bridge in the world.

For people with religious belief there are famous temples at Kalighat, Dakineshwar where one can offer there prayers to Goddess Kali. 

Away from the hub-dub of the city and only around 40 minutes drive is the city's amusement Parks the Nicco Amusement Park and first of its kind in India the Science City. 

For the adventure enthusiast there are wildlife spots like the Sundarban forest a preserve of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, or  Jaldapara and Gorumara reserve forest inhabited by rhinos. 

You could also take time off for short trips to various nearby tourist spots like Digha Beach a romantic holiday beach on the Bay of Bengal, 183 km from Kolkata. The Iscon Temple at Mayapur the birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the old capital of Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-dullah at Murshidabad home of Visvabharati University established by Tagore,  Belur Math  Headquarter of Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, founded by Swami Vivekananda. It's an architectural amalgam of the church-mosque-temple, signifying the message of universal brotherhood.

Bishnupur is another place of interest located in the district of Bankura and famous for its Terracotta temples and horses. It was the capital of ancient Hindu Mallabhum Kingdom. It is a small town surrounded by old forts and also has 15 temples.