There are some places in Calcutta that are one of a kind. You don't need a ticket to see some of these. For others, all you need is an inordinate amount of patience. But at the end of the day, if you haven't seen these places on your trip to Calcutta, you haven't seen anything!
College Street
Trams, buses, people on foot, rickshaws, cows, dogs - and rows and rows of bookshops, that's College Street. If you're looking for books at a steal, this is the place to go to. A word of advice though - get to where College Street begins and undertake the rest of the journey on foot - this way, you can not only browse to your heart's content, you'll also not have to worry about parking your vehicle.
Howrah Bridge
It's among the Kolkata's best-known landmarks. The Howrah Bridge or Rabindra Setu, a cantilever bridge, is forever bustling with people and vehicles, and the best way for a tourist to savor this is to walk across this engineering wonder. Keep your eyes and ears open though - this bridge is high on traffic! You can also go for an early-morning walk and drink in some fresh river air from this bridge.Vidyasagar Setu
This is the second bridge to come up over the Hooghly. Vidyasagar Setu might not have the nostalgic charm of its twin, the Howrah Bridge, but it does ease some of the congestion on its more famous sibling. A good way to appreciate the beauty of this bridge would be to talk a moonlight drive over it at night.
TAlipore Zoo
he bear might look a little grumpy, the Royal Bengal tiger might refuse to grant you an audience, but the rhino here is sure to yawn for you even as the elephant shakes her head. The Alipore Zoo dates back to 1875 and is a place you must definitely go to, even if you're not with your kids. A must check-out here is the reptile enclosure.Homes of the Missionaries of Charity
If you've read City of Joy, you'll probably want to visit the homes of the Missionaries of Charity. A good place to start would be Motherhouse, the headquarters of the Missionaries, on 54 A, AJC Bose Road. If you want to volunteer some time during your holiday in Calcutta, you can ask for volunteering opportunities at Nirmal Hriday (the home for the dying), Prem Dan (home for the mentally ill and the sick) or at Nirmala Shishu Bhavan (the orphanage).