What to do in Kolkata when it rains

Rainy days suit Kolkata: trade the streets for its galleries and museums, a sheltered market, and a café where you can watch the weather go by.

Museums

Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.

  • Victoria Memorial Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
  • Indian Museum 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Colootola, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016, India
  • Jorasanko Thakurbari Ganesh Talkies, 267, Rabindra Sarani, Raja Katra, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007, India
  • Metcalfe Hall 12, Strand Rd, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
  • Birla Industrial & Technological Museum 19A, Gurusaday Road Near Ballygunge Ice Skating Rink, PHYSICS BLOCK, BIRLA INDUSTRIAL & TECHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM, 19a, Gurusaday Dutta Rd, Beck Bagan, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019, India
  • Netaji Bhawan 38/2, 10, Elgin Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020, India

Art galleries

Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.

Historic sites

Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.

  • Babughat Strand Rd, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
  • James Princep Monument Strand Rd, Maidan, Fort William, Hastings, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021, India
  • Bagbazar Ghat Bagbazar St, Bag Bazar Colony, Baghbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700003, India
  • Dalhousie H8CX+5W5, Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag S, Lal Dighi, Lal Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
  • Kumartuli Ghat J926+M82, Raja Nabakrishna Street, Sovabazar, Shobhabazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700005, India
  • Gillander House 8, Netaji Subhas Rd, Murgighata, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India

Covered markets

Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.

  • New Market Kolkata D-23 19, Lindsay St, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700087, India
  • Wellington bike market 3b, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Rd, Esplanade, Janbazar, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013, India
  • Barabazar H9J3+G4J, Raja Katra, Bortola, Barabazar Market, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007, India
  • Esplanade Dharmatala Market O, Shop W.R, 43, Bertram St, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013, India
  • Hatibagan Market 122, Shri Aurobindo Sarani Rd, Manicktala, Khanna, Shyam Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700004, India
  • Gallif Street Pet Market Mahatma Sisir Kumar Sarani, Bag Bazar Colony, Ghosh Bagan, Baghbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700004, India

Cafés

Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.

Indoor shopping

Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.

  • Quest Mall 33, Beck Bagan Row, Park Circus, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017, India
  • Mani Square 164/1 Maniktala Main Road, Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, Kadapara, Phoolbagan, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, West Bengal 700054, India
  • Dharmatala Esplanade 17-118, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013, India
  • Avani Riverside Mall 32, Jagat Banerjee Ghat Rd, Choura Bustee, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal 711102, India
  • Forum Courtyard Mall 10/3, Elgin Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020, India
  • Vardaan Market Vardaan market, Camac St, Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016, India

Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.