Explore Kolkata the local way with a beautiful boat ride in the Hooghly River

The city of Kolkata is located on the east bank of Hooghly river. Kolkata is one of the metro cities in India and is the main commercial and financial hub of East and North-East India. It was capital of India under British Raj. Today it is widely known for its love for variety of fish dishes and sweets, grand British colonial architecture, cultural festivals, lazy afternoon and intellectual 'addas'. It is a cosmopolitan city and quite densely populated. As a visitor, you need to know the correct places to hang out and eat to get the best flavor of Kolkata.

Boating Experience

The boating experience in Hooghly river during the sunset time is quite refreshing and a budget friendly choice. We reached Prinsep Ghat late in afternoon. The Prinsep Ghat in Strand road is one of the architectures from British time, which is restored and beautifully maintained. It is just beside the Hooghly river and overlooked by the Second Hooghly bridge. It is quite a perfect place to take some cool pictures. From here, walk across the railway crossing and reach the walkway which runs parallel to the river till Babughat.

Surrounding Places

There are many ghats along the way to reach to the river. Walk towards the ghat close to Outram ghat and inquire for the ride. Previously, it was perfect for photo shoot in the boat but nowadays, after some mishaps, they made life jacket mandatory. Hence, in all your photos, you will be wearing life jacket. The price for half an hour is Rs. 400 and if you wish to stay for an hour it would be double. I was wearing a saree and really wished to take some nice pictures. I was disappointed initially by the life jacket but was very excited and happy to get into the boat.

More about Ferry…

The boats are vibrantly colored which instantly lifts the mood. The ferry man rowed his boat slowly though the very calm water. The sun was golden and bright, just at an angle in the sky above the Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge). It was no less than a painting to watch the Second Hooghly bridge with the background of evening sunset sky and golden sun. On the other side, far away, Howrah bridge was visible.

Howrah bridge is a suspension bridge and one of the most iconic landmarks of Kolkata. The evening was serene and peaceful. It felt as if the time stood still there. We took pictures and captured video clips. There is not much to do in the boat but to relax and cherish the calmness. They don’t take the boat toward the middle as the water current is high. The sun was about to set now, and it changed color in shades on golden yellow and orange. It was beautiful.

Safety first

Do not try to remove life jacket as it is your own safety and do not force the ferry man with demands that he refuses. The rules are strict these days. Even if you are not choosing to go for boating, you would love to take a stroll along the riverfront and enjoy local fast food in evening before leaving the place. Check out our video for the experience in our YouTube channel Savvy Fernweh.