West Bengal is an eastern Indian state stretching from the Himalayan foothills at Darjeeling to the mangrove delta of the Sundarbans. It combines the colonial heritage and literary culture of Kolkata with tea estates, terracotta temples, wildlife reserves and Bay of Bengal beaches.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Toy Train
UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge railway; the steam joyride loops past Batasia Loop and the Ghum station museum.
Duration: 2-2.5 hours (Darjeeling-Ghum joyride)
Science City, Kolkata
Large interactive science museum with a dynamotion hall, space theatre and dinosaur exhibits; popular school excursion site.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Alipore Zoological Garden
Zoo with rhinos, reptiles and a children's zone, established in 1876; the Alipore zoo is one of India's oldest.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Victoria Memorial gardens and museum
White-marble memorial with museum galleries, lawns and an evening sound-and-light show.
Duration: 2 hours
Sundarbans mangrove boat safari
Boat trips through the world's largest mangrove forest to spot crocodiles, deer and birds, with tiger-sighting watchtowers.
Duration: 1-3 days
Hooghly river ferry ride
A short boat trip between ghats for views of Howrah Bridge and the Kolkata skyline.
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Hill zoo with red pandas, snow leopards and Himalayan wolves; adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
Duration: 2 hours
Teesta river rafting near Siliguri
Moderate whitewater rafting on the Teesta river for families with older children, with trained guides and life jackets.
Duration: 2-4 hours
Eco Park, New Town
Large urban park with a boating lake, gardens and cycling paths for picnics.
Duration: 3 hours
Mirik Lake, Darjeeling district
Hill lake with pedal boats, gardens and a boardwalk, an easy hill-station outing.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
The Oberoi Grand
Landmark heritage hotel in central Kolkata with a garden pool and spacious family rooms.
Family features: Pool, connecting rooms and multiple restaurants
Taj Bengal
Large luxury hotel in Alipore, near the zoo and Victoria Memorial, with a big outdoor pool.
Family features: Pool, kids' menu and family suites
Mayfair Darjeeling
Hill resort in Darjeeling with gardens, a games room and mountain views.
Family features: Gardens, family rooms and indoor games
Windamere Hotel
Historic Darjeeling hotel overlooking Observatory Hill, known for colonial charm and fireplaces.
Family features: Cottage-style rooms and traditional afternoon tea
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Most Kolkata restaurants are child-friendly and flexible with mild versions of curries
Fish with bones is common; ask for boneless bhetki or prawn dishes for young children
Kathi rolls, puchka (ask for mild) and sweets such as rosogolla suit most children
Pack snacks for long drives in the hills and the Sundarbans
Choose busy restaurants with fresh cooking to reduce stomach upsets
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
October to March is the best period for families in the plains; the hills are enjoyable from April to June and October to November
Allow rest time in the afternoons because of heat and humidity
Carry sunhats, children's sun protection and a basic medicine kit
Prams are difficult on crowded pavements; a carrier or lightweight stroller works better
Many hotels offer baby cots on request; confirm before arrival
Check hill road conditions in monsoon before travelling to Darjeeling