Go flower-shopping at sunrise
Get up at 7am to experience the heady scent of 1,000 ochre roses, spindly men carrying giant baskets of who-knows-what atop their heads and the greatest assortment of people and flowers you'll ever see. At Malik Ghat flower market, on the banks of the Hooghly River, you're guaranteed to witness the morning rituals as a smiling woman places a beautiful garland over your head.
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Explore a palace filled with baroque art and flamingos
Where else might you find works of art by Rubens and Titian, grinning monkeys, and a neoclassical mansion all in one place? You may well be the only person wandering around the cavernous halls of the eclectic Marble Palace, the home of 19th-century philanthropist Raja Rajendra Mullick. Don't miss the zoo hidden in the lush gardens.
Play tennis at a 19th-century country club
Do as the Kolkatans do at the Tollygunge Club; have a relaxed game of tennis, followed by dinner overlooking the 100-acre golf course. If you're in need of cooling down afterwards, take a dip in one of the recently renovated pools. If you can wrangle a stay here, you'll be reluctant to leave.
Get a front-row riverside spot for sunset
Hop in a yellow cab to the riverside Prinsep Ghat, the best spot in the city to watch the blazing sun dip below the horizon. And while you're here, make sure to hire a boatman to take you out on the water for some well-timed photo opportunities.
Lose yourself in a labyrinth of quirky shops
Navigating the throngs of people and piles of wares that line the streets of Gariahat market isn't for the faint-hearted, but if you're looking for an immersive moment of real India, this is it. Come here to find quirky gifts and henna stalls.
Spot Bengal tigers
Sharpen your eyes and keep limbs close; saltwater crocodiles and majestic tigers roam the UNESCO World Heritage Sundarbans, which means 'beautiful forest' in Bengali. The 140,000 hectares of mangroves lie about two hours from hectic Kolkata and make up the largest tiger reserve in India. Book tours through your hotel or West Bengal Tourism.
Brush up on Indian fashion
Jaipur-based brand Anokhi is known for its ethically sourced clothes and iridescent jewellery (great for pretty much every occasion). Pick up some of its intricate block-printed designs at Kolkata's Forum Mall.
Sip cocktails with city views
Head to Blue and Beyond on the rooftop of the Lindsay Hotel at night for glittering vistas of the sprawling skyline (and, of course, a punchy cocktail or two). If you fancy a more traditional setting for a drink, the offbeat Fairlawn hotel is around the corner: a moss-green, vine-entangled building crammed with colonial memorabilia.
Play cricket with locals
You're sure to find a locals' game to join on the Maidan, an immense urban park known as the lungs of Kolkata. The jade expanse stretches back towards the marble Victoria Memorial, a colossal monument that's well worth a visit, preferably in the haze of sunset.
