Kolkata, INDIA
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India’s third-largest city is a picture of paradox, where noble legacy meets ramshackle despair and hipster bars compete with gentrified colonial-era clubs. But one thing binds the 330-year-old metropolis like nothing can…Durga Puja. Find Kolkata’s devotional roots in the potter’s village of Kumartulli, where internationally renowned artisans craft life-like idols from straw and clay.
The 300-year old potter’s village of Kumartulli has its origins in the Days of the Raj when the British East India Company demarcated trade-specific neighbourhoods to Indian workmen. Today, hundreds of resident families earn their livelihood in this quaint village by sculpting masterpiece idols of gods and goddesses for various festivals, including the celebrated Durga Puja.
Witness experienced hands working on creating lifelike images of gods and demons, and reinventing the wheel with historical characters or local figures. Work-in-progress lie scattered or propped up in dimly lit workshops; you will see sculptures with facial expressions depicting anger and compassion with equal aplomb. It is fascinating to stroll across the area filled with small shops selling accessories used to decorate the idols.
The tour is an opportunity to learn about how these idols are created, where the material is sourced from and how the gifted artisans struggle for their sustenance. The largest hub of idol-making in Bengal, Kumartulli is like a living museum where one can witness the dexterity of craftsmen bringing the Goddess to life with dedication and reverence.
From August to October, craftsmen race against time to create straw frames, coat them with clay and paint faces for Durga and Kali festivals when the city turns into a festive spectacle. Pay your respects as you get a dose of cultural immersion.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English & Local Language 
Inclusions: Private Knowledgeable guide, Entrance fee - 50 Per Person, entrance ticket (if any) to be included 
Exclusions: Meals. Personal Expenses and Souvenir, meals unless specified 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 3 hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹8820 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹8,820 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!