Backpackers Room Accommodation in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Backpacking in Kolkata(Calcutta) on a shoestring budget !!!!

Hello Travellers/Backpackers..!!!

   “We are all travellers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” 
― Robert Louis Stevenson
Greetings to all my backpacking brothers from around the Globe..!!!

Kolkata Backpackers Homestay is run and managed by a a backpacker himself and offers B&B accommodation and all other backpacking assistance to western Backpackers coming to Kolkata...nothing fancy..nothing complicated...just simple accommodations to cover for food and shelter to stopover backpackers heading to /from Varanasi,Darjeeling or Sunderbans for short stopover or transit stays in the old yet captivating city of Kolkata which is fighting everyday to shrug off the scathe of modernity and hold on to its colonial legacy.

For the love of travel and travellers we are offering a perfect basecamp for Backpackers to crash which is beyond the commercial comforts of hotels or the uneasiness of staying in a hotel hob where every approach to you has some commercial interest...So Kolkata Backpackers Homestay offers you a stay close stay to the city's central hub yet hidden from commercialism and gives you a warm,comfortable and peaceful stay with an Indian family...and we are sure you will return happy like all Backpackers we have had over the years... 

This modest room has been a perfect hideout for backpackers providing basic amenities like :

• Bed & Breakfast with warm blankets for 2-3 backpackers for night(4th Friend might just huddle in)
• Simple filling Home cooked Delicious Breakfast ~we dish out excellent filling breakfast to suit your taste back home with a touch of local flavor..try our Dairy fresh yogurt..you will miss them forever!
• Clean hygienic western toilets with shower and toilet rolls,Hot water served in Buckets.

• Computer with Free Internet & Wi-Fi : Facebook travel pics, check mails,update your blogs travel ,keep a track of events back home & stay in touch with your loved ones !

• Books,Guitars & Board Games~Strike some tunes in our guitar,play chess or play cards,Read books,study maps ,plan your tours with our guidance & more.
• Space for storing your heavy backpacks while you tour the city.
• Bikes-on-Rent:A couple of hybrid city bikes to cycle around the winding by-lanes of the city.(Rs.350/6.5$) per bike for a city tour from 5:30 am to 8:30 am(03 hours) only on Sundays with our guidance covering most of the "must see" monuments,architectures and spots with us.
• City Walking tour with our guided service Rs.1500  for 02 person for New Part of the city and Rs.1000 for 02 person for Old part of the city and Rs.500 for every Extra person joining.

                 "City Walking tour details"

Day 1:(New part of City-South -Central part)

We start our Walking tour from Nandan/Academy of Fine Arts area and cover St.Paul's Cathedral,Victoria Memorial, then we walk through Maidan to Park Street follow Free School street to Sudder Street-Break for Lunch at Blue Sky Cafe.~Post Lunch~ we explore the British era New Market(Hogg market)- a shopping hot spot as we move towards Esplanade through Old tram depot and move towards Raj Bhawan with Old Colonial structures shadowing us throughout our walk and we make our way to BBD Bag,as we take left from Writers Building we take a look at the historic GPO building and then on to St,John's Church and Job Charnock's Mausoleum.As the evening nears we walk past High Court,Eden Gardens,Akashbani Bhawan ,Mohun Bagan Club towards the riverfront of Princep Ghat.Gentle stroll or a boat ride brings perfect end to the evening as we end our walking tour at Pricep Hall.

Day 2: 

We start our walk from Sovabajar Kumartuli as we explore the photogenic old bylanes of North Kolkata, we witness art in the making of how artists make statues of Gods and Godesses from Clay with their bare hands see some old dilapitated zamindar houses and proceed to Sovabajar Rajbari.Take a short tram ride to College street the big open bookmarket is an awe inspiring  thing to experience as you wade through columns of books literally strewn everywhere.Sip into historic 100 year Old "Indian Coffee House" or try the famous refreshing drinks from Paramount and then head to Nandan cultural complex for an evening of Dance,Music, photo and art exhibition to bring an end to a rewarding day.

Evening activities:

• Evening Bazaar(markets) walking tour

We organize special evening walking tours as we take your for a walking tours through prominent local bazaars and we walk through narrow side walks lined with local hawkers selling their products at bargain rates or we wade through a fresh sea food/fish market and vegetable markets as your fill

your senses with the smell and aroma of a typical Indian Market.It offers a chance to mingle with the local shoppers, interact with hawkers and witness the amazing energy that flows all around and we can top it off with some delicious street food or a soothing cup of tea...perfect end to the day.

Timings: 04:30 pm to 07:30 pm in winters

and           5:30 pm to 08:30 pm in summers

Rate:Rs.700 in total(upto 04 people)
We Organize Saturday village tours with Village markets Tours with same day returns.

We have special arrangements to make your evening occupied and eventful ! On weekends we take you to various cultural spots of the city to witness and explore the Cultural side that Kolkata is known for-
be it Folk Music from musicians from rural Bengal,Photo and art exhibitions,movie festivals,Sufi Music festivals  etc

•  City Tour on Motor Bikes~Be my pillion on my bike to explore the city and its narrow by-lanes through maddening traffic.!!!(Rs.1200/day)-this is only for a solo pillion ride ideal for single travelers looking to explore the city sitting on my bikes as we take care of your safety,convenience.(Includes Lunch)
• Train Tickets Assistance:We  assist you to Book train tickets  if you are heading to hills of Darjeeling or to Varanasi through online booking over internet or taking you to reservation office to book under "foreigners quota"
• Rent Heavy Jackets for cooler hills(No need to stuff you backpack with heavy jackets)..travel light !! 
• Go Camping :We have Himalayan Homestays too and our own camping ground ~Go Camping with Bon fires and Barbecues  with us.

                                "Homestay Rates"

~B&B @"Rs.450/Bed per Night"~

• Approximately :$7.5 or € 5.5 or £ 4.5 Per Bed Per Night.
• We accept U.S.Dollars,Euros and GBP's
• The  Beds are available on sharing basis or the entire private room basis depending on availability & request from your side.
• We have 02 single Beds,01 Pull out bed and one extra cot(if needed)~Sleeps 3 to 4 Backpackers.
• Basecamp Room:Single-Non Sharing Rs.600(Bed and Breakfast with wi fi) for single traveller.
• ~For Bigger groups on short stay contact us~

Breakfast~
KHICHDI or Indian Porrdige(Rice,lentils & potato) served with Omlette and yougurt

(05 slice of Bread with butter/Jam/Jelly,Two Eggs fried or Boiled to order,Tea/Coffee /Juices,Bananas,Fresh Dairy made yogurt)

Lunch/Dinner(Standard Indian Meal)~

We have Great Indian Restaurants nearby  within walking distance serving delicious local foods or we can arrange them for you at very reasonable rates at Rs.80-100 per meal.

We serve Beers and Breezers on request and can stock the freezer in your room with beverage of your choice.


Just drop in a mail/give me a ring or connect with me on Facebook...and let's share a cup of tea over travel tales and stay over for a perfect backpacking experience in the city of Kolkata:

Rajarshi(Rishii) 
Email: indianvoyagers@yahoo.in

(NO WALK IN BOOKING, CONTACTING BY EMAIL MANDATORY BEFORE ARRIVAL)

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/BackpackingKolkataCalcutta

Skype:indian.voyagers
Your Host & fellow backpacker:

Your Friend,Philosopher and Guide

Join us for cuppa tea and we would listen to your travel stories from across the Globe !!!


The stories begin here...Our Travellers Den !!

Let me help you understand our backpacker's homestay through a series of picture stories...

Our Backpackers Homestay is inspired by arts from rural Bengal and it blends taste for western music to create an unique theme for your room which its elements of art,crafts,music and culture.

The Oil painting shown here resembles  a dance artist from south of India known as Kathakali dance.It is  a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. It originated in the country's present day state of Kerala during the 17th century and has developed over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming

Our Backpackers Homestay-the furnitures are carefully chosen to be ethnic Indian chairs and tables made from wooden and interwoven jute work to provide a rustic look and down to earth comfort feel.

Backpackers Homestay has a selection of carefully chosen books from TinTin's to Lonely planets,Nat Geo magazines and Himalayan trek guide books.

Backpackers Homestay has a message for you and the me message is on the wall..literally !!!
Created by our own In house artist "Sayantani Podder Blooming arts "

https://www.facebook.com/SayantaniPodderBloomingArt

Backpackers Homestay-a view of the place you can relax,read,drink,plan,ponder and more...we have chess,guitars,books and entertaining hosts to keep you engaged !!!

One of the entertaining host I mentioned above...be aware where you keep you socks..he is a naughty socks stealer  but loving,friendly and playful!!!

One of the few essential things we feel in our room..a computer,when you travel long and far..a few moments of chats with your family or with loved ones can erase the distance and time...keep in touch !!

A few books-Rolling Stones and Gullivers Travels.

Backpackers Homestay- has small bed sides cabinets for keeping your clothes or knick knacks..
Safety of your stay and your belongings is our priority.... 

Backpackers Homestay-The classic bed and the cabinet...

Backpackers Homestay offers some interesting artefacts and ideas,here we have used an old rusted vintage box as table,world map as the table cover and some clay potteries tea set...strike and chord and get the evenings going...Pray for the people of Tibet !!!                                   

Backpackers Homestay-an attempt to confluence-art,craft,culture,food,thoughts,ideas and more...

Backpackers Homestay-It is an accumulation of small things...small ideas,small beliefs,small planet to be culminated under one roof ...Backpackers Homestay-sometimes gazing at playful fishes is a great way to relax !!!

Backpackers Homestay-An insight into rural arts of Bengal where people express their ordinary life through extraordinary play of colours..

The Patuas paint tales on long scrolls of cloth and sing them as they unfurl the scrolls. Their diverse repertoire includes mythological stories, tribal folk lore, social messages and narrations on contemporary events. Pot-Maya is an endeavor to showcase this rich oral tradition of a community skilled in translating their ideas through colourful images and soulful tunes.





The mood of the theme flows from art to Revolution to Socialism to Peace 

And few books if you are into Birding:
India is a birders paradise,you can head with us to pristine hills of Eastern Himalayas for a great birding adventure....

an