If you’re in Kolkata to watch the IPL matches, here’s what else you could do when not at the stadium

Late evening means time to shop! Head right to Esplanade, New Market, Park Street or Gariahat. To soothe your thirst pangs after the mammoth shopping spree, make your way back to Park Street, also known as the trendiest street in the city, with the best and hippest watering holes and restaurants. Try Oly Pub, Trincas, or Mogambo. Do not miss Nahoum’s cake and Zeeshan’s hot kathi roll.

Post-lunch, academy of fine arts-Nandan-will keep your love for art movies satisfied. This place is a culture centre, which shows art movies, documentaries and international movies too. Next, head to Victoria Memorial, one of Kolkata’s most historic monuments. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, this white marble memorial is a favourite tourist spot on the banks of the Hooghly River.

After the hearty breakfast, your next go to place should be Jorasanko Thakurbari. It is the museum of Rabindranath Tagore and was built in 18th century. After this, go to Indian museum, which is India’s largest and oldest museum. It has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies, and Mughal paintings, including the original Ashok Pillar.

Since you will be close to the Hooghly River, you could choose to go for a dreamy ride across the river, a tributary of the mighty Ganga. Hop on to the boat from Prinsep Ghat and watch the sunset. You will also get to see the famous Howrah Bridge. For evening refreshments and coffee, you can either go to College Street or Floatal. The former is a hub for old manuscripts and books, while the latter is a floating hotel on a river. Choice is yours.

By the time you get out of the historic sites of Kolkata, it will be time for lunch time. Kasturi and Padma Parer Ranna Ghar serve delicacies of Kolkata and one can eat dishes like fish and rice, chicken, mutton, etc for a steal. There are many options for vegetarians as well.

It is finally dinner time and we suggest you go to Golbari- which is famous for Kosha mangsho (mutton curry), yet another iconic Bengali dish. You can also eat at Gariahat and try Chinese food at Tangra, cooked in authentic Chinese style, by Chinese people who have made the city their home for several decades now. Also, if you’re in Kolkata, you can’t go without trying out the ultra famous sweetmeats Bengalis are known to have created and those that they take equal pleasure in polishing off. Savour the world famous sandesh, rasgulla and their varieties from K.C Das, Bhim Nag, Balaram Mallick. Also get them packed for kith and kin.

We suggest you start your day a little early, let’s say around 8 am. Grab breakfast at another iconic place, Flury’s on Park Street, a restaurant and bakery that has been serving the city’s foodies since 1927. If you’re not into some bacon and eggs, the favourites at Flury’s you could head instead tot Mrs Magpie or Banana Leaf at Gariahat or if you want to have the staple Kolkata breakfast, the streets are dotted with luchi and aloor dum stalls.