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Kolkata (Calcutta) Tours
Kolkata Slum Walking Tour
4.5

Kolkata Slum Walking Tour

By Let's Meetup Tours
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Ages 5-80
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Tour expert/guide
  • Packaged Drinking water
What's not included
  • Food
  • Pick up & Drop off


Start:
  • Sunflower Garden, Tower 4, 74, Topsia Rd, Topsia, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046, India
    We meet our Guest outside Sunflower Garden entry gate
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 59954P7

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • 5% GST
    • 48 hours prior to the tour – 50% of the full payment.
    • Less than 48 hours or no show - NO REFUND.
    • Entry charges & Gifts for Children not Included.
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 59954P7

    From
    £32.71
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Let's Meetup Tours
      230
      Kolkata (Calcutta), India
      Joined in July 2012
    • Seaside22704707103
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      Lot of things have to do here. Most of the things are very good. Very good experience here. Good behaviour of the supporting stuff.
      Written 20 July 2024
    • Heather M
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Non existant tour operator
      I booked another tour with this company & they did not turn up today. They do not answer their phone & their website does not exist anymore. Frankly TripAdvisor should screen their operators before they advertise their tours and take our money. Tripadvisor please make sure the tour operators are actually in business.
      Written 15 November 2022
    • Riddhi1993
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely tour
      INdu from lets meet up was kind enough to take me on a heritage walking tour even when i was the only participant. I had a lovely time and was pleasantly suprised to know so much about the british history of calcutta :)
      Written 28 December 2021
    • Dkheni6
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Leh trip
      Such a great adventure trip it was!! We had a great journey with uh guys and Experience of changla pass was unforgettable.Thanks!
      Written 9 September 2021
    • paul_sabella
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended
      We had booked two tours from Let’s Meetup.We enjoyed the Heritage walking tour,the guide was very friendly & gave us a lot of information.If you have some free time and want to learn more interesting things about Kolkata you, should book this tour,the second tour was the evening walking tour at Park Street on Christmas Eve , we saw the beautiful decoration and beautiful lights. We highly recommend this company considering some of the limitations due to COVID-19. Overall , great tour and great staff.
      Written 29 December 2020
    • Ranajit M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      One day Gangasagar trip
      Last week we went for a day tour of Gangasagar from Kolkata. The visit was planned a few weeks before and payments made online. The contact person at the agency was knowledgeable, decent and responded to my queries very well. The drivers of our car, both in mainland and sagar island were very helpful and coordinated nicely. Overall we had a wonderful trip with no problems whatsoever. My only suggestion to the agency, if any, would be to make available a more detailed document of the tour to the customer for whom it is the first experience. Depending solely on telephonic conversation may not be comfortable at times.
      Written 5 March 2020
    • Suvibongoinuk
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely little day out
      This was a great experience with lots of little facts and information particularly related to British India thrown in. Tour was well organized and not too rushed. It was nice to know Kolkata in a different way.
      Written 28 February 2020
    • HugeRobert01
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Malaysia International Tour
      Let’s Meet Up Tours arranged a best tour for me and my wife in Malaysia as it was arranged beautifully.First we saw the beautiful Batu Caves, then a large Batik Factory where we learnt the designs on silk & cotton are made. My one of the favourite tour of the world’s largest Pewter Factory.It was very well organised and the team assisted me by answering all my queries during the the time of booking. The trip was well organised and guide was very friendly, we could ask many questions about Malaysia just on the drive back. It was very comfortable and also very good value trip.I would highly recommend this company for international trips.
      Written 31 January 2020
    • Dilip G
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour and experience
      Myself and my 88yo father enjoyed a fantastic education, history and walk around the BBD area. Ended with a ferry ride to Howrah and experienced the “stampede” of people wanting to board the ferry to Kolkata! Incredible India. Indu was our guide and was a great and friendly host and very knowledgeable.
      Written 27 January 2020
    • 746ballfamily746
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kolkata Let's Meetup Tours excellent!
      We did several tours with Rahul from Let's Meet Up Tours. Colonial Heritage tour was excellent with our guide Rahul having outstanding knowledge of his city! He went out of his way to unpack the interests of my husband re the colonial history of the city. The Victoria Memorial was a highlight and a wonderful museum! Cultural tours of the city were also excellent with some interesting walks to really 'see' the city, the temples and the people. The walk around the flower market and bridge was a highlight. The slum tour with guide Shubahm was well organised with residents welcoming to visitors and the tour ethical in its approach. The tour name could be changed as it does not promote the purpose of education and raising funds for residents. (Let's Meetup Tours donates some of your payment to support the slum). Shubahm was gentle in nature and had a great rapport with the residents and their children. He was a very good guide. Lunch stops were clean and had a lot of variety. We especially enjoyed the South Indian food stop. We have done many tours around the world. Rahul was among our top guides in the many cities we have visited - professional, reliable, knowledgeable and helpful. Thankyou Let's Meetup Tours - we highly recommend this company for an interesting week in Kolkata! Kolkata has so much to see and to do!
      Written 17 January 2020
    • Michel C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect
      I hier a Tempo Traveler for few days in Kolkata during Durga Puja. I was completly satisfied with the services of this Agency. The very friendly driver was very careful, véhicule clean and in very good condition. Do not hésitante to rent here.
      Written 5 January 2020
    • JitendraS381
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Durga Puja At Kolkata With Let’s Meet Up Tours - An Affair To Remember!
      *Let’s Meet Up Tours* did an amazing job of organizing our night trip for Pandal Hopping during our visit to Kolkata during Durga Puja. Indu, the MD of this company customized our itinerary according to our desired preferences. She even arranged VIP Passes for us which helped us in having Darshan of Goddess Durga on priority despite unprecedented crowd at all pandals. Initially we were hesitant to move at night as we were total strangers in the city. But we really felt very safe going from one Pandal to another till 6:00 the following morning. The Driver was punctual in picking us up from the hotel besides being courteous and friendly. Even when he dropped us in the morning he left us with a smile on his face. I wish *LETS MEET UP TOURS* all the very best for every success.
      Written 3 January 2020
    • DearTia
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Durga Ma pandal hopping Darshan during Maha Ashtami on a rainy Sunday!
      I am extremely elated with the services provided by Let’s Meet up Tours – Kolkata. Highly recommend the company’s arrangements and genuinely appreciate all the efforts to materialize the Durga Pujo Pandal hopping tour on Maha Ashtami on 6th October 2019, Sunday. @Rahul, thanks in abundance for your assistance during the tour, appreciate your timely correspondence and compassion. Right from the initial inquiry, sorting details and the journey in itself was a brilliantly organized task. I appreciate Mr. Yadav, my chauffeurs’ punctuality & cooperation at all times, through the day. Travelling with an experienced agency for the Durga Darshan is a must do for all culture enthusiasts, thank you very much for undoubtedly enhancing my experience of witnessing the glorious history and culture of Kolkata. Your hospitality has ensured my customer loyalty towards you.
      Written 25 December 2019
    • msunando
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bonedi Bari Puja Parikrama
      If you are in Kolkata during Durga Puja, please keep one of these days (morning) free to allow Let's Meetup Tours to take you on a memorable trip of the traditional Pujas of the affluent families of the city, called Bonedi Bari Puja. So for all those who thought that Durga Puja is all show business for oneupmanship, glamour and glitz, more of a carnival for merry making than the ritualistic worship, it's time to think again. Whilst what you see in the pandals outside is "sarvajanik" (for everyone) in nature, there's the original, traditional Durga Puja at play in several family houses, rich in cultural and religious attributes, more private in nature. These are the rituals of the affluent families of Bengal, some dating back more than two centuries. The traditional household Pujas of Kolkata are also known as Bonedi Barir Puja in Bengali. The Bonedi Bari Durga Puja in Kolkata is not just a remembrance of the past; it is an emotion for the family members. The term "Bonedi" is said to be derived from the Urdu word "Buniyaadi", which when translated roughly means foundational. Rich In heritage and customs, these Pujas are performed in the household temples inside what you could still call mansions, they are mostly concentrated in North Kolkata, which is the older part of the metropolis. Each one has it's own story of a glorious past and a tale of transition to the modern times, but having retained the essential values and traditions. At the Shobhabazar Rajbari you are greeted outside the gate by a trader of Itr (essence), and apparently, this is going on for centuries. At the "Thanthania" Dutta Bari, Durga isn't worshipped the way we are used to seeing, but she is held in Shiva's lap. At Rani Rashmoni's house, the faces of the idols are not made from a mould, but hand crafted by the artisans, and so on. The total expenditure on the Durga Puja of the Chunder family in 1902 was Rs. 1,793/- only, can you believe that? That included a payment of Rs. 236 to Jan Byjee (a nautch girl) and Rs. 315 for a Jatra (folk play). The emotions associated with these Pujas are that of pride, affluence, privacy, traditions, cultural heritage, inheritance and safekeeping of history, unlike the pompous public pujas that are commercial in nature, competing with one another for recognition and prizes, and have the flexibility of changing themes according to what's trending currently. The Bonedi Bari Pujas are static thematically, and perhaps frozen in time. Let's Meetup Tours did a splendid job of the coverage of the few Pujas by virtually taking us to each doorstep and being guided by Mr. Sujit Chattopadhyay, a historian and author in his own right, the tour was a richly informative and enlightening experience. I highly recommend this one. You finish with a sumptuous lunch at the Lalit Great Eastern Hotel, one of my favourites in respect of their stay and food both, and it leaves you on a high.
      Written 14 November 2019
    • 300sonalim
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bonedi Barir Parikrama
      After 23 long years, we decided to visit Kolkata for Durga Pujo. For my daughter it was her first visit to Kolkata during this time. As we wanted to make the most from this trip, we coordinated with letsmeetup tours. This was only through net search. Our experience with them was very satisfying. We booked the Bonedi Barir Parikrama and Pandal hopping tour. They were very prompt on email as well as text messages regarding our queries. When we reached Kolkata, they were very accessible on phone anytime of the day. Now coming to the tour Bonedi Barir Parikrama was truely an experience that made our Pujo. It was perfectly well coordinated from pick up to the drop. The staff were extremely professional and helpful. The narratives given by Mr. Surjit Chattyapadhyay regarding the history of the Pujas along with the related historical anecdotes were definitely an icing on the cake for me. The last phase of the trip was lunch in Lalit Great Eastern accompanied by a folk cultural show which was excellent too. I would blindly recommend this tour for anyone, whether living in Kolkata or a visitor. I would definitely look forward to having more trips with this company.
      Written 14 November 2019
    See all 230 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles12 reviews
    Excellent
    9
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    2

    Shreyashi G
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2018 • Solo
    I had opted for the Slum walking tour. I have to say, even though the idea is unique, what makes it all the more special is Let's meet up tours' approach to sustainable tourism. It was heartening to know that the organization has done so much for the welfare of the slum-dwellers. The highlight of the tour was the visit to the school. The smiles on the faces of the children were priceless. Indu's hospitality deserves special mention. I am really looking forward to participating in another activity with them soon.
    Written 8 April 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your review, the kids in the slum school enjoyed spending time with you. Regards, Team "Let's Meet Up Tours"
    Written 9 April 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    zzle1
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Went to the starting point, no tour operator. Really fed up because this tour was expensive and we really wanted to do it. Have applied for a refund but unsure as to whether this will happen. The advertising says that you can pay half the money before tours and the rest after but there was no opportunity for that either, the entire cost was taken immediately.
    Written 16 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    wllytppr
    Los Angeles, CA1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2018 • Solo
    It's my first time in India and i'm here on a research fellowship. I don't speak any Hindi and don't have friends in the area so I booked a guide for my visit to the slum and was pleased how everything was handled. Nothing was sanitized for western eyes and it's clear the people of the slum are happy to see a foreign face and exchange greetings. I am an avid drawer and I gave a pen to a probably six year old little girl and the look on hers and her friends faces was priceless. I also got many photos for my research and never felt uncomfortable documenting in any way.
    Written 25 July 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    brian979
    New York City, NY33 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a horrible business. Confirmed the tour and didn’t bother to show up. Doesn’t Viator hold their partners to any standards? This is the second time this happened to me in just one week.
    Written 8 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Susi N
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    Rahul was fantastic, showing us around the slums and meeting all the children and their families. I had done a slum tour in Mumbai which I had enjoyed, but the extra interaction with the children and getting a better insight in how people lived made this extra special.
    Written 2 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    romanlukasz
    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    This visit was one of the highlights of our stay in Kolkata. The ability to interact with the residents and share in the work that the organization does for the community was simply priceless. It was a pleasure to meet all the children, talk to them, teach them and play with them. Participating in this tour will allow you to see the most genuine smiles on children’s faces, something so rare in some Western countries.
    Written 16 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Roberta
    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2019
    Since reading the book by Dominique Lapierre, I have always wanted to visit the slums of Kolkata. The tour shows just the more external part of the slums, but this is enough to get the slum spirit and experience how life develops there. The organisation is really good. I am a flight attendant living in the UAE and the flight to Kolkata was a last-minute change in my schedule. Everything was planned for me in a very short time and with a kind attention to understand my needs. My tour included also a visit to Mother Theresa's orphanage. I was travelling alone, and the tour guide Rahul was with me the whole time, giving me background information about the history of the places, the culture, how to behave. I felt safe in all the steps of the way. And most importantly, I felt respect and attention to the children and the people, both in the orphanage and in the slums.
    Written 7 November 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Meredith M
    Paris, France20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2019 • Friends
    Our group of photographers found a warm welcome on our slum tour and school visit with Rahul of Let's Meet Up Tours. The people of this community were generous in spirit and in their smiles. Their secret handshake made us feel a part of their life. Our time at the school was incredibly rewarding as some of our group were teachers and really connected with the children. It was so nice to see their smiles as they answered questions, did their work proudly, and sang American songs with us, like "doin' the hokey pokey." We also brought gifts of clothes, candy, and school supplies, which we know will be appreciated.

    This was our first day in India this trip and it set the stage for what is always an amazing adventure in a country filled with generous souls.

    A big thank you to Rahul and Let's Meet Up Tours for making this possible and for supporting the slum community year round in their endeavors.
    Written 27 February 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jamil M
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    This was a tour I will not forget. It was a privilege to see what life is like for the people living in the slum and enter their lives, even for a few seconds. The highlight was to meet so many lovely, welcoming children. The school was even opened up for me and I got to spend about 40 minutes with approx. 25 children. Their knowledge of English surprised me. Such happy children who believe education is so important - they really want to learn. SO welcoming! It really opens you eyes to life and puts our own lives into perspective - what should we really be focusing on in life. It made me really think about the sustainable development goals and how the lives of these children could be so different (for the good/bad) if some of these basic goals were met.... Thank you for giving such a great insight into the real life of so many people in Kolkata. I could not believe there are nearly 4000 slums but so few government funded slums! I would recommend this tour to everyone - I only wish I could have spent more time with the children.
    Written 28 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Shubham Sharma
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    What could be more facinating other than visiting to the slum as i did the tour with rahul and the main aim of this tour is to show the other side of the world which is totally heartwarming as the people in the slum are very friendly and especially the smile of the kids touched me a lot.Rahul was my tour guide and was very good and well prepared and you don't feel like a visitor here.I interacted with the kids they were sooo much happy as we distributed some chocolates and biscuits.I really recommend this heartwarming experience to everybody and i also thank Let's Meet Up Tours for this wonderful tour.
    Written 21 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 11
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Kolkata Slum Walking Tour provided by Let's Meetup Tours

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