☰Botanical Gardens

The oldest and largest botanical gardens in India, officially known as the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden. The star attraction is the Great Banyan Tree, over 250 years old, whose aerial roots spread across nearly a full hectare -- it looks like a small forest rather than a single tree. The gardens sit on the west bank of the Hooghly and can be reached by ferry from Kolkata or by bus via Howrah. A lovely spot for a half-day escape from the city's intensity.