Bike Rental in Howrah Scooty on Rent in Howrah for Bridges, Belur Math & the Botanic Garden

Howrah Bridge , renamed Rabindra Setu in 1965, opened in 1943 and carries an enormous daily flow of vehicles and pedestrians over the Hooghly. The steel cantilever was built without nuts and bolts, held together entirely by rivets. Cross early on a weekday morning, when traffic is lighter and mist often hangs over the river. Stopping on the bridge is not allowed, so take photographs from the ghats on either bank.

The riverside campus at Belur was set up by Swami Vivekananda in the late 1890s as the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Order. The Swami Vivekananda temple shown here stands on the spot where he was cremated in 1902, facing the river. Photography is restricted inside the main temple. Park in the two-wheeler area by the gate and keep phones on silent. The evening aarti is a peaceful experience, so arrive before sunset to find parking.

The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden was founded in 1787 and stretches along the Hooghly in Shibpur. Its Great Banyan is more than 250 years old; the original trunk was removed in 1925 after decay, yet thousands of aerial roots keep the tree alive as a small forest. Check the opening days before you ride over. Two-wheeler parking is available near the main gate. Inside, wide avenues lead past palm collections, lakes and glasshouses, and the paths are best explored on foot.

Howrah station opened in 1854, when the first train in eastern India ran from here to Hooghly. Its red-brick terminal building with towers and clock faces looks over the river and the bridge. Traffic outside is chaotic, so park at the paid lot and walk to the riverside ferry ghat next door. The big clock on the facade has been a meeting point for commuters for generations.

The Regional Rail Museum near Howrah station displays restored steam locomotives, old coaches, signals and railway memorabilia from eastern India. A small toy train circles the grounds for children. It is a short walk from the station area. Check the timings, as the museum is closed on some weekdays. Models and photographs inside trace the story of the East Indian Railway, which ran the first trains from Howrah.

Shibpur is one of Howrah's oldest neighbourhoods, and its community pujas are among the most visited on this side of the river. During Puja the lanes fill with lights, food stalls and families walking from pandal to pandal late into the night. On Puja nights, park on a main road and walk in, as many lanes close to vehicles. After Dashami, immersion processions head towards the Hooghly ghats.