Nakhoda Mosque

You can spot the brightly-painted onion dome of the Nakhoda Mosque as you travel down Chitpur Road. Modeled on Akbar's tomb in Sikandra, this is the biggest mosque in Calcutta. It can hold up to 10,000 devotees at a time. Made of red sandstone, the mosque has two minarets. Timings: 5 am-noon, daily Parasnath Jain Temple

Parasnath Jain Temple

A mélange of mirrors, stones and mosaic greet the traveller who steps into the Parasnath Jain Temple. Set in the busy Shyambazar area, the temple is nearly 150 years old and is dedicated to Sital Nath, the 10th of the 24 Jain Tirthankars or prophets. Timings: 6 am-11.30 am, 3 pm-7 pm, Daily St Paul's Cathedral

Stained glass windows, Florentine frescoes, carved wooden pews and chairs - the St Paul's Cathedral is an architectural delight and balm for the soul. The Gothic-style monument provides a foil to the bustling city around it and is the largest cathedral in Kolkata. Timings: 9 am-noon, 3 pm-6 pm, daily Belur Math

Set on the banks of the river Hooghly, as the Ganges is known here, the Math and Ramakrishna Temple was built in 1899. You can take a bus or taxi from the Howrah station to this place. The Belur Math stands testimony to the various architectural styles of Indian religions. Don't miss the evening ritual here which culminates is a grand, soul-stirring arati. Timings: 6.30 am-11 am, 3.30 pm-7 pm, Daily Dakshineswar Temple.

The temple is located across the river from Belur Math. The central shrine in the temple complex is dedicated to the goddess Kali. Twelve temples of Lord Shiva form the remainder of the complex. Both Belur Math and Dakshineshwar are a good drive away from Calcutta, and great places to soak in the spiritual heritage of Bengal. Timings: 6.30 am-noon, 3.30 pm-9 pm, Daily Kalighat Kali Temple

Bright hibiscus and marigold set against borders of green, bells that clang through the day, a perennially drenched courtyard, the pervading fragrance of camphor, lamp oil and incense - the Kali temple at Kalighat is one place where you can drink in the sights, smells and sounds of Shakti worship. Legend has it that this temple was built on the spot where the finger of Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, fell. Timings: 5 am-3 pm, 5 pm-10 pm, Daily Birla Temple

Built on one side of a busy road, the Birla Temple is a relatively new addition to the religious landscape of Calcutta. The architecture of the temple draws mainly from the beautiful places of worship in neighboring Orissa. It might not have the historical feel of some of Kolkata's older temples, but this temple in Ballygunge is a visual delight.