Birla mandir : The vast marble and sandstone temple dedicated to Laxshmi Narayan, an incarnation of Vishnu, and the three towers are covered in ornate carvings. The temple was completed in 1996 after 26 years of construction.

Zoo & Horticultural gardens : Kolkata's 16 hectare zoo on Alipore road was opened in 1875 (admission Rs 10, Thursday closed). Horticultural gardens is nearby (admission Rs 10).

Kali temple : At Kalighat (7 km), where goats are ritually beheaded to honour the goddess Kali, the destructive incarnation of Shiva's first wife, Sati. Mother Teresa's Nirmal Hriday is next door to the temple.

Mother Teresa - For many people, Mother Teresa (1910 - 97), was the living image of human sacrifice. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Serbia, Mother Teresa joined the Irish order of Loreto nuns in 1929 and was posted to India in 1937. She formed a new order 'Missionaries of Charity' to give wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor. She was awarded with Nobel peace prize in 1979. She was officially beatified by the Vatican in Oct 2003, a first step towards canonisation. The Mother house houses the marble tombstone having the inscription 'Love one another as I have loved you'.