Click, sip, stroll: Spend a leisurely day by the river

With winter on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to spend a day by the Hooghly. From golden-hour chai to heritage cruises and a stroll around Judges Ghat, here’s how to enjoy an evening along the river without breaking the bank.

CT maps the best stops and experiences for a relaxed riverside day. Let the river’s calm guide your journey.

Take a pause at the garden-cafe

For a calm stop through your riverfront itinerary, visit Bageecha Cafe on Strand Road. Set in a lush riverside garden, it offers verandah seating, greenery, and the quiet hum of the riverWhy go: Whether for snacking, or watching the river, this spot is a peaceful stop on your riverfront route, with leafy nooks for a calm, immersive pauseWhen to go: The nursery is open from 3-5pm everydayGolden-hour chai by the riverStart your riverfront afternoon at Baundule Calcutta Café. Nestled near Strand Road, it’s a chai-stop with the river gently waiting right outsideWhy go: It is the perfect pause between the city and the river. Sip on a bhanr of saffron cardamom chai, snack on momos or kebabs, and watch the light melt over the waterWhen to go: 4-4.30pm just as the afternoon shifts into early evening. Arrive early enough to catch the golden light, settle in, and ease into the rest of your riverfront journeyThe recently restored Judges Ghat

The refurbished Judges Ghat on the Hooghly offers a perfect blend of structure and motion. Its sleek stairway & minimalist canopy is modern yet timelessWhy go: What makes the site vivid is the blend of life and design as boats glide past, devotees gather for prayer, dusk glows on the water, and clean lines frame it allWhen to go: Arrive around 4.30pm to 5pm when the light softens, the river glows, and the gate and stairs are beautifully litGolden-hour chai by the riverStart your riverfront afternoon at Baundule Calcutta Café. Nestled near Strand Road, it’s a chai-stop with the river gently waiting right outsideWhy go: It is the perfect pause between the city and the river. Sip on a bhanr of saffron cardamom chai, snack on momos or kebabs, and watch the light melt over the waterWhen to go: 4-4.30pm just as the afternoon shifts into early evening. Arrive early enough to catch the golden light, settle in, and ease into the rest of your riverfront journey

Sail down the Hooghly

When your feet need a break from the riverside stroll and your eyes crave a broader panorama of Kolkata, it’s time to hop aboard either the heritage cruise or the city’s very own water-metro.Why go: For the classic experience, board the Kolkata Heritage River Cruise. If you’re in the mood for something new, board the Dheu Electric Water Metro — Kolkata’s modern, eco-friendly river ride. From around ₹200 for the non-AC section (₹300 for AC) you glide past landmarksby the river.When to go: The Kolkata Heritage River Cruise departs from the jetty at Millennium Park, typically around 6pm on weekdays, and 5pm or 6.45pm on weekends/holidays. No advance online bookings – tickets are sold at the counter.City ghats are longer just about sightseeing. There’s a renewed interest in the way people engage with the space. We plan to conduct more walks along this stretch– Sucheta Sen, heritage walk curatorThe ghats are such an integral and beautiful part of our city’s heritage. We need more riverfront places and activities to keep its charm alive– Suparna Das, a heritage enthusiastPics: Anindya Saha; models: Sneha Dey & Hrilina Majumder