Me, my wife and our 8 year old boy walked with Manjit in December last year. The walk was the Cultural Kaleidoscope one. It was an amazing experience. Even the boy didn’t get bored. Kolkata streets are full of history and nostalgia for bengalis like us. And Manjit Da just loves Kolkata. His story telling is awesome, maybe second only to his photography! The places come alive with the history and story he tells you. Will walk with him again!

The tour was excellent. The guide Majit was very knowledge and has featured in The Guardian and done work for National Geographic. The tour is good for both photographers and those wishing to experience the streets of Calcutta. I highly recommend doing it.

Manjit who runs this tour is an informative and patient guide. He understands his city, its history and geography. More than anything else, he does not display any commercial interest. The walking tours are on time, well organised and conducted. He caters only to a small group, which is the biggest attraction unlike others who do groups of more than 15. The best part of it is that he is understanding and patient enough to recognise the needs of a person who wants to capture Calcutta, through a camera lens. I booked him once, and was so impressed that I did another and booked a third private tour with Manjit. Enjoyed every moment if it.

Perfect Experience for Photographers!

Calcutta is full of highlights and the photo tour with Manjit was one of them. Highly recommended.

Our walking tour with Manjit was the highlight of our trip to Kolkata. Manjit is a true gem - very friendly, easy-going, and extremely knowledgeable! It was a pleasure discussing Kolkata's history with Manjit. He also made it a point to remind us to take photos and he had excellent suggestions for vantage points and photo-ops. He was also kind enough to lend us his umbrella during the walk (although we really should have bought an umbrella along - it was pouring!). This is easily one of the best walking tours I've done and I'd highly recommend it to anybody with a free morning/afternoon to spare in Kolkata.

Always wanted to visit Kumartuli before the pujas and Manjit made that dream come true...his conversation, story telling and anecdotes made me feel like i have been there so many times. Looking forward to my next photo tour with you Manjit...you made me fall in love with my city all over again, thank you :)...

Book a tour with Manjit at Calcutta Photo Tours if you want to understand this under rated city and truly see and feel her beauty. Having taken all of Manjit's tours over several years of visiting Calcutta, there is simply no better way to get beneath the skin of this fascinating city. Manjit is passionate, professional and extremely knowledgeable. Importantly, he is also extremely respected by the local people that you will meet along the way - offering a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse into the lives of the people who make this city so addictive. Please book as many tours as you can fit in - I promise, you won't regret it.

Excellent experience walking with Manjith of Calcutta photo tour on a chill kolkata morning... he has excellent knowledge about the city and will take you to places that are difficult to find on your own.. the ally of kolkata that are filled with history and beauty...

I booked a solo tour (Cultural Kaleidoscope tour) with Manjit and, from the initial contact, I could tell it was going to be an enjoyable experience. Reading the reviews, I was able to get a sense of Manjit's personality and his passion for his city. Always prompt with correspondence, as well as hotel pickup, on the day we arrived at the meeting point where one other lady joined the tour. We walked through streets, laneways, alleys and into a few different religious places of worship. We stopped at a few street stalls where we sampled tea and snacks graciously purchased by Manjit. The knowledge, history and stories shared were absolutely outstanding. Manjit has a great sense of humour and made us feel so comfortable right from the beginning. We enjoyed the tour so much that the other lady and I wanted to book another for the next day. We chose the Flower Market and again, this tour did not disappoint. Prompt hotel pickup (with a good driver!) arriving at the market early to see the activity and beat the heat. We had a delicious chai tea from a gentleman whose new nickname is "Chai Guy". (I do hope he gets a sign made some day.) We weaved our way through the market and down along the river to experience probably the most humbling things I've ever seen. After a long period of time observing and taking photos, we started into the stalls of the market. I was amazed at the volume of flowers that make their way in and out of the market. Long hours and days repeatedly spent making their beautiful creations and selling throughout the city and other parts of India. Manjit also pointed out some great vantage points for photos and challenged us to step out of our comfort zones. I cannot speak more highly of Manjit and the experiences I had on both tours. I would not hesitate to refer anyone to sign up for the tours. I hope to be back again one day and will happily book more tours.

Fantastic company! I had to cancel at the last minute and they worked with me very well. Thanks Manjit.

Good this page..

Awesome!

We booked a photo tour with Manjit for our first day in Calcutta, to get a taste of the city.. And it was great!!!! We were walking a lot but in a very relaxed way through the small roads, listening to the history of the city, talking to people, tasting local delicacies.. And doing a lot of wonderful pictures!!! We chose the “Kaleidoscope Tour”, to learn more about the cultures that made Kolkata to be what is it , and we learn a lot and had a lot of fun!!!

My first trip to Calcutta was an unforgettable experience, even having traveled extensively throughout my life. In the hustle and bustle of the city, it's easy to overlook its soulful essence. Manjit, a lifelong local resident, guided us through the hidden gems, weaving a beautiful tapestry of the city's stories and communities. With his deep-rooted knowledge and personal touch, he effortlessly led us to places where people of diverse religions came together in celebration. He showcased the city's iconic architecture, tracing its evolution, and walked us through streets where locals warmly greeted him, introducing us to their customs, food, and significant, off-the-beaten-path places. Manjit is not just a tour guide; he is a curator of cultural experiences. His infectious joy and laughter made the journey unforgettable. I highly recommend exploring this enchanting city through Manjit's eyes, ears, heart and soul. I did all of these tours and loved each and every one, but visiting the flower market and Kurmatoli just prior to Durgā Puja was a stunning experience. Manjit pointed out great photo opportunities along the way so I have beautiful visual memories of my time here. Thank you Manjit 🙏

Kolkata is magical and Manjit's walking tour highlights this magic at every turn. If you've only seen the more touristy parts of Kolkata then you're missing out. This tour allows you to see a different side to the city as you walk around the neighbourhoods where Manjit lives and works and you get to see the city wake up and come to life. It was a truely exceptional experience and a great way to end my time in India. Manjit is passionate about his city (I can see why), is a wealth of knowledge on both the city and photography and has a great sense of humour. I'm also impressed with how he seems to conduct the tour with fresh eyes and a level of enthusiasm like it's the first time he's done it...like he's seeing it through his guests eyes and a new/different perspective. There's a photo opportunity at every turn in India - the constant contrasts in vistas, the richness of the culture, but above all else the warmth and friendliness of the people. My whole trip to India was fabulous but this tour was definitely one of the highlights. And to top it all off I have some new photography skills to work on until my next visit :-)

This was my second walk with Calcutta Photo Tours and I was extremely happy with my experience this time as well. I did the Goddess Beckons tour last year and it remains an unforgettable experience. This time I did the Kaleidoscopic Calcutta tour and was amazed to see such cultural diversity in matter of few kilometres. The tour is a treat to the senses no doubt but it was also very enlightening.. I saw my own city with new eyes and also a new perception. Thanks so much for this experience Manjit.

I’m an Australian who was born and raised in Calcutta, back for a short visit and keen to explore places I knew of but never seen. I’d read wonderful things about Manjit and his tours so gave him a call and immediately got a sense of speaking with someone who was sincere, professional and throughly passionate about what he does. The tour was relaxed yet insightful as Manjit took us on a journey into the rich, multicultural history of this wonderful city while sampling some delectable tidbits along the way. It was wonderful meandering through previously unseen neighbourhoods in my old hometown. Manjit is a born natural; and beyond his obvious knowledge and love for Calcutta, he exudes warmth and humour that is totally engaging, making the whole experience informative and fun. If you want to understand Calcutta, then this tour with Manjit is a must!

It was a splendid day. In my last six years I’ve never experienced kolkata as beautifully as today. All credits goes to Manjit who made this day so memorable and pleasant.

Manjit shows you Kolkata like you couldn't have imagined. I did my first walk about 8 years ago it was the European Kolkata tour and it was amazing. Din't know that this city had such an excellent past. Returned 8 years later to do the Cultural Kaleidoscope this time and boy it was great. The food along the way was also fabulous 👍 Highly recommend Calcutta Photo Tours 👍

The Cultural Kaleidoscope Photo Walk was one of the most memorable experiences of our India vacation (Dec 2017). Both the husband and I are born and brought up in Kolkata, but never ventured out to walk these 'off the beaten paths' of our beloved city! As a guide, Manjit could not be more perfect. He walked us through the rich and colorful history of our city and the rapport he shared with the locals made it even better experience for us. And if you are a photo enthusiast like I am, you are in for a treat - there is photo opportunity at every corner. Chitchatting over steaming hot tea, munching on hot off the wok kachori, watching the city wake up and give into its morning hustle bustle, the morning market - it was rediscovering Kolkata and falling in love with my city all over again. Can't wait to try out the other tours next time I am in Kolkata.

We joined the Culture Kaleidoscope Tour last week with Manjit and three Kolkatans and enjoyed every minute of it. We hugely appreciated Manjit’s knowledge of the Bowbazar area, the opportunity to wander the streets and lanes visiting various buidings and admiring their architectural detail and learning their history, mingling with early morning everyday life in this chaotic area and gaining many insights that we would have had no other way of acquiring. It was great to be able to take heaps of photos without awkwardness as Manjit has a rapport with the local people. Then there was the sampling of street food - plenty of it, varied and delicious! We thoroughly recommend this tour.

I like this place

My partner and I did the Eurpean Calcutta tour with Manjit last month - it was really great! He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the city, and it was the perfect introduction. I would highly recommend doing a tour with Manjit as a first point of call to get to understand the city. Thank you!

I contacted Mangit after reading reviews and by chance a personal recommendation from a fellow guest at my hotel. He fitted me in at short notice and I’m so grateful. He totally has a wonderful understanding and relationship with everyone at The Wholesale Vegetable Market and thus they love everyone that he brings along -resulting in fantastic photos. I learnt a lot from Mangit and this photo tour enhanced my experience of Calcutta.

I have had friends go on a Calcutta Photo Tour with Manjit on their travels to India and they raved to me how good it was. And after following Manjit's posts on Facebook and Instagram I couldn't wait to get to Calcutta myself and experience part of this city through his eyes. Manjit is such a beautiful man. He is so friendly, warm and engaging. His knowledge of his city brings it to life. This isn't a tour of ticking off a fact sheet, it is a tour filled with amazing stories, colourful history, delishious food and lots of laughs. I did the kaleidoscope tour and although this is a photography tour, and I'm not the best photographer, it didn't matter. I had the best time, learnt so much, explored areas I never would have seen on my own, and made a lovely friend in Manjit. It was hands down the best thing I did during my time in Calcutta and I am looking forward to another tour next time I am there. Manjit has also been designing some seriously beautiful handloomed stoles. I couldn't say no to purchasing one with the famous yellow taxi on. A very special gift to myself to remind me of a very special city. Thank you again Manjit, I will be seeing you and your beautiful city again soon.

We had an amazing time with Manjit! I've been on four of his tours now and will be back again soon. You can take great photos on his tours as he knows the best places to go and knows people in the market so you can photograph there. Highly recommend these tours!

We took the Kaleidoscope tour with Manjit. He speaks fluently in Bangla, Hindi, English and ofcourse Punjabi and knows every nook and corner of the place along with its rich history and cultural heritage. When you go for a photo tour you need few things like an invisibile cloak or friendly locals and the map of the place to move around. With Manjit, you get it all. His presence makes everything easy so that you can focus through your viewfinder. Bdw, if you are an amateur or a professional who wants to learn more and share his or her experience, Manjit is awesome! Being a photographer himself he has what you call a photographer's eye and skill to assist you anytime you need. If you are in Calcutta with your family or friends looking to know more about the city and capture moments that define this city, there is no better than Calcutta Photo Tours.

Manjeet was amazing! Friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly super fun. We took the tour in Bow Barack and near by areas. Most locals knew him and no one minded us clicking their pictures. I am sure if we had gone on our own the scenario wouldn't have been the same. It was my first time taking pictures on a high end camera and his tips made my ameteur pics improve quite a lot. I highly recommend him and his tours.

What a great experience! Manjit took us for a relaxed walk through some of the most photogenic corners of the city and we really enjoyed it. His stories about what we were seeing made our trip even richer, and he certainly has an eye for finding so many beautiful sights. We came home with dozens of photos that look like they belong on National Geographic, and enjoyed interacting with the people we came across on our tour. Highly recommended!

For someone who still calls Calcutta home, I have come to realize that I know very little of the town I grew up in. On my recent visits, I have made an effort to discover slices of the city that harken back to the days when Calcutta was the Second City of the world (after London). Manjit met me early in the morning at Lalit Great Eastern hotel and took me around BBD Bag (also known as Dalhousie Square). With great enthusiasm, little known anecdotes, story telling and sampling delectables along the way - the three hours flew by. I won't give away the details of this extraordinary journey around the Tank Square (you have to experience it for yourself) but suffice it to say the Dead Letter Office, St. Andrews, Gun and Rifle Shop added spice beyond the basic understanding of how this area was once the center of unparalleled administrative and commercial activities. Where is the Black Hole Monument 'hidden' and why? The 'Last Supper' in St. John. The first Italian restaurant in Calcutta. The monsoon and mosquitoes. As I mentioned, three hours was not sufficient for all the tales. Manjit is an extraordinary photographer too and his eye for details and composition will be an added bonus for budding photographers and professionals too. Looking forward to the next session with Manjit.

Manjit offered a truly wonderful tour of one of Kolkata's most fascinating neighborhoods. He was very knowledgable and entertaining, and provided vivid histories of the development of the city and the different cultures and communities we saw on the tour. The tour was punctuated with some delicious food stops. Manjit is clearly a highly experienced tour guide and also has a strong love of photography, which he spreads through sharing tips and tricks and pointing out interesting subjects throughout the tour. I cannot recommend this tour enough!

I was coming to Kolkata for some office meeting and my wife wanted to see Kolkata. Kolkata was one place that she always wanted to go to ….there was a strong pull …. Why we really can’t put my finger on the reason. So when the opportunity came we had to make the most of it … started online research and the results really didn’t excite me …. Both my wife and me were certain we didn’t want a typical “tourist” trip and then my wife checked out Calcutta Photos website and voila it felt like that’s what we were looking for .. a prompt response from Manjit and his sense of humour …we didn’t lose a minute to confirm our reservations… Then the walk .. the Cultural Confluence…. It was nothing that we had thought of … Manjit’s connection with each of the passersby, his knowledge of the history, the passion in his voice and the 3 hours we spent with him was like a movie … the various communities resident in Calcutta …. not a moment where we felt ohhh when is this ending … anyone who wants to see and know the real Calcutta it has to be Manjit showing it to u … cheers we will be back soon to enjoy another similar tour with Manjit.

When you set out to discover the soul of a city which you already feel you know inside out you need someone very special to go with and a tour that is very carefully structured yet at the same time fluid enough to let you find your own way through its depths . And a pair of eyes through which you can really see the city its past and its now , its people and its buildings and roads and the life the latter live in the former . How they live and love and eat and pray ...In Manjit Singh Hoonan’s Calcutta Photo Tours one finds all that and more . Because he doesn’t let you see anything through his eyes . He makes you open your eyes and see it all for yourself !

I clicked some amazing shots of people in their natural settings without feeling like I took something away from them. I'm very satisfied with this tour and recommend it to one and all. Manjit knows people from all over the world and understands the voids in his clientele's knowledge-base so well that he reduces to their level and starts from scratch, and this, I think, sets him apart. Manjit has been doing this for nearly a decade, and within minutes you would realize that he does his job with compassion. During these years, he has formed special relationships with the people and places on the way that the attitude of the tour changes from exhibitionism to that of indulgence. He would walk around singing hellos and good mornings to the people, indulging in day to day conversation. I didn't feel as removed as a tourist generally would. We also sat with his friends for chit-chat and watched them play chess. Often while photographing, and especially in India, it is easy to be exploitative of the people's colorful lives. What I found so unique about Manjit's tour was this discussion about the ethics of photographing people, and how he manages his ethics while being a photographer and a guide. I also appreciated how his tour wasn't a marketing gimmick or a trap as it has happened with me in many parts of India that guides would take me to buy shawls or carpets or some local handicrafts. In large cities like Delhi and Kolkata, you could get overwhelmed with mega-touristy sites and urbanized malls and what not, but Manjit's tour focuses on places nowhere close to that. We started early morning and visited non-Hindu non-English settlements in Kolkata. What a special experience to see strong influences of China, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism in three hours.

Calcutta is wonderful but it's easy to be overwhelmed by all the action and the choices. So even though we are used to finding our own way around it was the best thing we did when we took the Mesmerising Market Tour with Manjit because he made it so easy and comfortable to get behind the scenes and start to understand the endlessly interesting Calcutta and what makes it tick. But the other great thing is that Manjit helped us capture it all brilliantly even with just an iPhone and not a lot of skill. The photos I got with Manjit were my best including some that Manjit took and shared. Even in the monsoon the weather wasn't a problem, even though it poured when we were at the market (looked great on video). I also got a great video of the guys with the huge weights on their heads. So fabulous, I'd recommend the Mesmerising Tour to anyone who loves markets (but do you come away smelling very fishy so only take (clothes, shoes and even cloth bag) what you can wash afterwards. We went to both the wholesale fish market and the vegetable market and even the short walk in between yielded lots of great photos. Really liked Manjit too. Great fun sampling of Calcutta's famous great chai. Loved it! Then even though we’d already done the one tour with Manjit that we’d planned, we had lost quite a few days making bad choices and getting frustrated, and found it was a great decision to also do the Cultural Kaleidoscope tour with Manjit as well. He helped us get below the surface and start to understand the really interesting history of Calcutta. And again I got another set of grest photos. Manjit finds great light and backgrounds. Really so good and I'd recommend the Cultural Kaleidoscope Tour to anyone. Loved sampling of Calcutta's famous chhana sweets too and great chai (differently prepared to the Mesmerising Market Tour. It’s a great tour through the Anglo-Indian, Muslim and Chinese areas dropping by the Jewish Synagogue, Fore Temple and Buddhist Tempe too. If you really can only do one tour then perhaps go for the Cultural Kaleidoscope Tour but if you can do more, it really makes great use of a short visit to Calcutta. Also, plan to do the tour early because Manjit is full of good general tips for navigating your own way in Calcutta so it sets you up for some independent exploring too.

I took the tour with the group I was travelling with and we had a wonderful time seeing the beauty of Kolkata neighborhoods and sampling some yummy food. We asked lots of questions and got great information during the tour and a chance to shoot some wonderful pictures. The tour was interesting, fun and offered a chance to see the city's amazing collage of religions, people and history. Thanks so much Manjit for a wonderful morning.

Very antique

Our two day photography tour of Kolkata with Manjit as our guide was excellent. Manjit is keen generous with advice and clearly a skilled and experienced photographer He has a great sense of humor and as a local knows Kolkata in intimate detail.

Such a great experience. Manjit is very knowledgeable and friendly. Don't miss out on a chance to learn about and visit places you normally would not have access to. Highly recommend!

Excellent

This was my second tour with Calcutta Photo Tour, I must mention everytime it's a new Kolkata whom I see with them. Thank you Manjeet for revealing the unknown part of my own city once again.

Best Tour company is Kolkata.

Manjit is amazing, knowledgeable, open minded & fun! He is passionate about his job, in deed it feels like having a walk through the neighborhood of a very good friend who shows you proudly where he grew up. His way of storytelling makes it fascinating to listen to him from minute one and the 3 hours flew away being my last thoughts about wanting to come back to walk through other parts of Kolkata with Manjit. If you like to take good photos he will give you amazing tips and hints as he has a wonderful eye and knows the best spots. Highly recommend!

I worked with Manjit on a short photo project in Calcutta for 4 days. I had a really great time and Manjit was brilliant. His local knowledge is extensive and he is really resourceful, getting me into the right place at the right time to get the images I wanted. His tours are great for getting at the heart of old Calcutta.

Thank you Calcutta Photo Tours for this amazing experience!!! We had such a lovely morning together with Manjit at the flower market. The tour was so relaxing, interesting and rewarding. Manjit had a lot of interesting information to share on culture, rituals, people, work, customs and anecdotes and we did our best to take in all the new impressions! We never would have felt as comfortable walking around the market on our own and having a guide with us really made all the difference in connecting with the people at the market. And of course Manjit knew just where to capture the perfect shots, the best light, faces and colours! We'll definately be back for more tours on our next visit to Kolkata!