Someone reviewed this experience as THE best experience on airBnB. That’s why I booked it. That is also a VERY HIGH BAR. For me, this kind of expectation is rarely met. Soham - with his Magic Hour Calcutta Capsule experience - EXCEEDED my expectations. I’ve traveled the world extensively and have been on countless tours and excursions, and I’d rank Soham’s tour easily in my top 3. So why was this tour so good? First, and rarely have I ever felt this way, Soham immediately felt like a friend showing me around his city. He does not have the air of a talking head “tour guide”. Calcutta is very personal to him - say 4 generations - and his tour embodies that. As you read about this tour, you might be thinking “a 5 hour walking tour? are you crazy?”. Our tour actually lasted more like 6 hours, and yet, at the end, I left feeling somehow refreshed. Soham has masterfully crafted an experience where you travel by foot, taxi, tram, bus, and boat in a way that keeps you from getting bored by any one medium of travel. Aside from the efficiency of these forms of travel which help cover a lot of ground and get you quickly around Calcutta (a real feat in itself), you will get to EXPERIENCE these forms of travel the way locals do. In fact, I did not see a single foreigner traveling the way we were. Because Soham knows what he’s doing, you, as the guest, get to soak in the experience and not worry about getting on or off at the right time or what direction you’re going. As if taking fun transportation to awesome locations wasn’t enough, Soham weaves a foodie experience into the whole deal (he has a separate foodie only tour as well). Sip chai tea with locals. Eat on the side of the road. If you have a sweet tooth like me, you might just end on a very sweet note. And the icing on the cake of all of this? Soham takes photos throughout the experience. A day after the tour he WhatsApp’d me a couple of me on the tour. Oh, did I say I got to play cricket in the large field in front of the Victoria Memorial? I did. And I have photo proof thanks to him. I can’t say enough good things about Soham and this tour. Just sign up for it. Do it now. This is the REAL experience of Calcutta that you’re looking for. It truly is magical, and it’s a rare and beautiful thing.

This will be the longest review I have ever written but I would really like to express my gratefulness to Soham from Calcutta Capsule who turned our two days visit in Kolkata to a sensational and unforgettable experience. First off all I need to mention that we are a family of four from Germany, consisting of my husband and our two children (19 years and 17 years). At the end of September 2023 we went on a two week round trip through India - starting with two days in Kolkata. I contacted Soham by email for a guided tour which appealed to me (called Calcutta Contrast). His company had great reviews, but I was insecure to book the tour over the website and pay up front. Soham was very responsive and even in our electronic communication I could feel that it was his mission to customize the tour to our preferences in order to provide the best experience. It turned out that I booked two days of private tour (including private car) for our family. I would recommend that you specify your interest and let Soham come up with his ideas. We had different interest. My husbands is a passionate photographer. He loves to take pictures of people in every day life situations. Our son (17 years) is crazy about football and adventurous to try out new things. Our daughter is an enduring explorer, loves hidden spots, finding beauty in detail and taking instagram pictures. I enjoy interesting stories of history, present, society, religion etc. Plus I am concerned that everyone of the family is safe and happy! Turns out that on both days everybody was completely safe and every family member was extremely happy. We explored multiple vibrant, colorful local markets. We walked through busy and calm streets, tasted „tummy safe“ food and drinks, went to the holy river Ganga, getting in touch with art students who were building up a temple and saw brave construction workers balancing in a couple of meters over the ground. We visited hidden gems such as a rooftop restaurant with a great city view as well as a secret palace and abandoned homes from the Victorian era. We saw where people live, commute (train station, city bus), work, eat and even sleep. Apart from that he got us tickets for the Indian Super League due to the fact we mentioned our son’s interest in football. He accompanied us to a first league match of the local Bengal team. He is a great story teller, a fantastic organizer and such a friendly, happy and enthusiastic person. It is hard not to like him. His English is excellent and we had absolutely no problem understanding him (some locals speak English with such a strong accent that it is hard to follow). In addition to that Soham takes beautiful pictures of his guests with his premium Canon Camera, sending the pictures as a gift via WhatsApp. On the first day he surprised us with personalized post stamps! He had send a family picture of us to a friend who went to the major Kolkata post office and got us real Indian post stamps with our picture on it. To make a long story short: walking with Soham through his hometown Kolkata was a once in a lifetime experience for us. Thanks to him we bring home the most beautiful memories of Kolkata. I highly recommend booking a tour with Calcutta Capsule.

Our Alleyways Street Food Tour was honestly one of the highlights of many many years of travelling all over the world, including India. Run by the passionate Soham, he guides you to a perfectly curated selection of savoury and sweet treats in his childhood neighbourhood of Shayam Bazar - the heart of “old Calcutta”. The meeting point is easily reached by metro or taxi from pretty much anywhere in Kolkata. Soham is simply superb - knowledgeable, engaging, funny, everything you could possibly want in a guide. Don’t hesitate to book - the price is worth every rupee - it’s soooo much more than “just some street food”. All our thanks again, Adam & Alex (Feb 2023).

Nice guide, nice tour and nice storytelling. We've been so comfortable and the time flew away, Soham, our guide was the best!! And the pictures he took from us are brilliant!

When you are a tourist, you have two options - you either book a tour with a random tour company, visit all the cliché tourist points, click a picture of yourself holding the monument in your palm, buy a fridge magnet or two, eat a local dish your neighbor suggested and come back or you book tours with a company like Calcutta Capsule and go for a customized tour where you imbibe the originality of the place you're travelling to. That is something that had happened to me. Soham from Calcutta Capsule made me feel like a local, enrichening each moment of the time I was there in Kolkata. He was more focused in the small bylanes than grand buildings, the tram than Uber GOs with no AC, plethora of small sweet shops and breakfast places than a 5 star restaurant where the food just pretends to be Bangali. Thank you Calcutta Capsule and Soham for making me fall in love with the essence of Kolkata, its roads, its food and its people. Thinking of coming back again!

I have done many street food walking tours in my travel — Soham’s tour is one of the best. This excellent 3 hour tour is filled with delicious food, fascinating anecdotes, and charming sites. I simply cannot recommend this tour enough. Please please sign up and enjoy.

I can’t speak highly enough of the Magic Hour walking tour. The tour started at the super early time of 5:30AM, and covered four modes of transport (bus, yellow taxi, auto rickshaw & ferry) while exploring the charming city of Kolkata. Soham was superb, super knowledgeable, relatable & friendly, and as a born & bred local really knew his city exceptionally well. The tour ended with a delicious eat all you can Bengali breakfast. A definite must do to complement your Kolkata experience.

Soham is a very kind and generous young man who guides you to see the City of Joy through new eyes. He is enthusiastic about his home city and brings it alive for you. I did the Magic Hour Tour and the Alley Street Food Tour. Both excellent. Well done Soham. You deserve to succeed. Keep helping people to get the most out of their visit to Kolkata.

As an Indian who has been to several world-class walking tours all over the world, I turned up to this tour, sleep-deprived, and with high expectations. I came to learn about Calcutta and its hidden secrets. I left with a deeper appreciation for life itself. Soham quit his corporate job to pursue his calling. He loves his city, and woke up to its magic as a child with his father and his cousins. His motivation during this tour is to share this magic on his tour, and he has gone to great pains to recreate it. He shows you iconic parts of this great city and weaves them together with its history to reveal a colourful tapestry of unforgettable stories. He helps you look past the smog, the noise, the grime, and the chaos on the surface of Calcutta to connect to its very soul. I now know why they call it the 'city of joy'. Calcutta and Bengal are so central to modern India, that a deep appreciation of this city helps you appreciate all of India's metros. In the past, I had lamented how I couldn't find much beauty in Indian cities. I also didn't imagine that it would be possible to design a walking tour in the chaotic mess that is their streets. Soham proved me wrong on both these counts. I now know that beneath the surface of every Indian city lies a beautiful soul that is waiting to be discovered, if you are ready to put in the work. But Soham doesn't stop there. He also goes on to relate what you see on the streets of Calcutta to the timeless wisdom of Indian epics. He tells you the stories behind some of the city's traditions that even its locals have forgotten as they go through the motions. It was this aspect of the tour that blew my mind. Given its numerous quirks and its tendency to cling onto the past, I have often wondered why Calcutta isn't more like other Indian cities. After Soham's tour, I was left wondering why other Indian cities aren't more like Calcutta. Join his tour to find out how this question gets turned on its head.

We had a wonderful time with Soham on this tour. The reviews were glowing so we had high expectations but they were somehow exceeded. Soham is an excellent storyteller and seamlessly takes you around the city providing an insight into the city you could never get otherwise. He has thought through all the details so you can sit back and enjoy the journey!

Soham Raul the person behind Calcutta Capsule is like a walking soul of Kolkata. His high spirited energy , his +ve vibes & the way he passionately explains about the culture is truly an great experience. He takes us to Kolkata's iconic places , gives us some famous street foods. I loved the time in Kolkata thumbs up for Calcutta capsule most suitable for foreigners

I took the magic hour tour with Soham and it was one of a memorable, and frankly my favorite memory out of my visit to India. The tour gave immersive experience all with right depth to legendary culture and tradition of Calcutta. Soham is very good story teller and it make your tour much more interesting rather taking just another tour. I got pretty good glimpse about Calcutta and the tour made me wanted to explore more of hidden beauty of Calcutta. Thanks for making my visit memorable. Cheers to "No refusal" Suggestion - I loved your No refusal T-shirt, if you can make your merchandise available to purchase, it will be an amazing souvenir to bring home. Much love <3

Soham is a thorough, warm, sensitive and a kind host. We took a small tour with him through the lanes of Kumartuli and the surrounding neighbourhood. We had a hearty, traditional Bengali breakfast and the best Rasogullas in town. Soham knows a great deal about Calcutta- from history, culture, mythology to the changing landscape of the city. The tour was informative, fun and a gastronomic delight. Catch hold of Soham whenever you visit Calcutta and be greedy for the time you get to spend with him. This experience is truly one of its kind and one that’s going to stay with you for a long time. Thank you Soham for putting so much thought into everything. You’re absolutely amazing. More power to you!

Honestly one of the best walking tours I've gone on! Soham has such a unique way of guiding folks around his hometown that makes anyone fall in love with Kolkata and him! He takes you from one part of the tour to the next in such a seamless and enjoyable way that you'd feel like you are floating through a collage of wonderful sights in Kolkata. Such a soulful and enriching experience that I won't be forgetting anytime soon(also thanks to Soham's incredible photography skills capturing these beautiful memories!) THANK YOU SOHAM AND CALCUTTA CAPSULE! I'd do this again in a heartbeat!

An amazing walk through a city which can be maze for a traveller. Soham has tiny insights which will make you look at the city from a different perspective. A must do on your vist!

Soham is the fantastic host of Kalkata. He has passion for his root and that’s how he tailors wonderful experiences for those who visit his beloved mother land. The experience is really well prepared and will bring you to get to know Kolkata as if you are local. He’s fully packed with history knowledge and willing to share if you have any questions. He has a sense of protector so you will feel safe and sound along the trip. Really recommend if you come to Kolkata you have to contact Soham!

Hands down the best part of our Calcutta trip. Soham is smart, kind, personable, and knowledgeable. His passion for his hometown is contagious. He’ll take you to the secret spots the guidebooks wish they knew about. We loved the Magic Hour Tour so much, we ended up doing the fascinating and delicious Alleyway Food Tour, too! Every location well-chosen and perfectly-curated. It’s perfect if you want to try to the street food but have no idea where to start. Soham will even do custom tours if there’s something special you want to see. Don’t hesitate for a minute - any of Soham’s tours will be the most memorable highlight of your journey. Congratulations, Soham, we cannot thank you enough! Wishing you continued success for 2020 and beyond!

The experience was worth. Well curated locations.the food tour was a delicious treat! Definitely recommended if Kolkata is your next destination.

The most authentic interesting tours you could do in Calcutta.. depending on the tour you take you get to see the City as it wakes and as it starts to close one sleepy eye ..( it never closes both !!!!) ..I was lucky enough to do both the Magic hour and the Calcutta contrast tours with Soham and it was by far the best choice I made in Calcutta ...thank you for sharing your passion for and insight into your city

Best food tour of Kolkata!!! One of the best experiences I've ever had in Kolkata. Even having grown up here Soham took us to places that we never knew existed. We took the food tour and I have to admit we tasted some dishes we did not know about.highly Recommended !!

We had the most incredible time! Soham is very attentive and accommodating. We felt completely at home wondering the streets with Soham and seeing a side to Kolkata we really wouldn't have seen otherwise. he had so much information to share about growing up in Kolkata things agai that you wouldn't learn at a museum. the food was mind-blowing. Everything was so delicious, and we got a box of sweets to take home with us :) I also feel more confident ordering street food now from other vendors as I know what to look out for and what is really worth trying. You can also really tell how passionate Soham is about his city and food. Definitely do this walking tour and I would try to do it early on during your trip so you have a better idea of everything for the rest of your trip. Thank you, Soham! we wish you the very best of luck!

It doesn’t happen every day that you want to wake up at 5 am on a Saturday morning until you know, you’re going to join Calcutta Capsule for its Magic Hour Tour, where you get to experience Calcutta in the most wonderful way possible. Soham is an amazing host. His love for Calcutta and detailed knowledge of the city is quite evident in the way he has meticulously planned the entire tour incorporating the most interesting local places and all the local transports of Calcutta. His warm and hospitable company made our group see Calcutta in a different light. Thank you Calcutta Capsule for a beautiful experience where I got to capture this soulful city in my heart, eyes, and memories. This tour has made me fall in love with my city a little more.

The experience was excellent... Lovely Walk, beautiful stories, passing through historic lanes of kolkata and amazing food. Soham does such a lovely job, explains each thing patiently, answers questions, has a sense of humour and enjoys the tour as much himself.. This was the highlight of my trip. I am native to Kolkata and Soham showed me things that I have never seen before!!! Much recommended and I cannot say enough good things about this initiative... Kudos!

Just wow. The magical hour morning tour of Kolkata hosted by Soham was absolutely incredible. What an eye-opening experience, crafted beautifully by such a passionate, friendly and eloquent individual. Soham's explanations were insightful and the places he chose to highlight gave us both a glimpse into the enormity of Kolkata and his own experiences growing up. Almost felt like a movie sequence...most-certainly a highlight of our trip. Highly recommended!

A tour with Soham sets your expectations for tours in general so high. In his words, he designs his tours with a start, climax and end. Indeed it felt like a magical movie experience. It was one of kind, special because of how he has so thoughtfully planned his tours out. We enjoyed his morning tour so much that we quickly booked him for his other tour for the very same day. To make the experience even more special, he sends beautiful photographs that he takes of you during the tour that capture the precious memories. This is the best tour I've had in all of my travels.

Soham is very friendly, he knows his city very well and likes to share his experience. We had a great time with him with excellent organization

The alleyway food tour was excellent. Would definitely recommend. Soham is an excellent guide, he really knows his stuff and took us to places we would never have visited otherwise. Thank you! I'm so full of food right now!

The best experience you can ever get , Soham is a very active and enthusiastic person and knows each and very corner of Calcutta , I was very fortunate to experience the company of this good man and his family and make us feel That we have a home there in Calcutta , key points about the program is 1. super safe 2. Adventurous 3. Exploring 4. Homely It is very easy for any one to roam around in Calcutta just by booking a flight ticket and cab , but if you really want to experience the vivid culture and see the secret and history of the city , Calcutta Capsule is the door which leads you there . Thank you very much Soham for hosting me and gifted me an experience which can be listed as the best .

I booked a pandal hopping tour and Soham was exceptional, covering everything I was looking for from pandals to iconic street food to ambassador rides all beautifully woven together. He was also instrumental in the success of my rest of the trip helping set up the itinerary for the rest of the trip. I was impressed enough to book another tour on the Dussehra day. I have had a lot of walking tour around the world and I can confidently say he is one of the best in the business.

A fabulous tour with an outstanding guide! Soham has great passion and knowledge of Kolkata and is kind and courteous. The tour was everything and more than I hoped for! Thank you for showing me your fascinating city Soham.

Awesome experience and Soham is an amazing guide who knows his City of Joy. Very helpful, will always go the extra mile to make your tour a memorable one. Will definitely come back. Keep it up!

I had the great pleasure of connecting with Soham on a trip to Kolkata (Calcutta) earlier this year. I was interested in a street photography experience, and Soham was my guide for an early morning workshop lasting approximately 4 hours. This workshop was my first foray into street photography in Kolkata, and I wasn't sure what to expect (or do) - I typically do landscapes, which require different techniques. Soham was patient, providing valuable tips and advice while navigating the city's bustling streets. I got ~ 40 photographs that I could use from the workshop. But more importantly, I had a chance to experience some of Kolkata's unique street life, which otherwise would be hidden from a visitor like myself. Soham is a Kolkata native who loves and knows the city's backstreets, and it shows. He is also an avid photographer and can guide his clients into seeing and capturing interesting perspectives of street life. We spent our time focusing on three broad topics (and neighborhoods): capturing the activities of workers washing the city's iconic yellow taxi cars, various street vendors, the Howrah Bridge, the Mullick Ghat flower market and Howrah station, and lastly, Kumortuli, where all the clay statues are made for festivals and events. These sorts of walking tours are the kind of experiences that provide insights into a city's soul and uniqueness. Overall, I highly recommend Soham workshops if you want to do photography or get to know this iconic city.