Hi there,

traveling BKK - Jorhat soon on Jet Airways with quite a long (7 hours) layover in Kolkata on both legs. What to do to kill time? Decent bar/pub in the airport? Crush down in the airport hotel and sleep? Sightseeing?

I recommend that you get so drunk before you even land at Calcutta that you don't even notice anything. They don't call it the Black Hole for nothing. Worst airport in India in the ugliest city in Asia.

I have been in Calcutta airport and the city about 20 years ago. Went there from Nepal to take a flight to Hongkong. The airport is nothing special, but you should be able to find a bar where you can have a coffee or a tea, or even a beer, when there is no dry day. Dry day means it's forbidden to sell alcoholic beverages. Sometimes there are several dry days together, especially when there are public holidays, same as in Thailand.

I would not recommend to do sightseeing, because 7 hours are too short and transport is very slow and unreliable.

There is nothing in arrivals. 330 rp is the pre paid taxi fare to downtown Calcutta, park st, and sudder st (budget tourist area), it will take approx 1 hour. There is not much you can do in the time you have, but can at least have a bite to eat, relax in a coffee shop, KFC, McDonald's, or a bar. If you are free of baggage, the Victoria memorial is worth a visit, or the site of the infamous black hole of Calcutta.

Enjoy

What time do you arrive?

If its anywhere around lunch or dinner time personally I would head for one of the premier hotels and relax in comfortable surrounds and enjoy a quality meal. Taj and other 5 star hotels put on lunch time buffets which will run around 1,500 baht but can easily sit there for 2 hours or more. If you don't want to spend that sort of money or arrive later then Park street has a hundred options.

If you have 7 hours from arrival to departure time you only have 4 hours or so to play with as domestic check in time is 2 hours. If you prefer sigjht seeing then pick one or two sights close together and enjoy.

Its a horrid airport, really nothing to keep you there, but a great city, although transfer times to Centre ( Sudder Street)can be upwards of a hour

Its a horrid airport, really nothing to keep you there, but a great city, although transfer times to Centre ( Sudder Street)can be upwards of a hour

Sounds like you people are referring to the old terminal, which was wretched and horrible. Since March 14, a new international terminal has replaced the old one. I was one of the first passengers to use the new terminal as I flew out of Kolkata to Bangkok in the early morning hours of that very day.

Sounds like you people are referring to the old terminal, which was wretched and horrible. Since March 14, a new international terminal has replaced the old one. I was one of the first passengers to use the new terminal as I flew out of Kolkata to Bangkok in the early morning hours of that very day.

Wow had no idea there were even plans let alone a replacement up and running. Thanks for notification. Now just need Bombay replaced and India will have some of the best international airports around. I'll take Delhi terminal 3 over the fabled Changi any day.

Thanks

You need to be at the domestic terminal 2 hours before leaving you then have 5 hours. Take 2 hours for going into town and returning to the airport you will have 3 hours. Mahseers suggestion is the best and you could also possibly get a good head massage in Park Street. Curious are you going to Kaziranga? or tea plantations? Have a good trip.

Kaziranga will be shut due to monsoon no?

Never been to Jorhat but have been close by and if you like hot chillies then in Jorhat you will be able to pick up some of the hottest - Bhut Jolokia. Treat with absolute caution!!