Photo spot in Kolkata
Howrah Bridge
Kolkata, West Bengal
The iconic cantilever bridge over the Hooghly — a roaring, girdered symbol of Kolkata, best seen from the ghats.
Best time
Dawn, when the flower sellers are working at Mullick Ghat and the steel is grey against a pale sky; blue hour after sunset, when the bridge lights come on.
Best angle
Walk down the steps at Mullick Ghat and take a wide photo with the river boats in front and the whole span of the bridge behind.
Entry fee
Free
Opening hours
Open 24 hours
Crowd level
High
Best outfit colors
Overview
Best time to visit Howrah Bridge
Dawn, when the flower sellers are working at Mullick Ghat and the steel is grey against a pale sky; blue hour after sunset, when the bridge lights come on. Crowds here are typically high. Arrive a little early to claim your angle and catch the softest light before the day tips over.
Poses & angles
Photo tips for Howrah Bridge
Walk down the steps at Mullick Ghat and take a wide photo with the river boats in front and the whole span of the bridge behind. Work a few of the pose ideas below, shoot wide for context and tight for detail, and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to get the frame right.
At the flower-market ghat with the bridge behind
Riverbank silhouette at dusk
Outfit guide
What to wear at Howrah Bridge
For photos at Howrah Bridge, white, yellow and indigo work beautifully — they stand out against the setting without fighting it. Pick one hero colour and keep the rest of the look calm so you stay the subject of the frame.
Best outfit colors for photos
Trending wear for this spot
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Traditional wear for this spot
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Eat nearby
Food near Howrah Bridge
Hungry after the shoot? Search the Kolkata food guide by craving to find something good nearby.
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Good to know
Local tips
Reach Mullick Ghat flower market by 6 am, when the flower trade is at its busiest.
Keep your camera and phone away while you are on the bridge, and take your photos from the ghats.
Take a ferry across the river for a view of the whole bridge from the water.
Watch your pockets on the bridge footpaths, which are crowded all day.
Wear shoes with a good grip, because the ghat steps are wet and slippery.
Ask before you photograph flower sellers and porters at the market.
Use the Metro to Howrah station if you are catching a train, rather than a taxi over the bridge at rush hour.
Kolkata's steel front door
The Howrah Bridge links Kolkata with Howrah station on the west bank. It replaced a pontoon bridge and was commissioned in 1943, in the middle of the Second World War. Fear of Japanese air raids meant there was no formal opening, and the first vehicle across was a single tram. In 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu after Rabindranath Tagore, but nobody calls it that. The structure is held together by rivets, not nuts and bolts. Most of its steel was a high-tensile alloy made by Tata Steel.
A busy crossing
The bridge is about 705 metres long and carries around 100,000 vehicles and more than 150,000 people on foot every day. Trams crossed it until 1993. The footpaths on both sides are wide, and walking across is one of the most memorable things to do in the city. It takes about 15 minutes, with porters, buses and handcarts all around you.
The photo rule
Photography on the bridge has long been restricted, and police have made people delete pictures. It has never been clearly withdrawn, so keep your camera away while you cross. The best views are from below anyway.
Where to see it from
Mullick Ghat, on the Kolkata bank just south of the bridge, has a flower market that is busiest at dawn, with marigold garlands piled up by the river. From the ghat steps you can see the whole span. A ferry from the Kolkata ghats to Howrah gives you the bridge from the water. The bridge is lit up after dark. The Green Line Metro now also runs under the river to Howrah station.
Questions
Howrah Bridge — FAQ
What is the best time to visit Howrah Bridge?
Dawn, when the flower sellers are working at Mullick Ghat and the steel is grey against a pale sky; blue hour after sunset, when the bridge lights come on. Walk down the steps at Mullick Ghat and take a wide photo with the river boats in front and the whole span of the bridge behind.
Is there an entry fee at Howrah Bridge?
Entry to Howrah Bridge is free.
What are the opening hours of Howrah Bridge?
Howrah Bridge is open 24 hours.
What should I wear at Howrah Bridge?
White, yellow and indigo photograph especially well here. Explore the trending and traditional outfit ideas on this page for full looks.
How crowded does Howrah Bridge get?
Crowd levels are typically high. To miss the busiest window: dawn, when the flower sellers are working at Mullick Ghat and the steel is grey against a pale sky; blue hour after sunset, when the bridge lights come on.
When was the Howrah Bridge built?
Construction ran from the late 1930s, and the bridge was commissioned in 1943. It replaced a floating pontoon bridge that had opened in 1874 on the same crossing.
What is the official name of the Howrah Bridge?
Rabindra Setu, after the poet Rabindranath Tagore. It was renamed in June 1965, but almost everyone still calls it the Howrah Bridge.
Can I walk across the Howrah Bridge?
Yes. There are wide footpaths on both sides, and the walk takes about 15 minutes. Expect heavy crowds, and keep your camera away while you are on the bridge.
Why don't trams cross the Howrah Bridge any more?
Tram services over the bridge stopped in 1993 because of the growing load on the structure. Road traffic had increased far beyond what the bridge was designed for.