Kolkata Tram

কলকাতার ট্রাম

Also known as Esplanade tram terminus.

The last tramway in India, running since 1873.

About Kolkata Tram

Trams have run in Kolkata since 1873, first drawn by horses and by electricity from 1902, which is why it is often described as the oldest electric tramway in Asia still running. The network has shrunk to a few routes and the state has spoken of keeping only a short heritage stretch. The terminus at Esplanade, beside the Maidan, is where the surviving cars turn.

Why visit

To ride, or at least see, a tram before it becomes only a memory.

What to see and do

Tramcars at the terminus
The route across the Maidan, if running

Plan your visit

Area: Esplanade & New Market, Central Kolkata
Nearest landmark: Esplanade, Maidan side
Best time: Morning or afternoon. October to March is the most comfortable time of year.
Time needed: About 30 minutes
Cost: Usually under ₹100 a head
Entry: Open to everyone: a street, ghat, market or park you can walk into. Tram services have been cut sharply. Which routes run, and when, is not currently verified.
Metro: Esplanade (Blue and Green Lines)
Walking: Little walking
Photography: Good for photography.

Tip

Ask at the terminus which routes are running that day before you plan around a ride.

Nearby and related places

Kolkata Yellow Taxi: The yellow Ambassador cab, as much a symbol of the city as Howrah Bridge.
Shaheed Minar: A 48-metre column of 1828 at the edge of the Maidan.
Under-the-Hooghly Metro Ride: Ride India’s first metro under a river, from Esplanade to Howrah.
Dacres Lane: The office district’s lunch alley.
New Market (Hogg Market): A Victorian market hall of 1874 with a clock tower.
Nizam’s: The restaurant credited with inventing the kathi roll.

More guides

Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.