Common Tourist Scams in Kolkata (and How to Avoid Them)
Scams and money
- Sudder Street touts — backpackers' alley. The "free guide" / shop-redirect scams from Agra are present here too. Politely decline.
- Mother Teresa's home (Mother House on AJC Bose Road) is a real, free-to-visit working convent. Beware fake "tours" being sold outside.
- "Donation" scams at Kalighat Temple and other religious sites — politely decline; real donations go to box at the temple, not the man at the door.
- Currency: Indian rupee. ATMs are everywhere; use bank-attached ATMs (HDFC, ICICI, SBI) rather than free-standing kiosks.
- Cards: work in mid-range and up restaurants and hotels; cash is still expected at small shops and auto-rickshaws.
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