Kolkata has found a place in the list of the world’s best cities, according to a survey by the Travel + Leisure magazine. It is placed in the 19th position among 25 cities.

The other Indian cities to feature in the list are Udaipur (2nd) and Jaipur (21st). Mexico and Spain are the only other countries with three cities in the list.

The list was brought out by T+L magazine in July. It is based on a survey which asked its readers to “to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more”, according to the introduction to the article which listed out the winners.

“Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).”

The article further detailed the process of selecting the winners thus:

“Cities were specifically rated on the criteria below: Sights/landmarks, Culture, Food, Friendliness, Shopping, Value.

“For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.”

Kolkata came in 19th, with a Reader Score of 88.60, sandwiched between Porto in Portugal, and Rome, the capital of Italy.

The write-up on the city describes it thus:

“Formerly Calcutta, Kolkata is new to our World’s Best list. The city is home to a variety of hotels, from major brand-name properties to boutique-style accommodations, and must-see attractions include the historical Victoria Memorial Hall and the stunning Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Travelers can also pay a visit to Mother House to see where Mother Teresa is buried. As for where to stay, The Oberoi Grand, one of T+L readers’ favorite city hotels in India this year, is a highlight.”