Kolkata (West Bengal )

Kolkata also known as Calcutta the official name until 2001, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the city is approximately 80 km (50 mi) west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, commercial, and financial hub of Eastern India and the main port of communication for North-East India. According to the 2011 Indian census, Kolkata is the seventh-most populous city in India, with a population of 45 lakh (4.5 million) residents within the city limits, and a population of over 1.41 crore (14.1 million) residents in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area. It is the third-most populous metropolitan area in India. In 2021, Kolkata metropolitan area crossed 1.5 crore (15 million) registered voters. The Port of Kolkata is India’s oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port. Kolkata is regarded as the Cultural Capital of India.
In the late 17th century, the three villages that predated Calcutta were ruled by the Nawab of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. After the Nawab granted the East India Company a trading licence in 1690, the area was developed by the Company into an increasingly fortified trading post known as Fort William. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah occupied Calcutta in 1756, and the East India Company retook it the following year. In 1793 the East India company was strong enough to abolish native rule, and assumed full sovereignty of the region. Under the company rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of British-held territories in India until 1911. In that year, after assessing its geographical location, combined with growing nationalism in Bengal (Calcutta became the centre for the Indian independence movement), the British moved the capital to the relatively more centrally located New Delhi.
Following independence in 1947, Kolkata, which was once the premier centre of Indian commerce, culture, and politics, suffered many decades of political violence and economic stagnation before it rebounded. A demographically diverse city, the culture of Kolkata features idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close-knit neighbourhoods (paras) and freestyle conversations (adda). Kolkata is home to eastern India’s film industry, known as Tollywood, and cultural institutions, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum, and the National Library of India. Among scientific institutions, Kolkata hosts the Agri Horticultural Society of India, the Geological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, the Calcutta Mathematical Society, the Indian Science Congress Association, the Zoological Survey of India, the Institution of Engineers, the Anthropological Survey of India and the Indian Public Health Association. Four Nobel laureates and two Nobel Memorial Prize winners are associated with the city. Though home to major cricketing venues and franchises, Kolkata stands out in India for being the country’s centre of association football and also having strong culture in other sports less widespread elsewhere.
Places to Visit in Kolkata
• Sundarbans – Admire Wildlife In Their Natural Habitat
• Victoria Memorial Palace – Marvel At The Architecture
• Dakshineswar And Kalighat Temple – Take Blessings
• Science City – Enhance Your Knowledge
• Howrah Bridge – Capture The Beautiful Landscape
• Nicco Park – Have Some Fun Time
• Park Street – Shop Your Heart Out
• Eden Garden – Take A Plunge Into History
• St. Paul Cathedral – Treat The History Buff In You
• State Archaeological Gallery – Gaze At The Artifacts
• Princep Ghat – Watch The Sun Go Down
• Birla Planetarium – Treat Your Adventurous Soul
• The Marble Palace – Peep Into The 19th Century
• The Indian Museum – Take A Glance At Antiques
• Mother’s Wax Museum – Meet Realistic Wax Figures
• Salt Lake – Enjoy A Boat Ride
• The Academy Of Fine Arts – Appreciate The Art
• Tram Ride – Explore The City Like Bengalis Do
• Vidyasagar Setu – Gape At The Panoramic View
• The New Town Eco Park – Relax At This Picnic Spot
• Kolkata Restaurants – Relish Bengali Dishes
• Mallick Ghat Flower Market – Flower Shopping
• Mother Teresa House – Explore The Place
• Belur Math – Calm Your Senses
• Terreti Morning Market – Gorge On Tasty Dishes
• Fort William – Spectate The Birtish Inspired Structure
• Birla Temple – Offer Homage To Lord Krishna
• Chowringhee – For All The Recreational Activities
• South Park Street Cemetery – For Haunted Escapades
• Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden – To Get Closer To Nature
• Ferry Ride – Enjoy A Night At The Waters
• Rabindra Sarobar – A Paradise For Birdwatchers
• Nightlife – Call It A Day With Some Fun

How to Reach

Kolkata being a major metropolis and the second largest city in India is connected via its own domestic and international airports, railway station and the roadways. Taxis outside the airport and railway station are easily available for pick-up and drop.

By Flight – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport connects Kolkata to Southeast Asia and some countries of Europe. The domestic terminal is one of the best in the country and is connected to all the major towns and cities

By Train – Kolkata has two main railway stations- Howrah and Sealdah. It is connected to all the big stations in India and is a gateway to North Eastern India

By Road – There are regular bus services for Kolkata from almost any part of India. From Delhi, via NH 19, it takes almost a day to reach Kolkata