Kolkata (earlier known as Calcutta) is a more than 300 years old city, built in the British era by Job Charnok. Kolkata gradually grew to be the brilliant capital of West Bengal. Calcutta, or Kolkata as it is now called, is seen as the land of the intellectuals. Communist in ideology and very politically aware, Kolkata was the capital of British India before Delhi assumed this position.
Kolkata developed from a fishermen village to become one of the largest cities in the world. The city symbolizes creativity and vibrance with all the modern amenities available. Kolkata has adapted to the modern trends and techniques of the world but has not shed the leisurely life style and the calm of its hey days.
Kolkata has the country’s first Metro railway and some of its buildings are more than a hundred years old. While Kolkata is a city of enduring charm, it is also a city that evokes extreme emotions. So be ready to give in to it or hate it completely.
A city with strong cultural, literary and religious flavours, Kolkata acts as the gateway to the North-East.
Sightseeing in this fascinating city includes Raj Bhawan, the residence of the Governor of Bengal, Victoria Memorial, the city’s landmark, Botanical Gardens, which are notable for the oldest banyan tree, and orchid house, Armenian Church, Marble Palace, one family’s collection of memorabilia and the Birla Planetarium.
Kolkata Indian Travel Destinations » State Of India » West Bengal » Kolkata
| Densely populated and polluted, Kolkata is often an ugly and desperate place that to many people sums up the worst of India. Yet it’s also one of the country’s more fascinating centres and has some scenes of rare beauty. Certainly the people are a friendly bunch and Bengali humour is renowned throughout India. During the British Raj Kolkata was known as the Jewel of the East and was the capital of the country till 1911. It still bears the Victorian imprint on its streets and structures. Today, it is still the most important city in the east, the nerve center of trade and industry of the State. Economically, Kolkata is suffering: the port has been silting up, making navigation from Kolkata down to the sea steadily more difficult and limiting the size of ships that can use the port. Electrical power in Kolkata is so on-again off-again that virtually every hotel, shop or |
small business has to have some sort of standby power generator or battery lighting system.
Despite all these problems Kolkata is a city with a soul, and one which many residents are inordinately fond of. The Bengalis, so ready to raise arms against the British in the struggle for independence, are also the poets and artists of India.
Amongst the squalor and confusion Kolkata has place of sheer magic: flower sellers beside the misty, ethereal Hooghly River; the majestic sweep of the Maidan; the arrogant bulk of the Victoria Memorial; the superb collection of archaeological treasures exhibited in the Indian Museum. They are all part of this amazing city, as are massive Marxist and trade union rallies which can block traffic in the city centre for hours at a time.
STD Code : 33
Altitude : 6m. (20 ft.)
Weather :The weather is very Indian, slightly on the humid side. Summers are hot, the temperatures fluctuating between max. 30c – 35c and a min. 14c – 25c. The rainy season begins in the month of June and lasts up to October bringing in moderately severe rains. The temperature is also moderate.
Location : Near the eastern coast of India, in the state of West Bengal.
Languages : Bengali, English, Hindi.
Clothing : Summer : Light cottons.
Winter : Light woolens.
Places To See:
Victoria Memorial
A splendid architectural structure in white marble, modeled on the Taj Mahal, was built in the early 20th century. In memory of Queen Victoria and was formally inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1921 who later became King Edward VIII of England.
Indian Museum
This museum was established in 1878 on Jawaharlal Nehru Road. The museum is built in Italian architectural style and is considered as the largest museum in the country and one of the best in Asia. The largest museum in the country, the museum has six sections: Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industry (economic botany).
Eden Gardens
In the North-West corner of the Maidan are small & pleasantly laid out Eden Gardens. The gardens were created in 1840 and named after the sister of Lord Auckland, the former governor general. The idea was to make a Biblical – style garden of Eden in India.
Maidan & Fort William
After the events of 1756, the British decided there would be no repetition of the attack on the city and set out to replace the original Fort William, in the Maidan , with a massive and impregnable new fort. First they cleared out the inhabitants of the village of Govindpur and in 1758 laid the foundations of a fort. Around the fort a huge expanse of jungle was cut down to give the cannons a clear line of fire but, as usually happens, the fort has never fired a shot in anger.
The fort is still in use today and visitors are only allowed inside with special permission. Even the trenches and deep fortifications surrounding the fort’s massive walls seem to be out of bounds.
Ochterlony Monuments
Now officially renamed the Shahid Minar, this 48m column tower over the northern end of the Maidan. It was erected in 1828 and named after Sir David Ochterlony, who is credited with winning the Nepal War. The column is an intriguing combination of Turkish, Egyptian and Syrian architectural elements.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Built between 1839 and 1847, St Paul’s Cathedral is one of India’s most important churches. It’s east of the Victoria Memorial at the South end of the Maidan.
Travel Information:
Air: Kolkata is connected by air with Jorhat, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Ranchi, Silchar, Tezpur, Visakhapatnam, Amritsar, Delhi and Leh.
Rail: Kolkata is connected by rail with all major cities of the country.
Road: Kolkata is well connected by road with all major parts of the country.
Entertainment and Nightlife in Kolkata
As far as entertainment and nightlife is concerned, Kolkata is one of the hot spots of India. Take for example the Park Street, which is the most happening place in the whole of Kolkata. You can techno-dance in the discos till 2 AM or just fill yourself with gastronomic delights in the fashionable eateries which serve anything from Japanese to Lebanese and Swedish to Samoan. And if you are a film buff, just visit Nandan to view a selection of great cinemas from maestros ranging from Satyajit Ray to Kurosawa. Theatre is still alive and kicking in Kolkata, despite the onslaughts of Bollywood, and many of them present revolutionary content and treatment for the viewers.
Kolkata today boasts of international standard shopping malls, multiplexes, pubs and various fine restaurants. The youth brigade in Kolkata is far more exposed to western culture and has a completely different outlook towards life as compared to their predecessors. “Work hard party harder” is their new-age mantra.
Kolkatans are quite adventurous where food is concerned. Kolkata has grown into one of the largest cities in India, throbbing with the passion of life. Thus, Chinese noodles or Italian spaghetti or German hamburger are known words to Kolkatans as are the south Indian dosa, idli and sambar. Roadside eating has always proved to be lip-smacking good on the streets of Kolkata, paved as they are with many gastronomic delights and choice eating joints.
