Kolkata formerly Calcutta, is the capital of West Bengal located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India’s oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port. Kolkata has also served as the Capital of India under British Rule till 1911.
Nabanna houses the State Secretariat of West is Bengal. It was inaugurated on 5 October 2013 by Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee
Central Kolkata hosts the central business district. It contains B. B. D. Bagh, formerly known as Dalhousie Square, and the Esplanade on its east; Strand Road is on its west. The West Bengal Secretariat, General Post Office, Reserve Bank of India, High Court, Lalbazar Police Headquarters, and several other government and private offices are located here. The Maidan is a large open field in the heart of the city that has been called the lungs of Kolkata and accommodates sporting events and public meetings. The Victoria Memorial and Kolkata Race Course are located at the southern end of the Maidan.
Two planned townships in the greater Kolkata region are Bidhannagar, also known as Salt Lake City and located north-east of the city; and Rajarhat, also called New Town and sited east of Bidhannagar. In the 2000s, Sector V in Bidhannagar developed into a business hub for information technology and telecommunication companies. Both Bidhannagar and New Town are situated outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation limits, in their own municipalities.
The Kolkata Metro Rail is the first underground mass rapid urban railway network in India. Local trains and ferry service to specific places are common among locals. Trams and Hand Rickshaws are also great tourist attractions.
Kolkata today is one of the biggest metropolises of India. It is where the past meets future, where the suit meets the dhoti and where tradition meets change.
Getting into Kolkata:
By Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Dumdum is situated 17kms northwest of the city centre.
By Train: Howrah and Sealdah railway station connects to almost all parts of the country. Chitpur (Kolkata Station) and Santhragachi are two newly added Stations in Kolkata.
By Road: National Highways 2, 6, 34, 117 passes through Kolkata, connecting it to rest of the country.
Quick Facts:
Area : 188 sq. kms. Altitude : 5.18 m above sea level
Temperature : Summer-Max: 41.7°C Min: 26.0°C
Winter- Max: 36.3°C Min: 9.6°C
Best Season : October to March
STD Code : 033
Main Languages : Bengali, Hindi, English
Popular News Papers:
English: The Telegraph, Times of India
Bengali : Ananda Bazar Patrika, Bartaman
Hindi : San Marg
