India Travel Information

An Insight :
Kolkata is capital city of West Bengal and was the former capital of British India. Kolkata is a city that means many things to many people. For some, Kolkata is the city of joy, while for others it is dirty, crowded, and noisy. Once the greatest colonial city in the Orient, Calcutta- Kolkata was later reviled as a cauldron of poverty, dirt, and disease. Today, it ranks among the four major metropolis of India along with Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. A mere village in the 17th century, Calcutta- Kolkata is not an ancient city like Delhi. Like Mumbai and Chennai, it originated largely due to the expansionist ambitions of the European powers, especially the British Raj. Little wonder, Calcutta- Kolkata has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles.

A city which has completed three hundred years of its establishment. Kolkata has adopted to the modern trends and techniques of the world but has not shed the leisurely life style and the calm which it has accumulated since ages. A city which till few years ago was the most densely populated city in the world. Calcutta has the country's first Metro railway and also retains some of the building which are more than hundred year old. It is a city of enduring charm.

Lets Explore The City :
» Howrah Bridge - Howrah Bridge is another place to be seen in Kolkata. It is excellent example of engineering techniques of the early 20th century. The whole bridge is 450 m long without any pylon in the river. The bridge also has the distinction of being the busiest bridge in the world catering to around 100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians.

» Belur Math - The headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission is another tourist attraction of Calcutta. The place was founded in 1899 and houses a structure that was designed to be a church, temple, and mosque all in one.

» Eden Gardens - The gardens are located in the northwest corner of the Kolkata, is a small and pleasantly laid-out garden. The place also houses the renowned cricket ground by the same name.

» Indian Museum - Indian Museum of Calcutta that was built in 1874. , The museum is a place to see for its beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rare collections of archaeological. The entrance to the museum houses an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India.

» Victoria Memorial - It is a huge white-marble structure and the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. The structure, which is now floodlit in the night, gives a fascinating site. It has been now converted in a museum that houses the most impressive collection of memorabilia's from the days of Raj.
There are several places of interest around Kolkata. These places near by make excellent weekend trip and excursion options.
The most popular place to visit around Calcutta is Shanti Niketan. Situated 136 km northwest of the city, this is the place where Rabindranath Tagore lived and established a university.
Bishnupur, 100 km northwest of Calcutta, is yet another exciting and hitherto unexplored excursion for Kolkata. Bishnupur houses unique terracotta temples, each more beautifully embellished than the other. Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the delicate carving on shells and bell metal artifacts.

» Durga Puja - To know and understand Kolkata in its eternity, one is invited to the city during Durga Puja-a time. Every year, Kolkata forgets its worries and yields to a paroxysm of celebration and worship. This special time of the year comes just before the full moon in late September or October. This is a special occasion because of the transcendent place Goddess Durga holds in the Bengali imagination.
Saraswati Puja is the celebration of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. The festival is celebrated in Kolkata just before the coming of spring in the months of January or February.
Kolkata Book Fair is the largest in Asia and provides ample opportunities to the bibliophiles to explore the fascinating world of books. The event is held every year in the month of January or February in Kolkata.

Poush Mela is celebrated in the Shanti Niketan usually on the 22nd or 23rd of December. The three-day function marks the foundation of Shanti Niketan near Kolkata.
Other important festivals celebrated in Kolkata are Kali Puja, Diwali, and Holi.

Where Is Kolkata??
» By Air - Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Calcutta-Kolkata to other important cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. Calcutta-Kolkata provides direct flights to most of the countries in the Southeast Asia. The airport in Calcutta-Kolkata is situated at Dumdum, around 17 km northeast of the city center.

» By Rail - Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta-Kolkata. Super-fast trains such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express join the city from Delhi and nearby cities such as Bokaro and Rourkela. Coromandel Express and Gitanjali Express connect Calcutta-Kolkata to Chennai and Mumbai respectively. The city has two major railway stations-one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.