\
Kolkata

Kolkata

State

West Bengal

Country

India

Continent

Asia

Size

206 KM2

Population

14,974,000

Spending Budget

$136 - $410

Famous For

  • Howrah Bridge
  • Princep Ghat
  • Victoria Memorial
  • Eden Gardens
  • Indian Museum

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • February
  • October
  • November
  • December

History

The city underwent rapid industrial growth starting in the early 1850s, especially in the textile and jute industries; this encouraged British companies to massively invest in infrastructure projects, which included telegraph connections and Howrah railway station. The coalescence of British and Indian culture resulted in the emergence of a new babu class of urbane Indians, whose members were often bureaucrats, professionals, newspaper readers, and Anglophiles; they usually belonged to upper-caste Hindu communities. The most striking aspect of the layout of Kolkata is its rectangular north-south orientation. Except for the central areas where Europeans formerly lived, the city has grown haphazardly. This haphazard development is most noticeable in the fringe areas around the central core formed by the city of Kolkata and the suburb of Haora. The bulk of the city’s administrative and commercial activity is concentrated in the Barabazar district, a small area north of the Maidan (the park containing Fort William and many of the city’s cultural and recreational facilities). The layout has encouraged the development of a pattern of daily commuting that has overburdened Kolkata’s transportation system, utilities, and other municipal facilities. The city has an acute housing shortage. Of the persons living in institutional shelters in the Kolkata metropolitan area, more than two-thirds live in the city itself. About three-fourths of the housing units in the city are used for dwelling purposes only. There are hundreds of urban settlements called bastis, where about one-third of the city’s population lives. Kolkata is a cosmopolitan city: other than Indians, groups present include a variety of peoples from elsewhere in Asia (notably Bangladeshis and Chinese), Europeans, North Americans, and Australians. Kolkata was segregated under British rule, the Europeans living in the city centre and Indians living to the north and south. The pattern of segregation has continued in the modern city, although the distribution is now based on religious, linguistic, educational, and economic criteria. Shantytowns and low-income residential areas, however, exist side-by-side with more affluent areas.

Present Day

Kolkata is viewed as one of the wealthiest Indian urban communities with a net abundance of $ 290 billion and representing 9600 millionaires. According to the 2011 Indian registration, Kolkata is the seventh-most crowded city in India, with a populace of 4.5 million occupants inside as far as possible, and a populace of over 14.1 million inhabitants in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, making it the third-most crowded metropolitan region in India. The Port of Kolkata is India's most seasoned working port and its sole major riverine port. Kolkata’s real estate market has come a long way. If Dalhousie Square is a landmark of Kolkata’s iconic British architecture, New Town has the vibe of a young and vibrant society, where a majority of the population is in the 20s and employed in the banking or IT sectors. Experts view New Town as a new central business district of Kolkata, which will witness further commercial and retail development, thanks to the unending housing demand and influx of migrant population. The Great Banyan Tree Is Over 250 Years Old . The Great Banyan Tree in the Botanical Garden in Kolkata is the the biggest tree on the planet as far as territory secured. Eden Gardens Is the Third Largest Cricket Stadiums in The World. Science City Is the Largest Science Centre in The Indian Subcontinent. Kolkata Is the Only City in India To Have A Tram Network, Kolkata Metro Is the First Underground Metro Railway System In India. The Royal Calcutta Golf Club Is the First Golf Club Ever, Outside . Salt Lake Stadium Is the Second Largest Football Stadium In The World.

Future

It is viewed as one of the wealthiest Indian urban communities with a net abundance of $ 290 billion and representing 9600 millionaires. According to the 2011 Indian registration, Kolkata is the seventh-most crowded city in India, with a populace of 4.5 million occupants inside as far as possible, and a populace of over 14.1 million inhabitants in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, making it the third-most crowded metropolitan region in India. The Port of Kolkata is India's most seasoned working port and its sole major riverine port. Kolkata Metro train, which is India's first metro rail network is now going to be India's first underwater metro rail tunnel by 2022. Flyovers a mix of flyover and rail overbridges that seek to connect Taratala to Jadavpur PS via Tollygunge Phanri and Anwar Shah Road are being constructed . To improve the rural economy the West Bengal government would construct 13,000 kilometre of rural roads in the state. It is completely a ₹7,800 crores project. Kalighat SKYWALK The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is set to begin the construction of the proposed 450 metre skywalk near Kalighat Temple in South Kolkata, for facilitating the movement of devotees that visit the temple. Logistics Infra Development focuses on multimodal logistics development, including rail and road. The World Bank was likely to pump in $300 million for the development of multi-modal logistics infrastructure in and around Kolkata metropolitan area. Bengal silicon Valley project, which was launched in August, 2019, aimed at boosting employment in the city.
Must Visit Places ------------

Victoria Memorial

The great big, white marble building that stands in the heart of the city is the brainchild of George Curzon, Viceroy of India. It is a vital part of Kolkata tourism. The memorial was built to commemorate Queen Victoria in between the years of 1906 to 1921. It has now been transformed into a beautiful museum that houses a remarkable collection of ancient artefacts in its 25 stunning galleries. One of the most popular tourist spots in Kolkata, Victoria Memorial receives visitors from all over the globe. The architectural wonder is built in Indo-Saracenic revivalist style with a blend of British architecture and methods borrowed from various parts of the world such as Egyptian, Mughal, Venetian, Islamic, and Deccani.

Howrah Bridge

The fourth busiest Cantilever bridge in the world – Howrah Bridge is probably the first suggestion you will get when you ask about the best places to visit in Kolkata. The celebrated landmark built upon River Hooghly acts as a gateway to Kolkata and connects the eastern Bank of Howrah to the western banks of Kolkata. The construction of this architecturally brilliant bridge was initiated in 1939 and the bridge was renamed as Rabindra Setu to honour the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1965. About 90,000 vehicles and hundreds of pedestrians travel on this bridge every day.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

The temple of the goddess who is believed “to liberate her devotees from the ocean of existence” – Bhavatarini, a manifestation of goddess Kali, was constructed by a philanthropist called Rani Rashmoni in 1855. The beautiful temple complex built in the classic ‘Nava-ratna’ style of Bengali architecture is a popular pilgrimage spot for Hindu devotees. The temple that stands on the calm eastern bank of the Hooghly River was once a residing place of the Hindu mystic – Ramakrishna Paramahansa. It is among one of the most famous temples in Kolkata.

Princep Ghat

Built by the British in 1841 on the bank of Hooghly River, the Prinsep Ghat is a great place to spend a relaxing evening. Open your picnic baskets or enjoy delicious street food and chai as you sit in front of the silent waters overlooking the Vidyasagar Setu. Boating services are also available at the Ghat and it makes for an excellent spot for romantic dates. The picturesque location boasts of monuments built in elegant Greek and Gothic styles.

National Library

The National Library is where you will find a massive and stunning collection of books from all parts of India. The largest library in the country is the perfect place for book lovers and history buffs. With a collection of over 2.2 million books, it is a delight to just walk around in this library and feel the touch and smell of age old books that are carefully preserved. As an ancient building that was built as early as in 1836, the library is also popularly rumoured to be home to haunted spirits that roam the corridors.

Calcutta Botanical Garden

Ranked number one in Kolkata’s tourism list, the Calcutta Botanical Garden is one of the oldest gardens in India and one of the best things to do in Kolkata is to explore it. It was founded by the East India Company in 1787 to cultivate plants for commercial purposes. Located on the west bank of the Hooghly River about 8 km away from the main city, the garden covers an area of about 273 acre which has approximately 12000 flora species from all over the world. The main attraction of the garden is a Banyan tree, covering an area of 3 acres and is about 250 years old. The landmark gives an appearance of huge foliage than a single tree, and is the second largest canopy in the world. One can find an abundance of beautiful palm trees, bamboos, orchids and other colourful flowers too. Refresh your mind with the thriving greenery of the ever-growing flora. A visit to the garden is must if you are travelling to Kolkata.

Birla Planetarium

Located on the Chowringhee Road close to the Victoria Memorial and St. Paul’s Cathedral is the Birla planetarium which is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. Catering to the city of joy – Kolkata, the Birla Planetarium is a outstanding structure established by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2nd July 1963. It is locally famous as Taramandal and among the best places to visit in Kolkata. The Birla Planetarium often hosts many shows and programs in Hindi, English, Bengali, and other regional languages. Another noteworthy feature of this place is that it also has an electronics laboratory and an astronomy gallery with a collection of paintings and astronomical models.

Science City

The science city is a perfect blend of education with fun. Being one of its kind in India, the Science city is one of the finest and the largest science museums in the world and providing a fun way of imparting knowledge about science to people.It is running since 1st July 1997 and has emerged as major attraction for the people of Kolkata as well as for the tourists in Kolkata. There is also a separate area designed for the aquatic creatures.The area provides with a detailed description of the various fishes and insects in the aquatic world. Many unique and rare fishes can be seen in these aquariums. The ground floor of the science city comprises of some optical illusions which are very interesting to look at.

Indian Museum

The Indian Museum is the ninth oldest museum of the world and largest in India. It is located in Kolkata – the city of joy. Founded in the year 1814, it a centre of multidisciplinary activities ever since. It is also called ‘Jadughar’, comprising the finest collection of contemporary paintings, sacred relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. The Indian Museum also hassome of the most exquisite collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armours, and stunning Mughal paintings.

Eden Gardens

The Eden Garden is a beautiful, well-maintained cricket stadium located in Kolkata’s B. B. D. Bagh area, near State Secretariat and Calcutta High Court. It is the homeground of cricket in Kolkata. Its foundation was led in the year 1864 by Governor- General Auckland, who named the place after his sisters Emily and Fanny Eden. Stretched over 50 acres, this cricket stadium has the capacity to seat about 66,349 people and is the second largest stadiums in the world.