INTRODUCTION

Calcutta, a city that means many things to many people. For some, Calcutta is the city of joy, while for others it is dirty, crowded, and noisy. Once the greatest colonial city in the Orient, Calcutta 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 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 has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles.

LOCATION

The metropolitan city of Calcutta in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal extends between the latitude 22°82' N and longitude 88°20' E. The city is well connected to the other cities of India through train, bus, and air services. Most of the countries in the Asia have flight links to the city.

CLIMATE

As Calcutta is near the sea, the city has uniform temperature throughout the year. The temperature ranges from 12–27°C in the winter and 24–38°C in the summer. Annual rainfall is around 160 cm. Humidity level can be very high in the summers and can make one’s life difficult.

PAST

The first capital of the British in India, Calcutta does not have an ancient history like Delhi. The city was established in 1686 when British moved to the small villages of Sutanati, Govindpur, and Kalikata from their trading port of Hooghly. The city got its name from the last of the settlements mentioned above. The city progressed well until 1756 when Siraj-Ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) attacked the town and drove away the British. Lord Clive retook Calcutta and until 1911, Calcutta remained the capital of the British government in India. Being the center of power for so long created a unique culture and heritage of the city, totally unlike any other city of India. The people here are proud of their culture and can go to any length to defend it. The humanity of the city can be felt only through visiting the place and not by reading.

SITES TO VISIT

Victoria Memorial 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.

Indian Museum, built in 1874, has a beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rare collections of archeological. The entrance to the museum houses an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India. The museum is opened all days of the week except Monday. The normal timing is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fort William was constructed in 1781 after the unfortunate happenings of 1756 in which many British soldiers with their families were killed by Siraj-Ud-Daula. Large area around the village of Govindpur was cleared off the forests and this fort was constructed, which for some time also lent its name to the city. The fort is still in use and visitors are allowed inside only after getting special permits. The area around the fort is a very large patch of green known as the Maidan (ground).

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

Birla Planetarium is one of the largest of its kind in the world, and a good place to enjoy oneself. Regular shows in Hindi and English are held here.

Kali Mandir is the temple dedicated to Kali, goddess of destruction. This is the temple from which the old village Kalikata took its name, which, in turn, also gave the city its name.

Howrah Bridge is an 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.

When Calcutta was the capital of British India, BBD Bagh was the center of power. This is the place that houses the now famous Writer’s Building (clerks were known as writers in the British India) and the old Fort William.

Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, is situated in the north of the city. The place was founded in 1899 and houses a structure that was designed to be a church, temple, and mosque all in one.

Other important sites that can be visited are Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan, Town Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

SITES NEARBY

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 holiday destination. Bishnupur houses unique terracotta temples, each more beautifully embellished than the other. Once the capital of the Malla kings, Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa (circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artifacts.

Chandernagar (35 km) is the former French settlement that still abounds in buildings from that period of history. The important places to visit are the Quai Dupleix, Eglise Du Sacre, and image of Joan of Arc.

WHERE TO STAY

With the growth of the city, Calcutta provides very good choices in accommodation. Every income group has wide spectrum of accommodation to choose from. The hotels are convenient and provide all the modern facilities.

SHOPPING

Calcutta can be described as a shopping paradise for them who really want to get value for their money. Every market, which has a crowded and dusty look, has its own history and specializes in something exotic and unique.

New Market, Calcutta's oldest and most renowned municipal market, offers one of the widest ranges of goods. Recently, a new complex has been added on Bertram Street to house the partially burnt-out section of the market. The market offers leather goods, plastic toys, fancy silverware, jewelry, garments, fabric, confectionery, clothing, dry fruits, poultry products, fish, meat, flowers, etc.

The air-conditioned market at Shakespeare Sarani specializes in clothes, novelties, artificial plants, jewelry, electronic household gadgets, watches, etc. For plastic toys, stationary, firecrackers, diaries, electrical goods and appliances, and glassware, one can visit Bagri Market. Bowbazar at B. B. Ganguly Street can be searched for wooden furniture and musical instruments. The best place to go for second-hand products is Chandni Market. China Bazaar is famous for its paper buntings, streamers, and other domestic goods. College Street is the best place to bargain for books. For imported goods, one can check out Five Star and Fancy Market. Dakshinapan Market houses most of the government emporia. The place is well known for its handlooms, textiles, handicrafts, cosmetic jewelry, fancy goods, object d'art, etc. For flowers, one can have a look on the Lake Market at Rash Behari Avenue.

HOW TO REACH

Calcutta is connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Esplanade Terminus in the heart of the city is the main bus terminus. A new development is the starting of Dhaka–Calcutta bus service. The buses are colorful, air-conditioned, and comfortable.

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

Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta. 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 to Chennai and Mumbai respectively. The city has two major railway stations—one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.

Mechanized boats and ships are available on a regular basis for Andaman & Nicobar Islands. One should contact the offices of the Shipping Corporation of India on 13, Strand Road for more information on schedules. Luxury cruises are also operational between Calcutta and Haldia, a modern port city nearby.

For local transport, Calcutta Metro is India’s first and only underground railway network and a good option to move around the city. Trains run from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and 3 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. Other options to explore the city are taxis, trams, and buses. The services are basic and crowded but cheap.