Calcutta, now Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, has been a prominent center of historic, revolutionary, cultural, educational, social & political, intellectual & technological, etc. developments and events since ancient times. British established their first organization in Kolkata to spread their trade, influence, and power to throughout India. Kolkata is India's second largest city and the capital of West Bengal, located at the point where the Indian subcontinent starts to narrow into the triangular southern peninsula. Formerly the capital of British India (1772-1912), Kolkata is a city of joy and love, glory and grandeur, with a great deal of irresistible allure and charm - its imperial monuments, strong and keen cultural and religious flavor leaves an indelible impression on the tourists.
City Information
The largest metropolis in India, Calcutta is a vibrant city on the move, volatile and unpredictable. The Gateway to India, till 1912, and the capital of the Raj in India, it still bears the Victorian imprint on its streets and structures. A city just about ready to burst at the seams, Calcutta is home to more than 10 million people. The Ganges (called the Hooghly in Calcutta) is still the inspiration, as it was to Job Charnok, East India Company agent, who reached the shores in August 1690, to found the city. Calcutta, after London, was the British Empire’s second city.
Home to five Nobel laureates – Ronald Ross, Sir C.V. Raman, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, Kolkata is the nerve centre of intellect and human values, where many modern movements began in art, cinema and theatre, science and industry. India’s quest for freedom began here. Presently, Kolkata is a magnificent center of trade & commerce, a large number of various industries, numerous historical buildings, temples, parks & gardens, and many prominent tourist attractions. Because of being situated near sea and the foothills of the Himalayas, Kolkata is among the biggest ports of India for import & export activities, and is therefore, known as the gateway to the east India.
Our well-connected and well-equipped Travel India Forum is experienced mellow in providing highly exciting, entertaining, enlightening, and rejuvenating tours & travels to the city of Kolkata, and other regions of the east India. The Kolkata Travel Forums offers cozy & comfortable transportation and accommodation, sight seeing tours, association of tourist guides, comprehensive information about travel to Kolkata and other parts of the east India, etc. at highly competitive charges, to make your travel to Kolkata and the east India, extremely interesting and unforgettably happy.
City Highlights
Botanical Gardens
Located 8 kms from Calcutta on the west bank of Ganga are the famous Botanical Gardens.The highlight of the Gardens is the 200 year old banyan tree, said to be the largest in the world.The tree is 26 metres high with a circumference of approximately 900 feet.
Digha
185 km south east of Calcutta is Digha, a popular beach resort with a 6 km long beach, said to be one of the widest in the world. The other popular beach resort of West Bengal, Bakkhali, lies 132 km from the city. 48 km south of Calcutta is the beautiful Diamond Harbour, at the mouth of the Hooghly, an ideal picnic spot.
Rabindra Sarovar or Dhakuria Lake
Rabindra Sarobar, originally known as Dhakuria Lake, is covered an area of 76 hector. This large manmade lake with parks, gardens and walking alleys has been still one of the few places in Kolkata where one can relax. Recently this lake has been acknowledged as an important waterbody by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India.
Victoria Memorial
This is one of India's most beautiful monuments built between 1906 and 1921 on the lines of white marble. It stands on the southern side of the maidan (ground) near Jawaharlal Nehru Road. All monuments of this memorial were designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and build of white marble from Rajasthan.
BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square)
It is locates just south of Howrah Bridge. Dalhousie Square, which is renamed after Three Martyrs of Bengal, Binay, Badal & Dinesh was created in the heart of the imperial capital of Kolkata. The tank in the centre, fed by natural springs, is said to have supplied Charnock with drinking water.
Santiniketan
Santiniketan was founded by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore. In 1901 Rabindranath Tagore started an experimental place of learning with a 'class room' under the trees, and a group of five pupils.
Marble Palace
Marble Palace is located on C R Avenue in north Kolkata at Muktaram Babu Street. Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur constructed this palace in 1835. Italian marble was lavishly used to complete its construction.
Best time to travel
As Calcutta - Kolkata is near the sea, the city has uniform temperature throughout the year.Humidity level can be very high in the summers and can make one's life difficult. Talking about Kolkata peak travel time, it can be said that period between October-march is the best time to visit Calcutta. This is the perfect time to savor the autumn season that is in its full bloom. Cotton clothing is ideal for the summer months whereas light woolens are required for the winters.
