Information about Calcutta

History & General Information

Calcutta also known as Kolkatta, in India is regarded as the City of Joy. Its origin started when the establishment of the Old Fort William in 1696 was made. Apparently, before the establishment was made, an agent from the East India Company named Job Charnock had secured permission from the Mughals to search for a base in Sutanati in the fall of 1687. The name of the city was derived from the term “Kalikata”, which was one of the three villages whose lands have become part of the new settlement in India.

Throughout the three-century history of the City of Calcutta, it had grown to be the largest city in India from a mere fishing village. It has a population of 10.5 million and regarded to be one of the largest cities in the world. Until 1912, Calcutta remained to be the capital city of the British India. This is the reason why there are many monuments and buildings with Western architectural styles that are predominantly seen in the city. Two of the finest buildings to be seen in the city are the Victoria Memorial and the Writers Building. These buildings are combined with the best of the Oriental and Occidental styles.

The City of Calcutta has many things to offer. It has strong cultural, religious, and literary influences. These influences are greatly seen on the city’s increasing flow of activities in various fields such as theater, dance, music, writing, and fine arts. There are also plenty of modern sports centers and clubs in the city where avid Calcuttan fans of cricket and football can enjoy watching.

Today, the City of Calcutta symbolizes vibrance and creativity that can be seen at its good cuisines, easy conveyance, and best choices of hotels. Compared to other mega-cities in India, Calcutta is a lot friendlier since it will make everyone feel special in every visit. However, the months between May and September are recommended for a visit or vacation since the city is very wet.

Calcutta is not just a city of joy but also a city of surprises that overwhelms every business traveler and tourist. Its charm never dies out making it the most loved city in the country.

Tourist Attractions

One of the great tourist attractions in Calcutta is the Howrah Bridge, a plank bridge that has a magnificent engineering. It was built in 1943 with 97 meters in height and 705 meters in length. It is connected to its twin city, the Howrah, which is an important industrial area in India and also considered as the railroad terminus in Calcutta. This bridge is the busiest bridge in the world since it hums with various activities from dusk till dawn.

Another great attraction in Calcutta is the Belur Math. It the location of the Ramakrishna Temple, which is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Missionary. It is an area in Howrah along the West Bengal in India.

Victoria Memorial is the pride and joy of the Calcutta City because of its marvelous building made of white marble. It has watercourses and formal gardens that were conceived by Lord Guzon to remark the Empire of British at its peak.

Other popular attractions in Calcutta city are the Botanical Garden, which is the biggest in Asia and the second largest in the world, the Banyan Tree, and the BBD Bagh. The Botanical Garden contain more than 50,000 different species of plants while the Banyan tree is 200 years old already and considered to be one of the largest in the world.