India Tourism | Kolkata (Calcutta)

Grown from mangrove swamps, Kolkata (Calcutta) is the largest metropolis in India. Kolkata's (Kalkutta) role in the national economy is of crucial importance as the Gateway to Eastern India. Ships were the begining of Kolkata's (Calcutta) history & the river Hoogly was the key to the city's fortunes.

Area: 187 sq. kms
Altitude: 5.8 metres
Temperature (°C):
Summer: Max 41.7, Min 38.1
Winter: Max 29.3, Min 9.6
Rainfall: 158 cms June to Mid September
Clothing: Tropical
Languages Spoken: Bengali, English, Hindi etc.
Season: Throughout the year
STD Code: 033

How to get there

	Air: India Airlines connect Kolkata (Calcutta) with Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Chennai (Madras), Port Blair, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Patna, Lucknow, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Imphal, Bagdogra, Agartala, Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam (Vizag), Guwahati, Dimapur, Hyderabad and Car-Nicobar.
	Rail: Howrah and Sealdah, two main railway stations are there in Kolkata (Calcutta). Kolkata (Calcutta) is connected by rail to most of the important places in India.
	Road: Good motorable roads connect Kolkata (Calcutta) to all the major cities in India. Some of these are: Puri-560 kms, Bhubaneshwar-498 kms, Shiliguri-000 kms, Darjiling-678 kms, Krishnanagar-000 kms, Baharampur-000 kms, Patna-547 kms, Ranchi-000 kms, Alahabad-000 kms, Kanpur-000 kms, Lucknow-000 kms, Haridwar-1586 kms, Varanasi-681 kms, Mumbai (Bombay) -2060 kms, Delhi-1490 kms, Chennai (Madras) -0000 kms, Panaji (Goa)-0000 kms.
	Local Transport: Metred Taxis, Cycle & Man-pulling rickshaws, city buses, Trams, Electric Trains & Metro rail services are available.
	Hotels: Deluxe: Taj Bengal, The Oberoi Grand. Standard: Park Hotel, Airport Ashok, Hotel Hindustan International. New Kenilworth International, Rutt-Dean, Lytton, Astor. Budget: Astoria, Minerva, Swagath, Carlton, The Shamilton, Host International, Shalimar, Udaychal Tourist Lodge, YMCA, YWCA.

Places of Interest

Belur Math (16.5 kms)
Botanical Garden (19.2 kms)
Dakshineshwar Temple (20 kms)
Howarh Bridge (6.4 kms)
Jain Temple (9 kms)
Kali Temple (3.2 kms)
Marble Palace (6.8 kms)
Nakhoda Mosque (6 kms)
National Library (1.4 kms)
Rabindra Sarobar (4.2 kms)
Raj Bhavan (3 kms)
Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture (5 kms)
Sahid Minar (Ochterlony Monument)
St.Paul's Cathedral, Victoria Memorial (0.5 kms)
Zoological Gardens (3 kms)

Museums and Art Galleries

Academy of Fine Arts, Tel: 248-4302
Asutosh Museum, Tel: 34-7472
Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Tel: 76-6802
Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Tel: 247-7341
Birla Planetarium, Tel: 242-1554/-6619
Gurusaday Museum; Indian Museum, Tel: 29-9902
Nehru Children's Museum, Tel: 248-3517
Rabindra Bharati Museum, Tel: 34-5241
State Archaeological Gallery, Tel: 243-6636
Victoria Memorial Hall Museum, Tel: 248-5142

Excursions

Digha Beach (185 kms)
Santiniketan (213 kms)
Bakkhali Beach (132 kms)
Chandannagar (39 kms)
Diamond Harbour (51 kms)
Sundarban (131 kms)
Tribani (48 kms)
Gangasagar (140 kms)
Malda (340 kms)
Kalna (82 kms)
Navadweep (110 kms)
Mayapur (134 kms)
Murshidabad (221 kms)
Vishnupur (152 kms): Famous for the exquisite 17th & 18th century terracotta temples, Seat of classical music. The Stylised, "Bankura horse" symbolic of excellence in rural handicrafts is native to this district.
Belur Math (16 kms) is a modern temple within the grounds of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Dakshineshwar Temple (20 kms) dedicated to Kali is built in the architectural style of Bengal.
Botanical Gardens (8 kms) cover 110 hectares and have a number of rare plants, including a 200 year old banyan tree.
Murshidabad (221 kms) centre of Bengal’s silk industry and the residence of the erstwhile nawab of Bengal.
Shantiniketan (167kms) now a university, founded by the Nobel literature laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.

The Region