Kolkata - Wikitravel

6/24/2020 Kolkata - Wikitravel
Earth : Asia : South Asia : India : Eastern India : West Bengal : Kolkata
Kolkata is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and
accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.
Kolkata (Bengali:কলকাতা) [] (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and the second largest city in
India (after Mumbai). If Bangalore is the Seattle of India, then Kolkata is the sub-contintent's London. It is an
'in your face' city that shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitor. Abject poverty mixes inexplicably with
crumbling British Raj-era gems, sprawling gardens and historical colleges. Long known as the cultural capital
of India, Kolkata continues to spawn generations of poets, writers, film producers and Nobel Prize winners. If
your trip only allows for a visit of one or two of India's metropolitan cities, then definitely consider placing
Kolkata on your itinerary. Love it or hate it, you definitely won't forget the city on the Hooghly.
Districts
Kolkata/Southern fringes|Southern fringes — the rapidly mushrooming localities to the south of the city.
Includes Behala, Jadavpur, Garia and Narendrapur. There are a number of educational institutes and
lavish shopping malls in this area. This is a relatively newer part of the city where a lot of expansion is
going on.Many of the Super Speciality Hospitals are located along the EM Bypass and the city is rapidly
undergoing transformation with infrastructure augmentation and expansion eastwards.
South Kolkata — The posher part of the city. Covers Gariahat, Dhakuria, Ballygunge, Bhawanipur,
Alipore, New Alipore, Rash Behari, Kalighat and Tollygunge. It is mostly residential areas with posh
neighbourhoods and numerous big malls like South City, Quest, Acropolis, Forum etc. Rabindra Sarobar
(Dhakuria Lake) is a vast joggers park around a lake which is home to many sporting associations,
rowing club, a stadium. Tollygunge is home to the Bengali Tinsel Town nicknamed "Tollywood" and the
golf club of Kolkata.
Colonial District — The colonial district is where all the heritage buildings of the colonial era are
located and served as the prime business district till 90's until Salt Lake/New Town sprung up around
late 90's.It is considered the soul of Kolkata. Writer's Building (Mahakaran) used to serve as the West
Bengal State Secretariat till 2014(under renovation as of now). Dalhousie Square (B.B.D Bagh) hosts
the heritage buildings, Raj Bhavan (Governor's House), Bidhan Sabha (State Assembly Building),
Kolkata Municipal Corporation Building, St John's Church (Oldest in Kolkata), Black Hole Monument,
Jewish Synagogues are located here. It still holds the old world charm with touch of modernity with
century old buildings, ancient trams, human pulled rickshaws, street food vendors, thousands of office
goers, plethora of shops of which many still bears the looks as they were a century ago.
Maidan — The "Lungs"of Kolkata adjoining the Colonial District.Maidan, a vast open field which
serves as home to many sporting clubs, gardens, tanks and lots of vast open green fields. Includes Fort
William, Strand Road, Khidirpur, Dufferin Road, Hooghly Bank and Chowringhee. Rabindra Sadan,
Nandan and adjoining exhibition halls,Nehru Children's Museum, Birla Planetarium, St Pauls Cathedral,
Victoria Memorial, Race Course, Fort William (Eastern Command HQ of Indian Army), Esplanade,
Eden Gardens, Shahid Minar (Ochterlony Monument), Princep Ghat and Millenium Park, all are located
around this area.Park Street is a major attraction which hosts numerous upmarket lounges, restaurants,
bars, discs,shops and colonial buildings. South Park Street Cemetary (Oldest Christian Cemetery of
Kolkata) is located at the southern end of Park Street. Vidyasagar Setu (India's longest cable stayed
bridge) approach originates just after the race course and temporary state secretariat (Nabanna) is just at
the opposite end of the bridge.
North Kolkata — the older area of the city, a fascinating district dominated by narrow little lanes and
hundreds of century-old buildings. Includes Chitpur, Bagbazar, Belgachhia, Shyam Bazaar, Shobha
Bazaar, Maniktala, Jorasanko and the famous College Street area. Also situated here are the Sealdah
station, one of the largest train hubs in India, and the newly built Kolkata station. Mother House
(Missionaries of Charity) is situated near the Sealdah Station. Kumortuli (The Clay Artisans Enclave),
Joransanko Thakurbari (Ancestral Home of Tagore), Nakhoda Mosque, Marble Palace, Legendary
Indian Coffee, Calcutta University, Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, Presidency University,
https://wikitravel.org/en/Kolkata 1/19
numerous heritage theatres are located here. Dum Dum being the prime communication hub of Kolkata
having International Airport, Metro Rail, Circular Rail, Ground Rail.
Northern fringes — The large industrial area to the north of the city. Includes Kashipur, Dumdum,
Belghoria, Khardah, Panihati, Titagarh etc. where there are a number of factories, including jute, paper,
cotton, ordnance and chemicals. Famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple and the twin bridges Vivekananda
Setu/Nibedita Setu are located in this area.
East Kolkata — Rapidly developing, specially IT sector and home to many malls. Encompasses Salt
Lake City (Bidhan Nagar), Rajarhat (New Town), Lake Town and the E.M. Bypass. Many five star
hotels, theme parks, posh housing estates and Special Economic Zones are being built in this area. Eco
Park, Aquatica, Nazrul Tirtha, Mother's Wax Museum and upcoming Kolkata Museum of Modern Art
are all located in New Town.
Howrah and Hooghly (Urban); Technically Howrah and the urban part of Hooghly all have individual
identity alongside they are the part of Kolkata Metropolis. Likewise Howrah city is a twin city of
Kolkata city. Nabanna, Santragachi, Belur, Bally, Uttarpara, Konnogar, Rishra, Serampore, Bhadeswar,
Chinsurah, Hooghly, Chandannagor and Bandel all cities under Kolkata Metropolitan Area, having own
fragrance of history, culture. This area is called "Little Europe Of India". All areas are well connected
with the city centre.
Understand
Ancient and Pre-British History
History
Kolkata's history is intimately related to the British East India Company, which first arrived in 1690, and to
British India, of which Calcutta became the capital of in 1772. Job Charnock was widely known as the founder
of Calcutta (Sutanuti, Govindapur & Calcutta) but in recent years a number of Indian historians have disputed
this claim, arguing that Calcutta occupies the site of an older Indian city, centered around the ancient Kali
temple at Kalighat. This claim has been accepted by the Kolkata High Court. The Court has dismissed the
name of Job Charnock as the founder of the city and 24 th August as its date of birth. The historic Judgement
was based upon an high level Expert Commitee findings. It has been proved that Kolkata had an highly
civilized society for centuries before the Europeans first came here.
Whatever its origins, Calcutta flowered as the capital of British India during the nineteenth century, the heyday
of the Raj. Calcutta University, the first modern Indian university was founded here in 1857. Calcutta became
the center of Indian arts and literature, and the national movement for independence got its start here.
However, with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1911, the pains of the partition of Bengal in 1947, and a
violent and bloody Maoist movement (the Naxalite movement) in the 1970s, Calcutta has become
synonymous with urban decay and poverty ("New York is deteriorating into New Calcutta," opined an
editorial in The New York Times on Dec. 25th, 1988).
Modern Kolkata
Kolkata is the main business, commercial and financial hub of eastern India. Kolkata witnessed an economic
decline from the late sixties till the late nineties. The city's economic fortunes turned the tide as the economic
liberalization in India during the early nineties reached Kolkata during late nineties. Kolkata is a multicultural,
cosmopolitan city. Apart from the diversity of India, the cultures represented are that of the Europeans
(Including Germans, Armenians, and others), and other Asians (Including Chinese, Sinhalese, and Tibetans).
Since 1977, a "Left Front" coalition of communist and Marxist parties has continuously ruled the state. This is
reflected in street names and memorials in the city. For example there are streets like Lenin Sarani, Ho Chi
Minh Sarani, etc.. The Left Front regained control of the Municipal Corporation of Kolkata from the Trinamul
Congress in the 2005 civic elections.
Economy
Kolkata is the economic hub of eastern India and with a vast hinterland it bustles with economic activities.
Kolkata creates a huge number of employments and supports many migrants from neighboring states and other
parts of the country. The landscape of the city is also fast changing with flyovers, gardens and several new
commercial establishments. Kolkata city itself has expanded into its suburbs, with the Greater Kolkata
stretching from Kalyani (in Nadia District) in North to Diamond Harbour in South (in the South 24 Parganas
District).
The city's fortunes have looked up since the early nineties, coinciding with the liberalization of the Indian
economy. Its economy has been amongst the fastest growing in the country. The New Metro city is
characterised by popular spots like Inox Multiplexes, Nandan, Tantra, Barista Coffee Shops, Sourav's Pavilion
and Science City. While manufacturing still remains the mainstay of the economy, service sector is fast
becoming one of the major contributors to Kolkata's economy. Tourism is one other important revenue earner
for Kolkata in particular, and Bengal in general.
Kolkata is home to many industrial units, of large Indian corporations, whose product range is varied and
includes - engineering products, electronics, electrical equipment, cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery,
frigates, automobiles, railway coaches and wagons.
Several industrial estates like Taratolla, Kalyani, Uluberia, Dankuni, Kasba, Howrah are spread throughout the
urban agglomeration. A huge leather complex has come up at Bantolla. An export processing zone has been
set up in Falta. Specialized setups like the country's first Toy Park, and a Gem and Jewellery Park have also
been established.
Kolkata is also starting to become a major hub for the IT (Information Technology) industry. With the
formation of New Town at Rajarhat and extension of Salt Lake's Sector-V, Kolkata is rapidly turning into a
pro-IT town. More and more businesses are coming to Kolkata to set up their offices.
Geography
Kolkata is in the eastern part of India at 22°82′ N 88°20′ E. It has spread linearly along the banks of the river
Hooghly.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has an area of 185 square kilometres. The city proper today can be
roughly divided into two sections along Mother Teresa Sarani (Park Street). North of Park Street is the more
congested part of the city. South of Park Street is the slightly better planned section of the city.
The old Central Business District (CBD) is where the seat of the West Bengal Government is located, along
with many other government offices. Several banks have their corporate (Allahabad Bank, United Bank of
India, UCO Bank) or regional headquarters (Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bank of India,
Central Bank of India amongst many others) around the B. B. D. Bagh area. Many of Kolkata's older business
groups have their main offices here. The area is a mix of multi-storeyed office blocks and colonial buildings.
The newer CBD is around the south of Park Street, Camac Street and AJC Bose Road. Several high-rise office
blocks including some of Kolkata's tallest commercial buildings - like the Chatterjee International Centre, Tata
Centre, Everest House, Industry House, CGO Building - are located here. An even-newer CBD is now being
set up in the Rajarhat (Newtown) area, lying between Salt Lake and the Airport.
Maidan (open field) is situated between the river Ganges and J.L.Nehru Road (or Chowringhee). It is said to
be the lungs of Kolkata. The lush green meadow also houses Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens, and several
sporting clubs. Kolkatans simply love to stroll in the Maidan.
In an effort to relieve congestion in the main city, many government offices have shifted to high-rise office
buildings lining Bidhan Nagar's (Salt Lake) Central Park.
The residential buildings are mainly lowrise and comprise of older colonial buildings and numerous new four
storied apartment blocks. Ten to twelve storied apartment blocks have come up in large numbers in south
Kolkata. The city has relaxed its rules on high-rise construction recently and twenty storied buildings are
becoming more common. The tallest residential towers of eastern India - the four thirty-five-storey towers of
South City are under construction on Prince Anwar Shah Road.
Heavy construction activity along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is changing the face of the city. Luxury
hotels, a convention centre, speciality hospitals, condominium complexes, malls and multiplexes are coming
up at a rapid pace.
The city's expansion in the eastern side is spearheaded by the construction of a large new city called New
Town adjacent to the well planned Bidhan Nagar. Located in Rajarhat, it is one of the largest planned urban
developments in India.
The neglected western side of the urban agglomeration has got a boost recently with the signing of an
agreement with Chiputra, an Indonesian company to build the Kolkata West International City (KWIC).
Another huge new township is in the proposal state in Dankuni.
Slums and dilapidated structures exist in many pockets of the city proper and house over 25% of the city's
population (Census 2001). Slum redevelopment schemes have helped improve living conditions by a small
extent but there is huge scope for improvement in this area. Efforts to shift slum dwellers to newer
developments have often met with resistance and failure because many of the slums are in prime areas of the
city and the slum dwellers who are integrated in the social structure of the neighbourhood do not want to shift.
Opposition to the setting up of the Nano factory at Shingur, 50 Kms. away from Kolkata, where the Tata's plan
to build the cheapest car in the world, threatens to take away a lot of the investments due to come to the state.
Climate
Kolkata has a tropical wet-and-

dry climate that is designated Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Aw under the Köppen climate High (°C) 26.4 29.1 33.5 35.3 35.4 34.0 32.3 32.1 32.4 32.3 30.3 27.0
classification. It is warm year- Low (°C) 13.8 16.9 21.7 25.1 26.0 26.5 26.1 26.1 25.8 23.9 19.6 14.5
round, with average high Precipitation (cm) 1.10 3.00 3.50 6.00 14.20 28.80 41.10 34.90 28.80 14.30 2.60 1.70
temperatures ranging from about
27 °C in December and January Kolkata, India - Weather forecast (http://www.weather-atlas.com/en/india/kolkata)
to nearly 38°C in April and
May. Kolkata has 3 main
seasons: Summer, Monsoon, and Winter. Summer, from March to May, is hot and humid with temperatures
touching 38-42° Celsius. Monsoon starts in June and lasts until September/October. These months are very
humid and sometimes sultry. The average annual rainfall is about 1,625 mm and most of rain falls in this
monsoon season. Winter runs from November to February. Winter is the best season to visit the city as these
months are most pleasant and rainless.
Get in
By plane
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport [7] (http://www.airportsindia.org.in/kolkata/index.jsp)

(IATA: CCU) connects Kolkata with South East Asia and receives some flights from Europe. Most of the
traffic towards Western hemisphere is handled by Emirates(Twice Daily) and Qatar Airways. New operators
are coming soon. The domestic terminal, on the other hand, is among the best in India. It has undergone a
major face-lift and expansion including a swanky new terminal,night landing facilities,etc to cope with the
expanding bulk of air traffic and new airline companies popping up almost every month.
Take a prepaid taxi from the airport to the city. It is about 20 km from the city. As of April 30, 2017, it cost Rs.
315 (approx. USD 5) for a non-AC taxi from the airport to Chowringhee (heart of city center). There is also a
government prepaid booth outside the airport. This booth quoted Rs. 780 (approx. USD 12) for an AC taxi to
the same location in Chowringhee. As far as one could make out, the AC taxi was a better car but not by
much. Also note that even if you exit the airport, you can go back in to book a prepaid taxi from the
government booth inside the terminal. The government agents are known for many years to short change all
pre-paid taxi customers as all fares are Not rounded - look at the bill and pay exact fare. They have a lot of
spare change to give, that they keep hidden. With 3,800 prepaid rides daily this adds to lot of black money
each year.
The rail link connecting the airport to the Circular Rail station in Dum Dum is closed at present.
Buses from Airport AC Bus Stand are operated by WBTC (West Bengal Transport Corporation) The bus stand
is located beside Terminal 2 Domestic Gates.After leaving the stand,the bus covers all the gates and then come
out of the terminal.#Note all buses are air-conditioned. List of the buses with destinations are -
1. AC37A-Garia 6 Number Bus Terminus (via Rajarhat-New Town-Sector V-Ruby-Patuli)
2.AC37C-Garia 6 Number Bus Terminus(via Baguihati-Lake Town-Salt Lake Bypass-Ruby-Patuli)
3.AC39-Howrah Station(via-Baguihati-Lake Town-Kankurgachi-Maniktala-Girish Park-Central Avenue-Lal

Bazar-BBD Bagh-Burrabazar)
4.AC43-Golf Green Bus Stand(via-Rajarhat-New Town-Sector V-Ruby-Kalikapur-Jora Bridge-Jadavpur-

South City Mall-Lords Bakery More)
By train
There are two major railway stations in Kolkata - Howrah (not in Kolkata actually, it's in the adjoining city
Howrah) and Sealdah. A new terminus station called 'Kolkata' has also started functioning since 2005, but
presently it accommodates very few trains. Directly facing Howrah are ferries (Rs. 4) that can get you to the
other side of the river either Babu Ghat or Fairlie Place from where you can arrange onward transportation
with anything from taxis to public buses to human rickshaws. With the traffic situation this might actually save
you time as well as money.
The Foreign Ticket Office is on Fairlie Place (with the main GPO on your left, take the next left - the office is
a few minutes walk on the left) - very helpful and efficient service.
Kolkata is well connected by rail to almost all the big stations in India and also serves as the gateway to the
North Eastern India. If you are coming to Kolkata by trains using Sealdah station, you may prefer taking a pre-
paid taxi to enter the city. The pre-paid taxi stand is just outside the station's main entrance. The counter is
under a tin shade. Pre-paid taxis are reliable and will save you money and also the bargaining hassle. However
beware of touts who would claim themselves to be running pre-paid taxis. Always collect the receipt from the
counter first. The receipt has two parts - one part is for your reference and the other part you will need to
handover to the taxi driver only after you reach your desired destination. The Taxi driver will get his payment
by submitting or producing this other part to the Pre-paid Taxi counter.
By car
You can find many cabs on the roads or you can always hire one from the numerous taxi stands strewn across
the major cities. There are pre paid taxis also available at major railway stations and airports. You can also hire
luxury vehicles from certain travel agencies like Carzonrent [8] (http://www.carzonrent.com/), Easycabs [9] (h
ttp://www.easycabs.com/), Gozo cabs [10] (https://www.gozocabs.com/car-rental/kolkata) or Vayu travels [11]

(http://vayu.travel/)
By bus
To/from Bangladesh There are numerous bus options between Kolkata and Bangladesh. The most common
way is the regular comfortable a/c buses from Dhaka to Kolkata via the Haridaspur / Benapole border post.
Private bus companies Shohagh [12] (http://www.shohagh.com/group/), Green Line [13] (http://www.greenli
neparibahan.com/),Shyamoli [14] (http://shyamoli.paribahan.com/) and others operate daily bus services on
this route. Govt. buses run under the label of the state owned West Bengal Surface Transport Service
Corporation (WBSTSC) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation [15] (http://www.brtc.gov.bd/)
(BRTC). WBSTSC and BRTC both operate buses from Kolkata every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at
5:30AM and 8:30AM, and 12:30PM while from Dhaka they leave on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at
7:00AM and 7:30AM. The normal journey time is around 12 hours with a one-way fare of Rs550 or BDT600-
800, roughly $8-12. If you're only headed to Haridaspur the fare is Rs86 (2.5 hours). The Shyamoli
Paribahan ticket office is at 6/1 Marquis St (parallel to and one block south of Sudder Street, and just west of
Mirza Ghalib St, next door to DHL), 2252 0693. Beware that several travel agencies around this area also sell
tickets for these buses, but at very inflated prices. At the border it's best to change money on the Indian side,
but count it carefully and double-check the math on their calculator. On the Bangladesh side you can catch a
flat-bed cycle-rickshaw for Tk5 for the 2km trip to the bus stand for onward travel - or you can walk, but
expect the hopeful rickshaw-wallahs to follow you at least half way.
To/from Eastern India via Bangladesh Bus travel to some points in Eastern India are faster via Bangladesh
(please note that visas may be required for entry into Bangladesh as well as for re-entry into India). If you're
heading to points in Eastern India (Tripura for example) beyond Bangladesh -- then there is a regular bus
service between Dhaka and Agartala, capital of India's Tripura state. Two BRTC buses leave daily from Dhaka
and connect with the Tripura Road Transport Corporation vehicles, running six days a week with a roundtrip
fare of BDT600 ($10). There is only one halt at Ashuganj in Bangladesh during the journey. Call +880 2
8360241 for schedule. Other entry points to North-Eastern India through Bangladesh are Hili, Chilahati /
Haldibari and Banglaband border posts through Northern Bangladesh and Tamabil / Dawki border post for a
route between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Sylhet in North-Eastern Bangladesh, and some others with lesser
known routes from north-eastern Indian regions. Although scheduled bus-services to Shillong/Meghalaya from
Kolkata through Dhaka may not be offered at present -- it is still possible to get to those points via land routes
going through Sylhet and then on to Tamabil/Dawki border outposts. Enquire at the Bus Service Counters for
details.
Esplanade Bus Station is the Kolkata's main station for inter-state and inter-city buses.
By boat
The river Hooghly that runs through the west of the city offered one of the first reasons to the foundation of
the British commercial settlement. The river continues to offer one of the less crowded but slow traffic
medium. There are several points (popularly called Ghats and jetties) on the bank of the river from where you
can board several regular routes of ferry services. Ferries can be fairly large launches to small improvised
motorized boats. They are extremely safe though. Even if you don't get any exotic manual boats like you get in
Varanasi, the river transport of the city lets you go to several old spots near the bank in a hassle-free manner
with an additional dash of the view of decadent river front of the city.
Ferry(Launch) services are popular to avoid the traffic snarls along the Strand Road if you are travelling
without luggage. Ahiritola/Sovabajar to Howrah Ferry offers spectacular view of the iconic Howrah Bridge as
it passes beneath it.Use Dakshineswar to Belur Math Ferry and vice versa for view of Vivekananda
Setu/Nibedita Setu. Numerous country boats are available for joy ride on Princep Ghat, Armenian Ghat. Life
Jacket is a thing unheard here, so don’t ride the ferry if you feel unsafe. Accidents are rare but beware of the
gap between jetty and the boat in case of a hurry.Fares are dirt cheap just Rs 5 or so.
Vivada offers curated cruises aimed for

tourists with various package
options/destinations.
Get around
By taxi
Kolkata just wouldn't look the same without

the plethora of yellow ambassador taxis [16]
(https://flickr.com/photos/_fulcrum/2699335
76/) that ply on its roads. They're easily
available and relatively cheap, and will
usually use their meters, especially outside
tourist locations. Fare is Rs25 for first two Howrah Bridge, as seen from the Hooghly River
km, and Rs12/km afterwards as of 2014.
Some meters are, however, outdated. As of
2015, most taxi drivers refuse using the meter when serving tourists. Be prepare to bargain. A taxi from
Sudder street to Howrah should not be more then Rs150.
On the old meters the fare is 2 times the reading if the meter is inside, and 4 times the reading if the meter is
outside. However, it is almost impossible now to find any meters outside. All Taxi meters are digital ones
which are placed inside the cab. There is a "green taxi" which is red coloured (!) and charges the same. In case
you are confused always ask to see the chart that the driver is supposed to carry with him. Expect to pay a bit
more if you are going to the outskirts of the city or traveling at night. How much more that depends on your
bargaining skills, but it should be at most Rs. 10-20 on top of the taxi meter. Unlike other metro cities in India,
there is no 50%-100% surcharge for late night hires (10PM-11PM onwards).
As of October 2016, All Yellow/White(A Blue Stripe) taxis contain new meter and pay what is displayed on
the meter. Using a taxi in Kolkata can be quirky and irritant due to blatant refusals, haggling for more money,
unforeseen tricks to draw more money out of the passengers pocket. Even weathered Kolkatans are often find
it difficult to tame a yellow taxi. Forget seat belts, cozy seats, air conditioning in the yellow cabs. Beware of
the doors which may throw open on the run and breakdown. Keep changes ready and be ready to face refusals.
Police sometimes assist but mostly you are at the mercy of the driver's mood and rash/reckless driving habits.
New cabs (no refusal) are painted blue and white and have air conditioning for an optional extra 25% charge.
Since 2013, app based taxi service like OLA, Uber, Meru Cabs, OTL, Mega Cabs etc have been popping up.
Download their app from the appstore and roam around hassle free but off course at rates higher(often rip off
in peak hours due to surge pricing) than yellow ones. They offer safe, secure, AC , shortest path service,
though availability of them during peak hours/rain-thunderstorms are difficult. OLA, Uber offers also shared
service where you can save some money and share the cab with other people. Locating the cab and the
passenger by each other sometimes gets difficult due to road conditions.
One can also negotiate a passing by vehicle which is empty on point to point basis. This is a hitch hike kind of
service and the fare depends on mutual verbal agreement between driver and the commuter. Generally, you can
travel anywhere in the city from INR 10 to INR 40 but don't expect AC even in peak summer.
By metro
Metro Railway, Kolkata [17] (http://www.kolmetro.com) was the first underground rail in India also to
become first underwater rapid transit system in india which will connect howrah & kolkata under a tunnel in
Ganges(River), yet it still has only a single route connecting the north and south of the city, from Dumdum to
Garia. It is the cleanest, most reliable, least crowded and most efficient of all the transportation Kolkata has to
offer. Trains run every 10 minutes or 5 minutes (normal operation or rush hour respectively) and at Rs 5-20 it's
very economical. A new route from East- West Kolkata is under construction.
A new fleet of air-conditioned rakes has been inducted. They charge the same fare and are very comfortable to
ride in the sizzling heat.
Stops include Esplanade (for Chowringhee), Park Street, Maidan (for Victoria Memorial and Planetarium),
Rabindra Sadan and Kalighat, etc.
By tram
Calcutta Tramways [18] (http://www.calcuttatramways.com) is the only tram service in all of India, and the
oldest surviving electric tram network of Asia. Though decommissioned in some part of the city, electric trams
are still one of the means of traveling between places within the city. They move slow on the laid tracks in
traffic jammed streets, but they are environment friendly (no emission). Check their site for routes and
schedules. Trams are a great way to observe the old northern and central parts of Kolkata because of their
pace. Apart from this, there are Heritage Tram Tours conducted by the West Bengal Tourism Department
which is a great way to understand the city's past.
By train
The electrified suburban rail network of the SER and the ER is extensive and includes the Circular Rail.
By bus
The city has an extensive bus network (possibly the most exhaustive in the whole of India), and this is the
cheapest, though not always the most comfortable means of transport. Among the buses that ply the city
streets, the deluxe buses run by CSTC (Calcutta State Transport Corporation), CTC (Calcutta Tramways
Company) and WBSTC (West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation) are probably the better option. There
are lot of private buses plying on the streets of Kolkata. Apart from the buses of standard length, there are mini
buses also on the streets. Many buses are low floor. The minimum bus fare in non A/C standard length buses is
Rs. 6 and that in a mini bus is Rs. 7.
Best app for bus routes and timings is Chalo.
There is a bus stop for the A/C buses in the Kolkata airport premises. A/C buses are available to select
destinations namely Santragachi (route V1), Tollygunj (route V2, via Gariahat), Sealdah station, from the
airport. Apart from these buses, many private or government buses drop you off a kilometer from the airport at
the Airport-Barasat road intersection. You will have to flag a car or taxi for the remaining distance. (The cycle
rickshaws at this intersection can only go half way to the airport).
By auto-rickshaw
Shared auto-rickshaws are available from different points. They travel in fixed routes and the fare is fixed.
They are supposed to take four persons, three in the back seat and one sharing the driver's seat!
By rickshaw
Long the world's only major metropolis where human-pulled rickshaws were still a major form of transport, a
complete ban was supposed to be imposed in November 2006 - but with 35,000 union members who are
unlikely to disappear overnight it was not implemented. As of 2017, however, the numbers seem to have
dwindled yet they can be found in scores in the Burra Bazar area.
Hiring a car
Privately owned rental car places are available throughout the city.
Rates depend on the make, model, size and comfort level of the car.
Agreements are flexible, for example, cars can be rented even for
couple of hours at an hourly rate. Most rental cars are accompanied
with a driver from the rental agency. Here are contacts of a few
rental car agents:
Clear Car Rental Private Limited (Clear Car Rental

Private Limited), ☎ +91-8888 855 220, [1] (https://www.clea
rcarrental.com/cab-hire-kolkata). India's leading local and A human-pulled rickshaw
outstation cab booking service who have a presence in 300+
cities across the country. You can book a cab in Kolkata
either on their website or through their Helpline ="+91-8888 855 220" edit
Vayu travels, +91 9711-0085-24
Kolkata Cab, +91 33 4422 2222
Travel Cars, +91 33 2249 4970 Queens Mansion, Garage No. 8, Park Street.
Time Cabs, +91 33 2247 9574 13, Camac Street.
Wenz, +91 33 227 8926, Oberoi Grand Hotel.
Pearl Carzonrent PVT Ltd, +91 33 3240-4000/5000 or 09830999555. [19] (http://www.carzonrent.co
m/)
India Destinations & Hospitalities, +91 9903887319
Kolkata Scooter Rentals, +91 9830025302
Talk
Being in Bengal, the native language of the people of Kolkata is Bengali. However, most educated people
speak Hindi and English as well, and many others would have a basic command of English. They also like to
speak in Khettrish occasionally. A large number of the street vendors and taxi drivers are not from Bengal and
are native Hindi speakers.
Learning and using a few Bengali words will make you more cozy with locals and it can bring you unforeseen
beyond expectation assistance from most people.Don’t worry even if you cant as Kolkata is one of the most
friendly and welcoming place in India and most locals will be more than happy to help if you seek help in any
situation.
Kolkatans generally take pride in city's past, Bengali culture and the city itself despite acknowledging the
problems.So be respectful towards the Bengali icons/influencers especially Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit
Ray,Sourav Ganguly,Mother Teresa etc and avoid being caught in political debates, rallies or anything that can
spark harsh reaction(Kashmir Issue, Illegal Bangladeshi migration, Syndicate, communal differences etc)
See
Kolkata is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles,
and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with
this city.
The city sprawls along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, a tributary of the Ganges, which divides it from
Howrah on the western bank. For travelers, the most relevant parts of Kolkata are south of the Howrah Bridge
in the areas around BBD Bagh and Chowringhee.
Central Kolkata
South of BBD Bagh is the huge, lush, green, open parkland known as Maidan. Continuing south from here
you will find
Eden Gardens (one of the most famous cricket stadiums in the world),
Akashwani Bhavan, All India Radio building
Indoor Stadium
Fort William, the massive and impregnable British Citadel built in 1773. The fort is still in use and
retains its well-guarded grandeur. Visitors are allowed in with special permission only.
Victoria Memorial [20] (http://www.victoriamemorial-cal.org) Along St. George’s Gate Road, on the
southern fringe of the Maidan, you will find Kolkata's most famous landmark , a splendid white marble
monument (CLOSED MONDAYS).
Calcutta Racecourse
Chowringee, is the Market place of Kolkata. You will find shops ranging from Computer Periferals to
cloth merchants. Even tailors and a few famous Movie theaters too. This place is a favourite pass time
for local people.
Northern Kolkata
The Northern part of Kolkata houses the old buildings belonging to the Zamindars (Landlords) and
'Babus'(other rich Bengalis) who used to trade with the British. It preserves the cultural heritage of Kolkata.
North Kolkata gives the unique character and charm to the city of Kolkata. The building structures, a beautiful
fusion of Victorian and Bengali Architecture give an impression of the royal people who stayed there. River
Ganga is the hot spot for the development of the North along with Kolkata. It is generally crowded and has
some interesting markets including the famous Posta, Burrabazar whole sale markets, College Street Book
market where you can trace many out of print books with a little patience. While in College Street a visit to
the College St Coffee House is a must. Also around the area are the Calcutta Medical College, the
Presidency college and Calcutta University.
North of BBD Bagh you will find the
Nakhoda Mosque (the largest mosque in Kolkata) and the
Shobhabajar Rajbari the ancestral house of Rja Naba Krishna, one of the rich locals to side with Clive
during his war with Nabab Siraj-Ud-Daula.
Further along you will find
Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Tagore Family residence and museum).
Parashnath Jain Temple, near the Belgachia metro station. Entry is officially restricted to Jains only
since 2012 by order of management.
Parashnath Jain Temple, at Gouribari, less visited, reachable from the Sovabazar Metro station (take
an auto rickshaw).
Marble Palace, The marble palace was the private mansion of Zamindar (Land owner) Raja Rajendro
Mullick, who had built this palace in 1835. It is situated on the Muktaram Babu Street in a congested
part of the city. A real garden, of may be an acre with a Palladian Mansion set square in the centre.
Today this place has an incongruous collection of statues and paintings. There is also a private zoo
housing a collection of birds from different corners of the world.
The Howrah Bridge [21] (http://www.howrahbridgekolkata.nic.in) spans the Hooghly River linking
Howrah to Kolkata. It is said to be the busiest bridge in the world. No photos allowed.
Kali temple of Dakshineswar is to the north of the city on the banks of the Ganges, across from Belur
Math.
Southern Kolkata
Southern Kolkata is less congested and more modern. You will find more apartment blocks, more green spaces
and more affluent homes.
The Tollygunge Club is one of the oldest clubs and a famous colonial relic housing a golf course, horse
riding facilities, swimming pools, accommodation, etc. Its located in Tollygunge area.
Rabindra Sarovar is a large open lake and park area housing boating clubs, an open air theatre and
eateries and comes under the Ballygunge area.
Birla Industrial & Technological Museum on Gurusaday Road in Ballygunge.
Maulana Azad Museum on Ballygunge Circular Road in Ballygunge.
Royal Calcutta Golf Club is the oldest golf club in the world after St. Andrews in Scotland,located in
Tollygunge.
Tollywood (the home of Bengali Films) and Television centre are also found in Tollygunge.
Ramakrishna Mission Institute in Golpark,at Ballygunge.
The Birla Temple is the largest in Kolkata and worth a visit.Its located on Ashutosh Chowdhury
Avenue(Old Ballygunge Road) in Ballygunge.
National Library of India at Alipore.
The South City Mall at Lake Gardens, the biggest shopping mall of Eastern India.
The Kalighat Kali Temple, very famous to Hindus, it houses Kolkata's patron deity.
Mother Teresa's Hospital for the destitute is next door to the Kalighat temple.
China Town near Park circus houses some of the finest Chinese eateries.
Inox-Forum at Elgin Road near Rabindra Sadan -- multiplex movie hall along with a big shopping mall
Big Bazar on E. M. Bypass at Highland Park (Baghajatin)- here you can buy almost everything under
the sun at reasonable price
Gariahat which comes under Ballygunge area.It is the biggest shopping district of Kolkata,where one
can find shops ranging from branded showrooms and malls like Pantaloons,westside,Raymonds to
numerous smaller shops.
West of the Hooghly
Howrah Station
The Botanical Gardens at Sibpur.
Belur Math, a huge complex and the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Also can make your plan to the other colonial areas except British like serampore (Danish
Settlement),Bhadeswar (German settlement),Chandannagor (French Settlement),Chinsurah (Dutch Settlement)
& Bandel (Portuguese Settlement). All the areas are very nearby to the Central Business District & can be
reached by taxi,bus or local train service
TBD
Kolkata has been nicknamed as the City of Joy. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built
all over the city. During the British colonial era from 1700-1912, when Calcutta was the capital of
British India, it witnessed a spate of frenzied construction activity of buildings largely influenced by the
conscious intermingling of Gothic, Baroque, Roman, Oriental and Islamic schools of design. Unlike
many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the
architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British
and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French. The buildings were designed, and inspired by
the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Babu (literally a nouveau riche
Bengali who aspired to cultivation of English etiquette, manners and custom as such practices were
favourable to monetary gains from the British). Today many of these structures are in various stages of
decay. Some of the major buildings of this period are well maintained and several buildings have been
declared as heritage structures. Conservation efforts are patchy and are often affected by problems of
litigation, tenant troubles, ownership disputes, old tenancy laws and a lack of funds.
Government House, Kolkata, built in the early 19th century, is modelled on Kedleston Hall. The House
was once the seat of the Viceroys of India; later, when the Government moved to New Delhi, it became
the residence of the Governor of Bengal, a function that it fulfils to this day. While the basic features of
Kedleston have been faithfully copied (the Palladian Front, the Dome etc.), Government House is a
much larger, three storeyed structure. Also, the Government of India evidently did not have the funding
constraints that forced the Curzons to leave their house incomplete: Government House has all four
wings originally conceived for Kedleston. So today, a 'complete', brick built Kedleston, on a much
grander scale, is in its acres of gardens at the heart of the Kolkata business district.
Museums and Galleries
Indian Museum
See a variety of preserved specimens that you wouldn't see in the US museums. It is the largest and oldest
museum of India. Located near Esplanade it is one of the most important landmark.
Town Hall
Marble Palace
Gurusaday Museum, Diamond Harbour Road
Jawahar Shishu Bhawan
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum
Maulana Azad Museum
The works from the life and time of India's First Education Minister, and an architect of it's secular
constitution.
Science City
Sabarna Sangrahashala, Barisha.
Do
Take a walk along the river. There is a good promenade near Eden Garden.
Take a stroll down memory lane at Princep ghat.

Take a boat cruise in small boats under the starlit sky at Outram Ghat.
Several modern cinemas are dotted around the city, including INOX [22] (http://www.inoxmovies.com/)
at the Forum Shopping Mall and the City Centre in Salt Lake, 89 Cinemas [23] (http://www.89cinemas.c
om/) at Swabhumi near Salt Lake City and Fame [24] (http://www.famecinemas.com/) at Metropolis
Mall in Highland Park, RDB Adlabs [25] (http://www.adlabscinemas.com/) at RDB Boulevard, Near
Infinity Building in Sector 5, Saltlake, all showing Indian and American blockbusters.
Nandan, 1/1 AJC Bose Road, (east of Rabindra Sadan metro station) +33 2223 1210. The symbol of
art and culture in the city and the site of the Kolkata Film Festival every November.
Football (soccer) is a passion for many Kolkatans with the national clubs, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
[26] (http://www.mohunbaganac.com) and East Bengal Club [27] (http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.co
m) being the best known teams.East bengal is not national club in india.Its just a football club The
Indian Super League takes place during October-November, watch Atletico de Kolkata (Yes, co-owned
by Atletico Madrid of Spain) at home for a true footballing experience.
The Kolkata Book Fair [28] (http://www.kolkatabookfaironline.com) takes place from the last week of
January to the first week of February. This is the largest book fair in Asia and is a major event in the
city.
Durga Puja, a festival honoring the Hindu goddess Durga, takes place in October. The biggest festival
for Hindus in Bengal and Eastern India, Kolkata takes on an almost carnival like ambiance. Streets shut
down for the construction of pandals, large stands that depict events and myriad themes from the
mythology to modern art to social awareness to science to politics to the latest national/international
trending subject of interests and runs beyond imagination. Open 24 hours for those 10 days, huge
crowds flock from the neibourhood pandals to the biggest and best ones. A great time to visit Kolkata
(unless you have a fear of crowds!).
Organized tours
Tourism Department, Govt. of India, 4 Shakespeare Sarani, +91-33-2282-5813. They had a city bus
tour but it is no longer offered.
West Bengal Tourism Development Corp (WBTDC), +91 33 2248 8271, [29] (http://www.wbtourism.
com). Offers half and full day sightseeing tours around the city.
Mydelighttrip Pvt. Ltd ,+91 33 2355 6050,+91 8479911800 / 9073909731. [30] (https://www.mydelig
httrip.com/).130A, Bagmari Road ,Kankurgachi,Kolkata - 700054. Email-
operations1@mydelighttrip.com. They are one of the best tour operators in Kolkata offering economic
domestic and international tour packages.
Learn
University of Calcutta, [31] (http://www.caluniv.ac.in). Established in 1857 it was the first modern
university on the sub-continent.
Work
Volunteering is a real option here with several options.
Mother Teresa's Mission accepts volunteers to help in its multiple projects around town. Enquire at the
motherhouse.
Brother Xavier's New Hope Search the internet to find a website on this amazing home for orphans of
Kolkata's red light district. A much smaller mission than Mother Teresa's which one man built from the
ground up. Brother Xavier and the children always need volunteers and funds.
Buy
this city.
Kolkata is an important trading center for handicrafts produced in Eastern India. Bankura horses, saris from
Shantiniketan, and leather goods top the list of Kolkata specialities. It is also famous for its rasgollas and a tin
or two as a gift for the folks back home. New Market is probably the most famous place to go shopping but
there are bargains everywhere.
Malls:
South City Mall (near Jadavpur Police Stn)
Metropolis Mall (near Highland Park)
City Center (Saltlake)
City Center 2 (New Town)
Mani Square Supermall (EM Bypass)
Metro Plaza (near British Embassy)
Vardaan Market
Orchid Point (Kankurgachi)
Forum (Bhowanipore)
Shreeram Arcade (New Market)
Quest Mall (Park Circus)
Acropolis Mall (Rashbehari Connector)
Diamond Plaza
Local Markets:
Maidan Market - for all sport items at cheap price
Chandni Market - famous for all small electronical items/gadgets & old reusable electronical
products
New Market - all kinds of Clothing,Toys,Collectible Shopping needs.
Treasure Island - a muti-storeyed market mainly fulfilling needs of Clothing demands & various
other make-up & cosmetic items
Eat
(See district pages for restaurant listings.)
Kolkata was famous for having the best restaurants long before Indians in other cities learned to eat out. Many
of the restaurants that line the streets in the Esplanade area have been around for more than a hundred years
(unfortunately, many also show their age!). Flury's [32] (http://www.flurysindia.com/), on Park Street, was
once considered the best English bakery in all of Asia and you can almost imagine Joe Stilwell and Lord
Mountbatten arguing over who had command over the allied forces in Burma while enjoying tea, scones, and
clotted cream!
But the joy of food in Kolkata is in its Indian foods. Nizam's, in New Market, is credited with the invention of
the famous Kati Kebab roll and still serves up the best of the best. Street vendors selling egg rolls/chicken rolls
abound and their freshly prepared kati rolls are safe to eat and enjoy. Mughali Paratha (a paratha stuffed with
minced meat) is a Calcutta speciality and can be found in various 'cabins' off Chowringhee Road. 'Chops', a
sort of deep fried ball stuffed with beet and veggies is another peculiarity that you won't find anywhere else in
the world. Puchkas, the Calcutta version of paani-puri, is available on the streets but be wary of the water!
Bengali sweets are famous all over India. Rasagolla (cheese balls dipped in a sugary syrup), Pantua - a fried
variant of the same, Rosomalai- the same cheeseballs dipped in creamy sweetened milk, Mishti Doi (sweet
yogurt), Sandesh (several variations available). Try some shops like K.C. Das, Jugal's, Bhim Nag, Nakur
Nandy, Sen Mahasoy, Ganguram and not to forget Mithai. These are cheap and should be eaten fresh.
Kolkata is also the home of Indian Chinese food (now making inroads in far-off New York!). Chinese
restaurants are everywhere so try the Indian variant of hot and sour soup and the famous Indian chinese dish of
chilli chicken.
Bengali food is centered around fish. Macher jhol, literally fish in curry gravy, is a watery fish curry available
everywhere and goes well with rice, but Bengalis everywhere swear by the hilsa fish (a variant of shad). Hilsa,
lightly marinaded in mustard and steamed is up there with the best fish dishes in the world.
"Oh! Calcutta!" on the fourth Floor of Forum Courtyard Mall, Elgin Road, serves authentic Bengali food. The
specialities are the boneless Hilsa Fish fillet, steamed in a bannana leaf and served with a Mustard Gravy.
Many expats, yuppies and affluent Kolkattans frequent this restaurant. The food is great, though bordering on
the expensive, and portions usually small. Makes for an interesting evening out, accompanied by the incessant
Bengali chatter, so characteristic of Kolkatta.
While it can be difficult to find a restaurant serving authentic Bengali food, today Kolkata has of as many 10
Bengali restaurants. One of the most authentic is Kewpies, situated behind Netaji Bhavan at 2 Elgin Lane.
Here, food is served on terra cotta plates with banana leaves. There's also "Aaheli" at Peerless Inn, or the more
reasonably priced "Suruchi" at 89 Elliot Road. There is a wide choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes
with an emphasis on local fish. Thalis (platters) are also available. Still, being invited back to a local's place
for a home-cooked meal is the best way to sample Bengali cooking!
6 Ballygunge Place is stituated in South Kolkata and also offers an assortment of Bengali dishes. Bhjohori
Maana has 6 outlets across the city. In South Kolkata, the Hindisthan Road outlet (Gariahat) is the best.
Taroparbon is situated in Hindusthan Park, and has a large menu.
Kastur and Rahhuni are eateries, both offering Bangladeshi food and are situated off Free School Street, near
Park Street.
Suruchi is an old eatery, which serves only lunch in simple surroundings, and is run by the destitute women of
'The All Bengal Women's Union' at Elliot Road, off Free School Street.
For authentic Asian cuisine (Thai, Indonesian, Japanese) head to The Fifth Element in Chowringhee. It is a
fresh entry to Kolkata's epicurean culture and has gained quick patronage. Also, AC water is a must.
Park Street in Kolkata is a place for wealthy people to eat. It has restaurants like Magnolia, Peter Cat , Moulin
Rouge, Bar-B-Q and Mocambo. They serve sizzlers, steaks, and kebabs as well as authentic Chinese food in
Bar-B-Q.
If on the go in Salt Lake and passing by it, do visit Local Gourmet Salt Lake. Roasts, grill, burgers and a good
twist to American food using local Kolkata meat.
Shops outside Maidan in Centeral Kolkata will give you quite a different taste of Indian chaat
[[Image:Victoria Memorial.JPG|thumb|400px|The Victoria Memorial, a reminder of the Raj] Try cheap Chaat
on the street at Park Circus, there is one stall close to the fruit and veggies stalls. Highly recommendable and
cheap (prices are shown on the sign of the stall)
Drink
One should give a try to the taste of cold milk shakes with selected flavors of Green Mango, Rose,
Vanilla, Coconut Water (locally called DAAB) available at Paramount Syrups & Shakes at College
Square. This is dot opposite to Calcutta University, near to College Street. The place is well known for
its wonderful shakes from Old age. It is a place that you would always like to return. The place is also
well known for its famous crowd pulling essence mainly new dating couples
Shibuji's Soda Shikanji. A small non-descript store that is on Theater Road, just east of Camac Street.
Shikanji is a mixture of pop/soda like Coca Cola or cream soda with special Indian spice mixture made
of salt, pepper, lime and couple other common herbs. During the Holi Festival it's a good place to get
thandai, a delicious sweet spicy drink made with milk, saffron, pistachios, and other nuts and herbs
(including bhang on request).
Kolkata has a pletora of pubs and bars, which are frequented by the young hip crowd as well as its older
residents. Some pubs have live concerts or DJs. They include:
Irish House (Quest Mall Park Circus)

Someplace Else (The Park)
Roxy (The Park)
Aqua (The Park)
The Myx (Park Street)
Olypub (Park Street)
Mocha (AJC Bose Road)
Underground (HHI, AJC Bose Road)
Nocturne (Theatre Road)
Shisha Bar Stock Exchange, The Factory Outlet (22 Camac Street)
Villa 19 (Ballygunge)
Chili's (Quest Mall, South City Mall, Acropolis Mall Kasba)
Cafe Mezzuna (Forum Mall Elgin Road, South City Mall)
Hoppipola (Acropolis Mall)
Afraa Lounge (City Centre Salt Lake)
Fairlawns (New Market)
Sleep
For individual hotel listings, please see the the various district pages.
Kolkata has long had a concentration of budget backpacker hotels in the Sudder Street area and many of these
are colonial era gems, albeit decaying ones. Budget hotels can also be found around the station in Howrah.
Sudder Street is more centrally located but both are well connected by public transport. Beware that most of
the hotels are closed during the night. It is NOT a good idea arriving in the middle of the night without a prior
reservation. The small hotels open when the people working there wake up. They wont be too happy seeing
you first thing in the morning, so dont be surprised to hear that there are no cheap rooms and that the rate is
800 Rp or more.
There are numerous luxurious and big budget 5 star & 4 star hotels around town. Such as ITC Sonar (near
Science city), The Oberoi Grand (Chowringhee), Taj Bengal (Belvedere Road, Alipur), Hyatt Regency (off
EM Bypass), The Kenilworth (Russel St), Hotel Hindustan Internation (AJC Bose Rd), The Park (Park St).
British-era clubs such as Tollygunge Club, Calcutta Club (AJC Bose Rd), Saturday Club (Theatre Rd), Bengal
Club (Russel St) have lavish rooms for rent. However, they only accept bookings through members.
Tollygunge Club is the ideal place to chill out. Drink chilled draft beer, lie in the outdoor jacuzzi and dine in
style at the Belvedere.
OYO Rooms, 39/1, Post Office Road, Dum Dum Gorabazar, Kolkata- 700 028, ☎ +91- 9830526691,
[2] (https://www.oyorooms.com/). OYO Rooms is India's largest branded network of hotels spread
across 168 cities with 6500+ hotels offering standardized stay experiences at an unmatched price with
an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.5/5. OYO Rooms at Kolkata is having presence across 300 hotels in
every part starts at Rs 800 (approx. US$13), including tax, free breakfast & wifi. edit
Hotel Aston, 3, Aston Road, Kolkata - 700 020, India, ☎ 091-033-24863145, [3] (http://www.hotelasto
nkolkata.com). Hotel Aston is strategically situated in the heart of Kolkata, India, close to the city
center. It is 20 km from the Dumdum Airport and 6 km from the Howrah Railway Station. Designed to
offer complete comfort without breaking your budget, Hotel Aston’s air-conditioned rooms are
furnished with a television and telephone. Running hot and cold water is also provided. For anything
else you might need, room service is available round the clock. ″. edit
Housez 43, 43, Mirza Galib Street, Kolkata - 700 016, India, ☎ +91 33 2227 6020 to 21, [4] (http://ww
w.housez43.com). Housez 43 is a boutique hotel in Kolkata, India. It has 28 tastefully designed rooms
that reflects fine aesthetics. Their dining room is cozy, and provides a perfect European experience. edit
Hotel Samilton, 37, Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata - 20, India., ☎ 3051 - 7700 / 7777, [5] (http://www.hotel
samilton.com). The Hotel Samilton is in Sarat Bose Road, the commercial hub of Kolkata, West Bengal,
INDIA. Kolkata is one of the major metropolitan cities of India.The Hotel Samilton offers all facilities
of a Modern Hotel with homely comfort. The hotel is well equipped and provide the best of services.
Rates start at Rs. 2595.00. edit
Hotel Roland, 28A, Rowland Road, Kolkata - 700 020, ☎ (033) 30517600, [6] (http://ttp://www.hotelr
oland.in). Hotel Roland is Situated in Central Kolkata, and the Maxmuller Bhavan is near by. It is
around a 45 minutes drive away from the airport.The Hotel is located 8 kms. from Netaji Subhash
Airport, 3 kms. from Howrah Railway Station and 1 km. from Esplanade Bus Stand. Hotel Roland
offers 25 Air-Conditioned rooms with attached modern baths. Rates start at Rs. 1895.00. edit
Contact
The area dialing code for Kolkata is 33. From overseas dial +91 33 XXXX XXXX, from within India
dial 033 XXXX XXXX. For mobile phones, dial +91 9XXXX XXXXX or +91 8XXXX XXXXX or
+91 7XXXX XXXXX.
Internet
this city.
There are scores of internet cafes that have sprung up in every nook and corner of the city. Charges vary at
around ~Rs.15 to 25 per hour. A photocopy of one's ID proof should be submitted to the internet parlor for
using their internet facilities.
Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers offering a wide variety of plans.
Among them are BSNL [33] (http://www.calcuttatelephones.com), Vodafone [34] (http://www.vodafone.in),
Reliance [35] (http://www.relianceinfo.com/Infocomm/), and Airtel. It might be a good idea to buy a cell
phone and use one of those prepaid plans to get yourself connected while you are in the city.
Stay safe
Kolkata is reasonably safe, and in general the people are more friendly and helpful than in many of India's
other large cities. One noted problem is the drug dealers around Sudder Street. However, as the dealers
obviously do not want to draw undue attention to their activity, they are generally not persistent and rarely a
threat.
Cope
Embassies and Consulates
Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Circus Ave (Just east of AJC Bose Rd), +91 (0)33 2290
5208/5209, issues 15 day visas, ranging from Rs 500 (~$10) for Indians to a steep Rs 5000 (~$110) for
American citizens. Applications are received at window #4 M-F from 9-11AM, and visas are generally
ready the next afternoon. Bring 3 passport photos.
British Deputy High Commission, 1A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Calcutta 700071, +91 (0)33 2288 5173-
76, +91 (0)33 2288 6536 (After office hours)
German Consulate General Kolkata/Deutsches Generalkonsulat Kalkutta, 1 Hastings Park Road,

Alipore, Kolkata 700027, +91-(0)33-2479 1141/ 1142/ 2150, 2439 8906. The origins of the German
consulate in Kolkata can be traced to before the existence of Germany itself, to the establishment of the
consulate of the kingdom of Hanover in 1851 and the consulate of Prussia in 1854.
United States of America, Consulate-General of the, 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Kolkata 700071, +91-
33-3984 2400. [ note that the ironic address was the result of a diplomatic snub by the then Marxist
Bengal government during the period of the US war in Indochina] It is the oldest diplomatic post of the
USA in India, and possibly the oldest continuously operating US diplomatic post in the world. Benjamin
Joy was appointed the first American Consul to Calcutta by George Washington in 1792, upon the
express recommendation of then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. The office at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh
Sarani houses the Consulate General and the Office of Consular Affairs. The American Center, located
at 38A Chowringhee Road, is home to the American Information Resource Center (formerly the
American Library/United States Information Service), and the offices of the United States Educational
Foundation in India (USEFI) and the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS).
The French Embassy, opening shortly in the Salt Lake area. Allaince Francais du Bengal, a cultural
institute of France, offers French courses and has a vast library.
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata
EC72,Sector 1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700064, West Bengal, India [36] (http://kolkata.china-consulate.org)
The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata
22 A, Raja Santosh Road, Kolkata - 700 027, West Bengal, India [37] (http://www.kolkata.mid.ru/)
Get out
Vishnupur - famous for terra cotta temples, clay sculptures,
and silk sarees
Santiniketan - famous for the Ashramik School, and

university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath
Tagore. the town is also known for its handmade leather
crafts and kantha stitch sarees
North Bengal - a mountainous region home to Darjeeling,

Jalpaiguri, Lava-Lolegaon and, further south on the Gangetic
plains, the historic districts of Malda and Murshidabad.
Phuentsholing - Bhutan Government buses depart for this Sunderban

Bhutanese border town from the Esplanade Bus Station at
7PM on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The journey takes
around 18 hours and costs 300Rps. The buses are comfortable, but the roads through West Bengal are
full of pot holes, so don't bank on getting much sleep on the way.
Sundarbans National Park - Part of the largest littoral mangrove in the world, and home to the famous
Bengal Tigers
Beaches - The southern part of the state hosts several beach towns such as Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur,
Junput and Mandarmani. Take a car or a bus that plies regularly from Esplanade to these serene beaches.
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well

as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An
adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge
forward and help it grow!
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Kolkata - Wikitravel

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6/24/2020 Kolkata - Wikitravel

Congress in the 2005 civic elections.

Kolkata has a tropical wet-and-

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport [7] (http://www.airportsindia.org.in/kolkata/index.jsp)

1. AC37A-Garia 6 Number Bus Terminus (via Rajarhat-New Town-Sector V-Ruby-Patuli)

2.AC37C-Garia 6 Number Bus Terminus(via Baguihati-Lake Town-Salt Lake Bypass-Ruby-Patuli)

3.AC39-Howrah Station(via-Baguihati-Lake Town-Kankurgachi-Maniktala-Girish Park-Central Avenue-Lal

4.AC43-Golf Green Bus Stand(via-Rajarhat-New Town-Sector V-Ruby-Kalikapur-Jora Bridge-Jadavpur-

ttp://www.easycabs.com/), Gozo cabs [10] (https://www.gozocabs.com/car-rental/kolkata) or Vayu travels [11]

Vivada offers curated cruises aimed for

Kolkata just wouldn't look the same without

Best app for bus routes and timings is Chalo.

Clear Car Rental Private Limited (Clear Car Rental

Akashwani Bhavan, All India Radio building

North of BBD Bagh you will find the

Nakhoda Mosque (the largest mosque in Kolkata) and the

Further along you will find

Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Tagore Family residence and museum).

Birla Industrial & Technological Museum on Gurusaday Road in Ballygunge.

Maulana Azad Museum on Ballygunge Circular Road in Ballygunge.

Ramakrishna Mission Institute in Golpark,at Ballygunge.

National Library of India at Alipore.

West of the Hooghly

The Botanical Gardens at Sibpur.

Museums and Galleries

Take a stroll down memory lane at Princep ghat.

Irish House (Quest Mall Park Circus)

German Consulate General Kolkata/Deutsches Generalkonsulat Kalkutta, 1 Hastings Park Road,

The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata

The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata

Santiniketan - famous for the Ashramik School, and

North Bengal - a mountainous region home to Darjeeling,

Phuentsholing - Bhutan Government buses depart for this Sunderban

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well

Retrieved from "https://wikitravel.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Kolkata&oldid=2644528"

This page was last edited on 26 May 2020, at 12:25.

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