| Kolkata formerly Calcutta is the capital
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| | intimidating, given their rows of
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| of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is
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| | sleeping homeless. Not much appeal for an
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| located in eastern India on the east bank
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| | evening stroll. In the day a seemingly
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| of the River Hooghly. The city has a
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| | organised pandemonium of ancient trucks
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| population of 5 million.
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| | and trams, screaming scooters, sleeping
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| The airport is situated at Dumdum, around
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| | dogs, smoking food stalls and mothers
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| 17 km northeast of the city centre. It is
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| | cleaning children in muddy puddles. It is
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| well connected by air to all major
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| | a shock to the system, but it likes to
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| countries in the world, as well as to
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| | think of itself as a rather cultured one
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| Indian cities. The metro rail is the
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| | you yourself should be the judge.
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| famous train which was started in 1984
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| | The people are famous for their fondness
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| and operates only in Kolkata. These
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| | for good food. Sweets like sandesh,
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| trains are very clean, punctual and
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| | rosogolla and chanar payesh are very
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| efficient and the stations are also air
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| | famous all over the country.
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| conditioned.
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| | Chinese, Continental, Thai, Tibetan and
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| In the 17th century, Calcutta was nothing
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| | Mughal cuisine including tandoori, kebabs
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| more than a village. Today it is one of
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| | and biryani etc are next in the
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| the major metropolitan cities of India
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| | popularity chart.
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| along with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
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| | In the markets, cotton, silk and
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| Kolkata was once the capital city of
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| | handlooms are top quality, as is the gold
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| British India and also the Gateway to
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| | and silver jewellery. Shopping on the
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| India till 1912. It is a major commercial
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| | roadside is normal. But wherever you are
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| city consisting of big industrial plants
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| | beware of pickpockets.
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| and corporate houses.
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| | The city is the land of sports lovers,
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| The major tourist attractions in Calcutta
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| | intellectual, romantic and has a unique
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| include Birla Planetarium, Shantiniketan,
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| | sensibility. Be it a religious festival,
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| Victoria Memorial and the Gardens. For
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| | soccer matches, political demonstrations,
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| the wildlife enthusiasts, it has
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| | music, art, poetry reading or eating for
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| Sunderbans a wildlife sanctuary rich in
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| | them each activity is equally important.
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| a variety of flora and fauna. Take an
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| | Durgapuja the most important and the most
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| excursion to Vishnupur, which is reputed
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| | popular of all Bengali festivals, is
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| for its terracotta, metal ware and
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| | celebrated. The Goddess Durga is
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| temples.
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| | worshipped for 10 days of the festival.
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| Today its evening streets can be
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