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