Located on the east bank of the Hooghly river, is the second populous city in India named Kolkata. Formerly known as Calcutta, the city was the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India. Boasting of a rich history and culture,it has been bestowed with numerous nicknames such as the city of Processions’ and ‘City of Joy’. Important institutions and PSU’s such as Bata India, ITC Limited, Coal India Limited and Birla Corporation have their offices here. Kolkata has also been the birth place of some illustrious Indians like Rabindranatha Tagore and Sathyajith Ray. Mother Teresa, the epitome of generosity is also associated with this city.
With its colossal Howrah Bridge, narrow galleys, tram journeys, Kolkata till date has managed to preserve a unique old world charm which continues to attract tourists to the city.
The summer months of Kolkata, which are from March and May are best avoided. With the scorching sun and high humidity, the temperature easily crosses the 40 degree mark. From June to September, the weather turns cool due to monsoon showers. However, travel enthusiasts recommend that the best months to visit Kolkata are from October to March. The weather is cool and the evenings pleasant and enjoyable during this period.
The city of Kolkata is dotted with tourist attractions. Some of the must visit attractions include:
Victoria Memorial: Created by Sir William Emerson – President, British institute of Architects in 1921, as the name suggests, this magnificient structure was constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria. To gain an insight into the colonial rule over India, attend the special light show is also presented at 1930 hr daily except Mondays.
Howrah Bridge: Also called the Rabindra Setu, Howrah Bridge, which has become synonymous with Kolkata stands above the Hooghly river. This steel structure is 705m long and boasts of 8 lanes. It is now lit in the evening and is one attraction of Kolkata which you should certainly not miss.
Fort William: Constructed in 1781 in the honour of King William –III, the fort stands testimony to the strong hold which the British Army had. It also houses the famous St. Peter’s Church constructed in 1928.
Jorasanko Thakur Bari: Built in the 18th century by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, Jorsanko Thakur Bari was home to one of Bengal’s most famous poet, thinker and writer, Rabindranath Tagore. Special light and sound shows are held here in the evenings to provide an insight to the visitors about Tagore’s life.
Marble Palace: Built in 1840 by Raja Rajendra Mullick, the Marble Palace is at Charbagan. Now a museum, it houses works of Rubens and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Kolkata is one place which is a haven for food lovers. The food here caters to satiating the foodie. The variety of Bengali cuisine is such that each district of Bengal has its own unique dish to offer. For instance, sharbhaja of Krishnanagar, chanabora of Murshidabad are must haves. Bengali sweets like sandesh, rosogolla and chanar payesh will definitely satisfy your taste palette. Luchi, kochuri and alurdom, chop cutlet, and baingan bhaja are some of the delicacies which you should not miss. And not to forget, fish preparations, which are a speciality of this region.
So plan a trip to Kolkata in your next chutti! It is totally worth all your time and money.
