Calcutta, or the city's with a new name of Kolkota is the capital of the state of West Bengal. Whatever the name might be Kolkota will always be the city of joy as it is popularly called by the natives of this city. Calcutta is the largest city in India and is part of the four metroploitian of India. More than 300 years ago, in 1687, Job Charnock, an English tradesman of East India group set up a trading post on the banks of the Ganga. In 1696, Old Fort William was established and this was the begining of a new era as this caused the birth of the city of Calcutta. The name Calcutta was derived from Kalikata, one of the three villages whose lands became a part of this new settlement.

During the phases of history Kolkota has grown from just being a small fishing village to one of the main trading cities in India and arguably one of the top most business cities of the world. Historically Kolkota have the impressions of the British architecture as the city was also one of the main administrative blocks under the Britishers. So, no wonder this can be seen in many westernely designed buildings and monuments of the bygone era.

Calcutta has housed some of the world's most famous personalities like Mother Teresa and Rabinder Nath Tagore. People of Calcutta are well known for their sweet tooth and some of the best sweet dishes are available in the city.

The metropolitan city of Calcutta is situated in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

158 cm (June to August)

Summer:   41.7 °C - 38.1 °C
Winter:       29.3 °C - 9.6 °C

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October to March.

Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Calcutta to other important cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. Calcutta provides direct flights to most of the countries in the Southeast Asia. The airport in Calcutta is situated at Dumdum, around 17 km northeast of the city center.

Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta. City is also connected with the super fast trains. The city has two major railway stations, one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.

Calcutta is connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Esplanade Terminus in the heart of the city is the main bus terminus.

Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Fort William, Eden Garden, Birla Planetarium, Kali Mandir, Howrah Bridge, Writer's Building, BBD Bagh, Belur Math, Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan, Town Hall, and St. Paul's Cathedral.