India Untapped

Kolkata India

Kolkata, the City of Joy, is also known as the intellectual capital of India. The first capital of the British in India, Kolkata was established in 1686 when British moved to the small villages of Sutanati, Govindpur, and Kalikata from their trading port of Hooghly. Once the greatest colonial city in the Orient, Kolkata was later reviled as a cauldron of poverty, dirt, and disease. Today, it ranks among the four major metropolises of India.

The best time to visit Kolkata is during the winter months from October to March. Durga Puja is another occasion when the city is at its best. Kolkata has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles. Victoria Memorial is one of the most famous landmarks of Kolkata. The structure was built in the memory of Queen Victoria. Howrah Bridge is another milestone synonymous with Kolkata. The bridge is an engineering marvel. The whole bridge is 450 m long without any pylon in the river. Kolkata is home to the second largest planetarium in Asia, the Birla Planetarium. The oldest museum in India is also located in Kolkata, Indian Museum. For the sports lovers Eden Gardens is a must visit. For the spiritually inclined Kali Mandir and Belur Math are the places worth visiting.