Location :
The Kolkatta Municipal Corporation spreads over an area of 187.33 sq km with a population of 4,388,262 (1991 census). The metropolitan area of about 800 sq kms extends along both sides of the river Hooghly from Bandel / Kalyani in the north to Budge Budge in the south and from Howrah in the west to Bidhan Nagar in the east. The metropolitan area is home to a population of around 10 million and has three municipal corporations (Kolkatta, Howrah, Chandannagore), 35 municipalities and several villages.
 

Climate:
Kolkatta is located at a point where river Hooghly merges into the sea. In fact the whole region is part the great Gangetic delta. The climate of Kolkatta is very much influenced by the sea. The daily tidal waves and the frequent rains accompanied by high velocity winds has now become a part of life in the city. Kolkatta has a very tropical type of climate with the summers being hot and humid. The sweaty, sultry climate may causes dehydration and uneasiness. The temperature in summer stays around 34.1 Degree Celsius in the day and 26.7 Degree Celsius at night and in winters the temperature remains around 27.0 Degree Celsius in the daytime and 14.2 at night. But it is raining through out the year. The best season to come to Kolkatta is between September and March.

Site to Visit:
Victoria Memorial is a huge white-marble structure and the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. The structure, which is now floodlit in the night, gives a fascinating site. It has been now converted in a museum that houses the most impressive collection of memorabilia’s from the days of Raj.

Indian Museum, built in 1874, has a beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rare collections of archeological. The entrance to the museum houses an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India. The museum is opened all days of the week except Monday. The normal timing is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fort William was constructed in 1781 after the unfortunate happenings of 1756 in which many British soldiers with their families were killed by Siraj-Ud-Daula. Large area around the village of Govindpur was cleared off the forests and this fort was constructed, which for some time also lent its name to the city. The fort is still in use and visitors are allowed inside only after getting special permits. The area around the fort is a very large patch of green known as the Maidan (ground). The Maidan is also known as the lung of Kolkatta and stretches 1 km in width and 3 km in length.

Eden Garden, located in the northwest corner of the city, is a small and pleasantly laid-out garden. The place also houses the renowned cricket ground by the same name.

Birla Planetarium is one of the largest of its kind in the world, and a good place to enjoy oneself. Regular shows in Hindi and English are held here.

Kali Mandir is the temple dedicated to Kali, goddess of destruction. This is the temple from which the old village Kalikata took its name, which, in turn, also gave the city its name.

Howrah Bridge is an excellent example of engineering techniques of the early 20th century. The whole bridge is 450 m long without any pylon in the river. The bridge also has the distinction of being the busiest bridge in the world catering to around 100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians.

When Kolkatta was the capital of British India, BBD Bagh was the center of power. This is the place that houses the now famous Writer’s Building (clerks were known as writers in the British India) and the old Fort William.

Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, is situated in the north of the city. The place was founded in 1899 and houses a structure that was designed to be a church, temple, and mosque all in one.

Other important sites that can be visited are Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan, Town Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

How to Reach:
Kolkatta is connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Esplanade Terminus in the heart of the city is the main bus terminus. A new development is the starting of Dhaka–Kolkatta bus service. The buses are colorful, air-conditioned, and comfortable.

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

Trains from the other parts of the country connect Kolkatta. Super-fast trains such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express join the city from Delhi and nearby cities such as Bokaro and Rourkela. Coromandel Express and Gitanjali Express connect Kolkatta to Chennai and Mumbai respectively. The city has two major railway stations—one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.

Mechanized boats and ships are available on a regular basis for Andaman & Nicobar Islands. One should contact the offices of the Shipping Corporation of India on 13, Strand Road for more information on schedules. Luxury cruises are also operational between Kolkatta and Haldia, a modern port city nearby.

For local transport, Kolkatta Metro is India’s first and only underground railway network and a good option to move around the city. Trains run from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and 3 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. Other options to explore the city are taxis, trams, and buses. The services are basic and crowded but cheap.

Major Hotels

• Taj Bengal
• The Oberoi Grand
• Hindustan International
• The Park
• Airport Ashok
• Best Western Kenil worth