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Kolkata is the de facto cultural capital of India and a historically and culturally significant city in the historic region of Bengal. It is the second largest Bengali-speaking city in the world. It has the highest number of Nobel laureates among all cities in India.
- 9 m (30 ft)
- Southern Asia
- Overview
- Character of the city
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Kolkata, city, capital of West Bengal state, and former capital (1772–1911) of British India. It is one of India’s largest cities and one of its major ports. The city is centred on the east bank of the Hugli (Hooghly) River, once the main channel of the Ganges (Ganga) River, about 96 miles (154 km) upstream from the head of the Bay of Bengal; there the port city developed as a point of transshipment from water to land and from river to sea. A city of commerce, transport, and manufacture, Kolkata is the dominant urban centre of eastern India.
The city’s former name, Calcutta, is an Anglicized version of the Bengali name Kalikata. According to some, Kalikata is derived from the Bengali word Kalikshetra, meaning “Ground of (the goddess) Kali.” Some say the city’s name derives from the location of its original settlement on the bank of a canal (khal). A third opinion traces it to the Bengali words for lime (calcium oxide; kali) and burnt shell (kata), since the area was noted for the manufacture of shell lime. In 2001 the government of West Bengal officially changed the name of the city to Kolkata. Area city, 40 square miles (104 square km); urban agglom., 533 square miles (1,380 square km). Pop. (2011) 4,486,679; urban agglom., 14,057,991.
Fashioned by the colonial British in the manner of a grand European capital—yet now set in one of the poorest and most overpopulated regions of India—Kolkata has grown into a city of sharp contrasts and contradictions. Kolkata has had to assimilate strong European influences and overcome the limitations of its colonial legacy in order to find its own unique identity. In the process it created an amalgam of East and West that found its expression in the life and works of the 19th-century Bengali elite and its most noteworthy figure, the poet and mystic Rabindranath Tagore.
This large and vibrant Indian city thrives amid seemingly insurmountable economic, social, and political problems. Its citizens exhibit a great joie de vivre that is demonstrated in a penchant for art and culture and a high level of intellectual vitality and political awareness. Crowds throng to Kolkata’s book fairs, art exhibitions, and concerts, and there is a lively trading of polemics on walls, which has led to Kolkata being dubbed the “city of posters.”
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Geography of India
The location of the city appears to have been originally selected partly because of its easily defensible position and partly because of its favourable trading location. The low, swampy, hot, and humid riverbank otherwise has little to recommend it. Its maximum elevation is about 30 feet (9 metres) above sea level. Eastward from the river the land slopes away to marshes and swamplands. Similar topography on the west bank of the river has confined the metropolitan area largely to a strip 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) wide on either bank of the river. Reclamation of the Salt Lake area on the northeastern fringe of the city, however, demonstrated that the spatial expansion of the city is feasible, and further reclamation projects have been undertaken to the east, south, and west of the central area.
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Suburbs of Kolkata include Haora (Howrah) on the west bank, Baranagar to the north, South Dum Dum to the northeast, Behala to the south, and Garden Reach in the southwest. The whole urban complex is held together by close socioeconomic ties.
Kolkata has a subtropical climate with a seasonal regime of monsoons (rain-bearing winds). It is warm year-round, with average high temperatures ranging from about 80 °F (27 °C) in December and January to nearly 100 °F (38 °C) in April and May. The average annual rainfall is about 64 inches (1,625 mm). Most of this falls from June to September, the...
Explore Kolkata (Calcutta), India's intellectual, artistic and cultural capital, with Lonely Planet's expert tips and recommendations. Discover its attractions, history, food, festivals, and more.
The Victoria Memorial. Kolkata ( Bengali: কলকাতা Kalkātā, Hindi: कोलकाता Kolkātā ), formerly Calcutta, is the capital and largest city of West Bengal and the cultural capital of India. Kolkata is an "in your face" city that shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitor.
- Sharell Cook
- Go Museum Hopping. Start by acquainting yourself with Kolkata's heritage at any of its informative museums. One of the city's most imposing monuments, Victoria Memorial, houses an impressive Indo-British art history museum, while the city's new generation of themed museums have dynamic exhibitions on Bengali theater, film, art, and culture.
- Wander Through Historic Neighborhoods. One of the most absorbing things to do in Kolkata is simply wander the streets. The city is divided into distinct neighborhoods, their names a reflection of colonial-era segregation and stratification when Kolkata was the capital of British India.
- Marvel Over Palatial Noble Homes. Several grand aristocratic homes provide a glimpse into the well-heeled lifestyles of their Bengali owners. Illustrious Bengali merchant and art connoisseur Raja Rajendra Mullick made his Marble Palace out of some 100 types of the rock in the 19th century.
- Stay in a Heritage Hotel. Don't pass up the opportunity to stay at Calcutta Bungalow, a cozy 1920s Bengali townhouse. A home-away-from-home, it has been thoughtfully restored with contemporary and antique features, and even has its own vintage Ambassador car!
Things to Do in Kolkata (Calcutta), India: See Tripadvisor's 213,383 traveler reviews and photos of Kolkata (Calcutta) tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in May. We have reviews of the best places to see in Kolkata (Calcutta). Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
- DictionaryKol·ka·ta/kōlˈkädə/
- 1. a port and industrial center in eastern India, capital of the state of West Bengal and the second largest city in India; population 5,080,500 (est. 2009). It is situated on the Hooghly River near the Bay of Bengal.
Explore the cultural, historical and religious landmarks of Kolkata (Calcutta), India's capital city. From the majestic Victoria Memorial to the colourful Kalighat Temple, discover the best sights, museums, gardens and markets of Kolkata.
