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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. [1] [18] [19] 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
- City site
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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...
Learn about Kolkata (Calcutta), India's third-largest city and its cultural capital, with Lonely Planet's expert tips and insights. Explore its attractions, history, food, festivals, and more.
History of Kolkata. Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) was a colonial city. The British East India Company developed Calcutta as a city by establishing an artificial riverine port in the 18th century CE. Kolkata was the capital of the British India until 1911, when the capital was relocated to Delhi.
- Sharell Cook
- 1800 212 1655
- Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
- Park Street. Address. Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India. Get directions. Kolkata's famous Park Street (formally renamed as Mother Teresa Sarani) runs from Chowringhee Road to Park Circus and is renowned for its entertainment, restaurants, and prominent historical landmarks including old colonial mansions.
- New Market. Address. d-twenty three, 19, Lindsay St, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700087, India. Get directions. Web Visit website.
- Mullick Ghat Flower Market. The colorful chaos of Kolkata's flower market presents a fantastic photo opportunity. More than 130 years old, it's east India's largest wholesale flower market with thousands of flower sellers visiting it every day.
- Prinsep Ghat. Built beside the Hooghly River during the rule of the British Raj in 1843, Prinsep Ghat features one of the city's best known columned Colonial monuments dedicated to English scholar James Prinsep.
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Explore the must-see sights of Kolkata (Calcutta), India's cultural capital and former colonial hub. Discover its historic monuments, museums, parks, temples, churches and more.
Mar 29, 2021 · The capital of British India from 1772 to 1911, and now the capital of West Bengal state, Kolkata blends its history under British rule with its Bengali roots and the influence of immigrant communities. These top things to do in Kolkata will connect you to the heart and soul of the city.
