Kolkata, also known as the ‘City of Joy’ evolved as a result of the expansionist policies of the East India Company. The former political capital of India, Kolkata is one of the four metropolitan cities in India. The city is remembered in association with the largest bridge in India, Howrah Bridge; the first metro train in India and the hometown of Mother Teresa in India. Victoria Memorial building in Kolkata is the principal landmark in the city that made of glistening white-marble that cherishes the memories of the British Raj in India. Converted into a museum, the building now houses the most impressive collection of the artifacts of the British Raj. Fort William constructed in 1781 is a standing testament dedicated to the war of 1756. Indian Museum, built in 1874, is the oldest museum in India and has one of the rare collections of archaeological entities.
Air : Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in Dum Dum is about 20 km from the city centre and has flight links with all other metros. Several international airlines operate flights to the US, UK, Singapore, and the Middle East.
Rail : Kolkata has two main railway stations - Howrah and Sealdah. Howrah is the busier of the two and is easily accessible from all over the city; Sealdah is serviced by trains plying to towns and cities within Bengal. Kolkata has rail links with almost all major cities of the country.
Bus : Depending on where you come from, the journey can be either treacherous and tiring or a breeze. On all accounts though avoid the State transport buses. They are usually congested.
Belur Math : This spectacular display of unique world architecture is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. It is located along the banks of the river, 6kms north of Kolkata and depending which side you view it from, gives the impression of being a mosque, a temple or a church.
Dalhousie Square : This is the main administration and commerce centre west of Bengal. Here you will find many of the major state buildings with some of the city’s most unique - and often Western - architectural styles. The Writer’s Building along with Fort William are among two of the most well known monuments in the square.
Dakshineswar Temple : This site has one temple devoted to the goddess Kail and 12 devoted to the god Shiva. These sites are worth a visit, and provide some of the best photo ops that will be sure to impress all back home.
Howrah Bridge : This impressive cantilever bridge is the third largest in the world and can accommodate eight lanes of traffic. It was first opened in 1943 and is over 21 metres wide.
Marble Palace : This spectacular building contains an outstandingly impressive collection of art and antiques from around Europe. Fountains from Rome, clocks from Geneva and coveted paintings by Joshua Reynolds and the infamous Rubens feature in the collection. Nearly a hundred types of marble from all corners of the globe have been brought to the Asian site and used throughout the interior of the building.
Missionaries of Charity : Home to the tomb of the adored Mother Theresa, the Missionaries of Charity convent still stands on its original site dating back to 1950 when the order first vowed to ‘give whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor’.
Nakhoda Mosque : This is worth a visit for anyone who is interested in various styles of architecture. It is the biggest site of homage for the city’s Muslim community and its outstanding congregation hall, designed to hold up to 10,000 worshippers, is a wonderful sight to behold.
Raj Bhavan : Arguably India’s finest example of Georgian architecture, Raj Bhavan was once the official residence of the British governor during the period of British rule in India. Tipu Sultan’s throne is one of the site’s most interesting attractions, while the ballroom dance floor is the most sparklingly polished in all of India.
St Paul’s Cathedral : St Paul’s was the first cathedral to be built in India and was constructed in a curious yet striking Indo-Gothic style. The stained-glass windows are the only ones that can be found in the city, while mosaics, murals and European-inspired frescoes add to the unique charm of the cathedral.
Tagore House : Once home of one of India’s greatest national heroes - a man who brought his beloved country to the eyes of the world and the first Nobel Prize winner to hail from Asia, Rabindranath Tagore - this house is today a centre for traditional dance, drama music, museum and university of arts.
Victoria Memorial : Victoria Memorial is a large white marble construction and an impressive testament to the British Raj in India. Lord Cuzon built it in memory of Queen Victoria and it today houses historical manuscripts, paintings and sculptures.
Calcutta has a lot to offer the hard-core bargain hunter. From hole-in-the-wall shops that sell T-shirts and jewelery at a steal, to classy arcades in deluxe hotels, there's something to suit every budget in Kolkata. Over the years, a lot of malls have sprung up all over the city, but if you want a true-blue feel of a good bargain in Calcutta, here's where you should spend your shopping money: If you stand outside this sprawling market complex and crane your head in the right direction, you might still spy a faded sign or two that still refer to this place as Hogg Market. However, if you'd rather plunge into the heart of the shopping game, here's the best place to start bargain hunting in Kolkata. Shiny plastic clips, faux crystal ware, flowers, fabric, toys, luggage, ready-to-wear clothes, shoes, crockery, candles, swimwear, uniforms name it and it's likely to be there in one of the shops here. The thumb rule at New Market? Bargain with all your might!
Calcutta boasts of a number of good places for eating out. The hotels mentioned in the Accomodation section also offers decilious Indian and International cuisine. Park Street which maybe regarded as the downtown of Calcutta has excellent resturants in every nook and corner .North Indian, South Indian, Bengali, Chinese, Thai, Continental are served in the different restaurants of the city. Thursday is a dry day in Kolkata, with only the top end hotels serving liquor. Bars and discotheques are the only late night activities in the city. There is an enormous epicurean range of restaurants waiting to be discovered in Kolkata. Dine on authentic Bengali cuisine at Aheli at the Peerless Inn, a top rung restaurant that is very popular with the ethnic-food gourmand. Aminia and Southern Aminia are unbeatable for Mughlai, but if its northwest frontier cuisine you crave, eat at Zarang in Chowringhee. Chinoiserie at the Taj Bengal has wonderful Chinese, while Palm Court does great Thai.
This is the city of art, music, movies, and theatre. Your trip to Kolkatta should definitely include at least one show at the Rabindra Sadan on Cathedral Road, they hold concerts almost every evening. Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts and Nupur Dance Academy are two other organisers of cultural shows. But the best way to track your favourite show is through the local newspapers. Theatre has always been strong in Kolkata and you can catch a play at the Gyan Manch, Nazrul Manch and Kala Mandir. For details and schedules, look up the Telegraph or the Asian Age. Golf is a very big thing in Kolkatta. The best place to tee off is at the Royal Kolkata Golf Club, or the Tollygunge Club. But you need a member to let you in as a guest. It is perhaps the only part of India, where you can witness a Baul recital. Bauls are a group of mystic minstrels whose music is greatly influenced by the Hindu tantric sect .The music speaks of celestial love. The local papers will have a listing on where you can watch a performance. When we talk of entertainment, you really can't leave food out of here, in Kolkatta visiting restaurants does form a large part of entertainment. In fact a lot of people join clubs because apart from the other amenities the food is great there! The Bengal club and Hindustan club are examples. And then there is the Calcutta club, the club for the babus and sahibs with the stiff upper lip, make sure you are suited and booted to get in here, even M F Hussain was not allowed in with his chappals, that was at the Calcutta Swimming Club.