The City of Joy - KOLKATA | Overview | Weather | Newspaper | Food | Places to Visit | Trams | Metro

Overview
Kolkata or formerly known as Calcutta is a metropolitan city in the eastern part of India and is the oldest port of all eastern India and also is the capital of the state of West Bengal. It was the former capital of India in the colonial rule till the year 1911. The city of joy is the seventh most populated city of India with 14.5 million people residing the 205 km large city including all the suburbs. A GDP of $150 million, Kolkata is the third most productive metropolitan of India after Delhi and Mumbai. 

The 'Cultural Capital of India' has a vibe to it. Trams and horse chariots give you the feel of old times and on the other hand architectural wonders like "THE 42" and "TATA Steel Building" give you the hint of modernisation. Also is the home of one of the oldest and most linguistically advance newspaper, 'The Statesman' which is being printed since 1875.  

An over all blend of Culture, Development, Heritage and Life packed inside a city called KOLKATA. 

Geography & Weather

Divided into 4 parts, the city's geography is structured into - 

1. North Kolkata

2. Central Kolkata

3. South Kolkata

4. East Kolkata 

The weather of the coastal city is subjected to the 'Tropical Wet and Dry Climate' which means that the average temperature falls below 18 degrees celsius and has an average yearly rainfall of 60 - 80 inches.

The temperature varies from season to season - 

1. Summers - From March to June are in the low to moderate 30s and are humid with temperature max up-to 40 degrees.

2. Winters - The temperature drops to 9 - 11 degrees and the coldest month has a temperature of as low as 5 degrees.

The Major environmental issues are increase in the pollution with respirable suspended particulate matter levels going higher and higher.

Public Transportation

Kolkata has India's oldest and one of the most advance transportation systems of India. When travelling inside Koklata you have basically 5 modes of transport with a few other small scale methods. They being - 
1. Metro Railways - Kolkata metro is India's oldest underground transit system operational since 1984 and is used by large mass of Kolkata.
2. Buses - The nerves of Kolkata. The whole city is covered with bus routes and is the most used means of transport of Kolkata. Special and unique bus codes are there for different routes and the charges and next to nothing.
3. Taxis - The iconic 'HM Ambassador' taxis a very integral part of Kolkata's transportation systems. With time these are also being equipped with AC facilities.
4. The Railway Network - Kolkata has mainly 4 railway stations, namely - Howrah, Sealdah, Chittpur and Shalimar. These railway stations operate long haul trains as well as local trains from nearby rural and sub-urban railway stations.
5. Trams - The oldest mode of local transport since 1880. A heritage venture still operated by the Calcutta Tram Company. Tough a very unreliable and slow mode but still is in the heart of Kolkata.   
Other than this, if travelling outstation or overseas, flight and waterway are both available in Kolkata - 
1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport - One of India's most developed airports and in the north-east side of Kolkata.
2. The Port of Kolkata - Established in 1870, one of India's major and one of the oldest ports. 

Places to Visit

When you are in Kolkata use this part as a travel guide to chose places to visit. Yeah, don't forget to google it as well as this list will be updated overtime. 

For now, here are my top picks for Kolkata travel - 
1. Victoria Memorial - Marble built and an elegant piece of architecture opened in 1921 during the colonial rule. Now converted into a museum.
2. Princep Ghat - having the view of the Vidyasagar Setu it is a park like area near the ghat of ganga buily in 1841.   
3. Howrah Bridge - Another architecture masterpiece. A 2300 foot cantilever bridge opened in 1943.
4. Park Street - A hipsters paradise, park street is a thoroughfare with world class brands. First Starbucks of India and First Hard Rock Cafe are some of the main visitors point.   
5. Indian Museum - Found in 1814, it is a museum with archaeology, art, anthropology and geology sections. Mummies and Mammoth fossil are some of the most notable artefacts.

  

Food 

Kolkata is known for it's sweet dishes but there is a lot more to experience when you are finally in the 'City of Joy'. The list will be updated with time but right now these are my 'must try' list - 

1. Macher Jhol - It is a dish which every bengali eats without fail. A fish curry made in many different ways but eaten with plain rice.

2. Rossogulla - The famous white rossogulla which is very difficult to pronounce properly. A must eat.

3. Misti Doi - A preparation of curd which is sweetened while the curd sits.

4. Puchkas - Also knowon as Gol Gappe in some part of the country is prepared a bit differently here and is worth a shot.

5. kathi Rolls - A very popular fast food all over Kolkata made with chicken mainly but veg variant is also available.   

Here is a video on Kolkata by West Bengal Tourism.

Please also check my other articles with the following links - 

Hyderabad : https://indcities.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-city-of-nawabs-hyderabad-overview.html

Delhi : https://indcities.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-capital-city-delhi-overview-weather.html

Bangalore : https://indcities.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-silicon-valley-of-india-bangalore.html

Mumbai : https://indcities.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-city-of-dreams-mumbai-overview.html

Reference - 
Image No. 1 - https://www.shutterstock.com/search/kolkata+skyline
Image No. 2 - https://icon-library.net/icon/weather-icon-png-26.html
Image No. 3 - https://www.pinclipart.com/downpngs/iibboho_transport-png-free-download-modes-of-transport-png/
Image No. 4 - https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/medium/1/kolkata-skyline-in-watercolor-background-pablo-romero-transparent.png
Image No. 5 - https://www.clipartwiki.com/iclipmax/xbTmbT/