Kolkata

ere is my travelogue for Kolkata India, birthplace of Satyajit Ray, or the City of RAY-diance as I like to call it.First impressions of Kolkata: it is so green; it seems to be part of nature as well as a city. Later on we were to marvel at the sanctuaries built into trees (what are they called?) and the seamless integration of the rural with the cityscape. Spring in Kolkata By mousourik We arrived at Netaji Subhash Bose a.k.a. Dum Dum airport, and it was immediately apparent that we were in a very polite and civilized place, as there was no pushing at the luggage arrival carrousel. A taxi had come to meet us as arranged and drive us to Sudder Street, which was very welcome after the long trip. Anyway, we arrived at our hotel in the midst of chaotic traffic because the roads were being dug up. A blessing actually since the last few yards had to be taken on foot, meaning a lot less traffic noise. We were opposite the India museum and a stone’s throw away from New Market. All along Free School Street there were roadworks but the neighbourhood is friendly and welcoming. Day One in Kolkata India Traffic Jam in Kolkata By Vishaka Our most urgent task was to secure the permits for Sikkim, so we headed off to Sikkim House on Middleton Street, where we were made very welcome. In fact (perhaps due to the recent bandh in the Hills as this was beginning of March of 2008), we were the only ones there! They asked for our itinerary and said come back in a couple of hours. We wanted to know where would be a good place for a chai, so they indicated the way to the "Punjabi Dhaba", a couple of blocks away. Indeed it was so delicious that we had two of them. Then back to Sikkim house where we took eager possession of our permits along with a couple of posters of orchids, advertising the Flower Festival. Flushed with success, we sauntered over to Music World to look for DVDs of Satyajit Ray films. Again, a huge thank you to Jyoti, Brishti and Scandojazzbuff for all their help. We visited Flury’s and wondered at the Parisian ambiance in this Kolkattan institution. Fired up by excellent coffee, we decided spontaneously to head straight to the Book Fair in Salt Lake, even though we were supposed to be meeting up there with IndiaMikers on the following day - we are a disgrace - I know that Somnath has forgiven us. Anyhow, jetlag notwithstanding, taxi driver not having a clue how to get there and shouting at us (?) for not knowing the way, we made it in one piece to the Book Fair. It was great! We had a wonderful day. Day Two in Kolkata India Beauty Unleashed-Kolkata By Indranil_Dutta We woke up bright and early (TOO bright and TOO early), and some traders on the pavement next to the Maidan asked me "Why so happy Madam?". We tried to walk in the park at Eden Gardens while waiting for the museum to open, but were told by the wardens that it was shut. And then we visited the Museum. After asking the curator for permission we were allowed to view the "Buddha Bones" kept under lock and key. It was impressive. I particularly liked the anthropological section where you could see different parts of the Seven Sisters and the tribal folks of the North East with their regional costumes and artefacts. We met some girls who are students of anthropology at the University of Kolkata and chatted a while. Later we took a cab to visit the Jain Temple, Sheetalnathji Mandir, also known as the Palace of Jewels, built in 1867, as well as the adjacent Jain Temple, Dadaji Jain Mandir, built in 1810. They are exquisite. I was so overawed by the beauty that I left my camera (an old autofocus) on a bench in the garden. Returning with the same cab to Sudder Street, about 20 minutes into the journey, I reached for my camera to take a picture, and realizing I had mislaid it, we returned... it was still on the bench! Talk about good karma! That evening we enjoyed the mouth-watering Bengali cuisine. Day Three in Kolkata India I call this the "Great B.B.D. Bagh Adventure" since we spent absolutely ages looking for the Black Hole of Calcutta and other landmarks such as the Tank. We couldn’t understand any of our maps (we had at least 3). At some point we asked a group of young men, “Which way is it to BBD /Dalhousie Square?”. One pointed left, one pointed right, the other pointed straight on. It was very funny. The bottom line is that (in my blinkered English way) I was expecting something like a London square, not a pond of water! Well, you live and learn. If I were to do it again, I would take a guided tour because I think we were so busy trying to understand where we were going that we saw nothing. The street with the typewriters was fascinating. I had also purchased "Ten Walks in Calcutta" which is a great book but so hard to follow when you have a million people trying to sell you: umbrellas (sun parasols?); gentleman’s underwear; bangles; school books; T-shirts and salwar kameez; plastic kitchenware etc. etc. On top of that you are trying hard not to step on the produce on the pavement while crooking your neck upwards to read the non-existent street sign, which even if you could read it is different to the name on the map which dates from the previous century...! Recovery came in the welcome form of coffee at Barista on Park Street. Then we visited the Nagaland Emporium and admired the stripey blankets. The Crossword Bookshop was OK but not as good as the Oxford Bookshop. After a hard day’s sightseeing we popped into the Fairlawn for a Kingfisher and regretted that the next day we were leaving for Darjeeling, having been beguiled by Kolkata. Day Four in Kolkata India Following our wonderful interlude in Darjeeling/Sikkim we returned on the day of Holi to Kolkata. holi_040 By chief61 We were hiding indoors so as not to get hit with paint, then belatedly realized that Holi had been yesterday, when we were travelling down from Bagdogra. We had wondered why the roads from the airport were so empty... actually, we saw masses of coloured faces with purple, pink, green, yellow paints, and thought it had all started a bit early. So, we ventured out, noticing how many people had unsuccessfully tried to rid themselves of the coloured powders! Our visit to the Tagore Museum in Kolkata India This is an oasis of calm in the chaos of Kolkata. The former family home of Tagore on Rabindra Sarani, ex Chitpur Street, is fascinating. Afterwards we walked the length of Chitpur through the souk of perfume sellers, fruit wallahs, etc. It started to rain, so we took refuge in a coffee shop. Day Five in Kolkata India Rickshaw By India Edge We had our first and last experience of a hand-pulled rickshaw. We had great views of the street, but we feeling too sorry for the rickshaw-wallah. We got a Kolkata Contents . Last evening in town: the high life at Peter Cat for Chelo Kebabs. We were the only visitors and spent several hours there. but it was well worth it. It was also very difficult to locate the Asutosh Museum. We started to feel like real Kolkata inhabitants! Then we tried to follow the "Ten Walks in Calcutta" book to seek out some of the architectural marvels of the area. It’s a great place to while away an hour or two. Kalighat. Hopefully without a severe attack of agoraphobia (joke). the Hooghly bridge. Help Wikitravel grow by contributing to an article! Learn how. all the walks in "Ten Walks". The places I failed to see that I would visit next time around: Obviously. trying to avoid the eyes of the touts). The New Market (we just ran through it. Actually. We chatted with an informative and interesting gentleman. The flower markets.little confused looking for it. but finally found the Indian Coffee House near the book stalls. but failed to find anything mentioned in the book. Tollywood! The Park Street cemetery. restaurant.[hide] Districts [+] Understand [+] Get in [+] Get around Talk See Do Learn Work Buy Eat Drink Sleep [+] Contact Stay safe [+] Cope Get out Kolkata is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing. Kolkata (Bangla:কলকাতা)(formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and one of the largest cities in India. It is also the largest city in the historic region of Bengal (today's West Bengal and Bangladesh). Long known as the cultural capital of India and home to the Bengal Renaissance. Kolkata is an 'in your face' city that shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitor. nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all. Kolkata . Belgachhia. Khardah. Chandni Chowk. Maniktala. Belghoria. Includes Behala. . Dumdum. Love it or hate it. writers and film directors. This is a relatively newer part of the city where a lot of expansion is going on.continues to spawn generations of poets. Circular Rail. Shobha Bazaar. Panihati. Bagbazar. Hooghly Bank and Chowringhee. you definitely won't forget the city on the Hooghly river bank. Strand Road. Bag). Made up of Park Street.Garia and Narendrapur. Metro Rail.D. Dufferin Road. Includes Chitpur. Tollygunge. North Kolkata — the older area of the city. Titagarh etc. Esplanade — the colonial district is still the central business area and is considered the heart of Kolkata. Maidan — The area consisting of the huge park and its surrounding neighborhoods. one of the largest train hubs in India. Dum Dum being the prime communication hub of Kolkata having International Airport. Also situated here are the Sealdah station.B. a reminder of the Raj [edit] Districts Southern fringes — the rapidly mushrooming localities to the south of the city. Khidirpur. Ground Rail. Northern fringes — the large industrial area to the north of the city. Jadavpur. than definitely consider placing Kolkata on your itinerary. Bhawanipur. Dalhousie Square (B. New Alipore .and Rash Behari. a fascinating district dominated by narrow little lanes and hundreds of century-old bulidings. Mirza Ghalib Street (Free School Street). If your trip only allows for a visit of one or two of India's metropolitan cities. Jora Sanko and the famous College Street area. The Victoria Memorial. Includes Kashipur.Shyam Bazaar. South Kolkata — the posher part of the city. There are a number of educational institutes and lavish shopping malls in this area. Covers Ballygunge. and the newly built Kolkata station. Barra Bazaar and Sudder Street. Alipore. Includes Fort William. Many five star hotels.Kolkata became the center of Indian arts and literature. The Court has dismissed the name of Job Charnock as the founder of the city and 24th August as its date of birth. Chinar Park.where there are a number of factories. and the national movement for independence got its start here. the pains of the partition of Bengal in 1947. specially IT sector and home to India's largest mall. the heyday of the Raj. It has been proved that Kolkata had an highly civilized society for centuries before the Europeans first came here.M. theme parks. Bypass.Kolkata flowered as the capital of British India during the nineteenth century. ordnance and chemicals. However. East Kolkata — Rapidly developing. Howrah — while technically its own city. Lake Town and the E.Rajarhat.) but in recent years a number of Indian historians have disputed this claim. [edit] Understand [edit] Ancient and Pre-British History [edit] History Kolkata's history is intimately related to the British East India Company. Howrah is very much a part of the Kolkata metro area. west and south of Kolkata.a violent and . Whatever its origins. arguing that Kolkata occupies the site of an older Indian city. Job Charnock was widely known as the founder of Calcutta (There were 3 villages named Sutanuti. with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1911. paper. centered around the ancient Kali temple at Kalighat. which first arrived in 1690. including jute. Encompasses Salt Lake City (Bidhan Nagar). the first modern Indian university was founded here in 1857. cotton. The historic Judgement was based upon an high level Expert Commitee findings. posh housing estates and techno parks are being built in this area. of which Calcutta became the capital in 1772. and to British India. Calcutta University.Later the village Kolkata became the city Kolkata. This claim has been accepted by the Kolkata High Court. Govindapur & Kolkata. and Howrah train station is where you'll arrive/depart from if connecting with anywhere north. [edit] Economy Kolkata is fast developing into a modern infotech city with various private sector companies setting up shop here. Sinhalese. and others) and other Asians (including Chinese. coinciding with the liberalization of the Indian economy.bloody Maoist movement (the Naxalite movement) in the 1970s and many political betrayals which no other city experienced. Its economy has been amongst the fastest growing in the country. Since 1977. For example there are streets like Lenin Sarani. Apart from the diversity of India. [edit] Modern Kolkata Calcutta is the main business. The landscape of the city is also fast changing with flyovers. This is reflected in street names and memorials in the city. Trinamul Congress again captured the power over Municipal Corporation of Kolkata. The city's economic fortunes turned the tide as the economic liberalization in India during the early nineties reached Calcutta during late nineties. commercial and financial hub of eastern India. with the Greater Kolkata stretching from Kalyani (in Nadia District) in North to Diamond Harbour in South (in the South 24 Parganas District). The city's fortunes have looked up since the early nineties. Pubs. The Left Front regained control of the Municipal Corporation of Calcutta from the Trinamul Congress in the 2005 civic elections. a "Left Front" coalition of communist and Marxist parties has continuously ruled the state. Kolkata city itself has expanded into its suburbs. etc. theatres. and Museums. but reversal changes can be already seen. but in 2010. . and Tibetans). Clubs. Ho Chi Minh Sarani. Coffee Shops. Calcutta witnessed an economic decline from the late sixties till the late nineties. there are also Europeans (including Germans.Kolkata had become synonymous with urban decay and poverty. gardens and several new commercial establishments. The New Metro city is characterised by popular spots such as Multiplexes. Calcutta is a multicultural. cosmopolitan city. Armenians. engineering products. along with many other government offices. textiles. electronics. whose product range is varied and includes . D. The old Central Business District (CBD) is where the seat of the West Bengal Government is located.Kolkata is home to many industrial units. Kasba. Bank of India. Bagh area (named after the revolutionaries Binoy. Kolkata is also starting to become a major hub for the IT (Information Technology) industry. as Park Street). The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has an area of 185 square kilometres. B. cables. steel. and a Gem and Jewellery Park have also been established. Howrah are spread throughout the urban agglomeration. Central Bank of India amongst many others) around the B. It has spread linearly along the banks of the river Hooghly. automobiles. Specialized setups like the country's first Toy Park. United Bank of India. More and more businesses are coming to Kolkata to set up their offices. The city proper today can be roughly divided into two sections along Mother Teresa Sarani (which was known. South of Park Street is the slightly better planned section of the city. leather. jewellery. South Kolkata is better planned with wider roads and better equipped police force for keeping Law&Order. An export processing zone has been set up in Falta. Several industrial estates like Taratola. frigates. Kalyani. Uluberia. railway coaches and wagons. Dankuni. [edit] Geography Kolkata is in the eastern part of India at 22°82′ N 88°20′ E. old Kolkata and most of the oldest families and buildings are situated there. The North is the real. Badal and Dinesh who forced . North of Park Street is the more congested part of the city. UCO Bank) or regional headquarters (Reserve Bank of India. South Kolkata is better planned because much of it was built after Independence. A huge leather complex has come up at Bantola. of large Indian corporations. Several banks have their corporate (Allahabad Bank. With the formation of New Town at Rajarhat and extension of Salt Lake's Sector-V. State Bank of India. till 1998. Kolkata is rapidly turning into a pro-IT town. electrical equipment. Kolkatans simply love to stroll in the Maidan. many government offices have shifted to high-rise office buildings lining Bidhan Nagar's (Salt Lake) Central Park. Everest House.are located here. Ten to twelve storied apartment blocks have come up in large numbers in south Kolkata.like the Chatterjee International Centre.the four thirty-five-storey towers of South City has recently finished construction on Prince Anwar Shah Road. The city has relaxed its rules on high-rise construction recently and twenty storied buildings are becoming more common. Many of Kolkata's older business groups have their main offices here. . Several high-rise office blocks including some of Kolkata's tallest commercial buildings . and several sporting clubs.Nehru Road (or Chowringhee). The area is a mix of multi-storeyed office blocks and colonial buildings. malls and multiplexes are coming up at a rapid pace. and killed the officers who were famous for their rude and cruel treatment with the people and their various techniques of oppression). The newer CBD is around the south of Park Street. the seat of the British government in Bengal. The residential buildings are mainly lowrise and comprise of older colonial buildings and numerous new four storied apartment blocks. An evennewer CBD is now being set up in the Rajarhat (Newtown) area.entry into The Writer's Building. speciality hospitals. It is said to be the lungs of Kolkata. CGO Building . Camac Street and AJC Bose Road. In an effort to relieve congestion in the main city. Industry House. The lush green meadow also houses Victoria Memorial. The tallest residential towers of eastern India . Maidan (meaning open field) is situated between the river Ganges and J. Eden Gardens. a convention centre. Tata Centre. Luxury hotels. lying between Salt Lake and the Airport. condominium complexes. Heavy construction activity along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is changing the face of the city.L. [edit] Get in [edit] By plane . has received many investment proposals from national as well as international corporations. Winter starts in November and stays till February and weather is very pleasant with temperature ranging between 9-18 degree Celsius. Monsoon starts in June and lasts till September. But in recent times. 50 Kms. Slums and dilapidated structures exist in many pockets of the city proper and house over 25% of the city's population (Census 2001).5 time zone. Summer. [edit] Time Kolkata is GMT+5.Summer. Located in Rajarhat. where the Tata group planned to build the cheapest car in the world. October. and Winter. away from Kolkata. has had an impact on the investments due to come to the state. during March-May. Best time to visit Kolkata will be during winter that is November to February. Slum redevelopment schemes have helped improve living conditions by a small extent but there is huge scope for improvement in this area. Monsoon. [edit] Climate Kolkata has three main seasons. specially after the ousting of the communists on 13th May 2011. it is one of the largest planned urban developments in eastern India.The city's expansion in the eastern side is spearheaded by the construction of a large new city called New Town adjacent to the well planned Bidhan Nagar. The aborted Nano factory at Singur. Efforts to shift slum dwellers to newer developments have often met with resistance and failure because many of the slums are in prime areas of the city and the slum dwellers who are integrated in the social structure of the neighbourhood do not want to shift. is hot and humid with temperature touching 38-40 degree Celsius. the state including the city. Because the airport is about 20km outside the city centre you should take a prepaid taxi. Bangladesh Biman (Dhaka). There is also a new rail link connecting the airport to the Circular Rail station in Dum Dum. Kathmandu. Bangkok. AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur). Singapore. Indigo (All India. Thai AirAsia (Bangkok). SilkAir (Singapore). Druk Air (Paro).Kolkata's "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport" connects the city with the rest of the world as well as other Indian cities. Emirates (Dubai). Yangon and Dhaka). Bangkok and Dhaka). Scheduled Passenger Airlines Air India. GoAir(All India). Indian Airlines. . SpiceJet (All India). 2012). United Airways (Dhaka). China Easter Airlines (Kunming). Qatar Airways (Doha). Jet Airways. however very few trains actually operate on the line at present. Dragonair (Hong Kong (Starting November 3rd. Thai Airways (Bangkok). Bangkok). Expect to pay about Rs 150-250 depending on your destination. AI Express (All India. JetLite (All India. Singapore Airlines. 5USD)) to the city centre. The buses are parked right outside the arrival gate at the DOMESTIC terminalinternational travellers would have to walk down from their terminal for a distance of 800metres only. Santragachhi and Shalimar are the other stations where some trains terminate. The bus plies on 5 different routes. which takes you directly to your destination. so in case you are not sure. who would try and make you believe that the buses do not run anymore! [edit] By train Kolkata is well connected by rail to almost all the big stations in India and also serves as the gateway to North-Eastern India. 60 (1. The Maitree Express provides a direct link between Kolkata and Dhaka. the capital of neighboring Bangladesh. Cheaper. in case you are arriving at the wee hours. but presently it accommodates very few trains. If you are coming to Kolkata by trains using Sealdah station. Directly facing Howrah are ferries that can get you to the other side of the river to either Babu Ghat or Fairlie Place from where you can arrange onward transportation with anything from taxis to public buses to human rickshaws. it is better to opt for a prepaid service. These air-conditioned buses are a wonderful way to escape the Kolkata heat and humidity. and since you can hail a taxi anywhere in the city centre to take you to your final destination. As you come out of the international terminal. A new terminus station called 'Kolkata' has also started functioning since 2005. However. 40 (1 USD). you may prefer taking a pre-paid taxi to enter the city. With Kolkata's traffic situation this might actually save you time as well as money. Do not be dissuaded by the taxi touts. and hassle free. Train depart from Dhaka on Tuesdys and Sundays at 9:30AM. you do not need to worry. it's in the adjoining city Howrah) and Sealdah.Apart from the Taxis (prepaid or waved down) you can now avail of the new Volvo Bus service by WBSTC (West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation) (Rs 20 (50 US cents). arriving 6:45PM the same evening. The cities two major railway stations are Howrah (not in Kolkata actually. turn left and keep walking towards the domestic terminal. please ask the driver about the route and ask for his suggestion if the destination does not match the route. The pre-paid taxi stand is just . and just west of Mirza Ghalib St. On the Bangladesh side you can catch a flat-bed cycle-rickshaw for Tk5 for the 2km trip to the bus stand for onward travel . Although scheduled bus-services to . If you're only headed to Haridaspur the fare is Rs 86 (2. The normal journey time is around 12 hours with a one-way fare of Rs 550 or BDT600-800. Other entry points to NorthEastern India through Bangladesh are Hili. Two BRTC buses leave daily from Dhaka and connect with the Tripura Road Transport Corporation vehicles. The counter is under a tin shade. There is only one halt at Ashuganj in Bangladesh during the journey.then there is a regular bus service between Dhaka and Agartala. buses run under the label of the state govt. but at very inflated prices. Private bus companies Shohagh [1]. Chilahati / Haldibari and Banglaband border posts through Northern Bangladesh and Tamabil / Dawki border post for a route between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Sylhet in NorthEastern Bangladesh. running six days a week with a roundtrip fare of BDT600 ($10). and Saturday at 5:30AM and 8:30AM. Call +880 2 8360241 for schedule. undertaken West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation Limited(WBSTCL) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation [4] (BRTC). The most common way is the regular comfortable a/c buses from Dhaka to Kolkata via the Haridaspur / Benapole border post. but expect the hopeful rickshaw-wallahs to follow you at least half way. Wednesday.outside the station's main entrance. Govt. Thursday. and some others with lesser known routes from northeastern Indian regions. next door to DHL).5 hours). At the border it's best to change money on the Indian side. WBSTCL and BRTC both operate buses from Kolkata every Tuesday. Find all Trains to Kolkata.Shyamoli [3] and others operate daily bus services on this route. The Shyamoli Paribahan ticket office is at 6/1 Marquis St (parallel to and one block south of Sudder Street. 2252 0693. To/from Eastern India via Bangladesh Bus travel to some points in Eastern India are faster via Bangladesh (please note that visas may be required for entry into Bangladesh as well as for re-entry into India).com/static/station/(HWH)HOWRAH-JN [edit] By bus To/from Bangladesh There are numerous bus options between Kolkata and Bangladesh. capital of India's Tripura state. and 12:30PM while from Dhaka they leave on Monday. Beware that several travel agencies around this area also sell tickets for these buses.http://trainspy. Green Line [2]. roughly $812. If you're heading to points in Eastern India (Tripura for example) beyond Bangladesh -. and Friday at 7:00AM and 7:30AM. but count it carefully and double-check the math on their calculator.or you can walk. The fare is 2. Unlike other metro cities in India. Kolkata Car Rentals services on taxiGUIDE. Enquire at the Bus Service Counters for details. [5]. New Delhi. Their fare is about Rs. There is a "green taxi" which is red coloured (!) and charges the same. A night charge of 20% is applicable from 2200 hrs to 0500 hrs. ☎ +91 888 023 4455 (support@taxiguide. 120 per hour.it will depend on your bargaining skills but should not be more than Rs 20 on top of the taxi meter.in).Waiting charge of Rs. There is an additional convenience charge Rs 30. and will usually use their meters.18/km.4 times plus Rs 1251 the reading of the meter. ☎ +91 33 41414141. Fares starting Rs.1018 for within city and Rs.00 for each booking done through call center. In case you are confused always ask to see the chart that the driver is supposed to carry with him. [7]. Taxi fare formula: 18 * Distance Travelled(in km) + tolls/parking extra edit Cabbooking. Ballygunge. [edit] Get around [edit] By taxi Kolkata just wouldn't look the same without the plethora of yellow ambassador taxis that ply on its roads.in . ☎ +91 33 44222222. They're easily available and relatively cheap. The Meter starts from Rs 10.it is still possible to get to those points via land routes going through Sylhet and then on to Tamabil/Dawki border outposts. which means Rs 25 actually. Expect to pay a bit more if you are going to the outskirts of the city or travelling at night .Shillong/Meghalaya from Kolkata through Dhaka may not be offered at present -. edit Megacabs. Orix.in (Kolkata Car Rental). [6]. edit . Air-conditioned taxis on call. $$$$$. edit taxiGUIDE. Inquiry: 7am to 11pm. There is no convenience charges for booking done through website.in (cab booking). there is no 50%-100% surcharge for late night hires.a Chauffeur driven Car Rental Service across 75 Indian Cities.11/km for outstation. Among the buses that ply the city streets. The routes are written all over the colourful buses in Bengali and also in English. Trains run every 6-15 min and at Rs 4-12. though not always the most comfortable means of transport. [edit] By train The electrified suburban rail network of the SER and the ER is extensive and includes the Circular Rail. often causing a small traffic jam in the course. There is also an East-West line in the works on full swing. which will connect Salt Lake to Howrah stn. the deluxe buses run by CSTC (Calcutta State Transport Corporation). CTC (Calcutta Tramways . [edit] By bus The city has an extensive bus network (possibly the most exhaustive in the whole of India) and this is the cheapest. [edit] By tram "Calcutta Tramways" is the only tram service in all of India. It is the cleanest. least but still rather crowded and most efficient of all the transportation Kolkata has to offer. electric trams are still one of the means of travelling between a few places within the city. Though decommissioned in some part of the city. but they are environment friendly (no emissions on the street.[edit] By metro Kolkata's "Metro Railway" was the first underground rail in India. It runs from 7AM9:45PM from Monday to Saturday and 2PM-9:45PM.from Dumdum to New Garia (Kavi Subhas). on Sunday. Work is underway to connect districts further South. and the oldest surviving electric tram network of Asia. Just jump in. most reliable. They move slow on the laid tracks in traffic jammed streets. The conductors call out their destinations to everyone he's passing and all you have to do is wave at the bus anywhere and it will stop. only at the source of energy generation). for example. model. [edit] By ferry The river offers a less crowded but slow traffic medium. cars can be rented even for couple of hours at an hourly rate. Ferries can be fairly large launches to small improvised motorized boats.but with 35. size and comfort level of the car. Agreements are flexible. all across the city. [edit] Talk .000 union members who are unlikely to disappear overnight it was not implemented. Rates depend on the make. Even if you don't get any exotic manual boat like you get in Varanasi. [edit] Hiring a car Privately owned rental cars are available. Most rental cars are accompanied with a driver from the rental agency. from hotels and travel shops. a complete ban was supposed to be imposed in November 2006 . There are several points (popularly called Ghats and jetties) on the bank of the river from where you can board several regular routes of ferry services. They travel in fixed routes and the fare is fixed(although you might find the driver charging a little more as the darkness sets in).JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) and WBSTC (West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation) are probably the better option. A/C buses (VOLVO) are also available to selected destinations.Company). the river transport of the city lets you go to several old spots near the bank in a hassle-free manner with an additional dash of the view of decadent river front of the city. three in the back seat and one sharing the driver's seat! [edit] By rickshaw A human-pulled rickshaw Long the world's only major metropolis where human-pulled rickshaws were still a major form of transport. [edit] By auto-rickshaw Shared auto-rickshaws are available from different points. They are supposed to take four persons. Gurusaday Museum. A walk along Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set out to unravel the rare beauty of this city.West Bengal. Kolkata is a huge city. the most relevant parts of Kolkata are south of the Howrah Bridge in the areas around BBD Bagh and Chowringhee. and many others such as shopkeepers and taxi drivers would be able to communicate in broken English at the very least. [edit][add listing] See The city sprawls along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. Visitors are allowed in with special permission only. lush green. i.e. on the southern fringe of the Maidan.Being in Poshchimbongo. your sight . The fort is still in use and retains its well guarded grandeur. Across the road sweeps a huge. a tributary of the Ganges. Although it is generally not a problem getting by with English. centering around Fort William. and this section should contain a brief overview. Along St George’s Gate Road. However. the massive and impregnable British Citadel built in 1773. it goes without saying that learning some Bengali will make your trip much smoother. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city. the native language of the people of Kolkata is Bengali. For travelers. which divides it from Howrah on the western bank. so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles. Barisha. most educated people speak Hindi and English as well. Diamond Harbour Road Jawahar Shishu Bhawan Science City Sabarna Sangrahashala. open parkland called the Maidan. built in 1819. The central dome measures 25 mts in diameter. Belgium. The adjoining Race Course. along Chowringhee Road.is arrested by a splendid monument in white Makrana marble. stands the Birla Planetarium. Built in Italian Renaissance cum Saracenic style. turn back to your trail of discovery. The ambience is as amicable and profound as the river that flows alongside. Derbyshire. On one side is the General Post Office. modelled on Lord Curzon’s home. Keddleston Hall. one of the largest in the world. this is now the official residence of the Governor of Bengal. in Doric style of architecture.Northwards. holds command at the northern end of the Maidan. the Gothic architectural style was copied from the Staadhans at Ypres. There are many rare works of art and other interesting items. now renamed Shahid Minar. an Egyptian mummy and a roomful of memories ! The 48 mt tower of Ochterlony Monument . scene of legendary legal battles. towards the river. is one of the best in the east and is the scene of much gaiety. Completed in 1872.At the northern end of the Maidan. The tower measures 55 mts. Buddhist Gandharan art. Victoria Memorial was planned by Lord Curzon and opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921.Don’t let the riverfront mesmerize you yet !Between the Town Hall and the Strand is the Calcutta High Court . Built in 1803. This British attempt at building a second Taj Mahal is dedicated to Queen Victoria and houses a fantastic collection of rare memorabilia from colonial days. is the Old British Government house now called Raj Bhavan . Located on Chowringhee Road is the Indian Museum built in 1877 in Italian style of architecture. It is now the City Magistrate’s Office.But. Entry is restricted.And the mighty river Hooghly beckons. a majestic specimen of Edwardian architecture. England. The Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu frame the skyline of the riverfront. A light and sound show recreates history every evening. Dalhousie Square was the administrative centre for British India. built in 1813. especially during the winter season. A walk across is the Town Hall . It is built on the site of the .Walk in to a varied collection of exhibits that include unique fossils. now a museum. One such old house. UK. Lower Circular Road . Belvedere House is now the National Library. The perfect antidote. At Chorbagan is the Marble Palace built in 1840 by Raja Rajendra Mullick.original Fort William.When tired. Their vow ‘to give wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor’ was put into action with the setting up of several homes. Pick your special thrill at this exposition park. The dulcet whispers of history echo through the old mansions of Hindu aristocrats in North Calcutta. or write in to the "Mother House". in India. space flight simulator. 54A. in the south of Kolkata. A little away. Calcutta 700 014. is the birth place of Rabindranath Tagore. A space theatre. On the other side stands Writers’ Building .A must is a day spent at Science City. Once home of the British Viceroys.For voluntary work with the Mission . Spend your afternoon among precious objects d’art including works of Rubens and Sir Joshua Reynolds. http://en. Tagore House. Southall .org/wiki/Missionaries_of_Charity#Controversy If . aviary and butterfly corner and much more ! The Missionaries of Charity is a new order formed in 1950 by Mother Teresa.wikipedia. Dalhousie is a must see since it is full of old British architecture from the time of the East India Company. Note: Before deciding to volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity you should perhaps make yourself aware of some of the many criticisms of their medical practices. you may contact the London branch of the Missionaries of Charity. India’s greatest modern poet. take a tram ride along Red Road with the green expanse of the Maidan around you. a massive Gothic structure with lonic pillars – still the house of political power. it is now a centre for Indian Classical Fine Arts. Shanti Nagar (for lepers) and Nirmala Shishu Bhavan (the children’s home). It houses over a million books and is the biggest in India. 41 Villiers Road. recreated Jurassic forest. at Jorasanko. is a stately mansion. Converted to Rabindra Bharati University. Middlesex .Visit Mother Teresa’s tomb at the Mother House and witness the generosity of the her spirit at Nirmal Hriday (home for the dying) . Ganges riverfront : A pleasant walk . the rambling green is the ‘lung of Calcutta’. View the majesty of the busiest bridge in the world. The rowing regatta events are held here. The Green Belt Enjoying a different Kolkata at the : Maidan : Three km in length and over one km in width. The lakes within are a favourite retreat for migratory Siberian birds. Horticultural Garden : The lush environ is also the venue for exotic plant and flower exhibitions. Or enjoy a cruise on the river in a panshi. this picturesque garden has a tiny Burmese pagoda set in a small lake. Outram Ghat. Dotted with colourful maidan clubs.you are discouraged. It also houses Calcutta’s Cricket Stadium. Zoological Garden : Covers 16 hectares of land and built in 1876. the Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu – an awesome structural feat . there are many secular charities that operate in Kolkata that would be suitable to volunteer at. Rabindra Sarovar : A park and picnic spot with a central lake and overhanging trees. Eden Gardens : Eden Gardens Stadium at night Named after Lord Auckland’s sister. THE SPIRITUAL SOJOURN Birla Temple In the heart of the city and beautifully maintained. Temple . the area is a hub of diverse activities. founder of Calcutta. St John’s Church : Built in 1787 with Grecian columns. The burial ground has the mausoleum of Job Charnock. The institute is located at Golpark. Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Belur Math : Dakshineswar Temple Built in 1847. the cathedral is the largest in the city and adjacent to the Birla Planetarium. Nakhoda Mosque : Modelled on Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra. . Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture : Commemorates the birth centenary of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. On the north-west side of Raj Bhavan. Paul's Cathedral Constructed between 1839 and 1847 in Gothic style with stained glass windows and two Florentine frescoes. this is an important shrine of Hindu Shakti worship. when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s body was cut up. one of her fingers fell here. a brightly painted onion shaped dome and can accommodate 10.Timings are 5:30AM . the temple is associated with Shri Ramakrishna . the eclectic 19th century saint who revived Hinduism during the British Raj. Built in 1926 and located on Chitpur Road. on the banks of the Hooghly.9PM. St Paul’s Cathedral : St.000 people. The library here is a major attraction. The monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony. Kalighat : According to the legend. Rebuilt in 1809.11AM and 4:30PM . north of Calcutta. the red sandstone mosque has two minarets 46 mts high. St Paul’s was consecrated in 1874. The temple is in the southern part of the city. Across the river stands Belur Math. Religious discourses and cultural exchanges are held here among international scholars. ☎ +91-33-22231890/22231891.for Indian and Rs 150/. Jewish Synagogues : The Maghen David Synagogue on Jewish Synagogue Street and the BETHEL on Pollock Street are very old worship houses and a reminder to the cosmopolitan nature of the city. Victoria Memorial. Build in 1921 it is considered as the symbol of Kolkata. Garden 05:3019:00 hours. The garden is also a favorite visit for young Kolkata couples. and on national holidays). under the sky in the lawns facing the St Paul's Cathedral. and in English (except on Mondays. Located on Metcalfe Street and Beliaghata.The magnificent building build with white marble is surrounded by beautiful garden.Among the other churches to visit are St Andrew’s Church. edit [edit][add listing] Do . Entry fee for garden Rs 10. Fee for sound and light shows are Rs 10 and Rs 20.for Indian. It is in Shyambazar. In morning garden the garden is a paradise for morning walkers.. The church of Holy Nazareth was built in 1764. and overlooks a beautiful garden. Parsi Fire Temples : They cater to the religious needs of the prominent Parsi community of Calcutta. Son-et-Lumiere (sound and light) shows on the history of the city are held after sunset. every day (unless there is a strong possibility of rain) except during the monsoon (from June to September) and separately in Bengali. for museum Rs 10/.for foreigner . Pareshnath Jain Temple : The temple is an ornate mass of mirrors. The Old Mission Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. Museum timing 10:00-17:00. The building houses a museum containing memorabilia relating to Queen Victoria and British raj. coloured stones and glass mosaic.Armenian Church : The oldest place of Christian worship in Calcutta. Camera free. [8]. Japanese Buddhist Temple : Located on the eastern bank of Rabindra Sarovar. The symbol of art and culture in the city and the site of the Kolkata Film Festival every November. Take an Auto Rickshaw / Tuk Tuk ride from Chandni Chowk to Lohapool. Take a boat cruise in small boats under the starlit sky at Outram Ghat. Take a stroll down memory lane at Princep ghat. There is a good promenade near Eden Garden. Football (soccer) is a passion for many Kolkatans with the national clubs. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club [13] and East Bengal Club [14] being the best known teams. RDB Adlabs [12] at RDB Boulevard. Saltlake. 89 Cinemas [10] at Swabhumi near Salt Lake City and Fame [11] at Metropolis Mall in Highland Park. Indian Premier League [15] is the main club cricket league in India. sit tight and keep faith on the driver. Nandan. including INOX [9] at the Forum Shopping Mall and the City Centre in Salt Lake.Take a walk along the river. the driver will take you through some back alleys and narrow roads of Kolkata. (east of Rabindra Sadan metro station) +91 33 2223 1210. Several modern cinemas are dotted around the city. consider going to watch the home team (Kolkata Knight Riders) play at Eden Gardens. and if you are in Kolkata during the season (April-May). The Kolkata Book Fair [16] takes place from the last week of January to the . 1/1 AJC Bose Rd. Near Infinity Building in Sector 5. It is one of the most widely attended sporting events in the world. all showing Indian and American blockbusters. the college was the students wing for revolution. First institute to conduct degree examinations in engineering in Asia(1864). Jadavpur University. It has campus in two locations. Presidency University. Indian Statistical Institute. Jadavpur University is one of the most prominent research institutes in the country. Established in 1817 as Hindu College. deemed university in 2010. this public university of India is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions focused on statistics with activities such as research and training on statistics. Bengal Engineering and Science University. This is the largest book fair in Asia and is a major event in the city. [edit] Learn University of Calcutta. Shibpur. a festival honoring the Hindu goddess Durga. [22]. Played a pivotal role in education and progress in India. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. During the Naxal movement. studied here. Established in 1931. The biggest festival for Hindus in Bengal and Eastern India. takes place in October. [17]. Established in 1961 it is a fully autonomous institution and offers several Post Graduate Diploma and Fellowship programmes in Management. large stands that depict events from the Ramayana and crowds flock to the biggest and best ones. development of theoretical statistics and its applications in various natural and social sciences. First institute to introduce post-graduate(1954) and also doctoral(1962) programmes in engineering in India. It offers various under-graduate and post-graduate programmes in the fields of Science. [20][21]. Durga Puja. Established in 1857 it was the first modern university on the sub-continent. Amartya Sen and Rabindranath Tagore.first week of February. Streets shut down for the construction of pandals. [19]. Established in 1856. Kolkata takes on an almost carnival like ambiance. one is in Jadavpur and the other is in Saltlake. [18]. and Engineering and Technology. This institution has been instrumental in providing the highest . both nobel laureates. Established in 1955. A great time to visit Kolkata (unless you have a fear of crowds!). Arts. edit Brother Xavier's New Hope. Enquire at the motherhouse. Mother Teresa's Mission accepts volunteers to help in its multiple projects around town. Visit their website [] for more info on their 2 weeks to 12 months volunteering opportunities. Brother Xavier and the children always need volunteers and funds. [edit] Work Volunteering is a real option here with several opportunities. Bankura horses. NGO that helps children.academic standards and excellence. Hooghly. A much smaller mission than Mother Teresa's which one man built from the ground up. Tentultala Lane. It is also famous for its rasgollas and a tin or two as a . Human Wave. many colleges of excellence has emerged in the outskirts of the city. so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles. 103. Home for orphans of Kolkata's red light district. ☎ +91 26 854904 (tapas. saris from Shantiniketan.sur@gmail. Apart from the above.com). [edit][add listing] Buy Kolkata is a huge city. Kolkata is an important trading center for handicrafts produced in Eastern India. and leather goods top the list of Kolkata specialities. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.Mankundu. and this section should contain a brief overview. women and communities in cities around Kolkata. Kankurgachi. . Howrah) Local Markets: Maidan Market for all sport items at cheap price Chandni Market is famous for all small electronical items/gadgets & old reusable electronical products New Market for all kinds of Clothing. New Market is probably the most famous place to go shopping but there are bargains everywhere. Fancy and 5-star market in Khidderpore house all sorts of shipped goods starting from apparels to electronic gadgets. Howrah) RD Mall (Liluah.Elgin Road) Shreeram Arcade (New Market) City Center2 (Newtown. Rajarhat) Pantaloons (Gariahat. Malls: South City Mall (near Jadavpur Police Stn) Metropolis Mall (near Hiland Park) City Center (Salt Lake City) Mani Square Supermall (EM Bypass) Metro Plaza (near British Embassy) Vardaan Market (on Camac Street) Orchid Point (Kankurgachi) Forum (Rabindra Sadan. South City) Avani Riverside Mall (Upper Foreshore Road.Collectible Shopping needs. Camac Street. Treasure Island is like a muti-storeyed market mainly fulfilling needs of Clothing demands & various other make-up & cosmetic items. Sibpur.Toys.gift for the folks back home. and clotted cream! Park Street also houses the famous (but old) "Peter Cat" (their Chello Kebabs are famous) and "Mocambo" But the joy of food in Kolkata is in its Indian foods. was once considered the best English bakery in all of Asia and you can almost imagine Joe Stilwell and Lord Mountbatten arguing over who had command over the allied forces in Burma while enjoying tea. [edit][add listing] Eat (See district pages for restaurant listings. try the Kolkata Food Walk. scones. This has been further helped by the entry of major internet based property search sites like Homes Located.Real Estate: Real Estate in Kolkata has seen tremendous growth in recent years with a number of big players getting involved in construction. Street vendors selling egg rolls/chicken rolls abound and their freshly prepared kati rolls are safe to eat and enjoy. on Park Street. [23] It has been recently started by a bunch of food enthusiasts and it's FREE! Kolkata was famous for having the best restaurants long before Indians in other cities learned to eat out.) If you consider yourself a foodie. the fanous being at Park Circus 7 point crossiing. Many of the restaurants that line the streets in the Esplanade area have been around for more than a hundred years (unfortunately. many also show their age!). Nizam's (at 23-24 Hogg Street). Flury's [24]. in New Market. Numerous real estate agencies have come up to take the process of buying and selling properties into a matured property market. taking the brokering of properties to the web. is credited with the invention of the famous Kati Kebab roll and still serves up the best of the best. For Mughlai dishes the best place is 'Arsalan'. Mughlai Paratha (a paratha stuffed with minced meat) is a Kolkata speciality and can be found in various . It has few branches across the city. These are cheap and should be eaten fresh. a part of the speciality group which serve authentic chinese food. Fuchka. you can try Mainland China.9A Jawahar Lal Nehru Road(Chowringhee).Try Devilled Eggs at Niranjan Agar 279 B chittaranjan Avenue 'Chops'. lightly marinaded in mustard and steamed is up there with the best fish dishes in the world. yuppies and affluent Kolkattans frequent this restaurant.a fried variant of the same. Other than China Town. Makes for an . Sen Mahasoy. Elgin Road. steamed in a bannana leaf and served with a Mustard Gravy. Das. Ganguram. but Bengalis everywhere swear by the hilsa fish (a variant of shad).the same cheeseballs dipped in creamy sweetened milk. The best place to have Chinese is to visit China Town near Tangra . Balram Mullick and not to forget Mithai. is a watery fish curry available everywhere and goes well with rice. Roshogolla (cheese balls dipped in a sugary syrup). It serve the best of the chinese dishes and you will find plenty of large. The specialities are the boneless Hilsa Fish fillet. Shondhesh (several variations available).C. "Oh! Calcutta!" on the fourth Floor of Forum Mall. Zen at The Park Hotel or Baan Thai at The Oberoi Grand. a sort of deep fried ball stuffed with beet and veggies is another peculiarity that you won't find anywhere else in the world. and portions usually small. Bangali sweets are famous all over India. is available on the streets but be wary of the water!It never troubles the local people and outsiders can safely taste this delicacy as long as they don't drink too much of the water. serves authentic Bengali food.A few sips will. The food is great.EM Bypass. Mishti Doi (sweet yogurt). Nakur Nandy. Kolkata is also the home of Indian Chinese food (now making inroads in far-off New York!). Bhim Nag. though bordering on the expensive. small & medium resturants.'cabins' off Chowringhee Road ( Best is Anadi Cabin.but very different than the ones found in Delhi. Bengali food is centered around fish. Macher jhol. Roshomalai. Jugal's. the Kolkata version of paani-puri.of course. Hilsa. literally fish in curry gravy. Pan Asian at ITC Sonar. Chinese restaurants are everywhere so try the Indian variant of hot and sour soup and the famous Indian chinese dish of chilli chicken. For fine dining Chinese/ Asian food you could visit Chinoiserie at the Taj Bengal. Panthua .not cause any harm. Try some shops like K. Many expats. Suruchi is an old eatery. There are also good South Indian restaurants serving crisp dosas. steaming idlis and hot vadas such as "Anand" on the Central Avenue. near Park Street. "Jyoti Vihar" on the Ho Chi Minh Sarani. today Kolkata has of as many 10 Bengali restaurants.interesting evening out. nearby "Madras Restaurant". Still. One of the most authentic is Kewpies. and is run by the destitute women of 'The All Bengal Women's Union' at Elliot Road. food is served on terra cotta plates with banana leaves. Kolkata also has many excellent vegetarian restaurants ranging from budget to expensive ones. Here. "Bhikharam". One can find many outlets of "Haldiram's". the Hindisthan Road outlet (Gariahat) is the best. or the more reasonably priced "Suruchi" at 89 Elliot Road. Thalis (platters) are also available. "Garden Cafe" on the Lee Road & Alipore and many others. "Super Snack Bar" in Alipore & Upper Wood Street. chaats and sweets. being invited back to a local's place for a home-cooked meal is the best way to sample Bengali cooking! 6 Ballygunge Place is stituated in South Kolkata and also offers an assortment of Bengali dishes. Kasturi and Rahhuni are eateries. "Gupta's" serving vegetarians snacks. and has a large menu. In South Kolkata. While it can be difficult to find a restaurant serving authentic Bengali food. Taroparbon is situated in Hindusthan Park. accompanied by the incessant Bengali chatter. situated behind Netaji Bhavan at 2 Elgin Lane. so characteristic of Kolkatta. which serves only lunch in simple surroundings. For those looking for vegetarian street foods. one can find ubiquitous Jhal . "Tewari Brothers". Bhjohori Maana has 6 outlets across the city. There's also "Aaheli" at Peerless Inn. off Free School Street. There is a wide choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with an emphasis on local fish. both offering Bangladeshi food and are situated off Free School Street. you must visit Fire and Ice Pizzeria on Russell Street. [edit][add listing] Drink Kolkata is the epitome of drinking and pubbing. If you've had enough of the authentic Calcutta food and want some Italian food with a good ambience.So start early if you want to club. vegetables & other ingredients available at street vendors all over Kolkata. Loads of liquer shops are scattered all around the city.Muri (somewhat similar to bhel puri of Mumbai) a concoction of puffed rice mixed with various spices. Aqua (Park Hotel) Tantra (Park Hotel) Someplace Else (Park Hotel) Big Ben (The Kenilworth) Underground (HHI) Shisha (Camac Street) Venom (Fort Knox) Roxy (Park Hotel) The Basement (Sarat Bose Road) The Fairlawn Hotel garden (Sudder St) Note:Due to a recent government order all pubs are supposed to shut shop by midnight or max 1am. . Kolkata has drinkers of all sorts-the regular working class to the aristocratic Bengali. Pubbing and night-clubs are also common in Kolkata. Spaghetti Kitchen in Forum Mall also serves some great food! Mangios in Alipore beside Kookie Jar is also worth checking out. in each and every locality. Else local sim card can be used for connectivity. This is basically where most of the Calcuttans start their drinking career!! edit [edit][add listing] Sleep For individual hotel listings. from within India dial 033 XXXX XXXX.Oly Pub. they only accept bookings through members. Park Hotel. The Oberoi Grand. Taj Bengal. Budget hotels can also be found around the station in Howrah. Calcutta Club (AJC Bose Rd). Hyatt Regency British-era clubs such as Tollygunge Club. national.Cell phone coverage is excellent with all major mobile service providers offering their services in the city. However. The area dialing code for Kolkata is 33. Kolkata has long had a concentration of budget backpacker hotels in the Sudder Street area and many of these are colonial era gems. Sudder Street is more centrally located but both are well connected by public transport. There are numerous big budget deluxe 5 star & 4 star hotels around town such as ITC Sonar (near Science city). Park Street (Beside Park Hotel). dial +91 . and international calls can be made. From overseas dial +91 33 XXXX XXXX. Saturday Club (Theatre Rd). Bengal Club (Russel St) have lavish rooms for rent. albeit decaying ones. For mobile phones. please see the the various district pages. [edit] Contact Public call booths can be found easily throughout the city from where local. You need to show your identity card to use internet in those cafes. +91 33 22480100 Park Street — ☎ +91 33 22268321. 88 College St. Internet cafes are also available in plenty and charges between 10-25/hour. Kolkata has only one area code (033). 24862711 Dumdum — ☎ +91 33 25514167 Maidan — ☎ +91 33 2223 2462/4551. +91 33 22832100. ☎ +91 33 22485277 . Government Place. [edit] Emergency Police — ☎ 100 Fire — ☎ 101 [edit] Police Stations Ballygunge — ☎ +91 33 24543179/2100. 5. +91 33 24862601 Bhawanipur — ☎ +91 33 24558092. +91 33 22276437 [edit] Ambulance North Kolkata Calcutta Medical College & Hospital. ☎ +91 33 22414901 Central Kolkata St. John's Ambulance. +91 33 24541100.XXXXX XXXXX. (Private). ☎ +91 33 22472321 South Kolkata AMRI Apollo. Sarat Bose Rd. ☎ +91 33 23203040 Calcutta Medical College & Hospital. (Government). 9 UN Brahamachari St. ☎ +91 33 23510619 Central Kolkata Belle Vue Clinic. ☎ +91 33 24612626 [edit] Hospital North Kolkata Apollo Gleanagles Hospital. ☎ +91 33 24754320 [edit] Blood Bank North Kolkata Central Blood Bank. 58 Canal Circular Rd.South Kolkata Wochhardt Medical Centre. [26]. 88 College St. 205 Vivekananda Rd. [25]. Gariahut Rd. 2/7. . Dont try to make your own arrangements outside the terminal. Park St South Kolkata Ruby General Hospital. (Private). Volvo buses and local Trains are also there. trouble or you asked for it. ☎ +91 33 22041101 Belle Vue Clinic (Private). [edit] Cope [edit] Commissions= . get a radio cab (google "Megacabs in Kolkata"). E. (Private). Mukundapur. USE THE SYSTEM in place.C Bose Rd. ☎ +91 33 39871800 Medica Superspeciality Hospital. by-pass. If you need more comfort. From the airport. Use common sense while dealing with beggars and touts. Normally people will not approach you to offer favors randomly. Pickpockets and other crimes are not common except in overly crowded places.☎ +91 33 24512644 NRS Medical College & Hospital. [27]. 244 A. EM bypass [edit] Stay safe Kolkata is reasonably safe. ☎ +91 33 22443213 Central Kolkata SSKM Hospital (Government). [29]. M.J. and in general the people are much more friendly and helpful than in any of India's other large cities. Kasba Golpark.except in cases of emergency. [28]. 138. The prepaid taxi service works perfectly. Kolkata police is very friendly and emergency number is 100. 9 UN Brahamachari St. AJC Bose Rd. ☎ +91 33 22472321 Mercy Hospital ("Private"). so avoid/decline those who do. Issues 15-day visas. 26 Park Mansions.png China. and visas are generally ready the next afternoon. EC-72. Alipore (3. 21 Camac Street.png Bangladesh. consolatogenerale. ☎ +91 33-2283 1541 ([email protected]@esteri.00 -12.cn. fax: +91 33 4004 8168). ☎ +91 33 2288 5173~76 (After hours +91 33 2288 6536. Park St. Circus Ave (Just E of AJC Bose Rd). Monday-Friday 10. Raja Santosh Road). Sector I. edit Ch-flag.png Italy. ☎ +91 33 2479 1141. ☎ +91 33 2290 5208. edit Gr-flag. edit It-flag. [32].png Greece. fax: +91 33-2283 1545).png United Kingdom. [31].png Japan.it.net. +91 33 2290 5209 (After hours +91 33 2288 6536. +91 33 2479 2150 (+91 33 2439 8906.png Germany.00. Applications are received at window #4 M-F from 9AM-11AM. fax: +91 332288-1616). N. Alipore. The origins of the German consulate in Kolkata can be traced to before the existence of Germany itself. ☎ +91 33-24792414 24792426 (0091. Bring 3 passport photos. 55. [30]. +91 33 2479 1142. 1A Ho Chi Minh Sarani.png France. 1 Hastings Park Rd. M-F 10AM12:30PM. 10th floor. fax: +91 33 2288-1616). edit Fr-flag.Bg-flag. Sen Lane. edit Uk-flag. Tollygunge. edit . ☎ +91 33 2421-1970 (fax: +91 33 2421-1971). to the establishment of the consulate of the Kingdom of Hanover in 1851 and the Consulate of Prussia in 1854. ☎ +91 33 4004 8169 ([email protected]. edit Ja-flag. fax: +91 33-24793892).gov. Salt Lake City. fax: +91 33 4004 8168). M. edit De-flag. S. (Note that the ironic address was the result of a diplomatic snub by the then Marxist Bengal government during the period of the U. LavaLolegaon and.Bhutan Government buses depart for this Bhutanese border town from the Esplanade Bus Station at 7PM on Tuesday.Secretary of State. Thursday and Saturday. The . in India. Jalpaiguri. Phuentsholing . upon the express recommendation of then.famous for terracotta temples.) edit [edit] Get out Sunderban To book train tickets the Foreign Ticket Office is on Fairlie Place . the historic districts of Malda and Murshidabad.a mountainous region home to Darjeeling. the town is also known for its handmade leather crafts and kantha stitch sarees North Bengal . ☎ +91 33 3984 2400 (consularkolkata@state. Vishnupur .gov. The journey takes around 18 hours and costs Rp 300. 5/1. It is the oldest diplomatic post of the U. and the second oldest in the world (the oldest being in London). Thomas Jefferson. [33].S.famous for the Ashramik School.png United States. Esplanade Bus Station is the Kolkata's main station for inter-state and intercity buses. further south on the Gangetic plains. [email protected] helpful and efficient service. clay sculptures. Ho Chi Minh Sarani. and silk sarees Santiniketan . fax: +91 33-2282 2335).gov.Us-flag. and university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Benjamin Joy was appointed the first American Consul to Kolkata by George Washington in 1792. war in Indochina. but expect the hopeful rickshaw-wallahs to follow you at least half way! Bhutan. On the Bangladesh side you can catch a flat-bed cycle-rickshaw for Tk5 for the 2km trip to the bus stand for onward travel . but at very inflated prices. Bangladesh. Sundarbans National Park Part of the largest littoral mangrove in the world. At the border it's best to change money on the Indian side.5 hrs). 2252 0693. gardening tools. Buses depart at 7PM on Tu. Junput and Mondarmoni. next door to DHL).Take a car or a bus that plies regularly from Esplanade to these serene beaches. Tucked away in the corner of the bus station is a small Bhutan Government kiosk selling tickets for buses running to the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. . yoga instruction. usually at 5:30AM. Th and Sa.buses are comfortable. Beware that several travel agencies around this area also sell tickets for these buses. All the way to Dhaka (with a bus change at the border) will cost Rs 550 (about 12 hrs). 8:30AM and 12:30PM. 6/1 Marquis St (parallel to and one block south of Sudder Street. Tickets for buses running to the border and Dhaka can be reserved at Shyamoli Yatri Paribahan. so don't bank on getting much sleep on the way. Sankarpur. 2-3 buses per day leave this office on Tu.or you can walk. and home to the famous Bengal Tigers Beaches-The southerrn part of the State hosts several beach towns such as Digha. and South Indian food. Th and Sa and the 18 hr journey costs Rs 300. The fare is Rs 86 to the Haridaspur border post (about 2. and just west of Mirza Ghalib St. but count it carefully and double-check the math on their calculator. but the roads through West Bengal are full of pot holes. About 10 km from Kolkata in the village of Samukpota is a "Green Mall" which offers an extensive collection of palm tress plus other plants. but please plunge forward and help it grow! Categories: Huge city articles Articles needing districtification Usable articles HasDocent Create account Log in Page Discussion . It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels.This is a usable article. An adventurous person could use this article. Read Edit View history Navigation Main Page Project Home Travellers' Pub Recent changes Random page Help Report a problem Upload a picture Wikitravel Extra Wikitravel Shared Contact Wikitravel feeds Travel news and trivia Destination Docents About Docents . Toolbox What links here Related changes Special pages Printable version Permanent link Page Information In other languages de: Kalkutta fr: Kolkata hi: कोलकाता it: Calcutta ja: ココココ nl: Kolkata pl: Kalkuta ro: Kolkata other sites Wikipedia Open Directory This page was last modified on 31 July 2013. at 07:10. . Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Powered by MediaWiki . images are available under various licenses. see each image for details.0. Privacy policy About Wikitravel Terms of use Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.