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Densely populated and polluted, Kolkata is often an ugly and
desperate place that to many people sums up the worst of India. Yet
it's also one of the country's more fascinating centres and has some
scenes of rare beauty. Certainly the people are a friendly bunch
and Bengali humour is renowned throughout India.
During the British Raj Kolkata was known as the Jewel of the East
and was the capital of the country till 1911. It still bears the
Victorian imprint on its streets and structures. Today, it is still
the most important city in the east, the nerve center of trade and
industry of the State.
Economically, Kolkata is suffering: the port has been silting up,
making navigation from Kolkata down to the sea steadily more
difficult and limiting the size of ships that can use the port.
Electrical power in Kolkata is so on-again off-again that virtually
every hotel, shop or small business has to have some sort of standby
power generator or battery lighting system.
Despite all these problems Kolkata is a city with a soul, and one
which many residents are inordinately fond of. The Bengalis, so
ready to raise arms against the British in the struggle for
independence, are also the poets and artists of India.
Amongst the squalor and confusion Kolkata has place of sheer magic:
flower sellers beside the misty, ethereal Hooghly River; the
majestic sweep of the Maidan; the arrogant bulk of the Victoria
Memorial; the superb collection of archaeological treasures
exhibited in the Indian Museum. They are all part of this amazing
city, as are massive Marxist and trade union rallies which can block
traffic in the city centre for hours at a time.
Fast Facts
|
Area |
: |
1,380 sq km |
|
Population |
: |
12 million |
|
Altitude |
: |
17 ft above sea
level |
|
Languages |
: |
Bengali, Hindi, and
English |
|
Best time to
visit |
: |
October to March |
|
STD Code |
: |
033 |
History
The first capital of
the British in India, Calcutta- Kolkata does not have an ancient
history like Delhi. The city was established in 1686 when British
moved to the small villages of Sutanati, Govindpur, and Kalikata
from their trading port of Hooghly. The city got its name from the
last of the settlements mentioned above. The city progressed well
until 1756 when Siraj-Ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) attacked the town
and drove away the British. Lord Clive retook Calcutta- Kolkata and
until 1911, Calcutta- Kolkata remained the capital of the British
government in India. Being the center of power for so long created a
unique culture and heritage of the city, totally unlike any other
city of India. The people here are proud of their culture and can go
to any length to defend it. The humanity of the city can be felt
only through visiting the place and not by reading.
Best Season, Climate, and Clothing
As Calcutta- Kolkata is near the sea, the city has uniform
temperature throughout the year. The temperature ranges from 12-27°C
in the winter and 24-38°C in the summer. Annual rainfall is around
160 cm. Humidity level can be very high in the summers and can make
one's life difficult. Cotton clothing is ideal for the summer months
whereas light woolens are required for the winters.
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