Calcutta is a vibrant city on the move, volatile and unpredictable. The Gateway to India, till 1912, and the capital of the Raj in India, it still bears the Victorian imprint on its streets and structures. A city just about ready to burst at the seams, Calcutta is home to more than 10 million people. The Ganges (called the Hooghly in Calcutta) is still the inspiration, as it was to Job Charnok, East India Company agent, who reached the shores in August 1690, to found the city. Calcutta, after London, was the British Empire’s second city.

Calcutta, on-the-Hooghly, retains the aura of days long gone, weaving the past and the present, the intense and the funloving into a charming fabric. Home to four Nobel laureates - Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, Calcutta is the nerve centre of intellect and human values, where many modern movements began in art, cinema and theatre, science and industry. India’s quest for freedom began here.
Calcutta is the gateway to Eastern India. A city with a rich heritage, bustling streets and bewildering variety of facets. From October to March, Calcutta wears a radiant look. Sunshine, mild winter, lights, colours, fairs, festivals, galas and excursions, the mood is infectious and spirit sweeping.

It is the commercial nerve-centre of the East, with major industrial plants, textile mills and corporate units. Regal edifices, grubby alleys, bustling bazaars, elegant hotels, people from all walks of life - Calcutta has it all.
The city is a hub of fervent activity in the realms of music, theatre, arts, and sports. Calcutta has always prided itself on the many luminaries it has sent forth, be it Tagore, Satyajit Ray, or Mrinal Sen. The intense dedication to the arts manifests itself in a plethora of festivals, dance, music performances and other cultural events. The Calcuttans are also famous for their all-consuming passion for sports, especially, football and cricket.

Kolkatta Sightseeing

Victoria Memorial :
Victoria Memorial is a splendid architectural structure in white marble, modeled on the Taj Mahal. It was built in the early 20th century, in memory of Queen Victoria and was formally inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1921. The noble bronze statue of the queen near the entrance, the brass canons, wrought iron street lamps, manicured lawns, gardens and pathways, the magical lighting effect in the evening and a fairy tale 'Fountain of Joy' facing the memorial building create an atmosphere of unforgettable charm.

Eden Gardens :
In the North-West corner of the Maidan are small & pleasantly laid out Eden Gardens. The gardens were created in 1840 and named after the sister of Lord Auckland, the former governor general. This lovely garden is dotted with beautiful trees and shrubs, intersected by winding paths, and there is a large artificial lake also. Alongside the gardens, is the world famous Eden Gardens cricket stadium. Near the gardens you can take a pleasant walk along the bank of Hoogly river.

Birla Planetarium :
Birla planetarium, near the government of India tourist office, is one of the largest in the world and is located on Kolkata's Eastern metropolitan bypass. It is one of its kind in India. There are shows in English everyday. Set amidst trees and lawns, here one explore the mysteries of science.

Kali Temple :
The Kali temple was rebuilt in 1809 on the site of a much older temple, Kalighat, the actual temple from which Kolkata takes its name. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali, who represents the destructive side of Siva's consort and demands daily sacrifices. This is an extremely busy temple. Mother Teresa's Hospital for the dying destitute is situated right next door to the temple.

Howrah Bridge :
Howrah bridge is one of three bridges on the river Hooghly. It is regarded as the most famous symbol of not only Kolkata but also West Bengal. Until 1943, the Hooghly River was crossed by a pontoon bridge which had to be opened to let river traffic through. There was considerable opposition to construction of a bridge due to fears that it would affect the river currents and cause silting problems. But this problem was eventually avoided by building a bridge that crosses the river in a single 450m span, the bridge has no pylons at all within the river. Other places of interest

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve :
Located around 166 km from Kolkata is Sunderbans, a large unbroken swamp criss-crossed by a network of rivers, channels and creeks at the mouth of rivers, the Ganga and the Brahmputra. Sunderbans spreads over an area of 1,629 sq. km and was declared a reserve between 1928 and 1943. This marshy land is famous for Royal Bengal tigers and other variety of marine life which include the salt water crocodile, Olive Ridley turtle, Leopards and the fishing cats.

Shantiniketan :
Shantiniketan is located 211 km from Kolkata. At Shantiniketan, an ashram was founded by Maharshi Debendranath, father of Rabindranath Tagore in 1863 AD. Almost 40 years later, Rabindranath started an open-air school at Shantiniketan. It gradually developed into an international university named Visva Bharti where the cultures of the East and the West meet in common fellowship. Thereby strengthening the fundamental conditions of world peace.

Ganga Sagar :
The Ganga Sagar is an important cultural and religious destination. It also has an outstanding beach for tourists, which is situated on the island in the Sunderbans. It holds the charm of a completely unspoilt beach on the estuary of the mighty Ganga. One can reach Ganga Sagar from Kolkata by bus.
Dakshineswar temple

Dakshineshwar Kali temple has an interesting story. The construction of this fabulous temple was initialized in the year 1847 and got completed in 1855. The credit for the formation of Calcutta Dakshineswar Kali temple goes to the queen Rasmani of Janbazar. Located on the bank of the Ganges, north of Belur Math in Kolkata, it is dedicated to Goddess kali. It is a spacious temple covering an area of about 25 acres.
Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the famous spiritual leader is also associated with this temple, as it was over here only that he had worshipped Goddess Kali and formed a rare form of love for her, which is popularly known as maha-bhava in Hinduism. Read on to know about the history of Dakshineshwar Temple Of Kolkata, India.

St. John’s Church :
Built in 1787 with Grecian columns. The burial ground has the mausoleum of Job Charnok, founder of Calcutta. On the north-west side of Raj Bhavan.