Kolkata Travel Guide
About Kolkata
As well as being the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata is also known as the City of Joy and is a major cultural and economical hub of east India. It is located on the banks of the Hooghly River and is the home of the Nobel laureate, poet, writers and filmmakers like Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chander etc.
Kolkata was formerly the capital city of India during the British rule and its name at the time was Calcutta, as it is still often referred to as today. However, in 2001 the name was changed to Kolkata to reflect the local Bengali pronunciation and to finally erase the memory of British rule.
How to reach Kolkata
As Kolkata is the economic hub and powerhouse of east India and one of the four metropolitan regions of India, it is perhaps not surprising that it is very easily accessible from any part of India as well as from destinations abroad. Netaji Subhas Chandra Boss International Airport is the busiest airport in east India and is located just 17Kms away from the city centre with numerous airlines serving destinations in the UK, The best way to choose your desired flight to Kolkata is by using our search engine. Simply search your desired dates and you will find a variety of flights to Kolkata from many airports in the UK.
What to do/ where to Visit
Colonial architecture, beautiful gardens, Museums, Palaces and Artistic heritage are just a few things that make Kolkata a favourite amongst tourists. The first thing that we would recommend to visit in Kolkata is the Victoria Memorial, a marvellous example of British era architecture. Built after the death of Queen Victoria, the memorial was dedicated to her. Another good example of engineering is the Howrah Bridge which at 450m long is the world's busiest bridge without a pylon. The Birla and Dakshineshwar Kali temples are two of the best known religious sites in Kolkata. Construction on the Dakshineshwar Kali temple and the Temple of Goddess Kali, started in 1847. The marble palaces, Fort William, the India Museum, the Writers Building and St. Paul's Cathedral are just some of the other interesting places to see in Kolkata, although it would be impossible to list them all here. Of course the best way to discover what Kolkata has to offer is to visit the city yourself!
Climate
The annual average temperature of Kolkata is 82.6F although the temperature at its peak in summer (May and June) may exceed 104F. In winter (Dec. and Jan.) the temperature can drop as low as 45F! The most comfortable time to visit Kolkata is between October and March, not just because of the weather is pleasant but because it is the festive session too. Festivals like Durga Pooja, Luxmi Pooja, Diwali etc. all take place during this period
Language
Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu
Where to Stay
There are a number of options of places to stay in Kolkata, ranging from budget to luxury. The Park Hotel, the ITC Sonar Bangla hotel and the Park Plaza are some of the more upmarket five star hotels that you could choose to stay in when visiting Kolkata. For more options and to find the right hotel for you, simply use the hotel search engine or search flight + hotel.