Kolkata (Formely known as Calcutta), on the River Hooghly, retains the aura of days long gone, weaving the past and the present, the intense and the fun loving into a charming fabric. Home to four Nobel laureates - Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, Kolkata 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.

Kolkata is the gateway to Eastern India. A city with a rich heritage, bustling streets and bewildering variety of facets. From October to March, Kolkata wears a radiant look. Sunshine, mild winter, lights, colors, fairs, festivals, galas and excursions, the mood is infectious and spirit sweeping.

Although the name Kalikata had been mentioned in the rent-roll of the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar and also in Manasa-Mangal, to explore the history of Kolkata one has to go back to the 17th century. It was in 1690 that Job Charnock of the East India Company came to the bank of the River Hooghly and took the lease of the three villages- Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kolikata (Kolkata) as a trading post of British East India Company. The city became famous in 1756, when Siraj-Ud-Dawlah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, captured the city. But the British regained their power in 1757 and the city was recaptured under Robert Clive. Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, made it the seat of the supreme courts of justice and the supreme revenue administration, and Kolkata became the capital of British India in 1772. By 1800 Kolkata had become a busy and flourishing town, the center of the cultural as well as the political and economic life of Bengal.

ATTRACTIONS

Victoria Memorial -** Closed on Mondays

This is one of India's most beautiful monuments built between 1906 and 1921. All monuments of this memorial were designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and build of white marble from Rajasthan. The memorial was the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901, felt that his lately departed Queen Empress, required a suitable monument to her memory. Set in beautiful garden grounds, the Victoria Memorial houses a large bronze statue of the Queen Empress topped with a moving angle. The statues of Motherhood, Prudence, Learning, Art, Justice, Architecture and Charity are brought from Italy. It also has a 5 meter tall bronze winged figure of Victory, weighing 3 tons. It houses paintings, manuscripts, and other objects of historic value in its Museum and Art Gallery. Two regular sound and light shows are held in the evening.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple -

It is situated alongside the Vivekananda Bridge north of Kolkata, about 20 km. from BBD Bagh. It is famous for its association with Ramkrishna, who achieved spiritual vision here. Rani Rashmoni built this temple in 1847. The 12- spired temple with its enormous courtyard is surrounded by 12 other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a world famous place of pilgrimage. It was here the famous religious thinker Rama Krishna Paramahamsa achieved his spiritual vision and preached the unity of all religions.

Howrah Bridge -

It is considered to be an engineering marvel, which took six years to construct in the 1940s. Over 2,590 metric tonnes of high tensile steel make up this unique cantilever bridge that joins the main Railway Station (for Kolkata) and the industrial city of Howrah with the city of Kolkata. Supported by two piers, each nearly 90 meters in height above the road level, the bridge has a span of almost 500 meters (no pillars in the middle). It was opened in 1943 and today it is one of the busiest bridges in the world. It is the third largest bridge in the world, has around 2 million people crossing over it daily. Visible from many places in Kolkata, the bridge is called 'Rabindra Setu'.

Fort William -

Situated on the east bank of the river Hooghly and named after King William III of England, it is surrounded by a 50ft high moat. Built in 1757 after Robert Clive's victory at Plassey over Siraj ud-Daula, this fort was completed to prevent attacks from Muslim invaders. The fort walls, barracks, stables and the Church of St. Peter are still intact. In the fort, there is a church, market, post and telegraph office, cinema, swimming pool, boxing stadium, football and firing range.

Shantiniketan -

Shantiniketan was founded by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore. In 1901 Rabindranath Tagore started an experimental place of learning with a 'class room' under the trees, and a group of five pupils. This classroom that he started later became the ‘Vishva Bharati University’ in 1921. This university attracts pupil from all over the world and aspires to be a spiritual meeting ground in a serene environment.

Eden Gardens Stadium -

Alongside the Eden Gardens is the world famous Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium. The stadium is supposed to be the largest in Asia with a seating capacity of more than lakh spectators. It was one of the first cricket stadiums in India where floodlights were installed and Day & Night cricket was played. The gigantic electronic scoreboard is also one of its kinds in the country.