A Traveler's Guide to Kolkata

Kolkata is the third largest city in India by population and one of the largest urban areas in the world. It is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Kolkata is considered by many to be the cultural capital of East India. It is located in the extreme eastern portion of the country.

As with most Indian coastal cities, Kolkata was at one time controlled by the British. In fact, the town was divided into White Town (British) and Black Town (Indian). The city was bombed by the Japanese in World War 2 and experienced a terrible famine during the war that killed a large percentage of the population. Kolkata has been heavily influence by Communist thinking that trickled down from neighboring Russia and China.

The annual average temperature in Kolkata is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. June through September is the monsoon season, during which several inches of rain fall every month. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit and winter temperatures usually stay around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kolkata was at one time the capital of India, and because of that fact the city has been considered the cultural center of India. Much of India's literary and artistic masterpieces have their roots in Kolkata. Because the city has been controlled by European and Asian empires, many of the buildings reflect that cultural heritage. Bengali cinema plays a big part in the culture of Kolkata. Local groups perform theatre productions called "jatra".

Durga Puja is the most important and most popular cultural event in Kolkata. It takes place in October and is a celebration of local culture and religion. Other important holidays and cultural events include Diwali, Eid, Holi, Rath Yatra, and even Christmas.

Cricket was at one time the most popular sport in Kolkata, but recently football has become more and more popular. Salt Lake Stadium is the football stadium in Kolkata and is the second largest stadium in the entire world.

The city is serviced by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport which handles both domestic and international flights into the city. Port Blair and the Port of Kolkata handle both passenger and shipping vessels into and out of the city. The Kolkata Metro is the oldest underground rail system in all of India and makes travel throughout the city easy and efficient.