Kolkata also known as Calcutta is the capital city of West Bengal state. The former capital of India, today Kolkata is a commercial, cultural and educational centre of East India. Situated on the banks of the river Hooghly, it is also the oldest operating port in the country. Kolkata has many Indo-Islamic and Indo-Sarsemic style buildings, churches, temples and mosques. The city is known for its literary and artistic heritage, political graffiti, local traditions in drama, filmand theatre as well as the importance it gives to cricket and football.
Major tourist sites in and around Kolkata: Victoria Memorial, Marble Palace, Shahid Minar, Raj Bhavan, Kalighat Temple, Belur Math, Dakshineswar Temple, St. John’s Church, St Paul’s Cathedral, Jain Temple, Millennium Park, Birla Planetarium, Swami Vivekananda’s House, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah Bridge, B.B.D. Bagh, etc.

Tourism Board Website

When to visit: best time to visit end of October to March. April to May are hot and humid. June to September is monsoon season.

HOW TO REACH

Nearest railway station: Kolkata is well connected by trains to all major cities of India. There are two major railway stations - Howrah and Sealdah.

For detailed train timings and other information log on to www.indianrailways.gov.in or https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search

Nearest airport: Kolkata is well connected by air to all major cities of India. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is located at Dumdum about 20 km from the city centre.

Buses: Esplanade Bus Stand operates buses from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and other parts of India.

By road: Kolkata is well connected by National Highways 2, 5, 6 and 34 with major cities in West Bengal and in India.
The distance from Darjeeling to Kolkata is about 615 km via NH12. It takes around 14-15 hours.
The distance from Puri to Kolkata is about 497 km via NH16. It takes around 9 hours.
The distance from Konark to Kolkata is about 501 km via NH16. It takes around 9-10 hours.