Kolkāta, India

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Kolkāta, India

Region: West Bengal

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Geographic Coordinates: 22.567500, 88.370000

Climate: Seasonal.

Population: 18502000

Language: Bengali

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Kolkata, Formerly known as Calcutta, Is a bustling and vibrant city located in the eastern part of India. It is the capital of West Bengal and one of the largest cities in the country. Kolkata has a rich history that dates back to the British colonial period and has played an important role in shaping Indian culture and politics. One of Kolkata’s most famous landmarks is the Victoria Memorial, Built-in honor of Queen Victoria’s reign over India. The stunning white marble building houses a museum showcasing British colonial artifacts and Indian art from various time periods.

Another must-see attraction is Howrah Bridge, Spanning across the Hooghly River connecting Kolkata to its sister city Howrah. Kolkata is also known for its delicious food scene featuring Bengali cuisine with an array of seafood dishes, Vegetarian curries, Sweets like rasgulla (a spongy dessert made with cottage cheese), And street food like kathi rolls (spiced meat or vegetable wrapped in flatbread). Visitors can sample these delicacies at local restaurants or street stalls throughout the city. The city boasts several cultural festivals throughout the year celebrating its diverse heritage.

Durga Puja is one such festival where people come together to worship Goddess Durga through elaborate pandals (temporary shrines) decorated with intricate artwork depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Kolkata has many beautiful parks where visitors can relax amidst lush greenery. Maidan Park covers over 1, 000 acres in central Kolkata offering plenty of space for picnics or sports activities like cricket or football. The city’s literary scene deserves mention – Kolkata has produced some of India’s most celebrated writers including Rabindranath Tagore who won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for his collection Gitanjali.

Visitors can explore bookstores like Oxford Bookstore or College Street Boi Para to find rare and second-hand books. Overall, Kolkata offers a unique blend of history, Culture, And cuisine. Its bustling streets, Vibrant festivals, Delicious food, And rich literary scene make it a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to India.

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1. Victoria Memorial
2. Howrah Bridge
3. Dakshineswar Kali Temple
4. Belur Math
5. St. Paul’s Cathedral
6. Indian Museum
7. Marble Palace
8. Birla Planetarium
9. Kalighat Kali Temple
10. Nicco Park

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1. Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is a major economic center in eastern India with a diverse economy boasting several industries and businesses.
2. Some of the significant industries and businesses in Kolkata include:
1. Information Technology
2. Jute Industry
3. Tea Industry
4. Textile Industry
5. Steel Industry
6. Banking and Finance
7. Pharmaceuticals
8. Retail
9. Media
3. Kolkata has a growing IT industry with multinational companies like IBM, TCS, Cognizant having their offices here.
4. The city is known for its jute industry which provides employment to thousands of people and contributes significantly to the city’s economy.
5. West Bengal is one of the largest tea-producing states in India making Kolkata a hub for the tea industry.
6. The city has a thriving textile industry that produces various types of fabrics including cotton, silk, and jute.
7. Kolkata is home to several steel plants including Tata Steel which is one of the largest steel manufacturers in India.
8. Several nationalized banks like State Bank of India have their headquarters in Kolkata along with other financial institutions like LIC Housing Finance Ltd., Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co., etc.
9. There are many pharmaceutical companies based out of Kolkata such as Dabur Pharma Ltd., Emami Limited, etc.
10. Retail sector plays an important role too with many malls being present such as South City Mall, City Centre Salt Lake, etc.
11. With ABP Group being headquartered at Kolkata it plays an important role too.
12. These industries provide ample job opportunities to people from different backgrounds making Kolkata one among few cities where people from different parts come together for better prospects.

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1. British East India Company: Kolkata was the capital of British India from 1772 to 1911.
2. Indian Independence Movement: Several prominent leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, and Swami Vivekananda were associated with Kolkata during the Indian independence movement.
3. Bengal Renaissance: The Bengal Renaissance period in the late 19th century saw a cultural resurgence in Kolkata with contributions from notable figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
4. Mother Teresa: The Nobel laureate humanitarian Mother Teresa spent most of her life serving the poor and sick in Kolkata.
5. Amartya Sen: Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen was born in Kolkata and has made significant contributions to social choice theory, welfare economics, and development economics.
6. Victoria Memorial Hall: This iconic monument was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1901-02 and is now a museum showcasing British colonial history in India.
7. Howrah Bridge: This iconic suspension bridge over the Hooghly River connects Howrah to Kolkata is one of the largest cantilever bridges in Asia.
8. Eden Gardens Stadium: One of India’s oldest cricket stadiums located in central Kolkata has hosted several international cricket matches since its inception in 1864.
9. Kali Temple Dakshineswar: It is one of the famous temples situated on banks of river Ganga which attracts devotees from all over world.

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1. Victoria Memorial
2. Indian Museum
3. Birla Industrial and Technological Museum
4. Kalighat Kali Temple
5. Dakshineswar Kali Temple
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral
7. Marble Palace Mansion
8. Mother House (Missionaries of Charity)
9. Howrah Bridge
10. Rabindra Bharati Museum
11. Nehru Children’s Museum
12. Bangla Academy
13. Museum of Bengal Modern Art

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1. Kolkata Knight Riders is a cricket team representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League (IPL). It was founded in 2008 and is owned by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Jay Mehta. KKR has won the IPL title twice.
2. East Bengal FC is one of India’s oldest football clubs, established in 1920. It represents West Bengal and has a large fan base in Kolkata. The club has won several national titles.
3. Mohun Bagan AC is another renowned football club based out of Kolkata that was established in 1889. It is one of Asia’s oldest football clubs and has won numerous national championships.
4. Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) was established way back in 1792 as an exclusive sports club for British expatriates living in Calcutta during colonial times. It remains one of the most prestigious sporting institutions not just within Kolkata but across India as well.
5. Tollygunge Agragami FC is another popular football club from Kolkata that plays its home games at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium located near Lake Gardens area of South Kolkata. They have played several seasons at various levels within Indian football leagues such as I-League Division II & III etc., however they are yet to win any major trophies at national level competitions.

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1. Durga Puja is the biggest and most popular festival in Kolkata, celebrated during October-November. It is a 10-day long celebration dedicated to Goddess Durga.
2. The Kolkata Book Fair is an annual event held in January-February, attracting thousands of book lovers from all over India and abroad.
3. Christmas celebrations are grand in Kolkata with churches lit up beautifully and carol singing due to its significant Christian population.
4. The Kolkata Film Festival is a week-long event taking place every year in November showcasing national and international films.
5. Poila Boishakh, the Bengali New Year, is celebrated with great enthusiasm in mid-April with cultural programs, food fairs, and street processions.
6. Rath Yatra, the annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath takes place during June-July every year at the ISKCON temple in Kolkata.
7. Holi or the festival of colors is celebrated by people of all ages across the city during March with great joy.
8. Independence Day/Republic Day are national holidays celebrated across the city with flag hoisting ceremonies, parades, and cultural programs at various venues like Victoria Memorial Hall or Red Road Parade Grounds.
9. Kali Puja/Diwali are also widely celebrated by Hindus across the city during October-November.
10. Rabindra Jayanti commemorates Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday on 9th May every year through cultural events like music concerts, dance performances, etc.

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• Rosogolla is a famous Bengali sweet that’s made by using cottage cheese and dipping it in sugar syrup.
• Mishti Doi is a yogurt-based dessert that’s considered to be one of Kolkata’s specialties.
• Kathi Rolls are a popular street food in Kolkata, comprising spiced meat or vegetables wrapped in paratha bread.
• Cholar Dal is a lentil dish cooked with coconut, ginger, and spices.
• Biryani is an aromatic rice dish prepared using meat or vegetables and flavorful spices.
• Fish Curry is the staple dish of Kolkata cuisine due to Bengalis’ love for fish.
• Mughlai Paratha is stuffed paratha bread filled with spicy minced meat or vegetables.

If you’re looking for some restaurants to try these dishes out, here are some popular options:

1. Oh! Calcutta
2. 6 Ballygunge Place
3. Arsalan
4. Peter Cat
5. Kewpie’s Kitchen

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1. Maidan is a large urban park located in the heart of Kolkata, and it’s a popular spot for jogging, walking, and picnicking.
2. Victoria Memorial is a beautiful monument surrounded by gardens and water bodies that attract tourists from all over the world. It’s also an excellent place to relax.
3. Nicco Park is an amusement park that offers rides, water slides, and other fun activities for families to enjoy together.
4. Rabindra Sarobar is a lake surrounded by parks and gardens that provides boating facilities for visitors to enjoy.
5. Eco Park is a sprawling park with lakes, gardens, and even a butterfly sanctuary that offers various recreational activities like cycling or kayaking.
6. Alipore Zoo (also known as Kolkata Zoo) is one of the oldest zoos in India that houses various animals including tigers lions elephants etc.
7. Science City is an interactive science museum with exhibits on physics chemistry biology astronomy etc., it also has an IMAX theater showcasing educational films on science & technology
8. Indian Museum happens to be the largest museum in India showcasing artifacts from ancient times to modern era
9. Birla Planetarium features several shows daily which educate about astronomy
10. Prinsep Ghat can be found on the banks of River Hooghly where people can enjoy boat rides or take long walks along the river bank

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