Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is a city of surprises that overwhelms its tourists and business travelers. It is a great 'City of Joy' as the charm of this greatest colonial city never dies out and that is what makes it the most loved city of India. It ranks among the four major metropolis of India along with Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. Kolkata has been the capital city of India, in the times of British Raj for quite long period. Kolkata is also referred as the intellectual capital of the country.

Places to see:

• Victoria Memorial: As the name suggests, this beautiful edifice in white-marble was built in the memory of Queen Victoria. It is the most enduring one that gets one nostalgic about the British Raj in India. The memorial when lit in the night, gives a fascinating site. It has been now converted in a museum housing the most impressive collection belonging to the days of Raj.
• Eden Garden: Famous all around the world, this place is synonymous with Indian Cricket. It is located in the northwest corner of the city, and is counted among the best cricketing ground. It houses both cricket ground and a well laid out garden by the same name.
• Birla Planetarium: This one of the largest planetarium of its kind in the world seems like Buddhist stupa at Sanchi at one instance. Regular shows in Hindi and English are held here. A good place for entertainment and information.
• Kali Mandir: This temple is dedicated to Kali, goddess of destruction. It is also known as Kalighat. The temple was rebuilt on the site of the actual temple. This is the temple from which the old village ‘Kalikata’ took its name, which, in turn, also gave the city its name.
• Howrah Bridge or Rabindra Setu: This marvelous bridge is an excellent example of engineering techniques of the early 20th century. The whole bridge is 450 m long without any pylon in the river. It is a cantilever bridge, which keeps on bustling with people and vehicles throughout the day.

• By Air: Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Kolkata to other important cities of India such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. Kolkata provides direct flights to most of the countries in the Southeast Asia. The airport in Kolkata is situated at Dumdum, around 17 km northeast of the city center.
• By Rail: Trains from the other parts of the country connect Kolkata. Super-fast trains such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express join the city from Kolkata and nearby cities such as Bokaro and Rourkela. Coromandel Express and Gitanjali Express connect Kolkata to Chennai and Mumbai respectively. The city has two major railway stations-one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.
• By Water and Road: Mechanized boats and ships are available on a regular basis for Andaman & Nicobar Islands. One should contact the offices of the Shipping Corporation of India on 13, Strand Road for more information on schedules. Luxury cruises are also operational between Calcutta-Kolkata and Haldia, a modern port city nearby. Kolkata is connected to all the major cities by road.