Description:

The capital of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. Its favourable geographical position (the city lies at the mouth of the river Ganges and has an access to the sea) influenced its development and made it a major administrative, industrial, educational and cultural centre of the country. With a population of a little more than five million people Kolkata is a relatively small city according to the Indian standards. It is the second city in India by size giving its way to Mumbai. This is most likely connected with the great amount of small satellite towns. People travel from there to Kolkata daily to work and study, which makes Kolkata’s population three times bigger and leads to traffic problems and air pollution. Founded at the end of the 17th century by the English East India Company as a fort and a trade settlement, Kolkata during two centuries played a role of the English administration centre and was an Indian capital up to the beginning of the 20th century. Divided by the Ganges into two parts: an industrial working class area and affluent districts with mansions, administrative buildings and the university, Kolkata is a true city of contrasts and an attractive tourist destination of the world.

Climate

Transport

The City%27s public transport is represented by trams, buses and the oldest metro in India - the undeground railway has been in function since 1984. One can get to Kolkata by train - there%27s an intensive railway connection to the suburbs and other regions. It is also possible to travel to Kolkata by plane - the located in the northern suburb airport hosts both domestic and international flights.