Kolkata

Kolkata (Bengali:কলকাতা) (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and one of the largest urban agglomerations in India. It is the largest city in Eastern India. Kolkata is an 'in your face' city that shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitor. Long known as the cultural capital of India and home to the so-called Bengal Renaissance, 'The City of Joy' (the sobriquet became more famous after the publication of a novel of the same name on the city's struggle against poverty and corruption written by Dominique Lapiere; later made into a Roland Joffe film) continues to spawn generations of poets, writers, film directors and Nobel Prize winners. If your trip only allows for a visit of one or two of India's metropolitan cities, then definitely consider placing Kolkata on your itinerary. Kolkata is arguably one of the most socially, culturally and politically progressive cities in India. Love it or hate it, you definitely won't forget the 'City of Joy'.

Kolkata's history is intimately related to the British East India Company, which arrived in 1690, and to British India, of which Calcutta became the capital in 1772. Job Charnock was widely known as the founder of Calcutta. There were 3 villages named Sutanuti, Gobindopur & Kalikata. Later the village Kalikata became the city Kolkata. But some Indian historians have disputed this claim, arguing that Kolkata developed naturally over a period, centred on the ancient Kali temple at Kalighat and the port at Khidderpore.

Whatever its origins, Kolkata flowered as the capital of British India during the 19th century, the heyday of the Raj. Calcutta University, the first modern Indian university was founded here in 1857. Kolkata became the centre of Indian arts and literature, and the national movement for independence got its start here. However, with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1911, the pains of the partition of Bengal in 1947, a violent repressive and feudal state machinery operational for nearly the first two decades after independence, the ideologically motivated Maoist movement (the Naxalbari movement) in the 1970s, followed by the Marxist rule has shaped the city to its present form.

Kolkata has become the main business, commercial and financial hub of eastern India. The city's economic fortunes grew as the economic liberalisation in India during the early 1990s reached Kolkata during late 1990s. Kolkata is a multicultural and cosmopolitan city, with diversity from all over India as well as Europeans (including Germans, Armenians, and others) and other Asians (including Chinese, Sinhalese, and Tibetans). Kolkata is also notable for being home to India's largest Chinatown, which continues to be home to many ethnic Chinese residents whose families have lived in India for several generations.

In 1977, a "Left Front" coalition of the Communist and Marxist parties came to power and ruled the state for 34 years. This is reflected in street names and memorials in the city with names like Lenin Sarani and Ho Chi Minh Sarani. During this period, the various egalitarian approaches implemented at improving the living standards of the down-trodden has helped the city in bridging the wealth-gap and decreasing impoverishment.

Kolkata is fast developing into a modern infotech city with various private sector companies setting up shops here. The landscape of the city is also fast changing with flyovers, gardens and several new commercial establishments. Kolkata city has expanded into its suburbs, with the Greater Kolkata stretching from Kalyani (in Nadia District) in north to Jaynagar Majilpur in south (in the South 24 Parganas District).

The city's fortunes have looked up since the early 1990s, coinciding with the liberalisation of the Indian economy. Its economy has been amongst the fastest growing in the country. The New Metro city is characterised by popular spots such as multiplexes, theatres, clubs, pubs, coffee shops, and museums.

Kolkata is home to many industrial units, of large Indian corporations, whose product range is varied and includes engineering products, electronics, electrical equipment, cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery, frigates, automobiles, railway coaches and wagons.

Several industrial estates like Taratala, Uluberia, Dankuni, Kasba, and Howrah are spread throughout the urban agglomeration. A huge leather complex has come up at Bantola. An export processing zone has been set up in Falta. Specialised setups like the country's first Toy Park, and a Gem and Jewellery Park have also been established.

Kolkata is also starting to become a major hub for the IT (Information Technology) industry. With the formation of New Town at Rajarhat and extension of Salt Lake's Sector-V, Kolkata is rapidly turning into a pro-IT town.

Kolkata is in the eastern part of India and is spread along the banks of the Hooghly river.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has an area of 185 km². The city can be roughly divided into two sections along Mother Teresa Sarani (which was known during English rule as Park Street). North of Park Street is the more congested part of the city. South of Park Street is the slightly better planned section of the city. South Kolkata is better planned with wider roads and better equipped police force for keeping law & order. The better planning in South Kolkata is because it was built much later. The North is the real, old Kolkata and most of the oldest families and buildings are situated there. Over the past several years the city has expanded to the south and the east.

The old Central Business District (CBD) is where the seat of the West Bengal Government is located, along with many other government offices. Several banks have their corporate or regional headquarters around the B.B.D. Bagh area (named after the revolutionaries Binoy, Badol and Dinesh who forced entry into The Writer's Building, the epicentre of the Raj government in West Bengal. Many of Kolkata's older business groups have their main offices here. The area is a mix of multi-storeyed office blocks and colonial buildings.

The newer CBD is around the south of Park Street, Camac Street and AJC Bose Road. Several high-rise office blocks including some of Kolkata's tallest commercial buildings, like the Chatterjee International Centre, Tata Centre, Everest House, Industry House, CGO Building, are located here. An even-newer CBD is now being set up in the Rajarhat (Newtown) area, lying between Salt Lake and the Airport.

Maidan (meaning open field) is between the river Ganges and J.L. Nehru Road (or Chowringhee). It is said to be the lungs of Kolkata. The lush green meadow also houses Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens, and several sporting clubs. Kolkatans simply love to stroll in the Maidan.

In an effort to relieve congestion in the main city, many government offices have shifted to high-rise office buildings lining Bidhan Nagar's (Salt Lake) Central Park.

The residential buildings are mainly low-rise and comprise of older colonial buildings and numerous new four-storied apartment blocks. 10- to 12-storied apartment blocks have come up in large numbers in south Kolkata. The city has relaxed its rules on high-rise construction and 20-storey buildings are becoming more common. The tallest residential towers of eastern India, the four 35-storey towers of South City, are on Prince Anwar Shah Road.

Heavy construction activity along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is changing the face of the city. Luxury hotels, a convention centre, speciality hospitals, condominium complexes, malls and multiplexes are coming up at a rapid pace. The city's expansion in the eastern side is spearheaded by the construction of a large new city called New Town adjacent to the well planned Bidhan Nagar. Located in Rajarhat, it is one of the largest planned urban developments in India. The neglected western side of the urban agglomeration has got a boost with the signing of an agreement with Chiputra, an Indonesian company to build the Kolkata West International City (KWIC). Another huge new township is in the proposal state in Dankuni.

Slums and dilapidated structures exist in many pockets of the city proper and house over 25% of the city's population (Census 2001). Slum redevelopment schemes have helped improve living conditions by a small extent but there is huge scope for improvement in this area. Efforts to shift slum dwellers to newer developments have often met with resistance and failure because many of the slums are in prime areas of the city and the slum dwellers who are integrated in the social structure of the neighbourhood do not want to shift.

Many roads in Kolkata have two names in use: the old colonial name that is still commonly used by locals, and the official post-independence new name that you will see in maps and on road signs.

Kolkata has three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. Summer, from March–May, is hot and humid with temperatures touching 38-42° Celsius. Monsoon starts in June and lasts till September or October. This is the time when heavy showers sometimes lead to water logging in a few areas. Winter is from November to February. This is the best season to visit the city, as the weather is very pleasant with temperatures ranging between 8 and 20°.

Kolkata is in the GMT+5:30 time zone.

Being in West Bengal, the native language of the people of Kolkata is Bengali. However, most upper-class locals also speak Hindi and English. Many shopkeepers and taxi drivers are able to communicate in broken English, and government offices will typically have English-speaking staff on duty. Although it is generally not a problem getting by with English, learning some Bengali will make your trip much smoother.

The city sprawls along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, a branch of the river Ganges, which divides it from Howrah on the western bank. For travelers, the most relevant parts of Kolkata are south of the Howrah Bridge in the areas around BBD Bagh and Chowringhee.

• A walk along Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set out to unravel the rare beauty of this city. Across the road sweeps a huge, lush green, open parkland called the Maidan, centering around Fort William, the massive and impregnable British Citadel built in 1773. The fort is still in use and retains its well guarded grandeur. Visitors are allowed in with special permission only.
• Jawahar Shishu Bhawan, J.L.Nehru Road (Rabindra Sadan Metro Station.
• Maidan, Maidan. 3 km in length and over 1 km in width, is a rambling green ‘lung of Kolkata’. Dotted with colourful maidan clubs, the area is a hub of diverse activities.

• Armenian Church, the oldest place of Christian worship in Calcutta. The church of Holy Nazareth was built in 1764.Among the other churches to visit are St Andrew’s Church. The Old Mission Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.
• Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Belur Math, built in 1847 on the banks of the Hooghly, north of Calcutta, the temple is associated with Shri Ramakrishna, the eclectic 19th century saint who revived Hinduism during the British Raj. Across the river stands Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. The monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony.
• Japanese Buddhist Temple, on the banks of Rabindra Sarovar.
• Jewish Synagogues, the Maghen David Synagogue on Jewish Synagogue Street and the BETHEL on Pollock Street are very old worship houses and a reminder to the cosmopolitan nature of the city.
• Kalighat, according to the legend, when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s body was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Rebuilt in 1809, this is an important shrine of Hindu Shakti worship. The temple is in the southern part of the city.
• Nakhoda Mosque, modelled on Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, the red sandstone mosque has two minarets 46 m high, a brightly painted onion shaped dome and can accommodate 10,000 people. Built in 1926 and located on Chitpur Road.
• Pareshnath Jain Temple, an ornate mass of mirrors, coloured stones and glass mosaic, and overlooks a beautiful garden. It is in Gauri Bari, near Maniktala.
• Parsi Fire Temples, cater to the religious needs of the prominent Parsi community of Calcutta. Located on Metcalf Street and Beliaghata.
• Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, commemorates the birth centenary of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Religious discourses and cultural exchanges are held here among international scholars. The institute is located at Golpark.
• St John’s Church, built in 1787 with Grecian columns. The burial ground has the mausoleum of Job Charnock, founder of Calcutta. On the north-west side of Raj Bhavan.
• St Paul’s Cathedral : Constructed between 1839 and 1847 in Gothic style with stained glass windows and two Florentine frescoes, the cathedral is the largest in the city and next to the Birla Planetarium. St Paul’s was conscerated in 1874.

Armenian Church, the oldest place of Christian worship in Calcutta. The church of Holy Nazareth was built in 1764.Among the other churches to visit are St Andrew’s Church. The Old Mission Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Belur Math, built in 1847 on the banks of the Hooghly, north of Calcutta, the temple is associated with Shri Ramakrishna, the eclectic 19th century saint who revived Hinduism during the British Raj. Across the river stands Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. The monastery is a haven of peace and religious harmony.

Japanese Buddhist Temple, on the banks of Rabindra Sarovar.

Jewish Synagogues, the Maghen David Synagogue on Jewish Synagogue Street and the BETHEL on Pollock Street are very old worship houses and a reminder to the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

Kalighat, according to the legend, when Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati’s body was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Rebuilt in 1809, this is an important shrine of Hindu Shakti worship. The temple is in the southern part of the city.

Nakhoda Mosque, modelled on Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, the red sandstone mosque has two minarets 46 m high, a brightly painted onion shaped dome and can accommodate 10,000 people. Built in 1926 and located on Chitpur Road.

Pareshnath Jain Temple, an ornate mass of mirrors, coloured stones and glass mosaic, and overlooks a beautiful garden. It is in Gauri Bari, near Maniktala.

Parsi Fire Temples, cater to the religious needs of the prominent Parsi community of Calcutta. Located on Metcalf Street and Beliaghata.

Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, commemorates the birth centenary of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Religious discourses and cultural exchanges are held here among international scholars. The institute is located at Golpark.

St John’s Church, built in 1787 with Grecian columns. The burial ground has the mausoleum of Job Charnock, founder of Calcutta. On the north-west side of Raj Bhavan.

St Paul’s Cathedral : Constructed between 1839 and 1847 in Gothic style with stained glass windows and two Florentine frescoes, the cathedral is the largest in the city and next to the Birla Planetarium. St Paul’s was conscerated in 1874.

A walk along Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set out to unravel the rare beauty of this city. Across the road sweeps a huge, lush green, open parkland called the Maidan, centering around Fort William, the massive and impregnable British Citadel built in 1773. The fort is still in use and retains its well guarded grandeur. Visitors are allowed in with special permission only.

Jawahar Shishu Bhawan, J.L.Nehru Road (Rabindra Sadan Metro Station.

Maidan, Maidan. 3 km in length and over 1 km in width, is a rambling green ‘lung of Kolkata’. Dotted with colourful maidan clubs, the area is a hub of diverse activities.

• Take a walk along the river. There is a good promenade near Eden Garden.
• Take a stroll down memory lane at Princep ghat.
• Take a boat cruise in small boats under the starlit sky at Outram Ghat.
• Take an Auto Rickshaw / Tuk Tuk ride from Chandni Chowk to Lohapool, the driver will take you through some back alleys and narrow roads of Kolkata, sit tight and keep faith on the driver.
• Several modern cinemas are dotted around the city, including INOX with several locations, Fame at Metropolis Mall in Highland Park, and RDB Adlabs at RDB Boulevard, Near Infinity Building in Sector 5, Saltlake, all showing Indian and American blockbusters.
• Nandan, 1/1 AJC Bose Rd (east of Rabindra Sadan metro station, +91 33 2223 1210. The symbol of art and culture in the city and the site of the Kolkata Film Festival every November.
• Unlike most of cricket-obsessed India, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kolkata, with the local clubs Mohun Bagan Athletic Club and East Bengal Club being the most successful in India. They contest the Kolkata Derby biannually, which is considered by many to be the oldest and most intense football rivalry in Asia.
• Indian Premier League. Is the main club cricket league in India. It is one of the most widely attended sporting events in the world, and if you are in Kolkata during the season (April–May), consider going to watch the home team (Kolkata Knight Riders) play at Eden Gardens.
• The Kolkata Book Fair takes place from the last week of January to the first week of February. This is the largest book fair in Asia and is a major event in the city.
• Durga Puja, a festival honouring the Hindu goddess Durga, takes place in October. The biggest festival for Hindus in Bengal and Eastern India, Kolkata takes on an almost carnival like ambiance. Streets shut down for the construction of pandals, large stands that depict events from the Ramayana and crowds flock to the biggest and best ones. A good time to visit, unless you have a fear of crowds.

Take a walk along the river. There is a good promenade near Eden Garden.

Take a stroll down memory lane at Princep ghat.

Take a boat cruise in small boats under the starlit sky at Outram Ghat.

Take an Auto Rickshaw / Tuk Tuk ride from Chandni Chowk to Lohapool, the driver will take you through some back alleys and narrow roads of Kolkata, sit tight and keep faith on the driver.

Several modern cinemas are dotted around the city, including INOX with several locations, Fame at Metropolis Mall in Highland Park, and RDB Adlabs at RDB Boulevard, Near Infinity Building in Sector 5, Saltlake, all showing Indian and American blockbusters.

Nandan, 1/1 AJC Bose Rd (east of Rabindra Sadan metro station, +91 33 2223 1210. The symbol of art and culture in the city and the site of the Kolkata Film Festival every November.

Unlike most of cricket-obsessed India, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kolkata, with the local clubs Mohun Bagan Athletic Club and East Bengal Club being the most successful in India. They contest the Kolkata Derby biannually, which is considered by many to be the oldest and most intense football rivalry in Asia.

Indian Premier League. Is the main club [[cricket]] league in India. It is one of the most widely attended sporting events in the world, and if you are in Kolkata during the season (April–May), consider going to watch the home team (Kolkata Knight Riders) play at Eden Gardens.

The Kolkata Book Fair takes place from the last week of January to the first week of February. This is the largest book fair in Asia and is a major event in the city.

Durga Puja, a festival honouring the Hindu goddess Durga, takes place in October. The biggest festival for Hindus in Bengal and Eastern India, Kolkata takes on an almost carnival like ambiance. Streets shut down for the construction of pandals, large stands that depict events from the Ramayana and crowds flock to the biggest and best ones. A good time to visit, unless you have a fear of crowds.

Traditionally Kolkata had certain shopping areas or districts. The New Market area was considered the core of fashionable marketing. That was the market place for the British and later patronised by the more sophisticated Indians. There were large markets in Burrabazar, Hatibagan-Shyambazar, Gariahat and Bhawanipur. There were several specialised markets: electrical goods at Chandni Chowk, jewellery at Bow Bazar, books at College Street, fish at Maniktala, flowers at Jagannanth Ghat, the Maidan market for sports goods and so on.

The malls are a more recent addition. The South City Mall, supposed to be the biggest in the city, is in Kolkata/Southern fringes. East Kolkata, the area that has come up, has large number of malls. New malls are being added. One has come up at Park Circus, an old neighbourhood in South Kolkata, in 2013. All the district pages list malls and markets in the district. Where there are border-line cases, the mall is listed in one district with a link in the other.

Kolkata has old traditions about eating out. Wilson's Hotel (it later became Great Eastern Hotel) is credited to have been the first western-style hotel/restaurant in Kolkata, serving what was then forbidden food for Indians, particularly Hindus. One could be treated as an out-caste if caught eating there, but the idea caught on and others followed. Many of the restaurants that line the streets in the Esplanade area have been around for more than a hundred years.

The joy of food in Kolkata is in its Indian foods. Nizam's (at 23-24 Hogg Street), close to New Market, is credited with the invention of the famous Kati Kebab roll and still serves up the best of the best. For Mughlai dishes there are several places to eat in the Park Circus area, and there are others all over the city.

Bengali food is centred around fish. Macher jhol, fish in curry gravy, is a watery fish curry available everywhere and goes well with rice, but Bengalis everywhere swear by the hilsa fish (a variant of shad). Hilsa, lightly marinaded in mustard and steamed is up there with the best fish dishes in the world. There are a number of restaurants serving Bengali cuisine in all the districts.

Bengali sweets are famous all over India. Roshogolla (cheese balls dipped in a sugary syrup), Panthua, a fried variant of the same, Roshomalai, the same cheeseballs dipped in creamy sweetened milk, Mishti Doi (sweet yogurt), Shondhesh (another type of milk-based sweet, available in several variations).

Kolkata is also the home of Indian Chinese food. Chinese restaurants are everywhere so try the Indian variant of hot and sour soup and the famous Indian Chinese dish of chilli chicken. The best place to have Chinese is to visit China Town near Tangra: EM Bypass. It serves the best of the Chinese dishes and you will find plenty of large, small & medium restaurants. There are some restaurants serving Thai, Mediterranean or Italian food.

Kolkata also has many excellent vegetarian restaurants ranging from budget to expensive ones. There are two types: those serving North Indian and those serving South Indian food.

For those looking for vegetarian street foods, one can find ubiquitous Jhal Muri (somewhat similar to bhel puri of Mumbai) a concoction of puffed rice mixed with various spices, vegetables & other ingredients available at street vendors all over Kolkata.

Street vendors selling egg rolls/chicken rolls abound and their freshly prepared kati rolls are safe to eat. Mughali Paratha (earlier it was a paratha stuffed with minced meat, but now the minced meat has been replaced by cheaper but tasty alternatives) is a Kolkata speciality. Fuchka, the Kolkata version of paani-puri, but very different than the ones found in Delhi, is available on the streets but be wary of the tamarind water. It never troubles the local people and outsiders can safely taste this delicacy as long as they don't take too much.

Earlier, the restaurants were stand alone entities. A cluster of restaurants in a single mall is a comparatively new idea and has become popular.

(See district pages for restaurant listings.)

There are plent of places to buy alcohol around the city. Kolkata has many pubs and bars, which are frequented by the youngsters as well as its older residents. Some pubs have live concerts or DJs. They include:

• Irish House (Quest Mall Park Circus)
• Someplace Else (The Park)
• Roxy (The Park)
• Aqua (The Park)
• The Myx (Park Street)
• Olypub (Park Street), famous for the beer and the beef steak
• Mocha (AJC Bose Road)
• Underground (HHI, AJC Bose Road)
• Nocturne (Theatre Road)
• Shisha Bar Stock Exchange, The Factory Outlet (22 Camac Street)
• Villa 19 (Ballygunge)
• Chili's (Quest Mall, South City Mall, Acropolis Mall Kasba)
• Cafe Mezzuna (Forum Mall Elgin Road, South City Mall)
• Hoppipola (Acropolis Mall)
• Afraa Lounge (City Centre Salt Lake)
• Fairlawns (Sudder Street)
• Big Ben (The Kenilworth, Little Russel Street)

All pubs are supposed to shut shop by midnight or 1AM. So go early if you want to enjoy in club.

Public call booths can be found easily throughout the city from where local, national, and international calls can be made. Else local sim card can be used for connectivity.Cell phone coverage is excellent with all major mobile service providers offering their services in the city.

The area dialing code for Kolkata is 33. From overseas dial +91 33 XXXX XXXX, from within India dial 033 XXXX XXXX. For mobile phones, dial +91 XXXXX XXXXX. Kolkata has only one area code (033).

Internet cafes are also available in plenty and charges between 10-25/hour. You need to show your identity card to use internet in those cafes.

• Police, 100.
• Fire, 101.

Police, 100.

Fire, 101.

• Ballygunge, +91 33 24543179 (2100), +91 33 24862601.
• Bhawanipur, +91 33 24558092, +91 33 24541100, +91 33 24862711.
• Dumdum, +91 33 25514167.
• Maidan, +91 33 2223 2462 (4551), +91 33 22480100.
• Park Street, +91 33 22268321, +91 33 22832100, +91 33 22276437.

Ballygunge, +91 33 24543179 (2100), +91 33 24862601.

Bhawanipur, +91 33 24558092, +91 33 24541100, +91 33 24862711.

Dumdum, +91 33 25514167.

Maidan, +91 33 2223 2462 (4551), +91 33 22480100.

Park Street, +91 33 22268321, +91 33 22832100, +91 33 22276437.

• North Kolkata
  • Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, 88 College St., +91 33 22414901.
• Central Kolkata
  • St. John's Ambulance, 5, Government Place, +91 33 22485277.
• South Kolkata
  • Wochhardt Medical Centre, 2/7, Sarat Bose Rd., +91 33 24754320.

North Kolkata

• Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, 88 College St., +91 33 22414901.

Central Kolkata

• St. John's Ambulance, 5, Government Place, +91 33 22485277.

South Kolkata

• Wochhardt Medical Centre, 2/7, Sarat Bose Rd., +91 33 24754320.

• North Kolkata
  • Central Blood Bank, 205 Vivekananda Rd., +91 33 23510619.
• Central Kolkata
  • Belle Vue Clinic, 9 UN Brahamachari St., +91 33 22472321.
• South Kolkata
  • AMRI Apollo, Gariahut Rd., +91 33 24612626.

North Kolkata

• Central Blood Bank, 205 Vivekananda Rd., +91 33 23510619.

Central Kolkata

• Belle Vue Clinic, 9 UN Brahamachari St., +91 33 22472321.

South Kolkata

• AMRI Apollo, Gariahut Rd., +91 33 24612626.

• North Kolkata
• Apollo Gleanagles Hospital (Private), 58 Canal Circular Rd., +91 33 23203040.
• Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, (Government), 88 College St., +91 33 24512644.
• NRS Medical College & Hospital, 138, AJC Bose Rd., +91 33 22443213.
• Central Kolkata
• SSKM Hospital (Government), 244 A.J.C Bose Rd., +91 33 22041101.
• Belle Vue Clinic (Private), 9 UN Brahamachari St., +91 33 22472321.
• Mercy Hospital ("Private"), Park St.
• South Kolkata
• Ruby General Hospital, (Private), Kasba Golpark, E. M. by-pass, +91 33 39871800.
• Medica Superspeciality Hospital (Private), Mukundapur, EM bypass.

Apollo Gleanagles Hospital (Private), 58 Canal Circular Rd., +91 33 23203040.

Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, (Government), 88 College St., +91 33 24512644.

NRS Medical College & Hospital, 138, AJC Bose Rd., +91 33 22443213.

SSKM Hospital (Government), 244 A.J.C Bose Rd., +91 33 22041101.

Belle Vue Clinic (Private), 9 UN Brahamachari St., +91 33 22472321.

Mercy Hospital ("Private"), Park St.

Ruby General Hospital, (Private), Kasba Golpark, E. M. by-pass, +91 33 39871800.

Medica Superspeciality Hospital (Private), Mukundapur, EM bypass.

Kolkata is the safest metropolitan city in India, and the people are friendly and helpful, unlike in most of India's other large cities. One noted problem is the drug dealers around Sudder Street. However, as the dealers obviously do not want to draw undue attention to their activity, they are not persistent and rarely a threat. There have been rare incidents of chain, bag and mobile snatching in railway stations and empty roads. Places like Watgunge and Garden Reach might not be safe for foreigners and should be avoided at night. The air pollution levels in certain parts of EM Bypass (due to road expansion and construction of elevated Metro railway tracks) has risen in the last few years.

• Bangladesh Bangladesh, Circus Ave (Just E of AJC Bose Rd, +91 33 2290 5208, +91 33 2290 5209. Issues 15-day visas. Applications are received at window #4 M-F from 9-11AM, and visas are generally ready the next afternoon. Bring 3 passport photos. As of December 2018, there seems to be a new policy: the application should be first filled online as directed on their website. You can use the payed services of the stands in front of the High Commission to fill the forms for you, just bring one or two passport photos. Beware that at least in some cases, the Kolkata office can be reluctant to issue visa for non-Indians, and the process requires assertiveness and patience.
• China China, EC-72, Sector I, Salt Lake City, +91 33 4004 8169. M-F 10AM-12:30PM.
• France France, 26 Park Mansions, Park St.
• Germany Germany, 1 Hastings Park Rd, Alipore, +91 33 2479 1141, +91 33 2479 1142, +91 33 2479 2150. The origins of the German consulate in Kolkata can be traced to before the existence of Germany itself, to the establishment of the consulate of the Kingdom of Hanover in 1851 and the Consulate of Prussia in 1854.
• Greece Greece, 10th floor, 21 Camac St, +91 33-2283 1541.
• Ireland Ireland, 2 Clive Ghat Street, Sagar Estate, 8th floor, +91 33 2230 4571.
• Italy Italy, Alipore (3, Raja Santosh Road, +91 33-24792414 - 24792426. M-F 10-12AM.
• Japan Japan, 55, M. N. Sen Lane, Tollygunge, +91 33 2421-1970.
• United Kingdom United Kingdom, 1A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, +91 33 2288 5173.
• United States United States, 5/1, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, +91 33 3984 2400. It is the oldest diplomatic post of the U.S. in India, and the second oldest in the world (the oldest being in London). Benjamin Joy was appointed the first American Consul to Kolkata by George Washington in 1792, upon the express recommendation of then- Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. (Note that the ironic address was the result of a diplomatic snub by the then Marxist Bengal government during the period of the U.S. war in Indochina.)

Bangladesh Bangladesh, Circus Ave (Just E of AJC Bose Rd, +91 33 2290 5208, +91 33 2290 5209. Issues 15-day visas. Applications are received at window #4 M-F from 9-11AM, and visas are generally ready the next afternoon. Bring 3 passport photos. As of December 2018, there seems to be a new policy: the application should be first filled online as directed on their website. You can use the payed services of the stands in front of the High Commission to fill the forms for you, just bring one or two passport photos. Beware that at least in some cases, the Kolkata office can be reluctant to issue visa for non-Indians, and the process requires assertiveness and patience.

China China, EC-72, Sector I, Salt Lake City, +91 33 4004 8169. M-F 10AM-12:30PM.

France France, 26 Park Mansions, Park St.

Germany Germany, 1 Hastings Park Rd, Alipore, +91 33 2479 1141, +91 33 2479 1142, +91 33 2479 2150. The origins of the German consulate in Kolkata can be traced to before the existence of Germany itself, to the establishment of the consulate of the Kingdom of Hanover in 1851 and the Consulate of Prussia in 1854.

Greece Greece, 10th floor, 21 Camac St, +91 33-2283 1541.

Ireland Ireland, 2 Clive Ghat Street, Sagar Estate, 8th floor, +91 33 2230 4571.

Italy Italy, Alipore (3, Raja Santosh Road, +91 33-24792414 - 24792426. M-F 10-12AM.

Japan Japan, 55, M. N. Sen Lane, Tollygunge, +91 33 2421-1970.

United Kingdom United Kingdom, 1A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, +91 33 2288 5173.

United States United States, 5/1, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, +91 33 3984 2400. It is the oldest diplomatic post of the U.S. in India, and the second oldest in the world (the oldest being in London). Benjamin Joy was appointed the first American Consul to Kolkata by George Washington in 1792, upon the express recommendation of then- Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. (Note that the ironic address was the result of a diplomatic snub by the then Marxist Bengal government during the period of the U.S. war in Indochina.)

• Bangladesh. Tickets for buses running to the border and Dhaka can be reserved at Shyamoli Yatri Paribahan, 6/1 Marquis St (parallel to and one block south of Sudder Street, and just west of Mirza Ghalib St, next door to DHL), . 2-3 buses per day leave this office on Tu, Th and Sa, usually at 5:30AM, 8:30AM and 12:30 noon. The fare is ₹86 to the Haridaspur border post (about 2.5 hr). All the way to Dhaka (with a bus change at the border) will cost ₹550 (about 12 hr). Beware that several travel agencies around this area also sell tickets for these buses, but at very inflated prices. At the border it's best to change money on the Indian side, but count it carefully and double-check the maths on their calculator. On the Bangladesh side there are some bus stands just behind the border, or you can catch a flat-bed cycle-rickshaw for Tk5 for the 2 km trip to the bus stand for onward travel, or you can walk, but expect the hopeful rickshaw-wallahs to follow you at least half way.
• Bhutan - Tucked away in the corner of the bus station is a small Bhutan Government kiosk selling tickets for buses running to the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. Buses depart at 9PM on Tu, Th, and Sa, and the 18 hr journey costs ₹300.
• Vishnupur - famous for terracotta temples, clay sculptures and silk sarees.
• Digha - a beach town in the southern part of the state. Buses from Esplanade Bus Station.
• North Bengal - a mountainous region home to Darjeeling, Lava, and the bustling city of Siliguri, and, further south on the Gangetic plains, the historic districts of Malda and Murshidabad.
• Samukpota - about 10km from Kolkata is the village of is a "Green Mall," which offers an extensive collection of palm tress plus other plants, gardening tools, yoga instruction, and South Indian food.
• Santiniketan - famous for the Ashramik School, and university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. The town is also known for its handmade leather crafts and kantha stitch sarees.
• Sundarbans National Park - part of the largest littoral mangrove in the world, and home to the famous Bengal Tigers.

[[Bangladesh]]. Tickets for buses running to the border and [[Dhaka]] can be reserved at Shyamoli Yatri Paribahan, 6/1 Marquis St (parallel to and one block south of Sudder Street, and just west of Mirza Ghalib St, next door to DHL), . 2-3 buses per day leave this office on Tu, Th and Sa, usually at 5:30AM, 8:30AM and 12:30 noon. The fare is ₹86 to the Haridaspur border post (about 2.5 hr). All the way to Dhaka (with a bus change at the border) will cost ₹550 (about 12 hr). Beware that several travel agencies around this area also sell tickets for these buses, but at very inflated prices. At the border it's best to change money on the Indian side, but count it carefully and double-check the maths on their calculator. On the Bangladesh side there are some bus stands just behind the border, or you can catch a flat-bed cycle-rickshaw for Tk5 for the 2 km trip to the bus stand for onward travel, or you can walk, but expect the hopeful rickshaw-wallahs to follow you at least half way.

[[Bhutan]] - Tucked away in the corner of the bus station is a small Bhutan Government kiosk selling tickets for buses running to the Bhutanese border town of [[Phuentsholing]]. Buses depart at 9PM on Tu, Th, and Sa, and the 18 hr journey costs ₹300.

[[Bishnupur (West Bengal)|Vishnupur]] - famous for terracotta temples, clay sculptures and silk sarees.

[[Digha]] - a beach town in the southern part of the state. Buses from Esplanade Bus Station.

[[North Bengal]] - a mountainous region home to [[Darjeeling]], [[Lava]], and the bustling city of [[Siliguri]], and, further south on the Gangetic plains, the historic districts of [[Malda]] and [[Murshidabad]].

[[Samukpota]] - about 10km from Kolkata is the village of is a "Green Mall," which offers an extensive collection of palm tress plus other plants, gardening tools, yoga instruction, and South Indian food.

[[Santiniketan]] - famous for the Ashramik School, and university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. The town is also known for its handmade leather crafts and kantha stitch sarees.

[[Sundarbans National Park]] - part of the largest littoral mangrove in the world, and home to the famous Bengal Tigers.