Kolkata is 300 years old. Kolkata is the oldestmajor port in the country. It remains to be the capital of India till 1911 and also the main area for the activities of British. Kolkata was been selected as the trading center by the British. After the partition of India between India and Pakistan Kolkata became the capital of West Bengal. Now after a long time Kolkata had become a busy and flourishing town, the center of the cultural as well as the political and economic life of Bengal.

Kolkata History
In 1690, Job Charnok, from East India Company selected Kolkata for a British trade settlement. He took the lease of the three villages- Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kolikata(Calcutta) as a trading post of British East India. The city came into limelight in 1756, when Siraj-Ud-Dawlah, the nawab of Bengal, captured the city. But the British again captured it in 1757 under Robert Clive. The first Governor-General of India, Warren Hastings made it the place of the supreme courts of justice and then the Kolkata became the capital of British India in 1772. By 1800 Kolkata had become a busy and flourishing town, the center of the cultural as well as the political and economic life of Bengal.

Kolkata Fair & Festivals :

Durga Puja : Durga Puja held in early autumn and is also referred to as "Sharadiya". An earthen image is made of Goddess Durga with her consort and family members i.e. Lakhsmi - Saraswati - Kartik - Ganesh - Kalabau - their pets, decorated with intricate dresses and ornaments. The main puja is organised as "Sandhi Puja" which is the juncture between "Ashtami" and "Navami". On "Dashami" all the earthen idols are carried in decorated carts or trucks and are immersed in river. Fairs are also held on this occasion at various places.

Laxmi Puja : In the month of October, on full moon, this festival is celebrated, of the Goddess of properity Laxmi. Public Pujas are organized in the same premises as for Durga Puja.

Places to See in Kolkata :

Belur Math : This was founded in 1938 by Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, paying homage to his guru. It is situated at a distance of about 6.4 kms from Howrah Station on the banks of the Hooghly River. This place is very easy to reach, as it is well connected by bus and train. Belur math has an amazingly big prayer hall, where you can find the awesome statue of Ramakrishna. Belur Math of Kolkata, India is a very important pilgrimage place.

Eden Garden : The oldest cricket ground of India, gets its name from Mrs. Eden, sister of Lord Auckland. The garden has a Burmese pagoda and a band stand. The cricket ground here can accommodate more than 1 lac people.

Kalighat Kali Temple : Located on the banks of river Hooghly, Kalighat Kali temple is a very famous temple of the city of joy i.e. Calcutta. It is dedicated to Goddess kali, who is believed to be the destroyer as well as liberator. Every year, it has been attracting more and more crowds. Infact, Calcutta Kalighat Kali temple has come in the top list of must see tourist attraction places. For Hindus, Kali temple at Kalighat, Kolkata is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple : Located on the bank of the Ganges, north of Belur Math in Kolkata, it is dedicated to Goddess kali. It is a spacious temple covering an area of about 25 acres. The legend associated with the establishment of the temple suggests that the queen Rasmani was all set to leave for the sacred city of Banaras to worship the divine mother and seek her blessings. During those times, going by boat was the only feasible option, as there were no railway lines between Calcutta and Banaras. But one night before, it happened that divine mother kali appeared in the dreams of Rani Rasmani and instructed her to construct a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges River and install her idol in it. She also said that she would manifest herself in the image over there and accept her devotion. It is one of the largest temples in Kolkata.

Pareshnath : The Jain temple is a very famous temple of Calcutta that was built by an art connoisseur named Ray Badridas Bahadur in 1867. Located in the northeast side of the city, Calcutta Pareshnath Jain temple is a mind-blowing place of worship, the beauty of which is enhanced by mirrors and colored stones. It houses four different temples, out of which the main temple is established in the honor of the 10th Jain Avtaar, Sri Sital Nath Ji. There is a small stream over there, which is covered by gorgeous flowers on all sides. Pareshnath Jain temple of Kolkata also contains a cozy greeting room and a museum. It is a splendid edifice that consists of mirror inlaid pillars and its windows are made from stained glass. Floral designs further adorn the marble flooring. It also has a garden that contains the blocks of glass mosaics and awesome European statues. In a nutshell, it can be said that it's a must visit tourist attraction religious destination.

Job Charnock's Tomb : (BBD Bagh) This Tomb was built in memory of the English merchant-adventurer, Job Charnock, who founded the city of Kolkata in 1690. It is one of the oldest English monuments in the city and is located in the graveyard of St. John's Church. Today it lies almost entirely surrounded by modern constructions in a little green patch.

Howrah Bridge : Also known as the Rabindra Setu, is a bridge over the Hoogli River in West Bengal and was completed in 1941. It is so named as it links the city of Howrah, near Howrah Station, to its twin city of Kolkata. There are no supporting pillars bellow the bridge and therefore, it looks like a hanging bridge.

Marble Palace : Marble palace of Kolkata, India is a must visit tourist attraction spot. Built in the year 1835 by Rajendra Mallick, it is an exquisite art gallery. Marble palace houses the marvelous objects of art, sculptures, pictures & oil paintings. Its major highlight includes the Reuben's masterpieces. You can also find the original paintings of Rembrandt, Reynolds and Van Goyen etc. Calcutta marble palace is the one of its kinds and consists of exquisite pieces of art. It also has a zoo, where you can find different kinds of birds and animals. Infact, it has a rare collection of birds.

Saheed Minar : It is situated near Esplanade on the Kolkata Maidan, was initially known as Octerloney Monument. It was named after its founder, Sir David Ochterlony. This magnificent monument was established in the year 1848 so as to mark the founder's victory in the Nepal War (1814-1816). The construction of Calcutta Saheed Minar follows an architectural variety. Its foundation is based on the Egyptian style, whereas the main Shahid Minar in Calcutta and its dome follow Syrian and Turkish designs respectively.

How to Reach :

By Air : It is completely accessible by air. There are a number of domestic airlines that connect Kolkata with other major cities of India like Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Port Blair.

By Rail : Kolkata is well linked to other parts of the country by railways. There are super fast trains like Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express that join Calcutta from Delhi and other nearby places. Calcutta consists of two major railway stations; one is located in Howrah and the other at Sealdah.

By Road : The city of joy is well linked with almost all the cities of India by road. The Esplanade Terminus is the main bus terminus that lies in the heart of the city. The latest development is the starting of Dhaka-Calcutta buses, which are fully air-conditioned and also very comfortable.

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