Introduction to Kolkata: Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, is a city that means many things to many people. For some, Kolkata is the city of joy, while for others it is dirty, crowded, and noisy. Once the greatest colonial city in the Orient, Calcutta was later reviled as a cauldron of poverty, dirt, and disease. Today, it ranks among the four major metropolis of India along with Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. A mere village in the 17th century, Kolkata is not an ancient city like Delhi. Like Mumbai and Chennai, it originated largely due to the expansionist ambitions of the European powers, especially the British Raj. As a result, Kolkata has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles.

As Kolkata is near the sea, the city has uniform temperature throughout the year. The temperature ranges from 12–27°C in the winter and 24–38°C in the summer. Annual rainfall is around 160 cm. Humidity level can be very high in the summers and can make one’s life difficult.

Sightseeing: Victoria Memorial is a huge white-marble structure and the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. The structure, which is now floodlit in the night, is a fascinating monument. It has been now converted in a museum that houses the most impressive collection of memorabilia’s from the days of Raj.

Indian Museum, built in 1874, is a beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rare collections of archeological artifacts. The entrance to the museum houses an original Lion Capitol, the national symbol of India.

Fort William was constructed in 1781 after the unfortunate happenings of 1756 in which many British soldiers with their families were killed by Siraj-Ud-Daula. Large areas around the village of Govindpur were cleared of the forests, and this fort was constructed.

Other important sites that can be visited are Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Tagore House, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque, Raj Bhawan, Town Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Excursions: Beyond Kolkata’s immediate claustrophobia a few suburban towns of yore still exist, a little senile and lost in a myriad memories, chasing the past down the chiaroscuro of history, and then, breathless, watching the eternal dance of life reflected at dusk on the waters of the Hooghly. Their lanes and bylanes, now crowded with cycle-rickshaws and men and meanness, once witnessed the best of times and the worst of times. And they passed through the age of foolishness and the age of wisdom. Today, in spite of the crowds, you’ll hear little-known stories about the glorious Fort Gustavus in Chinsura or the miracle of Nossa Senhora di Rozario in Bandel. Head for these sleepy towns and villages in the outskirts of Kolkata, and you are sure to have a wonderful time amidst nature, far away from the din and bustle of the city. Also take some time off to visit Tagore/’s university township of Shanti Niketan and the temples at Belur and Dakshineshwar.