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CALCUTTA INFORMATION

Calcutta, an ancient city which has seen history unfold itself in front of her. A city which has completed three hundred years of its establishment. Calcutta, which had the privilege of being the capital of British India before it was shifted to Delhi. Calcutta, a city which has adopted to the modern trends and techniques of the world but has not shed the leisurely life style and the calm which it has acummulated since ages. A city which till few years ago was the most densely populated city in the world. Calcutta has the country's first Metro railway and also retains some of the building which are more than hundred year old. It is a city of enduring charm.

Calcutta served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Once the centre of modern education, industry, science, culture and politics in India, Kolkata witnessed intense political violence, clashes and economic stagnation from the years starting 1954 and continuing till this day. However, since the year 2000, economic rejuvenation has led to a spurt in the city's growth. Like the other metropolitan cities of India, Kolkata continues to struggle with urbanisation problems like poverty, pollution and traffic congestion.

In 1696, the establishment of Fort Williams marked the birth of a new city, Calcutta. It derived its name from Kalikatta, one of the villages which was incorporated in the new settlement of Britishers. Calcutta has since developed from a fishermens' village to become one of the largest cities in the world. Being the capital of the British till 1912, the architecture here is a medley of occidental and oriental styles. Today the city symbolises creativity and vibrance with all the modern amenities available.

Calcutta is a city with strong cultural, literary and religious flavours. this is the home of many of India's leaders. Activities in the field of fine arts, music, dance, theatre and writing make the city a happening place. The calm of the Hooghly combined with the rush of people in the streets make Calcutta a city to visit. It is the city which acts as the gate way to the North East and has been coming up as a major commercial city in the nation.

Calcutta one of the places which is famous as shoppers paradise. The markets here are full of items which can be taken home as decorative pieces or gift items. Calcutta has been attracting the tourist attention for its handicrafts. The 'Tant' sarees are the speciality of West Bengal and Calcutta provides you the best market for the purchase these sarees. The Tant sarees are popular not only among the Bengali women but are liked all over India for their unique appearance and colours. Calcutta offers great bargains in items made from cotton and handloom. The famed Baluchari work is something which every traveller to this place looks for. The silk from West Bengal is a shoppers delight.

Tantuja is the retail outlet for the West Bengal State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society limited which offers you a variety of handwoven classics. Though the real pleasure of shopping in Calcutta is on the road side shops which surprisingly come up with good stuff, there are the big names and showrooms which provide the customer with the latest fashion wears and dress material. The government owned emporiums give good offer in handicrafts and other decorative items. The Bankura Horse is easily identifiable and captures the imagination. Brass figurines can also be included in the shoppers list. The leather wears are very cheap and durable.

Calcutta is located in eastern India at 22°33'N 88°20'E / 22.55°N 88.333°E / 22.55; 88.333 in the Ganges Delta at an elevation ranging between 1.5 m (5 ft) to 9 m (30 ft). It is spread linearly along the banks of the River Hooghly in a north-south direction. Much of the city was originally a vast wetland, reclaimed over the decades to accommodate the city's burgeoning population. The remaining wetland, known as East Calcutta Wetlands has been designated a "wetland of international importance" under the Ramsar Convention.

Like the most of the Indo-Gangetic plains, the predominant soil type is alluvial. Quaternary sediments consisting of clay, silt, various grades of sand and gravel underlie the city. These sediments are sandwiched between two clay beds, the lower one at depths between 250 m (820 ft) and 650 m (2,133 ft) and the upper one ranging between 10 m (33 ft) and 40 m (131 ft) in thickness. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone-III, in a scale of I to V (in order of increasing proneness to earthquakes) while the wind and cyclone zoning is "very high damage risk", according to UNDP report.

city is ranked as Gamma World City. It is the cultural capital of India as well. Kolkata city, under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), has an area of 185 km2 (71 sq mi). The Kolkata urban agglomeration (Kolkata Metropolitan Area), however, is spread over 1,750 km2 (676 sq mi), and comprises 157 postal areas, as of 2006. The urban agglomeration is formally administered by several local governments including 38 local municipalities. The urban agglomeration comprises 72 cities and 527 towns and villages. The suburban areas of Kolkata metropolitan district incorporates parts of the districts North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Nadia.