Kolkata City Information

Kolkata happens to be the "City of Joy." Located meticulously on the banks of river Hooghly, Kolkata, or Calcutta, the West Bengal state's capital city has a quintessential charm that still stands strong against the city's modernization. The city is culturally and artistically rich since the British Raj-era. The marvelous Victorian architecture and monuments, along with year-long festivities, offer a heavy dose of Kolkata tourism.

Kolkata has many monikers. To some, it is the birthplace of Indian communism. It is the cultural capital of India. For others, it is an important center of literature, spirituality, plays, arts, dance, and music. Undeniably, the city has a lot to offer tourists worldwide.

Kolkata, also known for football and cricket and the birthplace of eminent personalities such as Rabindranath Tagore, legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, sitar master Ravi Shankar, Saurav Ganguly, and so on like them who have brought laurels and made our country proud.

Thepackersmovers.com presents to you the Kolkata city guide for a quick view. It will help your move to the city, whether you expect a permanent move or a few holidays discovering different aspects of the town.

Interesting Facts about Kolkata

1. Kolkata is home to the Great Banyan Tree. It is massive and old.
2. The city houses India’s noteworthy science center.
3. Kolkata happens to be the only city in South Asia to have Trams.
4. The world’s third-largest cricket stadium, namely Eden Gardens, happens to be in Kolkata.
5. Established in 1829, the Royal Kolkata Golf Club is India’s first golf club and the first-ever outside the UK.
6. Kolkata’s College Street is the world’s second-largest market to buy second-hand books.
7. The Alipore Zoo in Kolkata happens to be India’s oldest zoo.
8. Asia’s largest and also the world’s largest planetarium is the Birla Planetarium is also in Kolkata.
9. Sonagachi, Asia’s largest and licensed red light area, is also in Kolkata.
10. Kolkata also happens to be the only city where you still find the hand-pulled rickshaws.
11. As it says, size does matter, so Kolkata is India’s largest city in size and area.
12. The Calcutta Polo Club is the world’s oldest polo club.
13. The world’s sixth-longest bridge is the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata.
14. The oldest and largest museum in India happens to be The Indian Museum in Kolkata.
15. The city has produced many Nobel Laureates, including Rabindranath Tagore, CV Raman, Sir Ronald Ross, Mother Teresa, and Amartya Sen.
16. Kolkata Metro is the first Metro Train in India.
17. The first printed newspaper, namely Bengal Gazette, started in Kolkata, India.
18. The second-largest football stadium in the world is Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
19. Asia’s largest book fair is the Kolkata Book Fair.
20. Chinese food is also originated here in Kolkata.

How to Reach Kolkata?

Reaching Kolkata is not an issue. The city enjoys fantastic road, rail, and air connectivity.

Transport Facilities in Kolkata

There are 8 modes of transport to commute within Kolkata. The yellow taxi to tram to the minibus to the metro railway to hand-pulled rickshaw to auto-rickshaw to Toto E-rickshaw and ferries are frequently available.

Accommodation Facilities in Kolkata

The city of Kolkata offers fantastic accommodation facilities to tourists. Whether you plan a permanent move to the town or holiday in Kolkata, it presents several staying options that you can choose depending upon your travel nature. You can book a comfortable stay for yourself or your family based on your budget; low-priced hotels to mid-range hotels to 5-star luxury hotels to lodges, etc., all are readily available. However, for a hassle-free experience, it is best to book well in advance to avoid last-minute troubles.

Cost of Living

Undeniably, Kolkata is easily affordable than any other metro city in India. As you know, that cost of living depends upon many factors, including rented accommodation or a self-owned home, transportation cost, utility charges, etc. Let us see below how much an estimated cost you may need to pay if planning relocation to the city. Please note that these charges are not fixed and subject to change based on individual choices. Have a look!

Utilities

Size	Items	Estimated Charges (Per Month)
For 85m2 Apartment	Garbage, Water, Electricity, Cooling, and Heater	INR 1500-INR 5000
	Internet (60 Mbps or more) INR 500 or more	INR 500 or more

Transportation

Items	Estimated Charges
Local Transport	INR 10-INR 30
Monthly Pass for local train	INR 200 or more

Others

Items	Estimated Charges
Food at Inexpensive Restaurant	INR 100-INR 500
Meal at Standard Restaurant	INR 800 or more

Grocery Shopping In Kolkata

To buy daily grocery items such as fruit, vegetables, meat products, fish, ice cream, seafood, etc., the people of Kolkata visit local bazaars or markets, general stores, shops, and supermarkets. However, to save time, they also do not mind placing an order online and get items delivered to their doorsteps.

Note: The estimated monthly cost for groceries will be around INR 6000. However, these charges are variable depending upon the individual’s choice.

People & Lifestyle in Kolkata

“What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow!” The people of Bengal are known as Bengalis. They live a very colorful life. The city presents a fusion of Eastern and Western cultural influences contributing to Kolkata’s cultural life. During your stay in the city, you will see that people from different backgrounds, such as Punjabis, Jains, Christians, Marathis, Muslims, Marwaris, etc., live in complete harmony with Bengalis.

• People of Kolkata believe in simple living and high thinking. They are intellectuals who have great taste in music, art, literature, food, cricket, and football. Throughout the year, the city's people remain in a festive mood; the joy and grandeur get best observed during Durga Puja.
• Men's traditional outfit is Dhoti and Kurta, and for ladies, it is saree or salwar-kameez. However, the urban crowd is more comfortable with western attires but still attached to their roots.
• The people of Kolkata speak Bengali and English. Owing to being a culturally diversified city, people often converse in Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Gujarati, Oriya, etc.
• Although there are industries as a source of occupation in the city, still, even today, people are involved in the farming sector.

Thepackersmovers.com guarantees you that you are going to love Kolkata for many reasons. Let get started with a tour to some exciting places bound to leave lasting impressions on your mind.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Kolkata

Calcutta or Kolkata is a beautiful place. The city is a photographer’s paradise that offers old colonial-era buildings to picturesque Ghats to magnificent temples to historical buildings to shopping complexes, and whatnot. Below are some fantastic places to see from your close quarters-an absolute treat for your eyes.

1. New Market or Lindsey Treat
2. Victoria Memorial
3. Howrah Bridge
4. Park Street
5. South Park Cemetery
6. Dakshineshwar Kali Temple
7. Fort William
8. Calcutta Botanical Garden
9. Eden Gardens
10. Old Chinatown
11. Science City
12. Shantiniketan
13. Birla Planetarium
14. Marble Palace Mansion
15. Alipore Zoo
16. Prinsep Ghat
17. Piyali Islands
18. Mother Teresa House
19. National Library
20. Kumartuli
21. Dhakuri Lake
22. Nakhoda Mosque

Shopping In Kolkata

Shopping is fun. But when you are shopping in a city like Kolkata that shares closeness to all the important ports worldwide, it becomes even more exciting. The city offers a wide variety of cheap stuff that you can buy as a reminder of your trip to the city for friends and family. Hinted below are some top places in Kolkata worth your time and money.

1. New Market; offers local jewelry, clothes, bags, and home products.
2. Oxford Bookstore; offers a variety of books.
3. Dakshinapan Shopping Center; offers exquisite handicrafts, over 20 flavors of tea, and gift items.
4. Bara Bazaar; offers daily essential items like spices, cosmetics, electronic items, textiles, and artificial jewelry.
5. Sunshine; offers clothing, and textiles at affordable rates.
6. College Street; offers second-hand books.
7. Chowronghee Road; offers traditional stuff, terracotta items, funky items, etc.
8. Hatibagan Market; offers collection of cotton and silk sarees.
9. Howrah Phool Bazaar; offers a huge variety of fresh flowers.
10. Gariahat Market; offers a variety of clothes, jewelry, electronic items, etc.
11. Chandni Chowk; offers laptops, smart phones, and gadgets.
12. Sudder Street; offers dhoti pants, bags, scarves, Indo-western Kurta, bandanas, etc.
13. Park Street; offers wide range of items from books to Hookas to impressive handloom sarees to boutiques, and branded showrooms.

Mall Tours in Kolkata

1. South City Mall
2. Quest Mall
3. City Centre 1 Shopping Mall
4. Mani Square Mall
5. Avani Riverside Shopping Mall

Delicious Food Items in Kolkata

You must try these distinctive culinary delights of Kolkata, including:

1. Macher Jhol
2. Mishti Doi
3. Biryani
4. Kochu Pata Chingri
5. Beef Chateaubriand Steak
6. Coffee
7. Kosha Mangsho
8. Alur Torkari
9. Kathi Rolls
10. Nihari
11. Fish Snacks
12. Rezela
13. Jumbo Chilli Prawns
14. Puchka
15. Adrak ke Panje
16. Luchi
17. Cholar Dal
18. Shukto
19. Chomchom
20. Sandesh
21. Rasgullas
22. Jhal Muri
23. Paan
24. Telebhaja
25. Dhoodh Cola
26. Ghee Masala Dosa
27. Momos

Nightlife in Kolkata

Your days in Kolkata will be jam-packed with a tour to historic monuments, iconic landmarks, bazaars, trying lip-smacking delicacies, etc. But what about your entertainment in the night after the sun goes down? The city offers many pubs and nightclubs add to its nocturnal allure, where you can unwind yourself with a few drinks, amazing music, and great food.

Schools in Kolkata

The people of Kolkata have an intellectual bent of mind. Here the level of education is excellent. The schools have affiliation with the CBSE Board, West Bengal Board, and other state boards. From private schools to public schools to IB schools, and government schools, all are available within the city. Time to time initiatives help improve the quality of teaching and overall growth of the students.

Colleges in Kolkata

From engineering colleges to medical colleges to dental colleges to institutions of national importance, Kolkata has everything. Students from different parts of the world come to the city and take admission based on their merit.

Universities in Kolkata

The city presents twenty public universities or autonomous institutions that award their diplomas or degrees.

Some Top Universities are:

1. Amity University
2. Jadavpur University
3. Aliah University
4. JIS University
5. University of Calcutta
6. Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute

Healthcare Kolkata

The hospitals in Kolkata present a perfect mix of the finest doctors and the latest technologies. The healthcare sector of the city is always keen to improve the levels of service. The state-of-the-art facilities and other amenities contribute towards the overall well-being of the patients.

Advantages of Staying in Kolkata

1. The food is very cheap.
2. The city has a rich culture.
3. Kolkata enjoys artistic and literary heritage.
4. The public transport system is unbeatable.
5. It is a safe city.

Disadvantages of Staying in Kolkata

1. Other cities like Bangalore are more politically tolerant than Kolkata.
2. Job opportunities are a lot more in other metro cities of India than here.
3. The roads are not great.
4. If you do not know Bengali, then the literal discussions and classical concerts are of no use.
5. People do not show enthusiasm for new start-ups. They are happy doing their patent jobs.

Moving Tips to Kolkata

Do you expect to relocate to Kolkata anytime soon? If yes, then thepackersmovers.com is confident that you may need some tips that help you move peacefully. Whether it will be your home move or business move, we have gathered some handy moving tips to make your relocation as comfortable as it can be. We understand that it requires a lot of effort to organize a move all by yourself. Therefore, as your loyal companion, we are here with some fantastic guidelines that you can follow to shift stress-free to a new place. We guarantee you that these relocating tips are worth your time and money. Here they are…

First of all, it is always good to plan your move. Last-minute planning leads you nowhere. It will spoil the whole essence of your mood.

Second, it is a must to check whether you have adequate funds to move or not. Inadequate funds will hamper your planning followed by stressful situations.

Third, it will be good to gather relevant as much information as you can about the place you are moving to. You can also discuss your relocation with those friends who have already been to that place. Their suggestions and the information gathered from the internet; together will add more value to your move.

Fourth, if required, you can also dispose of the things you do not need anymore. Else, you can also distribute them among the needy in the name of charity.

Fifth, you must carry only essential items with you varying from clothes to passport to tickets to papers, etc. Do not burden yourself with irrelevant things. It will help if you choose a separate bag for their safe transit.

Sixth, as you expect a move, it is worth getting in touch with a moving packing company that deals in professionally managed relocation services for a fail-safe experience ahead.

Importance of Packers and Movers

It is a must to contact a reliable moving and packing company to handle your relocation. The moving agents working there have excellent knowledge and experience worth for a trouble-free move. The packers and movers Kolkata registered on our online portal offer 100% friendly relocation services. These city-based moving agents keep an edge over their competitors for providing a fully insured shifting at reasonable rates. So, hire them now through thepackersmovers.com for an up-and-close experience.