Kolkata

It may have changed its name, but for many Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) still conjures up images of squalor, poverty and urban disaster - a superficial reputation belying the charm of the city's distinctly Bengali soul.

While the teeming humanity, chaotic streets and crumbling colonial heritage are all too visible; Kolkata is also acknowledged as the cultural capital of India and its friendliest metropolis. A place of depth and contrast, the city has some of the country's finest remnants of British colonial architecture and is home to India's heaviest concentration of political activists, poets and artists.

Yet another sphere where Kolkata is making rapid inroads is that of technology. Equipped with one of the most sophisticated technology parks in India, located in Salt Lec City, Kolkata is gradually trying to project itself as the IT hub of Eastern India, drawing software experts and entrepreneurs from across the world

The metropolis undoubtedly has its share of problems - chronic labour unrest, population overload, political ineptitude, environmental degradation and traffic snarl ups that bite. Yet time and again enchanted visitors tell of its beauty, the energy and humour of its people amidst the mayhem, imparting the distinct impression that Kolkata is a city unfairly stigmatized.

Facts At A Glance

Area: 187 sq km (72 sq mi)
Population: 14 million
Country: India
Main language: Bengali
Time Zone: MT/UTC plus five hours 30 minutes
Telephone Area Code:033

When To Go

At a mighty altitude of 6m (21ft) and too far south of the Himalayas to receive their cooling effect, Kolkata is remarkably temperate all year round. The best time to visit is from October to February when most fairs and festivals are celebrated and the weather on its least oppressive behaviour.