Home to lively festivals and a vibrant artistic community, Kolkata or Calcutta is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. Interestingly, Kolkata was the capital of India during the British Empire and has been long known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage. A walk along Chowringhee Road sets the pace as you set out to unravel the rare beauty of this city.

Known as "The City of Joy", Kolkata will mesmerize you with its tram journeys and old world charm. The language widely spoken is Bengali and the locals are considered to be very fond of traditional Bengali cuisine consisting mainly of rice and fish, and sweets are an inevitable part of Bengali cuisine. Besides other widespread festivals celebrated across India, Durga Puja held in September or October, is Kolkata's most important festival and is an occasion for glamorous celebrations. Kolkata remains the dominant urban area of East India and is home to several esteemed educational institutes such as Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management and many more. To the outside world Kolkata, brings forth the sacred remembrance of Mother Teresa whose selfless and kind-hearted services gave a new life to thousands.

Best time to visit:

Kolkata has a tropical wet and dry climate and the best time to visit the city is from October to March.

Top five places to see:

Howrah Bridge – It is not often that a certain landmark becomes the very identity of a city. The Howrah Bridge also termed as the gateway of Kolkata, is one such structure. Constructed on the river Hoogly, the grandeur and majestic appeal of this bridge has been the face of Kolkata for over a century.

Victoria Memorial – Built in Italian Renaissance and Saracenic style architecture, the shining white Victoria Memorial surrounded by lush greenery is dedicated to Queen Victoria, and houses an incredible collection of rare memorabilia from British colonial days. A light and sound show recreates Indian History right from the arrival of British to the Independence era every evening.

Fort William – Fort William, the massive and impregnable British Citadel built in honour of King William–III, is still in use and retains its well guarded grandeur. Situated on the picturesque banks of the Hoogly the Fort has been a witness to many bloodbaths and historical moments.

Indian Museum – One of the oldest museums in Asia, the Indian Museum posses rare fossils, coins, stones, Gandhara art, meteors and much more. On display is a 4,000 year old mummy, as well as is an urn said to contain the Lord Buddha's ashes.

Marble Palace – Situated in Chorbagan, in an artistically laid-out garden, this Place has an exceptional collection of antiques that are of immense artistic and historical value. Magnificent curios, rare China and a few unique paintings by Rubens are only some of the unusual items present in this palace. A must see for all visitors.