Major reasons to visit Literary Capital of India – Kolkata

For more than a century, Calcutta functioned as the capital city for British India. The East India Company’s offices were there, and later, during the British Raj, it served as the hub of British colonies in the subcontinent.

Up until 2001, Kolkata’s official name was Calcutta. The name change was a part of a larger push to get rid of anglicised city names that the British assigned when they were in authority. However, Bengali speakers had traditionally pronounced Calcutta as Kolkata.

Since many of India’s most prominent writers have been from Kolkata, the city has also earned the name “literary capital of India.” 

Why should you plan a stay in Kolkata?

Great Market place

Some of India’s busiest and oldest markets are found in Kolkata. From one of the biggest secondhand book markets in the world at College Street to one of the biggest flower marketplaces in Asia at Mallik Ghat, Kolkata’s bustling bazaars will enchant anyone with the sheer variety of necessary and unusual things for a discount.

Embrace China in India

As the sole remaining Chinatown in India, Kolkata protects the culture and decreasing Chinese immigrant population of the nation. One of Kolkata’s most culturally diverse neighbourhoods, Terreti Bazaar, or Old Chinatown, is worth visiting for its mouthwatering street cuisine, ancient Chinese temples, amusing streetside kiosks, and other attractions.

Extraordinary Architecture

Whether it’s the magnificent Victoria Memorial from the colonial era or the always crowded Howrah Bridge, Kolkata’s architecture is sure to wow you. Few other cities can match Kolkata for its collection of historic churches, synagogues, temples, stately palaces, and colonial structures in capturing the elegance of a historical period.

Historically Cosmopolitan City

Kolkata is one of the most multinational Indian cities because it has long been the home to significant Chinese, Armenian, Jewish, and other immigrant communities. Each of these groups has contributed to the development of Kolkata’s social, historical, political, cultural, and architectural aspects, showcasing a fascinating fusion of world cultures for tourists to enjoy.

Delicious Local Cuisine

Every foodie should at least once visit Kolkata to experience its rich culinary history. Kolkata is one of India’s best cities to experience wonderful food as it’s home to exquisite street food, mouthwatering Bengali sweets and desserts, classic Indo-Chinese restaurants, and a variety of legendary eateries.

Nation’s Literary Capital

The City of Joy and literary capital is a must-visit destination for readers of Indian literature because it is the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagore and several other important personalities in Indian literature. The oldest publishing houses in the nation are located in Kolkata.

Football attraction of India

Kolkata is a fascinating destination for sports fans to visit as it is a centre for football fans in a nation gripped by cricket mania. In addition to being the oldest association football league in Asia, the Calcutta Football League was established in 1898, making it one of the oldest football leagues in the entire world.

Trams

The only city in India with a functional tram network is Kolkata. The tram system in Kolkata, which is the oldest in all of Asia, is a fascinating and exceptional experience that tourists are sure to love. These lovely rides, which travel through some of the city’s most historic areas and are drenched in old-world charm, are well worth the trip to Kolkata.

Kumortuli

Any art lover should explore Kolkata’s pottery area, the sole piece of the city’s once-glorious artisans’ colony. Kumortuli has an almost surreal aspect with its narrow pathways lined with artists entirely engrossed in their work on terracotta sculptures, mainly statues of Hindu gods.

The Marble Palace

Raja Rajendra Mullick, a trader from Bengal who still has family here, built the Marble Palace. This amazing structure, which has a Neoclassical design, is built of 26 different kinds of Italian marble. One of Kolkata’s most magnificent and well-preserved homes is this mansion. The Marble Palace’s outside decor, which includes the customary open courtyards and a place of worship that can only be entered by family members, keeps loyal to its Bengali heritage despite the interior’s Victorian furnishings and western changes. Along with the palace, tourists can take use of the lawns, a rock garden, a lake, and a small zoo in the garden.

Science City

One of the best and biggest science centres in India, Science City of Kolkata was founded by the National Council of Science Museum, and its motto should be “One is never too old to learn.” With exhibition space, 3D theatre experiences, and a high-tech motion stimulator, Science City promotes learning in the most enjoyable way. It is one of Kolkata’s most popular tourist destinations and a destination for people of all ages.

Stay options in Kolkata

Kolkata offers wide variety of stay options for travelers, all time of the year.

• Hostel in Kolkata
• Hotels in Kolkata
• Co-Work in Kolkata
• Resorts in Kolkata

Conclusion

Kolkata is much more than just the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, yellow cabs, oppressive heat, or the sea of people. Kolkata is a city with a strong personality that demands to be felt, not merely observed.

AUTHOR BIO: 

Hi, My name is Aekansh Somani and I love to explore and travel.