Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, houses many places of tourist interest that result in thousands of footfalls round the year. The city is the main business, academic, and cultural hub of Eastern India and lies on the eastern riverbanks of the Hooghly River.
Area and population of Kolkata
The total area covered by the city is 71 sq miles or 185 km2. The metropolitan region of the city covers an area of 728.45 sq miles or 1,886.67 km2. According to the census conducted in 2011, the population of the city is 4,486,679, making it the 7th most populated city in India. The metropolitan region of the city houses a population of 14,112,536 and the metropolitan region of the city ranks as the third most populated metropolitan region of the country. The density of population of Kolkata is 63,200/sq miles or 24,250/km2.
Geographical features of Kolkata
The city of Kolkata forms a part of Eastern India. The coordinates of the city are 22.82° North and 88.20° east. The mean altitude of the city is 17 feet over sea surface. The shoreline of the Bay of Bengal lies at a distance of 60 km in the south. The Sundarbans National Park is located at a distance of 100 km from the city.
The city of Kolkata can be broadly categorized into the following areas:
North Kolkata - Shobhabazar, Shyambazar, Cossipore, Chitpur, Sinthee, Baranagar, and Dum Dum Central Kolkata - BBD Bagh, Esplanade, Free School Street (Mirza Ghalib Street), Park Street, Chandni Chowk, Dalhousie Square, Sudder Street and Burra Bazaar. It is also known as the central business district (CBD) of the city. South Kolkata - Alipore, Ballygunge, Lansdowne, New Alipore, Tollygunge, Bhowanipore, Lake Gardens, Jodhpur Park, Jadavpur, Golf Green, and Kasba.
The suburbs of the city are Behala, Garden Reach, Kudghat, Thakurpukur, Bansdroni, Ranikuthi, Garia, and Baghajatin.
Demographic features of Kolkata
The sex ratio of the city is 899 females/1000 males. The literacy rate of the city is 87.14%, which is substantially higher than the countrywide mean (74%). Most of the people of Kolkata are Bengalis. Other communities include Tamils, Chinese, Oriyas, Nepalis, Assamese, Telugus, Anglo-Indians, Gujaratis, Greeks, Armenians, Maharashtrians, Tibetans, Malayalees, Konkanis, Parsis, and Punjabis. The main language spoken in the city is Bengali. Other languages used include English, Hindi, and Urdu. About 77.68% of the people is Hindu, 0.88% is Christians, 20.27% Muslims, and 0.46% are Jains.
Economy of Kolkata
Kolkata holds the position of the principal business hub of the Eastern and Northeast India. Major industries of the city include heavy engineering, steel, minerals, pharmaceuticals, cement, agriculture, food processing, textiles, electronics, electrical equipments, engineering goods, leather, jewelry, tea, tobacco, automobile and jute. The city is also home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE), which is the oldest and second biggest exchange in the country. Kolkata Metro is one of the groundbreaking achievements in South Asia as it is the oldest metro rail service in the territory.
Governance of Kolkata
Currently, the mayor of the city is Shri Sovan Chatterjee. He represents the Trinamool Congress party. The city is run by a mayor-council government system and there are 141 municipal wards in the city, each represented by a councilor. These wards are again divided into 15 boroughs. The city comes under the legal authority of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.Educational institutes in Kolkata
Given below are the names of the most famous educational institutes in Kolkata:
Universities Aliah University, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Kolkata, University of Calcutta, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Jadavpur University, Indian Statistical Institute, Presidency University, Kolkata, Netaji Subhas Open University, Rabindra Bharati University, Presidency University, Kolkata, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, West Bengal State University. Engineering colleges
Birla Institute of Technology, Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU)
Medical Colleges Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta Medical College, National Medical College, R.G. Kar Medical College, KPC Medical College and Hospital, S.S.K.M. Medical College, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Science and Research, Panihati, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College, College of Medicine and JNM Hospital, Kalyani and Sagar Dutta Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Kamarhati.
Hospitals in Kolkata
Government Hospitals
Baghajatin State General Hospital, B.R. Singh Hospital- Eastern Railways - Sealdah, South Suburban Hospital, Baranagar State General Hospital, Bijoygarh State General Hospital, Bidhan Nagar State General Hospital, and Gardenreach State General Hospital
Private Hospitals
Anandolok Hospital, Assembly of God Church, Balananda Bramhachari Hospital, Apex Hospital, Bharat Sevashram Sangha Hospital, Belle Vue Hospital, Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI), B.P. Poddar Hospital & Medical Research Ltd., Desun Hospital and Heart Institute, Columbia Asia Hospital - Salt Lake, Genesis Hospital, Dishan Hospital, Kothari Medical Centre, ILS Super Speciality Clinic, Medica Superspeciality Hospital, Mayfair Hospital, B.T Road, Phoenix Hospital & Diagnostic Centre Pvt. Ltd., Peerless Hospital, Renaissance Hospital Private Limited, Priyamvada Birla Aarvind Eye Hospital, Sankara Nethralaya, RSV Hospital, Tollygunge, Shree Aurobindo Seva Kendra, Jodhpur Park, Shahid Khudiram Bose Hospital, Belghoria, Silverline Eye Hospital, Shree Vishudhanand Sarswati Marwari Hospital, Susrut Eye Foundation and Research Centre, and Sterling Hospital, Shyambazar.
Medical Colleges and Hospitals
Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta Medical College, National Medical College, R.G. Kar Medical College, KPC Medical College and Hospital, S.S.K.M. Medical College, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Science and Research, Panihati, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College, College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani and Sagar Dutta Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Kamarhati.
Tertiary and specialized hospitals
Advanced Medicare & Research Institute Ltd (AMRI), Dhakuria, Salt Lake, Apollo Gleneagles Hospital Ltd., Tata Medical Center, AMRI Womens and Children Care, Woodland Hospital, Westbank Hospital, Birla Heart Hospital, Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Ruby Hospital and Chittaranjan Cancer Institute.
Tourist Attractions in Kolkata
The top tourist attractions in Kolkata include:
Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum, the National Library of India, Kolkata Race Course, Millennium Park, Mirza Ghalib Street, Birla Planetarium, Science City, Town Hall, Howrah Bridge (Ravindra Setu), Writer's Building, Ochterlony Monument (Shahid Minar), Tagore House at Jorasanko, Maidan, Outram Ghat, Eden Gardens, Alipore Zoological Gardens, Vidyasagar Setu, Rabindra Sarovar, Kalighat, Belur Math, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Nakhoda Mosque, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Armenian Church, St. Paul's Cathedral, Pareshnath Jain Temple, Japanese Buddhist Temple, and Jewish Synagogues.
Last Updated on 2/16/2012
