You can call it the ‘Cultural capital of India’ or ‘City of Joy’. Kolkata is not only the capital of India’s eastern state – West Bengal – but a cultural, commercial and educational hub of east India. It is the birthplace and home to some of the great personalities India has seen and for whose contribution we all as a nation are indebted to. Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose are a few to name.
The metropolis of West Bengal is a famous and oft-visited tourist destination known for its historical monuments, art galleries, lively culture and the cuisine. The places of interest which delegates can explore post events in and around Kolkata include Victoria Memorial Hall, Writers’ Building, Mother House, Tomb of Mother Teresa, Chowringhee, ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda’s, and several other sites.
Calcutta (former name of Kolkata) is well-connected to other cities of the state and the country by air, rail, metro, trams and road. About 17 kilometres away from the city centre, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the nearest airport with flight connectivity across major cities in India and some international destinations. Most of the passengers travelling by train to and from Kolkata are served by two main railway stations in the city, one each in Howrah and Sealdah. Both government and privately-owned buses offer regular services to and from Kolkata. The metro in Kolkata serves the Kolkata metropolitan area, saving you from the snarl-ups that you may find yourself in if travelling by a taxi or a bus.