Kolkata
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Overview
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is a major port. Nepal's trade passes through it, and Kolkata is the starting point of the Kaladan route to Sittwe. Durga Puja in Kolkata is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
The city grew from the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata, and it was the capital of British India until 1911.
It stands on the Hooghly, a distributary of the Ganga, and the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port has a dock at Kolkata and a deep-water dock at Haldia.
Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge and the Indian Museum are key landmarks.
Geography and key facts
- Capital of West Bengal
- Port for Nepal's trade
- Durga Puja: UNESCO intangible heritage
- Capital of British India until 1911
- On the Hooghly
- Haldia dock
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked in intangible heritage and connectivity questions.
Note for UPSC
Capital of West Bengal. International airport.
Useful for orientation questions and for locating other features relative to the capital.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Kolkata yet.
Key facts
- Type
- State / UT capital · International airport
- State / UT
- West Bengal
- Coordinates
- 22.567°N, 88.370°E
22.655°N, 88.447°E
2 markers on the map
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
More state and ut capitals nearby
Other places in West Bengal
All state and ut capitals · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs