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What are some interesting facts about the city Kolkata?

Located on the bank of the Hooghly River, Kolkata truly holds the essence of the India. Kolkata is the second-largest city in India, after New Delhi. Being a historical city, Kolkata is home to several palaces, monuments, and Hindu temples bearing architectural significance. You often refer Kolkata as the “city of joy”, but did you know its other names— “city of processions”, “city of palaces”, and the “cultural capital of India”.?


LESSER KNOWN AND INTERESTING FACTS OF KOLKATA:

Cricket is the most popular sport throughout India, but Kolkata’s heart beats for Football. It is so famous that it runs a football league which is 2nd oldest in the world. Kolkata being a passionate football City, used to own the world’s 2nd biggest football stadium called the Salt Lake Stadium.

Untill 1911, the city was the capital of India due to its trade importance during the British Rule in India. Later, New Delhi was made the capital of India.

Going by seating capacity, the Eden Gardens Cricket Ground of Kolkata city is the stadium is the 3rd largest cricket stadium in the world.




Operating since 1902, the Kolkata tram is the oldest running electric tram system in Asia. The tram adds a charm pertaining to a bygone era to this city.

Being the motherland of great authors and poets like R.N. Tagore, Kolkata is a book reader’s dream place. It has the world’s 2nd biggest used book center where you can found almost any book in the world.

Even though Delhi has introduced metros recently and Mumbai is just getting used to the recent addition of metros, Kolkata had it 2 decades ago.



Kolkata has trams, it has metros, it has taxis, but it still holds the hand of traditional hand-pulled rickshaws, the sole one in India.

Book Fair is said to be the most attended book fair in the world. With around 2 million visitors, this Fair in Kolkata is well known for its non-trade book fair.



Polo is not usually connected with India, but the city holds an exception. Incepted in 1862, the Calcutta Polo Club is the oldest polo club in the world.

Its neighboring country Bangladesh have a lot in common, The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka is named after a form of Goddess Durga “Dhakeshwari” Devi and Durga Puja is a rich part of their culture too.


Situated in the Indian Botanic Garden near Kolkata, the Great Banyan Tree is the largest tree. As far as area covering is concerned around 14,500 square meters. It is estimated to be approx. 1200 years old tree with around 3300 roots falling to the surface.


All the citizens might just hate the zoo for being filled with dust, but do you know that it has the oldest zoo in India!



The Howrah Bridge seems to be the main attraction of the city—but did you know that the bridge is the one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world, and perhaps the only largest one in the country?
Satyajit Ray was one of the first Oscar winners in the country.

The National Library of India, situated in Kolkata, is the largest public library in the country.


Literacy rate in the city is 87.14%, which is far better than national average of 74%.

The Birla Planetarium in the city is the largest planetarium in Asia, and the 2nd largest in the world.

The city is extremely friendly and very easy-going compared to the other cities.

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