34 Facts About Kolkata

The Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port.

Kolkata is home to eastern India's film industry, known as Tollywood, and cultural institutions, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum, and the National Library of India.

Kolkata's recorded history began in 1690 with the arrival of the English East India Company, which was consolidating its trade business in Bengal.

Kolkata's warning went unheeded, and the Nawab attacked; he captured Fort William which led to the killings of several East India company officials in the Black Hole of Calcutta.

The remaining undeveloped areas, known as the East Kolkata Wetlands, were designated a "wetland of international importance" by the Ramsar Convention.

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Kolkata is located over the "Bengal basin", a pericratonic tertiary basin.

Kolkata, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, has an area of 206.

South Kolkata developed after India gained independence in 1947; it includes upscale neighbourhoods such as Bhawanipore, Alipore, Ballygunge, Kasba, Dhakuria, Santoshpur, Garia, Golf Green, Tollygunge, New Alipore, Behala, Barisha etc.

Two planned townships in the greater Kolkata region are Bidhannagar, known as Salt Lake City and located north-east of the city; and Rajarhat, called New Town and located east of Bidhannagar.

Kolkata is subject to a tropical wet-and-dry climate that is designated Aw under the Koppen climate classification.

Kolkata has been hit by several cyclones; these include systems occurring in 1737 and 1864 that killed thousands.

Kolkata is the commercial and financial hub of East and North-East India and home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange.

Once India's leading city, Kolkata experienced a steady economic decline in the decades following India's independence due to steep population increases and a rise in militant trade-unionism, which included frequent strikes that were backed by left-wing parties.

The Jewish population of Kolkata was 5, 000 during World War II, but declined after Indian independence and the establishment of Israel; by 2013, there were 25 Jews in the city.

The city has an apolitical titular post, that of the Sheriff of Kolkata, which presides over various city-related functions and conferences.

Kolkata has lower courts: the Court of Small Causes and the City Civil Court decide civil matters; the Sessions Court rules in criminal cases.

The Kolkata Police, headed by a police commissioner, is overseen by the West Bengal Ministry of Home Affairs.

Kolkata has rail and road connectivity with Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

Kolkata is the only Indian city with a tram network, which was operated by the Calcutta Tramways Company.

Almost all of Kolkata's taxis are antiquated Hindustan Ambassadors by make; newer air-conditioned radio taxis are in service as well.

The Kolkata Metro has somewhat eased traffic congestion, as has the addition of new roads and flyovers.

Port of Kolkata, established in 1870, is India's oldest and the only major river port.

The infant mortality rate in Kolkata was live births, and the mortality rate for children under five was live births.

Kolkata is one of the districts in India with a high number of people with AIDS; it has been designated a district prone to high risk.

Kolkata's schools are run by the state government or private organisations, many of which are religious.

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Kolkata is known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage; as the former capital of India, it was the birthplace of modern Indian literary and artistic thought.

Kolkata has been called the "City of Furious, Creative Energy" as well as the "cultural [or literary] capital of India".

Kolkata has many buildings adorned with Indo-Islamic and Indo-Saracenic architectural motifs.

Kolkata is the home of the Bengali cinema industry, dubbed "Tollywood" for Tollygunj, where most of the state's film studios are located.

Key elements of Kolkata's cuisine include rice and a fish curry known as machher jhol, which can be accompanied by desserts such as roshogolla, sandesh, and a sweet yoghurt known as mishti dohi.

Major periodicals based in Kolkata include Desh, Sananda, Saptahik Bartaman, Unish-Kuri, Anandalok and Anandamela.

Kolkata has 10 local radio stations broadcasting on FM, including three from AIR.

Kolkata is home to Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and the Bengal cricket team; the Cricket Association of Bengal, which regulates cricket in West Bengal, is based in the city.

Kolkata, considered the leading centre of rugby union in India, gives its name to the oldest international tournament in rugby union, the Calcutta Cup.