Kolkata-The Heritage Capital
Calcutta or Kolkata is a city that means many things to many people. For some, Calcutta is the city of joy, while for others it is dirty, crowded, and noisy. Once the greatest colonial city in the Orient, Calcutta was later reviled as a cauldron of poverty, dirt, and disease. Today, it ranks among the four major metropolis of India along with Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. A mere village in the 17th century, Calcutta is not an ancient city like Delhi. Like Mumbai and Chennai, it originated largely due to the expansionist ambitions of the European powers, especially the British Raj. Little wonder, Calcutta has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles.
Kolkata in recent is catching up with other major cities in India to attract new-age businesses and adopting fast the business culture of the modern world. Kolkata is also gateway to the Buddhist Sector of East India and hill resorts of North East India like Darjeeling, Gangtok, and Shillong.
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