   |
   |
|
Indian culture is an ancient and dynamic entity, spanning back to
the very beginnings of human civilization. Beginning with a mysterious
culture along the Indus River and in farming communities in the southern
lands of India, the history of the sub-continent is one puncuated
by constant integration with migrating peoples and with the diverse
cultures that surround India. So Book your Trip To India Or Trip For India
|
 |
| NORTH INDIA TOURISM | SOUTH INDIA TOURISM | CENTRAL INDIA TOURISM | WEST INDIA TOURISM | EAST INDIA TOURISM |
Ancient Indya -» East India Tourism -» Kolkata India Tourism
Kolkata India Tourism
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the River Hooghly. The city has a population of almost 5 million, with an extended metropolitan population of over 14 million, making it the third-largest urban agglomeration and the fourth-largest city in India.The city served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Once the centre of modern education, science, culture and politics in India, Kolkata witnessed economic stagnation in the years following India's independence in 1947.
However, since the year 2000 an economic rejuvenation has arrested the morbid decline, leading to a spurt in the city's growth. Like other large cities, Kolkata continues to struggle with urbanisation problems like poverty, pollution and traffic congestion.
A vibrant city with a distinct socio-political culture, Kolkata is noted for its revolutionary history, ranging from the Indian struggle for independence to the leftist and trade union movements. Referred to as the "Cultural Capital of India", "The City of Processions", and the "City of Joy", the city is known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage.
The names Kolkata and Calcutta were probably based on Kalikata, the name of one of the three villages (Kalikata, Sutanuti, Gobindapur) in the area before the arrival of the British. "Kalikata", in turn, is an anglicised version of Kalikshetra ("Land of the goddess Kali"). However, other theories exist regarding the origin of the name.
The original settlement of the city was claimed to be located beside a khal, meaning a canal in Bengali. Khal might have given rise to the name. Again, the place was known for the manufacture of shell-lime and the name could have been derived from lime (kali) and burnt shell (kata). Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term kilkila ("flat area").
While the city was always pronounced either "Kolkata" or "Kolikata", in the local Bengali language, its official English name was only changed from "Calcutta" to "Kolkata" in 2001, reflecting the Bengali pronunciation, as a largely political move to erase the legacy of British rule in the city.
The discovery of the nearby Chandraketugarh, an archaeological site, provides evidence that the area has been inhabited for over two millennia. The city's documented history, however, begins with the arrival of the British East India Company in 1690, when the Company was consolidating its trade business in Bengal.
Job Charnock, an administrator with the Company who eventually settled in Sutanuti after invading through Hijli Kingdom, was traditionally credited as the founder of this city (however, recently experts have endorsed the view that Charnock was not the official founder of the city).In 1699, the British completed the construction of old Fort William, which was used to station its troops and as a regional base. Kolkata (then Calcutta) was declared a Presidency City, and later became the headquarters of the Bengal Presidency.
Faced with frequent skirmishes with French forces, in 1756 the British began to upgrade their fortifications. When protests against the militarisation by the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Daulah went unheeded, he attacked and captured Fort William leading to the infamous Black Hole incident. A force of Company sepoys and British troops led by Robert Clive recaptured the city the following year.
Kolkata was named the capital of British India in 1772. It was during this period that the marshes surrounding the city were drained and the government area was laid out along the banks of the Hooghly River. Richard Wellesley, the Governor General between 1797 – 1805, was largely responsible for the growth of the city and its public architecture which led to the description of Kolkata as 'the City of Palaces'.
|
|
All rights reserved
by Ancient
Indya
This Site is Designed, Developed and Promoted by ACG Infotech Limited & Travel Portal India
This Site is Designed, Developed and Promoted by ACG Infotech Limited & Travel Portal India