Travel in Kolkata
Location
Kolkata is located in eastern India at 220 32 in the North and 880 22 in the East, in the Ganges Delta at an elevation of about 1.5 to 9 metres.Kolkata
How to reach
Air
Kolkata is well connected with direct domestic airlines services to and from Kolkata to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc. there are also direct flights to most of the countries in the Southeast Asia. The airport is situated at Dumdum, about 17 km northeast of the city centre.Rail
The two most important stations are Howrah and Sealdah. The Howrah Station is divi8ded into two blocks. I to 16 comprise of the main building and 17 to 22 belong to the new annex building. Tourist Railway booking Office is on the 1st floor at 6 Fairlie Place near BBD Bagh. The office remains open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, 1:30 to 4:00 pm and on Sunday between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta. The city has two major railway stations - one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.
Kolkata is served by two railway station, Haora (Howrah) and Sealdah and is connected to major cities all over the country.
Railway Stations
Howrah Railway Station is one of the largest railway terminals in the world. The station is grounded in the win city of Kolkata that is Howrah. Hooghly river separates the mainlands of the Howrah and Kolkata, but the regions are linked with well established railway lines, roadways and water transport.Sealdah Railway Station is the main railway station in the city of Kolkata. The railway station provides the services to the city suburbs as well as long distance transportation. Sealdah with the nearby railway station of Howrah form the headquarters of Eastern and South Eastern Railways.
Trains from the other parts of the country connect Calcutta. City is also connected with the super fast trains. The city has two major railway stations, one at Howrah and the other at Sealdah.
Road
Buses commute between Kolkata and other major cities of India. Local Transport: Bus, taxis (yellow- non ac and blue arrow-air conditioned) and trams (still unique to Kolkata) help tourists to commute in Kolkata. Hand driven and cycle rickshaws, and auto rickshaws are relatively cheap. The metro railway is Kolkata's pride and is and is increasingly becoming an important mode of transport.Kolkata is also connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Esplanade Terminus in the heart of the city is the main bus terminus. A new development is the starting of Dhaka-Kolkata bus service. The buses are colourful, air-conditioned, and comfortable.
Kolkata is connected by an extensive network of national highways with major cities and towns. Buses generally depart from the Esplanades bus stand area at the northern end of the Maidan near Chowringhee Road. But there are a number of private companies, which have their own stands. Buses to and from the South generally use the bus stand near Fort William at Babu Ghat.
Bus Stand
A birds eye view of Kolkata city reveals a profuse network of interlinking roads. The city does not have any particular major bus station. But there are a number of smaller terminal located in the premises of various suburbs. The bus services available for the city comprises of the State Bus Services, Private Bus Services, Mini Bus Services and Calcutta Transport Corporation (CTC) Services.Calcutta is connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Esplanade Terminus in the heart of the city is the main bus terminus.
Kolkata has virtually all the different modes of local transport - trams, buses, rickshaws, metered taxis and minibuses. The services are basic and crowded but cheap. The Metro, India's first and Kolkata's pride and joy, provides a clean, fast and efficient way to get around.
Local transport
Kolkata boasts of the country's first underground Metro Rail system. Kolkata's Metro operates 8am- 8pm with a train every 12 minute' between Esplanade and Tollygunge station. Fares are very reasonable- and it's spotless! The tram depot is at the northern end of the Maidan.Besides the yellow- top taxis available, you can also hire a car eg. Europcar, Wenz international, Car, Cab or Avis.
Man- pulled Riskshaws are a Kolkata special but there are not many on the roads now. Horse- drawn carriages are available outside the Victoria Memorial. Take a ride along the bansk of the Hoogly.
Arrival and departure
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (20 kms) handles both domestic and international traffic. Al office is at Nehru Road (2822356), Indian Airlines (2110810), Jet Airways (Tel: 2292727) and Air Sahara (Tel: 2828969). Kolkata is the headquarters of the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway. Regular train services connect Howrah and Sealdah stations to different parts of India.Train from Chennai (25 hrs), Bhubaneswar (6 hrs) Puri (8 ¼ hrs), Varanasi (14 ¼ hrs), Muzaffarpur for Nepal (14 ½ hrs), Delhi (24 hrs or 16 hrs by Rajdhani Express), Patna (10 hrs), Darjeeling (18 ½ hrs) change at New Jalpaiguri. Train information can be obtained at 2203545 or you can make your train reservations at railways offices on Esplanada near the trains depot or on strand Road. Foreigners can go straight to the Centralised Foreign Tourist Office in Fairlie Place (9am- 4pm) Mon- Sat, 9am- 2pm Sunday and holidays, closed for lunch 1- 1.30 pm). Payment in foreign currency or rupees with an encashment certificate.
