Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi once said, “You want your city clean and green, stick to Delhi.You want your city rich and impersonal, go to Bombay.You want them hi-tech and full of draught beer, Bangalore’s your place.But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta.”

The quote is true even in its basic sense. The city has earned the nickname ‘city of joy’ for its soulful embodiment of culture, love, mystery, respect, enthusiasm and definitely some amazing sweet delicacies. Kolkata, as it is now referred to as, is a city that upholds a perfect juxtaposition between the old world and the modern one.

The residents of Kolkata might have a lazy approach to life with a compulsory afternoon siesta, the people visiting this city is truly left mesmerised by the old world charm. With exclusive services offered by travel agencies in Kolkata, you can get a lucrative deal that will help you explore the city and experience its beauty. While individual travellers can secure customised offers, group travellers can get attractive discounts.

With every street, every corner of the city having a story to tell, here is a list of five things that make Kolkata different from all the other metropolitans in India.

Kolkata served as the British capital till 1912, before it was shifted to Delhi. It is also the second largest city in India in area coverage after the capital city of Delhi. In fact, it was a city of significance importance to the British Empire. So you will stumble upon a lot of British architecture and feel almost everywhere in the city. If you visit Kolkata, for whatever span maybe, you are bound to find out that public transport is the lifeline of the city. They are effective and fast, offering the best connectivity. From auto-rickshaws to buses, there are a wide number of options which you can avail. If you want to travel back in time, then you can definitely opt for tram, as Kolkata is one of the few cities in the entire world to have this mode of transport. Laid-back and relaxed are the perfect explanation of what you feel when travelling in a taking a ride in a tram. Everyone is aware of the Howrah Bridge! And everyone visiting the city is definitely aware of the fact that it is one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world and the only one India. When in the evening it lights up like a bride, you can actually see it in its actual glory. Kolkata is often called the ‘cultural capital of India’. With names like Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa, Amartya Sen and many others, Kolkata is the hub for intellectuals and artists. You will find elderly men in every para having a gathering in the evenings to discuss idealism and politics. So much for being the cultural capital! Since Kolkata and intellectualism have a long history, it is only obvious to point out that the National Library of India is the largest public library in the world. And then there is College Street, the second largest second-hand book market in the world. It is believed that if you don’t find a book in here, it probably never existed!

Of course, there are the massive stadiums, one for cricket and one for football, which satisfy every sports lover’s dream. Kolkata is a city that has something for everyone. So whether you are foodie, a bookworm, obsessed with history or just looking for wanderlust, this is the ideal place to be in.

You can visit the city of joy as famous travel agencies in Kolkata have arranged spectacular deals which are definitely within your budget. So feel the joy of the city of joy and create memories for a lifetime!

Kolkata and Food: The inseparable duo!

When talking about Kolkata, if food doesn’t come into the picture, it makes any conversation about Kolkata, incomplete. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, the mishit doi and rosogolla have been winning hearts for ages, being the staple helping tourists, people of all across the globe to connect with Kolkata, the city of Joy.

While the bangali essence in macher jhol leaves its mark with the use of a variety of spices, kochi pathar jhol, ilish, pithe, payesh tops the chart when it comes to satiating the taste-buds of the real gourmets. Talking about street food, Kolkata city of joy will make you smile bright with a higher dose of phuchka, churmur, bhelpuri, kachuri, jalebi while the hot, piping Darjeelingesque momo is counting itself to be a privileged member in the list of street food that Kolkata simply loves to gobble up like its visitors!

The people are sweet here… that’s that most amazing part of it… if you haven’t visited Kolkata yet, you have reasons galore to come here and lock some amazing memories in your heart!

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5 Things about Kolkata Which Makes it the ‘City of Joy’!