Calcutta one of the places which is famous as shoppers paradise. The markets of Calcutta are full of items which can be taken home as decorative pieces or gift items. Calcutta has been attracting the tourist attention for its handicrafts. The 'Tant' sarees are the speciality of West Bengal and Calcutta provides you the best market for the purchase these sarees. The Tant sarees are popular not only among the Bengali women but are liked all over India for their unique appearance and colours. Calcutta offers great bargains in items made from cotton and handloom. The famed Baluchari work is something which every traveller to this place looks for. The silk from West Bengal is a shoppers delight.

Tantuja is the retail outlet for the West Bengal State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society Limited which offers you a variety of handwoven classics. Though the real pleasure of shopping in Calcutta is on the road side shops which surprisingly come up with good stuff, there are the big names and showrooms which provide the customer with the latest fashion wears and dress material. The government owned emporiums give good offer in handicrafts and other decorative items. The Bankura Horse in Calcutta is easily identifiable and captures the imagination. Brass figurines can also be included in the shoppers list. The leather wears are very cheap and durable. Calcutta is also famous for the jewellery. There are very old as well as new shops in the heart of the Calcutta city which offer you good quality gold & silver jewellery and ornaments. The intricate work on the jewellery items attracts buyers far and wide. The China Town in Calcutta is famous for the Chinese (imported) goods. This place gives a Chinese experience if one walks down the lanes. The Fancy market of Calcutta is provides the Grey market in the city.

Getting There - Calcutta

Calcutta - The former capital of East India company and at present the state capital of India is well connected and easily accessible from anywhere in India and abroad. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (Dum Dum airport) serves domestic as well as the International needs of this region. This airport is not only connected to the major cities of India but is also the transit point for the South East Asian nations and Australia. All the major Airlines have their flights to this city.

Calcutta is well connected with all corners of the country. The two railway stations of Howrah and Sealdah serve all the needs of the city. From here one can board trains to Southern India upto Kanyakumari, Jammu in the North, Gandhinagar and Mumbai in the West and Guwahati in the North East. Apart from the long distance trains there are plenty of local trains which connects the Calcutta city with the near by areas. Within the city there is a good network of tram system which is probably the oldest in India.

Sightseeing in Calcutta

The Gardens - To consolidate their hold on Bengal and avoid any further attack on the trade establishments the British had built a fort which cost them an awesome 2 million pounds in those days. The forest around this fort was cleared to give a clear shot to the cannons. Today the fort stands as the reminder of first steps of British towards establishment of the Indian empire. The cleared area is now known as the Maidan and acts as breather for the, otherwise, congested city of Calcutta.

Lake - An artificial lake was built towards south of the Calcutta city. Today this lake serves as venue for the hosting of various competitions in swimming and boating. Beside the lake is a sports complex which is meant for training sportsmen in various discipline. In the idyllic surroundings is set a Yoga centre for meditation and beautiful parks are meant for walks.

Victoria Memorial - An splendid example of British architecture, this building was built in memory of Queen Victoria and was inaugurated by Prince of Wales in 1921. The Memorial is based on architecture of the Taj and is built in marble.

Birla Planetarium - One the earliest planetariums in India, the Birla Planetarium in Calcutta is a major tourist attraction. The planetarium was opened in 1961 and the cost of completion came to about 2 crores. The capacity of the auditorium is 500 and there are daily film shows. These shows are in different languages. Inside the planetarium you can relax and gaze at the stars which are better seen here than in the polluted atmosphere out side. The planetarium gives complete information about the Universe and our solar systems. The models kept here are special attraction for the children.

Indian Museum - This museum in Calcutta was established in 1878. The museum is built in Italian architectural style and is considered as the largest museum in the country and one of the best in Asia.