However, for all practical purposes, Calcutta dates itself from the day in 1686 when Job Charnock, a merchant of the East India Company, landed by boat from the Hooghly River, seeking a new site for a factory or trading post, closer to the Bay of Bengal than the first settlement at the village of Hooghly. Once described as the Jewel in the Crown of the British Raj, the glory of the city is somewhat tarnished today. A city designed for no more than two and a half million is home to over fourteen million. Languages Bengali, Hindi, English Weather Best time to visit is between October-March. Summer is hot and humid.
Winter is cool.
Airport 19 Kms from the city center. Served by Indian Airlines, various domestic airlines, Air India and some international carriers. An array of hotels ranging from Five Star Deluxe accomodation to ordinary guest houses.