Kolkata

**Kolkata** (spelled **Calcutta** before 1 January 2001) is the capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the second largest city in India after Mumbai. It is on the east bank of the River Hooghly. When it is called **Calcutta**, it includes the suburbs. This makes it the third largest city of India. It is also known as city of joy It has 4,500,000 (4.5 million) people living in it. This also makes it the world's 8th largest metropolitan area as defined by the United Nations. Kolkata served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Kolkata was once the center of industry and education. However, it has witnessed political violence and economic problems since 1954. Since 2000, Kolkata has grown due to economic growth. Like other metropolitan cities in India, Kolkata struggles with poverty, pollution and traffic congestion.

## History

The discovery of the nearby Chandraketugarh, an archaeological site has proved that people have lived there for over two millennia. The history of Kolkata begins when the English East India Company arrived in 1690. Job Charnock, an administrator with the company is traditionally known as the founder of this city. However some academics say that Charnock is not the city's founder.

At that time Kolkata, ruled by the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Daulah, had three villages. They were Kalikata, Govindapur and Sutanuti. The British in the late 17th century wanted to build a fort near Govindapur. This was to become more powerful than Dutch, the Portuguese, and the French. In 1702, the British completed the construction of old Fort William, which was used to station its troops and as a regional base. Calcutta was declared a Presidency City, and later became the headquarters of the Bengal Presidency. When regular fights with French forces started, in 1756 the British began to upgrade their fortifications. When this was protested, the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Daulah attacked and captured Fort William. This led to the infamous Black Hole incident. A force of Company sepoys and British troops led by Robert Clive recaptured the city the next year. Calcutta became the capital of British India in 1772,. However, the capital shifted to the hilly town of Shimla during the summer months every year, starting from the year 1864.  Richard Wellesley, the Governor General between 1797 and 1805, helped in the growth of the city and its public architecture. This led to the description of Calcutta as "The City of Palaces". The city was a centre of the British East India Company's opium trade during the 18th and 19th century; locally produced opium was sold at auction in Kolkata, to be shipped to China.

## Infobox (city)

- **official name**: Kolkata
- **native name**: কলকাতা
 कोल्काता
- **native name lang**: bengali
- **other name**: Calcutta
- **settlement type**: Megacity
- **nickname**: City of Joy
- **subdivision type**: List of sovereign states, Country
- **subdivision name**: India
- **subdivision type1**: States and territories of India, State
- **subdivision name1**: West Bengal
- **subdivision type2**: Divisions of West Bengal, Division
- **subdivision name2**: Presidency division, Presidency
- **subdivision type3**: List of districts of West Bengal, District
- **subdivision name3**: Kolkata district, Kolkata
- **image caption**: Clockwise from top: Victoria Memorial (India), Victoria Memorial, St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata, St. Paul's Cathedral, central business district, Howrah Bridge, city tram line, Vidyasagar Setu, Vidyasagar Bridge
- **pushpin map**: India West Bengal
- **pushpin map caption**: Location of Kolkata in West Bengal
- **pushpin label position**: left
- **leader party**: All India Trinamool Congress, TMC
- **government type**: Mayor–council government, Mayor–Council
- **leader title**: Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Mayor
- **leader name**: Firhad Hakim
- **area total km2**: 185
- **area total sq mi**: 71
- **area metro km2**: 1886.67
- **area metro sq mi**: 728.45
- **elevation m**: 9
- **elevation ft**: 30
- **timezone1**: Indian Standard Time, IST
- **utc offset1**: +05:30
- **population total**: 4486679
- **population as of**: 2011
- **population metro**: 14112536
- **population density km2**: auto
- **population rank**: 7th
- **population blank1 title**: Metro rank
- **population blank1**: 3rd
- **population blank2 title**: Demonym
- **population blank2**: Calcuttan
- **blank3 name**: Ethnicity
- **blank3 info**: Bengali people, Bengali, Marwaris, Marwari, Bihari people, Bihari, Ethnic communities in Kolkata, Other
- **blank2 name**: Languages of India, Spoken languages
- **blank2 info**: Bengali language, Bengali, Nepali language, Nepali, English language, English
- **postal code type**: Postal Index Number, Postal index number
- **postal code**: 7000 xx, 7001 xx
- **registration plate**: WB 01–79
- **blank name sec1**: UN/LOCODE
- **blank info sec1**: IN CCU
- **blank1 name sec1**: Communications in India, Telephone
- **blank1 info sec1**: 91-33-XXXX XXXX