Kolkata is also known as Calcutta, the official name until 2001 is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River approximately 75 kilometres west of the border with Bangladesh, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port. The city is widely regarded as the "cultural capital" of India, and is also nicknamed the "City of Joy”. According to the 2011 Indian census, it is the seventh most populous city; the city had a population of 4.5 million, while the suburb population brought the total to 14.1 million, making it the third-most crowded metropolitan area in India. Recent estimates of Kolkata Metropolitan Area's economy have ranged from $60 to $150 billion making it third most-productive metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi.

Airports in Kolkata

1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is an international airport located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving the Kolkata metropolitan area. It is located approximately 17 kilometres from the city centre. The airport was earlier known as Dum Dum Airport before being renamed in 1995 after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement. Spread over an area of 2,460 acres, Kolkata airport is the largest hub for air traffic in the eastern part of the country and one of two international airports operating in West Bengal, the other being Bagdogra. The airport handled almost 20 million passengers in the financial year 2017-18 making it the fifth-busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic after airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. The airport is a major centre for flights to Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Southeast Asia. In 2014 and 2015, Kolkata Airport won the title of Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific region awarded by the Airport Council International.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Kolkata?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Kolkata. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Kolkata.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Kolkata?

Located on the eastern coast of India, Kolkata has a typical tropical climate. From October to March, starting from autumn, the weather is pleasant and is a great time to visit Kolkata. Apart from the weather, this is also the time for festivals. Kolkata comes alive during Druga Puja as there are numerous pandals all over the city with beautiful idols of Goddess Durga and multiple street food stalls. This is followed by Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja. In winters the temperature varies somewhere between 9 and 11 degree Celsius. December and January are the coolest months and you would need light woolens for this time, especially during the night. There is the occasional rainfall, which makes the weather very pleasant making it the best time to plan a holiday. While, from April to May, these are the hottest months in the city with the temperature varying from over 40 to 30-degree Celsius. The heat can make sightseeing a little difficult to remember to carry sunglasses and comfortable cotton clothes. Besides, from June to September, this is the famous monsoon season of Kolkata when the city experiences heavy showers. The temperature comes down although humidity levels rise. August is the wettest month and it tends to rain over long durations. September is when the rain slows down and the cool breeze makes for pleasant evenings.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Kolkata?

1. Nicco Park - Nicco Parkis an amusement park in India, located in Salt Lake City, Kolkata. The park was created to attract tourists to the state by providing family-friendly recreation as well as educative entertainment. Nicco Park opened on 13 October 1991 and has since been referred to as the Disneyland of West Bengal. Presently, the 40-acre park is home to over 35 different attractions and has served over 24 million customers. Nicco Park also provides a "green" environment.

2. Science City - The Science Cityof Kolkata is the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent. Managed by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, it is located at the crossing of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and J. B. S. Haldane Avenue. Saroj Ghose, the first director general of NCSM, who is credited with having conceptualised this centre in 1997. Two parts inaugurated this centre: the 'Convention Centre Complex' was unveiled on 21 December 1996 by Paul Jozef Crutzen in the presence of the then chief minister Jyoti Basu and the whole centre was opened by the then prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral on 1 July 1997. On 10 January 2010, prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the second phase of Science City in the presence of the then chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

3. Victoria Memorial - The Victoria Memorialis a large marble building in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1809 -1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly River, near Jawaharlal Nehru Road better known as Chowringhee Road. Every year thousands of people come to visit this museum.