Kolkata was the capital of India till 1912, is now the capital of West Bengal. It is the commercial capital of the Eastern and Northeastern region of India and gateway to South East Asian countries. It is the centre of industries like Engineering, Jute, Tea, Leather, Coal, Lac, Paints, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Infotech industries, Plastic, Textiles, Ceramic, Agro and Food processing industries, Small Scale Industries & Handicrafts, etc.
West Bengal government renamed Kolkata as Kolkata.

Places to visit:
A walk along Chowringhee Road, unravels the rare beauty of this city. Across the road sweeps a huge, lush green, open parkland called the Maidan.
Victoria Memorial : Built in Italian Renaissance cum Saracen style in 1921, and was planned by Lord Curzon. It is dedicated to Queen Victoria and houses a fantastic collection of rare memorabilia from Colonial days. A light and sound show recreates history every evening.

Birla Planetarium : Only the second of its kind in the commonwealth and similar to that in London. Regular astronomical shows are presented here with commentaries in different languages.

Indian Museum : Built in 1875, it is an impressive building in the Italian style of architecture. This is the largest museum in the country.

Science City: India’s first Science City was set up in Kolkata in 1997 near the trade fair site . It is in very close proximity of the fair ground.

Hotel facility:
Five Star Deluxe Hotels
Oberoi Grand
Accommodation: 250 rooms
Location: 24 kms from Airport, and 5 kms from Railway Station, near Maidan.
Address: The Oberoi Grand, 15 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata - 700 069.
The Park
It is situated on Park Street at the heart of city, near Maidan.
Accommodation: 149 rooms.
Address: 17 Park Street, Kolkata - 700 016.
Hindustan International
Accommodation: 170 rooms.
Location: 15 kms from Airport, 5 kms from Railway Station, near Maidan.
Address: Hotel Hindustan International, 235/1 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata - 700 020.

New Established Hotels
Hyatt Regency
Sonar Bangla
Five Star Deluxe Hotels on the way from Airport to the city

Four Star Hotels
Peerless Inn
Kenilworth

Three Star Hotels
Lytton Hotel
Rutt Deen

Others in the central Kolkata
Fairlawn
Shalimar
Middleton Inn
Astro Hotel
 
Railway facility:
Two major Railway Stations in close proximity to the city are:
* Howrah Railway Station
* Sealdah Railway Station
* Kolkata’s Metro Rail is an underground rail service that connects north with south downtown.

Port facility:
Two major ports are:
* Kolkata Port:
* Haldia Port:
Both Kolkata and Haldia ports complex serves the vast hinterland of Eastern India as well as land-locked countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
Airport facility:
There is an international airport at Kolkata, now known as Netaji Subhas International Airport. Most of the international flights are available from here.

Climate:
Climatic condition during the fair time is pleasant. Temperature varies between 12 - 16 degree Celsius.