The Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River, leftist slogans painted on every wall, trams snaking their way through the jungle of traffic, old Victorian buildings rubbing shoulders with new apartment blocks; vocal teenagers discussing politics, music and football at every street corner that is Calcutta for you sorry Kolkata as the Bengalis would have you say. This city draws you from the midst of its decay and chaos, with welcoming arms into a warm embrace that leaves you with friends for life and a taste for good food, good adda, and a passion for culture the basis of every Bengali's existence.

Highlights:

DAKSHINESHWAR - This is the temple on the banks of the Hooghly (12 km from Kolkata) where the holy sage Ramakrishna Paramhans lived and worshipped. Thousands of pilgrims come here everyday to see the Kali temple where he spent most of his time, and his simple room that is preserved in its original state. Close to the temple is the Belur Math - the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda who was Ramakrishna's main disciple and a great philosopher himself.