Kolkata Calcutta history

It is believed that the city was originally founded over 300 years ago on the banks of the Hooghly River by Job Charnock. A tired administrator in the British East India Company, Charnock took a chance midday halt near the quaint village of Sutanti, the sparkle of green on the horizon offering peace and solitude for a quick nap.

In 1690, with his base threatened by the Mughal viceroy in Bengal, he moved his operations here, eventually uniting the villages of Sutanti, Gobindapur and Kalikata to form the city of Calcutta, a British trading port that emerged as one of the most prominent in Indian history, a significant commercial centre of the British Raj and busy port for east-bound vessels, and the erstwhile capital of British India.

Today Kolkata remains one of the most prominent cities in India, a city with a soul, a fabled past and a rich artistic tradition. A heritage trail winding along the bustling streets of Kolkata reveals the city's vibrant past, including museums, churches, temples and grand remnants of the Raj.