Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city that means many things – it is the city of joy, crowded and noisy. Once one of the greatest of colonial cities in the Orient, Kolkata today ranks among the four major metropolis of India. Kolkata boasts some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles, the most famous of which is the Victoria Memorial – a huge white marble structure and the most enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. The building, which is now floodlit at night, is a fascinating monument. Other sightseeing includes the Howrah Bridge, Fort William, Botanical Gardens, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Kali Mandir. Eden Gardens houses the famous cricket grounds that have seen some of the most historic matches played. Cuisine in Kolkata bears varied influences, from the homegrown Bengali widows to exiled Muslim Nawabs, the kitchens of the English memsaabs and their Bengali cooks to the local Chinese population – all in all, Kolkata can be an interesting gastronomical journey!