Kolkata

Kolkata is the primary financial and commercial centre of eastern India, located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in the state of West Bengal. Operating within the Asia/Kolkata timezone, this urban center serves as a vital economic gateway to northeastern India.

How does geography shape Kolkata as a commercial hub?

Positioned at latitude 22.56263 and longitude 88.36304, the city sits geographically 80 km west of the border with Bangladesh. Historically rooted as a trading settlement developed around Fort William by the East India Company after 1690, its physical positioning along the water facilitated extensive maritime and riverine trade. The Port of Kolkata holds the distinction of being India's oldest operating port, anchoring the regional economy.

The city proper accommodates a population of 4,631,392 inhabitants, while the broader metropolitan region supports over 15 million people. This dense demographic landscape underpins its enduring status as a major economic powerhouse in the country, utilizing the Indian Rupee (INR) as its currency.

Kolkata is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It functions as the primary financial and commercial centre of eastern India and serves as a key gateway to the northeastern region of the country.

Where is Kolkata located geographically?

Lying on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the city is situated 80 km west of the border with Bangladesh. Its geographic coordinates are 22.56263 latitude and 88.36304 longitude. The urban area evolved from three original villages—Kôlikata, Sutanuti, and Govindapur—that predated the arrival of the British. The city proper houses a population of 4,631,392 inhabitants according to structured records, while the broader Kolkata Metropolitan Area supports over 15 million people, making it the third most populous metropolitan region in India.

How does its geography shape its regional significance?

Positioned in the historic region of Bengal, the municipality operates India's oldest operating port, the Port of Kolkata. The surrounding landscape has been continually shaped by its proximity to neighboring borders and riverbanks, influencing both its historical development as Fort William and its modern metropolitan footprint.

Source: Kolkata on Wikipedia

Where is Kolkata located geographically?

Kolkata lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in the Indian state of West Bengal, positioned at coordinates 22.56263 latitude and 88.36304 longitude. The city sits 80 kilometers west of the border with Bangladesh, serving as the primary financial and commercial centre of eastern India and one of the gateways to northeastern India.

What are the geographical hazard risks for Kolkata?

According to a United Nations Development Programme report, the geographic area encompassing Kolkata is subject to a tropical savanna climate designated as Aw under the Köppen climate classification, and its wind and cyclone zone is classified as presenting a very high damage risk.

How do geographic and safety details factor into practical planning?

The provided source-constrained evidence does not detail local crime rates, healthcare quality, policing descriptions, specific risk assessments, or safety ratings for neighborhoods. Readers seeking durable orientation and practical safety updates must verify information through official municipal authorities and local sources. Because static safety writing has inherent limits, visitors should consult the transient snapshot layer and current official advisories to check for temporary conditions.

For further geographical and administrative reference data, consult GeoNames record for Kolkata and the Kolkata entry.

Kolkata is a major urban center situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in the Indian state of West Bengal. Positioned at coordinates 22.56263 latitude and 88.36304 longitude, the city operates within the Asia/Kolkata timezone and serves as the primary financial and commercial center of eastern India.

Where is this prominent geographical location situated relative to regional borders and waterways? The settlement lies approximately 80 kilometers west of the border with Bangladesh. Historically, the area developed across three predated villages known as Kalikata, Sutanuti, and Gobindapur, which were initially surrounded by jungle and marshes near the river. Archaeological evidence from Chandraketugarh, located 35 kilometers north of Kolkata, demonstrates that the surrounding region has been inhabited for over two millennia.

What demographic scale characterizes the modern municipal and metropolitan footprint? The city proper accommodates an estimated population of 4,631,392 residents, making it the seventh most populous city in India. Furthermore, the broader Kolkata Metropolitan Area functions as the third most populous metropolitan region in the country, supporting a metro population exceeding 15 million people.

How does the surrounding geography influence regional connectivity? Situated within West Bengal, Kolkata acts as a vital gateway to northeastern India. Its physical placement along the Hooghly River facilitated the establishment of the Port of Kolkata, which stands as India's oldest operating port. Over the centuries, human intervention has significantly altered the local topography, notably through the draining of surrounding marshes in the early 19th century to accommodate the expansion of government infrastructure along the riverbanks.