| Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian | | | | city. |
| state of West Bengal. It is located in | | | | Some families live, sleep, eat and wash |
| eastern India on the east bank of the | | | | on the streets. Young children cry and |
| River Hooghly. The city has a population | | | | roam around naked in the middle of the |
| of almost 11 million, with an extended | | | | most popular tourist areas. You can be |
| metropolitan population of over 14 | | | | oblivious to the problems whilst |
| million, making it the third largest | | | | wandering around the market on a |
| urban agglomeration and the third | | | | Saturday afternoon, admiring the |
| largest city in India. | | | | beautiful colours in hand made Indian |
| Calcutta is well known for the poverty | | | | garments, until you notice a person |
| to be found on its streets, but seeing | | | | without limbs screaming in pain on the |
| it for real can still come as a shock to | | | | pavement. |
| visitors to the city. Its important that | | | | In many ways Calcutta seems familiar the |
| visitors do go there but they know | | | | English street names, the architecture, |
| before going what to expect. The | | | | the English language. At the same time |
| tourist industry is a vital part of the | | | | the context is so foreign. The effect is |
| economy. | | | | very odd, sometimes even frightening to |
| It has stunning buildings, vibrant | | | | the Western visitor. |
| atmosphere, world class entertainment | | | | Bengali culture is magnificent. Bengali |
| facilities and the kindness of people in | | | | is spoken by more people than is French |
| the streets, bars and restaurants but | | | | or Japanese. |
| you cannot turn a blind eye to the | | | | It has a tropical climate. |
| desperation which also exists in this | | | | |