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