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