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North Kolkata (উত্তর কলকাতাUttar Kalkātā) is the oldest area ofKolkata, a fascinating district dominated by narrow little lanes and hundreds of century-old buildings. Old heritage buildings and temples are there, as well as Sovabazar Rajbari. Because of its rich cultural heritage, the district is commonly referred to as Babu Kolkata.
North Kolkata is bound by theBeleghata Canal at the east,Keshab Sen Street at the south, and theHooghly River at the west. The district is further divided into subdistricts:
TheBlue Line 1 runs along the Sealdah-Ranaghat line, Jessore Road, Bhupen Bose Avenue and Chittaranjan Avenue, with stops at Dum Dum, Belgachia, Shyambazar, Sovabazar Sutanuti and Girish Park.
North Kolkata can be reached by the Circular Railway Circular with stops at Dum Dum Junction, Patipukur, Kolkata, Tala, Bagbazar, Sovabazar Ahiritola and Barabazar.
While Kolkata's tram network has shrunk, there's still a route running from Esplanade to Shyambazar.
Most roads in North Kolkata have a north–south alignment, and plenty of road transport options available from this district to other parts of Kolkata. However, the roads grind to a halt during rush hours. Despite being narrow, some alleys in North Kolkata are wide enough to accommodate large vehicles like cars. However, smaller vehicles like bicycles and motorcycles are more common.
North Kolkata is historically served by multiple river terminals along the Hooghly River, which used to connect the city to various towns and villages along the river and its tributaries by ferry.
The northern part of Kolkata houses the old buildings belonging to the zamindars (landlords), other rich Bengalis who used to trade with the British. It preserves the cultural heritage of the city. The buildings give an impression of the royal folk who occupied them.
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standarddouble room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹2,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹5,000 |
While most of North Kolkata is safe to visit, one noted problem is with the red-light district ofSonagachi (সোনাগাছিSonāgāchi), one of the largest in India. Women should avoid visiting the areas around Sonagachi as solo travellers unless really necessary.
| Thisdistrict travel guide toNorthis ausable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
