#Howrah is a metropolitan city in the state of #WestBengal, #India. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River opposite its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively it lies within the Howrah district and is the headquarters of the district’s Howrah Sadar subdivision. It is famous for the Howrah Bridge that connects it to #Kolkata. The bridge is one of four on the Hooghly River and is a famous symbol of Kolkata and West Bengal. The other bridges are the Vidyasagar Setu (popularly called the Second Hooghly Bridge), the Vivekananda Setu, and the newly built Nivedita Setu.
The name came from the word Haor—the Bengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud, and organic debris accumulate. The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who traveled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578. Not yet fully developed, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion, and pollution.
Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of the light engineering industry. Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, road links to National Highways, as well as its transport connections to Kolkata.. the new underwater metro link built below the #Hoogly river, will connect the 2 cities for faster transport. Howrah has many various neighborhoods, the most notable being Bageshwar Mahadev temple, Shibpur, Santragachi, Belur, Ramrajatala, Liluah, and Bally.
Shibpur hosts the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, containing the Great Banyan tree, and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur. Santragachi has a large railway station as well as the Santragachhi Jheel, a large lake that attracts migratory birds during winter making it a #birdwatching paradise. .[Belur hosts Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
Ramrajatala hosts a famous Rama Temple. also worth visiting is Ananda Niketan Kirtishala, Millennium Park, Andul Rajbari, just like Kolkata, Howrah bears a festive look during #Durgapuja Near Howrah Station is the slum of Pilkhana which was the basis of the famous book and film “City of Joy. Liluah host some of India’s oldest railway factories and is also the educational Hub of Howrah. It might be worth strolling down Howrah Maidan just for the excitement of a local market busy with street shops selling anything from clothes to pots, to fruit. By bus or taxi from Howrah station, it will only take 10-15 minutes to get there.
The only shopping mall in Howrah, Riverside Avni Mall is the biggest in Asia in terms of area. Local foods you must try are egg, chicken, and mutton roll. They are known for their egg chicken roll, which is available anywhere for Rs 40. You will not find these foods anywhere else in the world. Mutton Biriyani is also worth a try, in Nijams or Arsalan in Kolkata. There are several places like hotels, lodges, and dormitories that offer good night’s stay to anyone at affordable prices. October to March is the best time to visit Howrah when the city remains alive and colorful, due to festivals galore.
