Visit Calcutta and The East
This former capital of the Raj still retains much of its colonial character. Its legacy lives on in the imperious Victoria Memorial in the heart of the city, today home to an impressive art collection, and the churches of St John and St Andrew. Stroll down to the bookstalls on College Street in the university quarter or sip coffee surrounded by the intelligentsia at the famous Indian Coffee House and you will quickly understand Calcutta’s long-standing reputation as a centre for learning and political philosophy. Elsewhere in the city, great swathes of cerise, pink and orange marigolds are bought and sold in the flower market. From here you can easily walk to the banks of the River Hugli for an excellent view of the Howrah Bridge, crossed each day by more than a million commuters. For visitors with more time, boat trips to the former French, Dutch and Portuguese settlements on the banks of the Hugli make an interesting excursion.