Howrah (HOW-rrah) is on the western bank of the Hooghly River opposite of Kolkata. While it is a separate city, Howrah is very much a part of the Kolkata metropolitan area and Howrah station is where you will arrive if connecting with anywhere north, south or east of Kolkata.

Although the modern Howrah is developed largely under the British rule, the city is preceded by a major trading centre called Betor. Howrah station, the first railway station of Eastern India, was established in this city in 1854, with its first railway service to Hooghly began on 15 August of the same year. Although several other major stations have come up across Kolkata and Howrah, Howrah station still remains one of the busiest railway stations in India.

For more information on this topic, see the Public transport in Greater Kolkata article.

Map of Howrah

Howrah, like its twin city Kolkata, has an extensive public transportation network, from the modern rapid transit system to the old heritage wooden bus systems. As of 2022, Howrah and its suburbs are served by bus, ferry, metro, train and tram systems.

All modes of transportation are easily accessible around Howrah station. For short-distance travel, there are auto-rickshaws, electric rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

• 22.56055688.2869441 Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (Shibpur Botanic Garden), Shibpur (local: Shalimar  South Eastern ), ☏ +91 33 67 32 31 35. Mar-Sep: 5AM-5:30PM; Oct-Feb: 5:30AM-5PM. An extraordinary place of vivid nature under the smog filled sky of the city. You will value the silence that is only filled by some birds singing. The Great Banyan tree in the botanical garden boasts of having the largest canopy in the world. The British established the institution in 1786 as Indian Botanical Garden. foreigners: ₹50; Indians: ₹5. (updated Jan 2023)
• 22.57869388.3404452 Rail Museum, Lower Foreshore Rd (local: Howrah Junction  Eastern  South Eastern ). A museum established in 2006 to display the history and heritage of railways in the eastern part of India with special focus on Howrah Junction railway station. The collection includes the first broad-gauge electric locomotive built in India, a WCM-5; a HPS-32 steam locomotive captured during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971; and the Indraprastha, claimed to be the oldest remaining Indian Railways shunting locomotive. (updated Sep 2022)
• 22.58206788.2833383 Santragachi Jheel, Santragachi, Howrah (7 km (4.3 mi) from Howrah station by train, or 6 km (3.7 mi) from Kolkata via Vidyasagar Setu; local: Santragachi Junction  South Eastern ). A large lake next to Santragachi railway station. It attracts a lot of migratory birds in the winter months, particularly in December and January, impart because migratory birds are avoiding destinations like the lakes in Alipore Zoo, Kolkata. Birds like Saras Crane from North America and Australia, and many other local migratory birds such as Cotton Pygmy Goose, and Comb Duck, are spotted here during this season. The lake area is owned by South Eastern Railway, though the Forest Department of West Bengal also looks after the place. Efforts are made by local residents, Forest Department and Railways to improve the environment for the birds. (updated Sep 2022)

Architecture

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• 22.583288.23564 Andul Rajbari (Andul Royal Palace), Andul. A heritage site of Andul, the palace was built by Raja Rajnarayan Bahadur in 1834. His family now owns a cinema hall and a local market as well. (updated Aug 2022)
• 22.6136888.2755 Kolkata West Gate, Salap. Based on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the gate is an entrance to the Kolkata West International City (KWIC), a satellite township in Howrah developed by Indonesia's Ciputra Group. (updated Jul 2022)
• 22.567688.31356 Nabanna (HRBC Garment Park). Office of the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2013. (updated Oct 2022)
• 22.5721688.30487 Statue of Enlightened Buddha, Kona Expy, Shibpur (local: Padmapukur  South Eastern ). A pair of brass statues of the Buddha at Kona Expressway. (updated Jul 2022)

Howrah Bridge

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Howrah Bridge trivia It took over six years to build and the entire project costs ₹25 million. The Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge, meaning the bridge was built with no nuts and bolts.

• 22.5852788.346948 Howrah Bridge (হাওড়া ব্রিজ, Rabindra Setu (রবীন্দ্র সেতু)). 24 hours daily. Free. (updated Nov 2022)

One of the iconic bridges of West Bengal, the 705 m (2,313 ft) long Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River. The bridge was commissioned in 1943 by Braithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company, replacing the older pontoon bridge.

The area around Howrah station and Howrah Bridge has grown as a world of its own, catering to the needs of a huge floating population. This bridge frames the skyline of the Howrah Riverfront. The ambience is as amicable and profound as the river that flows alongside.

Nivedita Setu

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Vidyasagar Setu

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Vivekananda Setu

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Belur Math

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• 22.631588.35619 Belur Math, Belur (about 4 km (2.5 mi) from Howrah station; suburban: Belur Math  Eastern . You can travel there by bus, auto or taxi. It takes 20-25 min to get there and around 40 min to return, because this route is longer and becomes more congested. Suburban trains also go to Belur Math, but going by auto, bus or taxi is much better as they drop you off at the entrance of Belur Math. One can also travel from Dakshineswar to Belur by either boat or road.). Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Next to the Hooghly River, one can sit on the banks of the river during evening time and relax. (updated Jul 2022)

In Belur, you have a small but beautiful museum of Sri Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi along with Swami Vivekananda. The evening "Arati" is something you should see in Belur Math. One most uncommon and attractive ritual of Belur Math is, at the time of Durga Puja, which is generally held in the month of October, they worship a girl dressed with beautiful Benarashi sari and jewelleries which resembles as "Kumari Puja" meaning worshiping "Kumari" i.e., a unmarried and young girl who haven't reached the age of 10 years. The girl have to dress according the tradition and the Priests will worship as long as the time scheduled for the puja. Thousands of people come this day to see the pujas and only on this day taking snaps are allowed in the temple compound.

• Old Shrine — it was the original shrine of Belur Math until the present shrine is constructed. It has the hallowed memories of Swami Vivekananda and other disciples of Ramakrishna.
• Samadhi Enclosure — it contains the remains of seven disciples of Ramakrishna.
• Swami Vivekananda Temple — a temple dedicated on the namesake monk.

• 22.595188.32791 Belilious Park, Tikiapara (suburban: Tikiapara  South Eastern ). 10AM–8PM. An amusement park. Within the park, there is a pond and the trees around here provide greenery to the region. A marriage hall is also present here for marriage events. The Panchdeep Tower within the park is the tallest structure in Howrah. (updated Jan 2023)
• Durga Puja of Dutta Chowdhury family. Among the oldest in Bengal, the Durga Puja was started by Kashiswar Dutta around 400 years ago. (updated Nov 2022)
• 22.5817188.306812 Howrah Indoor Stadium, Dumurjala. An indoor stadium with plays host to several prominent talent hunt contests and sports activities. (updated Oct 2022)
• 22.58223188.3312623 Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre. A planetarium in Howrah with virtual tours of the night sky and cosmic shows in a specially perforated hemispherical dome. It is India's first 3D planetarium. A total of three shows are conducted a day in this planetarium to introduce visitors to the solar system. Visitors can also learn about important space discoveries and related information. Each show at planetarium is conducted for 25 minutes. Shows are available here in Bengali, English and Hindi. (updated Jan 2023)

• 22.555888.30561 Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (IIEST Shibpur) (local: Shalimar  South Eastern ). The first university in Howrah and the second oldest engineering college in India. (updated Oct 2022)

It might be worth while to stroll down Howrah Maidan just for the excitement of a local market, busy with street shops selling anything from clothes, to pots, to fruits. By bus or taxi from Howrah station it will only take 10 minutes to get there.

• 22.5630188.32311 Avani Riverside Mall, 32 Jagat Banerjee Ghat Rd (on the way to Kolkata - from Prinsep Ghat Railway Station — 1 km (0.62 mi) — take a trip to Dinobondhu College Bus Stop — 0.5 km (0.31 mi)), ☏ +91 33 3312-9000, fax: +91-33-2289-5811. 11AM–10PM. This three storey mall contains Eastern India's first PVR cinema hall. Large food court and many shops. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• 22.6238988.3537182 Forum Rangoli Mall, 212, Girish Ghosh Rd, Belur. Opened in 2015 and houses stores of premium brands, including Max Lifestyle, Domino's Pizza, Archies and Spencer's retail among others. There is also an INOX multiplex in the mall. (updated Oct 2022)
• 22.6212388.348893 RD Mall, 269, GT Rd, Liluah. It was launched in 2011 and houses INOX multiplex, Domino's Pizza, Cafe Coffee Day, a gaming arena and Big Bazaar among many other retail stores. (updated Oct 2022)

Local foods you must try are egg, chicken and mutton roll. Howrah is known for its egg chicken roll, which is available anywhere for ₹25. You will not find these foods anywhere else in the world. Mutton Biryani is also worth a try, in Nizams or Arsalan.

• 22.6862288.304681 Blue Heaven Bar Cum Restaurant, Old Delhi Rd, Dankuni. (updated Jul 2022)
• 22.6238488.29372 Das Restaurant Cum Bar, Benaras Road. (updated Jul 2022)

• 22.561788.31777 Batai Post Office, 461, Sarat Chaterjee Road, Kazipara, Shalimar (at 'Santa Sing More' Bus Stop). A Branch Office. (updated Aug 2022)