Français
Italiano →Bridges: Updated listing for Howrah Bridge | →Bridges: selective h transclusion of howrah bridge | ||
| Line 162: | Line 162: | ||
[[File:Image-Kolkata Bridge.jpg|thumb|The illuminated Howrah Bridge at night]] | [[File:Image-Kolkata Bridge.jpg|thumb|The illuminated Howrah Bridge at night]] | ||
[[File:Vidyasagar Setu.jpg|thumb|Vidyasagar Setu]] | [[File:Vidyasagar Setu.jpg|thumb|Vidyasagar Setu]] | ||
{{#lsth:Kolkata/North|Howrah Bridge}} | |||
* {{see | |||
| name=Howrah Bridge | alt=Rabindra Setu | url= | email= | |||
| address= | lat=22.5851 | long=88.3469 | directions= | |||
| phone= | tollfree= | |||
| hours= | price= | |||
| image=HOWRAH BRIDGE from howrah station.jpg | |||
| lastedit=2022-11-12 | |||
| content=One of the iconic bridges of West Bengal, the {{m|705}} long Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River. 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 [[Kolkata]] Riverfront. The ambience is as amicable and profound as the river that flows alongside. For more information, see [[Kolkata/North#Howrah Bridge]]. | |||
}} | |||
* {{see | * {{see | ||
| name=Nivedita Setu | alt=Second Vivekananda Bridge | url= | email= | | name=Nivedita Setu | alt=Second Vivekananda Bridge | url= | email= | ||
Revision as of 04:26, 13 November 2022
A twin of Kolkata, Howrah (Bengali: হাওড়া, Hindi: हावड़ा) is the second-largest city in West Bengal and an important transport hub and gateway to Kolkata. This article covers the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) area, two other municipalities (Bally and Dankuni) and several smaller suburbs.
Understand
Howrah 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.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU IATA) in Kolkata. There's an air-conditioned bus service between Kolkata Airport and Howrah station.
By train
- See also: Rail travel in India
There are several railway stations in Howrah that serve some particular areas. The following are the major ones:
- 1 Howrah Junction railway station (station code: HWH), Lower Foreshore Rd. The largest railway complex in India with over 600 trains arriving per day, including local trains of the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway. There is a Rail Yatri Niwas (railway's travellers' lodge) with accommodation. Directly facing Howrah are ferries (₹5) that can get you to either Babu Ghat or Fairlie Place in Kolkata, from where you can arrange onward transportation with anything from taxis to public buses to rickshaws.
- 2 Dankuni Junction railway station (station code: DKAE). Several Southern India-bound express trains stop here.
- 3 Santragachi Junction railway station (station code: SRC), NH 12, Santragachi (near Santragachi Jheel). There are six platforms. Serves local trains to Amta, Mecheda, Panskura, Haldia, Contai, Midnapore and Kharagpur. Mostly all Howrah/Shalimar bound express/mail trains stop here. Santragachi also has a big bus terminus with bus services to various places in Kolkata and beyond.
- 4 Shalimar railway station (station code: SHM) (near Vidyasagar Setu). A small railway station compared to Howrah station, which handles a few EMU trains and a few Express trains.
By bus
The bus termini in Howrah are:
- 5 Howrah Bus Terminus (W of the Howrah Bridge, N of Howrah station). Buses are available from Howrah and different parts of West Bengal.
- 6 Kolkata Central Bus Terminus (Santragachi Bus Terminus) (near Santragachi Junction railway station).
- 7 Nabanna Bus Terminus, Andul Rd.
By ferry
Howrah is just across the river from Kolkata. The ferry services to cross the Hooghly River from Kolkata to Howrah is very convenient to zip across both cities. There are a number of jetties. On the Kolkata side the ferries link to such jetties as Bagbazar, Armenian, Fairlie, Chandpalghat, Babughat, Prinsep Ghat. On the Howrah side there are jetties at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur Ghat, Botanical Garden Ghat, Bandhaghat, Golabari and Belur Math. Buy the ticket before you board the ferry and retain the ticket till after you have crossed to the other side and have shown it to the ticket checker near the exit gate or else you will be penalised!
Get around
- See also: Public transport in Kolkata and Howrah
For short distance travel, there are auto-rickshaws, electric rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.
By taxi
Like in Kolkata, taxis in Howrah are easily available, relatively cheap, and will use their meters, at least in theory. They generally stand at the major railway stations in Howrah.
See
- 1 Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (Shibpur Botanic Garden), Shibpur, ☏ +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.
- 2 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.
- 3 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.
- 4 Nabanna (HRBC Garment Park). Office of the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2013.
- 5 Rail Museum, Howrah station, Lower Foreshore Rd. 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.
- 6 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). 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.
- 7 Statue of Enlightened Buddha, Kona Expy, Shibpur. A pair of brass statues of the Buddha at Kona Expressway.
Bridges
| Howrah Bridge trivia
|
- 8 Howrah Bridge (হাওড়া ব্রিজ HOW-rrah BRIHJ, Rabindra Setu (রবীন্দ্র সেতু ROH-bihn-droh SHEH-too)). 24 hours daily. Free.
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.
- 9 Nivedita Setu (Second Vivekananda Bridge), Bally. A cable-stayed bridge over the Hooghly River, parallel to and around 50 m (160 ft) downstream of Vivekananda Setu. For more information, see Kolkata/Northern Suburbs#Nivedita Setu.
- 10 Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge), Shibpur. With a total length of 823 m (2,700 ft), Vidyasagar Setu is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia. It was built 3.7 km (2.3 mi) south/downstream of the Howrah Bridge. For more information, see Kolkata/Maidan#Vidyasagar Setu.
- 11 Vivekananda Setu (Bally Bridge), Bally. The 880 m (2,890 ft) long rail-cum-road bridge was built in 1932 as Willingdon Bridge and later renamed Vivekananda Setu. For more information, see Kolkata/Northern Suburbs#Vivekananda Setu.
Belur Math
- 12 Belur Math, Belur (about 4 km (2.5 mi) from Howrah station). 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.
In Belur you have a small but beautiful museum of Ramkrishna Dev and Sarada mani 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 jeweleries 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 pujs and only on this day taking snaps are allowed in the temple compound.
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. All modes of transportation are easily accessible around the Howrah station complex. Local 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.
Howrah Bridge
| Howrah Bridge trivia
|
Do
- 1 Belilious Park, Tikiapara. 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.
- 2 Howrah Indoor Stadium, Dumurjala. An indoor stadium with plays host to several prominent talent hunt contests and sports activities.
Learn
- 1 Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (IIEST Shibpur, formerly Bengal Engineering College) (near Shalimar railway station). The first university in Howrah and the second oldest engineering college in India.
Buy
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.
- 1 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.
- 2 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.
- 3 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.
Eat
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.
- 1 Kichukhhan, 23/2/2, Bhagwan Chatterjee Ln, Kadamtala, ☏ +91 98300 88008. North Indian and Indo-Chinese. Their signature dish is mixed fried rice. ₹200-250 for an average meal per person.
Drink
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹1000 |
| Mid-range | ₹1000 to ₹3000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹3000 |
Budget
- 1 The Howrah Hotel, 1, Mukhram Kanoria Road (Adjacent to Howrah station), ☏ +91 33 26413878, +91 33 26412149, +91 33 28490240, [email protected]. Check-in: 24 hours. A heritage property, with a lot of character and one of the oldest hotels of Kolkata. Renowned for homey atmosphere and offers very neat and clean, airy rooms - one of the safest hotels in the locality, with cordial staff. Attached baths and cable TV. Five minutes walking distance from the railway station and bus stand. 5,000 sq ft garden. ₹550-₹650.
- 2 Samrat Palace, 219, GT Rd, ☏ +91 0124 620 1612.
Mid-range
Splurge
- 3 Fortune Park Panchwati, Kona Expy, ☏ +91 33-39884444, fax: +91 33-39881222, [email protected]. Standard Room ₹4,200, Fortune Club Room ₹5,000, Executive Suite ₹7,000 (Best Rates Price).
Stay safe
Police
The Howrah City Police is a police force serving the city. While most police officers are honest and helpful, you may find some officers who may be corrupt and unhelpful. For police assistance during an emergency dial 100. For non-emergencies, or to report a crime, visit the nearest police station.
- 2 Howrah, ☏ +91 33 2641-1750.
- 3 Bally, ☏ +91 33 2654-1128.
- 4 Belur, ☏ +91 33 2654-0380.
- 5 Santragachi, ☏ +91 33 2658-6560.
- 6 Shibpur, ☏ +91 33 2638-1028.
Railways
- Howrah, ☏ +91 7985727760.
Connect
- 7 Batai Post Office, 461, Sarat Chaterjee Road, Kazipara, Shalimar (at 'Santa Sing More' Bus Stop). A Branch Office.
Go next
| Routes through Howrah (GT Road and Asian Highway routes) |
| Chandannagar ← Serampore ← | N  W | → Meets at  |
| Bardhaman ← Rural Hooghly ← | NW    E | → Kolkata → Bangaon |
| Routes through Howrah (National Highway routes) |
| Krishnanagar ← Kolkata ← | NE SE | → Kolkata → Diamond Harbour |
Ends at  ← | NE  SW | → Rural Howrah → Kharagpur |
| Bardhaman ← Rural Hooghly ← | NW SE | → Ends at |
| Routes through Howrah (State Highway routes) |
| Hooghly ← Serampore ← | N  W | → Ends at  |
| Hooghly ← Serampore ← | N  S | → Ends at  |
Ends at  ← Rural Hooghly ← | W  S | → Rural Howrah → END |
Explore the world
United states
New York
Japan
Tokyo
Singapore
Singapore
