Practical information for visiting Kolkata

Air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is Kolkata's principal airport. Check the airline's current terminal and the airport's official ground-transport page.

Rail: Howrah and Sealdah are the best-known terminals, but long-distance and regional trains use several stations. Travel to the exact station and entrance shown on the ticket.

Local network: Metro, suburban rail, buses, trams, ferries, taxis and app-booked vehicles cover different corridors. No single mode reaches every visitor area efficiently.

Regional: Kolkata is the principal southern gateway for West Bengal. Darjeeling and North Bengal require a separate long-distance rail or air plan through the Siliguri–New Jalpaiguri–Bagdogra area.

Digital: save tickets, addresses, accommodation details and an offline map. Large stations have several exits, and a phone connection does not remove ambiguity about the correct terminal, platform or gate.

Kolkata is a large working city. Keep phones, wallets and bags controlled in crowded stations, markets, festival routes and public transport, and step out of the pedestrian flow before checking a map.

Road traffic is a more immediate risk than most tourist-specific threats. Use designated crossings where possible, watch for movement from several directions and do not follow another pedestrian blindly into traffic.

Use official airport counters, authorised taxis or correctly matched app-booked vehicles. Confirm the registration, driver and destination before departure, and do not accept an unsolicited change to a hotel or route.

Heavy rain can produce local waterlogging and transport delays. Do not enter deep or fast-moving water, touch exposed electrical equipment or bypass police and municipal barriers.

Festival crowds can separate groups quickly. Agree on a meeting point and keep an alternate route. Dial 112 for urgent police, fire, medical or rescue assistance; Kolkata Police publishes current control-room and traffic contacts.

Heat and humidity are the main everyday health burdens from March into the monsoon. Carry safe drinking water, reduce exposed walking during the hottest hours and follow current national heat-health advice if warnings are issued.

Monsoon and post-monsoon conditions support mosquito-borne illness. Use repellent, choose accommodation with effective screens or air conditioning and seek prompt medical advice for fever rather than self-diagnosing.

Use treated or sealed drinking water and choose food where preparation is visible and turnover is high. Wash hands before eating, especially after public transport or markets.

Air quality varies by season and day. The Central Pollution Control Board publishes current readings. Travellers with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions should use those readings and personal medical advice to adjust strenuous outdoor plans.

Carry regular medicines in original packaging, travel insurance details and a clinician's guidance for personal risks. For urgent help call 112; for non-urgent care, use a reputable clinic or hospital appropriate to the condition.

Dial 112 for urgent police, fire, medical or rescue assistance in Kolkata. Kolkata Police also publishes current control-room, traffic and specialist contact numbers.

Give the neighbourhood, road, nearest landmark and a live or saved map pin. Kolkata and Howrah are separate jurisdictions, and similar place or station names can cause confusion, so repeat the exact location.

During intense rain, severe weather, a major fire or a festival incident, follow police, municipal, transport-operator and India Meteorological Department instructions. Do not continue through a closed route because an offline map still shows it.

At an airport, railway or Metro station, museum, festival venue or place of worship, alert on-site staff as well as emergency services. For a lost passport, contact local police and the relevant embassy or consulate. Keep offline copies of identification, insurance and emergency contacts.