Howrah, the headquarters of
Howrah District, is the second largest city in
West Bengal. This twin city of
Kolkata lies along the banks of
river Hooghly. The famous
Howrah Bridge links Howrah with
Kolkata. The population is around 1 million. The city is an important industrial and trading center on eastern India. Mangla Haat, the weekly textile market in Howrah Maidan, is one of the largest of its kind in India.
Howrah has excellent rail and road infrastructure. The city is well connected to most parts of the country. National Highways NH-2 and NH-6 pass through the city. The
Howrah railway station, one of the biggest railheads in the world, is an important terminus for Eastern and South Eastern suburban railway systems. One of the largest botanical gardens in the world, the Indian Botanical Gardens, is situated in South Howrah. The Bengal Engineering College, the oldest technical institute in West Bengal, is also located in the city. Major tourist attractions include the
Belur Mutt (headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission) and the Vidyasagar Setu Bridge.
