The spelling of the city formerly known as Calcutta has been a subject of controversy. In the official language of India, Bengali, the city is spelled Kolkata (kɔlkata). However, in British English and many other languages, it was traditionally spelled Calcutta (kælkʌtə). The updated spelling is Kolkata but the older version is still being used widely. The difference in spelling is due to the different transliterations from Bengali to English. Regardless of spelling, the city is a vibrant cultural and economic center in India.
Calcutta, also known as Kolkata, is a prominent city located in eastern India. It is the capital of the state of West Bengal and is considered one of the major cultural, commercial, and educational centers of the country. Calcutta has a rich historical background, being one of the first British settlements in India.
The name "Calcutta" was derived from the anglicized version of the city's Bengali name, Kalikata. The city is situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River and is known for its intellectual and artistic heritage. It has been a hub of various literary and artistic movements, producing notable writers, poets, and filmmakers.
Calcutta is renowned for its colonial-era architecture, which is interspersed with modern structures. The Esplanade area, Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, and Indian Museum are some of the iconic landmarks of this city.
Furthermore, Calcutta is recognized for its vibrant festivals, particularly the Durga Puja, which brings the city to life with grand celebrations. It also has a diverse culinary scene, known for its street food and traditional Bengali cuisine.
The population of Calcutta consists of people from different ethnicities and religious backgrounds, making it a melting pot of cultures. Bengali is the primary language spoken in the city.
In summary, Calcutta is an ancient city in eastern India with significant historical, cultural, and architectural importance, serving as the capital of West Bengal and being renowned for its intellectual and artistic heritage.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Calcutta" has its origins in the Portuguese language. It is derived from the Portuguese term "Calcutá", which itself was derived from the word in the local Bengali language "Kolkata" (কলকাতা). The name Kolkata was used to refer to a village near the Hoogly River where the British East India Company established their first trading post in the early 17th century. Over time, the British pronunciation of Kolkata transformed into "Calcutta", and this name was commonly used until 2001, when the city officially changed its name back to Kolkata to reflect the local pronunciation.