Howrah

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.

See also: Rail travel in India

• 🌍 Howrah railway station (station code: HWH), Lower Foreshore Rd, ☏ +91 79857 27760. (updated Oct 2022)

Howrah railway station is the largest railway complex in India with over 600 trains arriving per day. An estimated two million people use the station every day. Howrah station is divided into the Old Complex and the New Complex. There are 23 platforms in the station, 16 of which are in the Old Complex and the remaining seven are in the New Complex. Trains of the Eastern Railway (ER) arrive mainly at the Old Complex, while trains of the South Eastern Railway (SER) arrive at the New Complex.

For passengers, there is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Free Wi-Fi is present at the station.

Transport options to central Howrah include:

• By bus: There's a huge bus terminus between Howrah station and the Howrah Bridge. Air-conditioned buses are available between Howrah Station and Kolkata Airport.
• By car: The station platforms have carriageways for motor vehicles within the complex, including two carriageways to the Old Complex and the New Complex respectively. Salkia Flyover at the end of the platforms allows motor vehicles to exit the complex quickly. Such a facility is unique among most major stations in the country.
• By taxi: There's a big taxi stand outside Howrah station, where iconic yellow Ambassador taxis are parked in long queues.

There are a lot of options to eat and drink at Howrah station. In particular, there is an exclusive food court run by IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) in the Old Complex, which is known as Foodplaza. Besides, IRCTC has their own outlet called Jan Aahar in both the Old Complex (next to Foodplaza) and the New Complex.

IRCTC operates a hotel in the New Complex of Howrah station called Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas. It contains a dormitory, single room, and double room accommodation. First-class passengers can wait in an air-conditioned area with balcony views of the Kolkata skyline and the Howrah Bridge.

• Phone: ☏ +91 33 26601742
• Price: Dorm ₹100/bed, Double Non-AC ₹350, Double AC ₹550, Triple Non-AC ₹400

• 🌍 Santragachi Junction railway station (station code: SRC), NH 12, Santragachi. Another major station serving Kolkata and Howrah. There are six platforms in the station. Serves local trains to Amta, Mecheda, Panskura, Haldia, Contai, Midnapore and Kharagpur. A few trains originate from Santragachi station to Ajmer, Porbandar and Nanded, and the Vivek Express runs to Mangalore Central starting from Santragachi. 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, Howrah and beyond. (updated Oct 2022)

• By bus: The bus routes from the station are:
  • K11: Domjur–Rabindra Sadan (Exide), via PG Hospital, Vidyasagar Setu, Toll Plaza, Santragachi and Salap
  • KB15: Anandapur–Santragachi Bus Terminal, via Ruby Hospital, Acropolis Mall, Kasba Thana, Bijan Setu (Ballygunge Station), Gariahat, Minto Park, Camac Street, Exide, PG Hospital, Toll Plaza and Santragachi
  • RT-26: Santragachi–Esplanade, via Tikiapara, Howrah Maidan, Howrah Station, Barabazar and Dalhousie

• 🌍 Shalimar railway station (station code: SHM) (near Vidyasagar Setu). A small railway station compared to Howrah station and one of the cleanest, most well-maintained and non-congested railway terminals in Greater Kolkata. It handles a few local and several express trains. There are small eateries serving snacks on the platform and eateries serving lunch outside the station. (updated Jul 2022)

• By taxi: There is a taxi stand outside the station and the most direct service to and from the station.

• 🌍 Dankuni Junction railway station (station code: DKAE). Several Southern India-bound express trains stop here. (updated Oct 2022)

The East–West Line  2  of the Kolkata Metro connects Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, and it is the fastest way to reach Howrah from Kolkata. The line runs below the Hooghly River, and it is India's first underwater metro service.

There are four bridges connecting Kolkata and Howrah: Howrah Bridge, Vidyasagar Setu, Vivekananda Setu and Nivedita Setu. Besides, highways like the Grand Trunk Road and NH 19 terminate at Howrah or nearby.

The bus termini in Howrah are:

• 🌍 Howrah Bus Terminus (W of the Howrah Bridge, N of Howrah station). Buses are available from Howrah and different parts of West Bengal. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Kolkata Central Bus Terminus (Santragachi Bus Terminus) (near Santragachi Junction railway station). (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Nabanna Bus Terminus, Andul Rd. (updated Oct 2022)

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!

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.

• 🌍 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)
• 🌍 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)
• 🌍 Nabanna (HRBC Garment Park). Office of the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2013. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 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 (হাওড়া ব্রিজ HOW-rrah BRIHJ, Rabindra Setu (রবীন্দ্র সেতু ROH-bihn-droh SHEH-too)). 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.

• 🌍 Vidyasagar Setu (বিদ্যাসাগর সেতু Bidyasagôr Setu, Second Hooghly Bridge). Open 24 hours. (updated Nov 2022)

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 Howrah Bridge. The bridge was commissioned in 1992 by the Hooghly River Bridge Commission (HRBC).

• 🌍 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.

• 🌍 The Howrah Hotel, 1, Mukhram Kanoria Road (Adjacent to Howrah station), ☏ +91 33 26413878, +91 33 26412149, +91 33 28490240, info@thehowrahhotel.com. 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. 
• 🌍 Samrat Palace, 219, GT Rd, ☏ +91 0124 620 1612. (updated Jul 2022)

• 🌍 Fortune Park Panchwati, Kona Expy, ☏ +91 33-39884444, fax: +91 33-39881222, sales.fhp@fortunehotels.in. Standard Room ₹4,200, Fortune Club Room ₹5,000, Executive Suite ₹7,000 (Best Rates Price). 

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.

• 🌍 Howrah, ☏ +91 33 2641-1750. 
• 🌍 Bally, ☏ +91 33 2654-1128. 
• 🌍 Belur, ☏ +91 33 2654-0380. 
• 🌍 Santragachi, ☏ +91 33 2658-6560. 
• 🌍 Shibpur, ☏ +91 33 2638-1028. 

• Howrah, ☏ +91 7985727760. (updated Oct 2022)