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Howrah

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Howrah is a large and busy city in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu
Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu

It sits on the western bank of the Hooghly River. Its twin city, Kolkata, is located right across the water. Howrah is a major hub for industry and travel. Many people call it the "Sheffield of the East." This is because it is a famous center for engineering. Many small firms make metal parts in areas like Belilios Road.

Howrah Station
Howrah Station

Moving around the city is a very big job. Howrah Station is one of the busiest rail hubs in all of India. It was first built in 1854 to connect to coalfields. The station is huge and has 24 different platforms.

Howrah Station
Howrah Station

You can also travel by metro rail. The Green Line uses a tunnel to go under the Hooghly River. This connects Howrah Maidan to places like Salt Lake. Ferry services also run between different jetties to help people cross the water.

The history of this place goes back over 500 years. Long ago, the area was part of the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. A traveler named Cesare Federici wrote about a place called Buttor in 1578. He thought it might be a place for large ships to dock. In 1714, the British East India Company asked for several villages. These villages, like Salkia and Howrah, became parts of the modern city. The Howrah Municipality was later set up in 1862 to help run the town.

Howrah is a very crowded place with many people. It is the second most populated city in West Bengal. In the early 1900s, the population grew very fast because of new jobs. The weather here is tropical with wet and dry seasons. Summers bring a lot of rain to the area. The average temperature stays around 26.3 °C.

Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu
Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu

The city also has many different neighborhoods like Shibpur and Bally.

There are many famous sights to see in and around the city. Four bridges connect Howrah to Kolkata across the river. The Howrah Bridge is a famous cantilever style bridge. It is one of the longest bridges of its kind in the world.

Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu
Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu

You can also visit the Indian Botanic Garden in Shibpur. This garden is home to the amazing Great Banyan Tree.

Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah by Francis Frith (1)
Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah by Francis Frith (1)

It is a very special part of the local landscape.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah by Francis Frith (1).jpg
Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical...
File:Howrah Station.jpg
Howrah Station.jpg
File:Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu.jpg
Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu.jpg
File:Aerial View of Howrah Bridge.jpg
Aerial View of Howrah Bridge.jpg
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