Kolkata is the world’s largest processor of jute.
The Calcutta Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969 with a maximum allowed speed of 120km/h, which was then the new speed limit for trains in India.
Kolkata is sister city to Long Beach, California.
The first Medical conference in Calcutta was held on 29th December,1894.
Raja Rajendra Mullick built the first marble palace in Calcutta. At the age of 16, he started constructing this palace at Chor Bagan. It was finished in 1840.
The first newspaper of India was published from Calcutta. “Bengal Gazette”, a weekly newspaper published by James Augustus Hickey in January 1780 was the first paper to go into print from our country.
National Library is the largest library in India.
In 1795, two mahogany saplings were brought from West Indies and planted at Shibpur Botanical Gardens. They were the first mahogany trees grown in Indian soil.
Kolkata and Mumbai were two of the main export/import destinations for British beer, which would go stale and sour during the sea voyage. So the IPA (India Pale Ale) style of beer was created specifically to withstand the rigours of the sea between London and these Indian ports.
The Calcutta Corporation decided to make all the unmetalled roads of the city macadamized on 11th September, 1794.