Population: 12.9 million
Temperature Range: 19 to 29
Average Precipitation High: 320-325 (Jul)
Average Precipitation Low: 5-10 (Dec)
Currency Used: Indian Rupee (INR)

- 2nd most populous in India
- chief commercial, financial & manufacturing centre
of east India
- founded by English East India company in late
1600s named Kalikata, a local rice-growing village
with a temple of the goddess Kali
- Capital during British era, (1773-1911)
- Population density of 8 761 persons per square
kilometer
- 30% of residents in metro area live in slums
- Dominance of leftist political parties in late 1960s,
municipal gov. also became communists
- City deteriorated under it
- Today, one of the most ill-serviced & chaotic
metros in world

- For every three literate men, only two women
are literate