This article is contributed by Mr. Sugato Roy

They say that whoever has visited Kolkata at any point in time in his life will always cherish and will take great pleasure in describing the warmth of the people of this second city of the British Indian Empire. Kolkata is also lovingly and fittingly called the cultural capital of India. Little do we know that apart from the most popular places of attraction for visitors, Kolkata also has other lesser-known amazing features and places of interest that are being elucidated below. Some of them are very unique which a  Kolkatan can only feel and appreciate.

• Zoological Gardens – Not only does the Alipore zoo cover a huge area of almost 19 hectares, but it is also the country’s oldest zoo which was formally opened for public viewing in 1876.
• Kolkata International Book Fair – The Kolkata International Book Fair is the largest in Asia and the third-largest in the world. Publishers of global repute vie with each other to get a stall in this iconic international book fair. The footfalls are massive every year.  
• East Kolkata Wetlands – A complex of natural and human-made wetlands in the eastern fringes, the place is a UNESCO world heritage site since 2002. The place is an excellent example of microbial biodiversity management globally.
• Trams of Kolkata – Kolkata is the only city in India that has almost all modes of local and suburban transport like the trams,  metro railways, the local suburban railways, public and private buses, taxis, and private taxis apart from the private cars and auto-rickshaws. Kolkata trams started operations in 1902 and are the oldest operating tramway in Asia.
• Hand-pulled Rikshaws – An iconic feature of Kolkata, these rickshaws are pliable only in this city. Countless movies in Bengali and other languages including the fabled “City of Joy” have highlighted this unique mode of transport.
• College Street – In the heart of Central Kolkata lies College Street, the stretch of road in front of the University of Calcutta and the Presidency University. Sprawling over an area of 1.5 km College Street is the largest book market in India and perhaps the second largest second-hand book market in the world.
• Calcutta Polo Club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club – Situated at the  Maidan, the heart of the city, Calcutta Polo Club is the first polo club in the world. The Royal Calcutta Golf Club is the first golf club established outside the United Kingdom.
• Calcutta Football League – As far as football is concerned, the loyalty of Kolkattans is divided amongst the Big Three. Little do we know that the league is the oldest football league in India and the second oldest in the world.
• Dhakuria Lakes – Officially known as Rabindra Sarobar since 1958, not many are aware that this lake is an artificial one dug up in the 1920s in an area of 192 acres of marshy dense jungle.
• Hakka Chowmein – A typical Calcutta preparation which is a hot favourite of young and old alike, originated from Kolkata, the city which has quite a high number of Chinese people mainly around Tangra.