River Hooghly I Lifeline of Kolkata I Significance I Important Rivers of India I Ghats of Kolkata I

Water – a river, a lake, the seashore – adds atmosphere to a city. Calcutta, or Kolkata as the city’s official name is, proudly hosts River Hooghly. And where there is water, there might be bridges, such as Howrah Bridge & the 2nd Hooghly Bridge .“The Hooghly weaves through the Indian state of West Bengal from the Ganges, its parent river, to the sea. At just 460 kilometers (approximately 286 miles), its length is modest in comparison with great Asian rivers like the Yangtze in China or the Ganges itself. Nevertheless, through history, the Hooghly has been a waterway of tremendous sacred and secular significance.”
The river is also a major waterway providing a year-round water supply to the plains of West Bengal. Its water is used for irrigation, as well as consumption by both the public and the surrounding industries. I A must visit is the Mullick Ghat, the city’s renowned wholesale flower market. After walking through this fabulous place, you step through a gate and the Hooghly appears majestivcally in front of you. . Many of the people who inhabit the area are engaged on various sacred rituals, the river being the centre of many ritual activities in the Hindu life. Others carry out work related to the flower market, some are simply taking a bath or washing clothes. The atmosphere always seems relaxed void of the usual Indian commotion. In contrast, Walk along the river bank on a busy, narrow road trafficked by colourful trucks, taxis and auto rickshaws, and the bustling life is also marked by shops and stalls – not at least chai stalls. The Hooghly has a large traffic flow, both commercial traffic and that related to the tourist industry. Fundamental to life in Kolkata, the Hooghly River is a distributary or channel of the holy Ganga or Ganges River. The Hooghly River showcases the human condition and the collision of beauty and spirituality that's so quintessential to an India travel experience.