Howrah (, Bengali: [ˈɦao̯ɽa], alternatively spelled as Haora) is a district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah District is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River. Howrah city is the head quarters of Howrah district.
Large part of Howrah district is an important suburb of city of Kolkata. It is also part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, with development from the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. It is the transportation hub and gateway to Kolkata’s oldest CBD (Dalhousie) and other parts of West Bengal via Howrah railway station, Santragachi Railway Terminal and Howrah Bridge.
| hours=Mar-Sep: 5AM-5:30PM; Oct-Feb: 5:30AM-5PM | price=foreigners: ₹50; Indians: ₹5 | wikidata=Q3346386 | lastedit=2023-01-05 | cAn extraordinary place of vivid nature under the smog filled sky of the city. You will value the silence that is only filled by some birds singing. The Great Banyan tree in the botanical garden boasts of having the largest canopy in the world. The British established the institution in 1786 as Indian Botanical Garden. }} | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q56683370 | lastedit=2022-09-01 | cA museum established in 2006 to display the history and heritage of railways in the eastern part of India with special focus on Howrah Junction railway station. The collection includes the first broad-gauge electric locomotive built in India, a WCM-5; a HPS-32 steam locomotive captured during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971; and the Indraprastha, claimed to be the oldest remaining Indian Railways shunting locomotive. }} | ph | tollfree= | hours= | price= | image=Santragachi Lake - Howrah 2013-01-25 3597 to 3598 Combined.JPG | wikidata=Q105964828 | lastedit=2022-09-01 | cA large lake next to Santragachi railway station. It attracts a lot of migratory birds in the winter months, particularly in December and January, impart because migratory birds are avoiding destinations like the lakes in Alipore Zoo, Kolkata. Birds like Saras Crane from North America and Australia, and many other local migratory birds such as Cotton Pygmy Goose, and Comb Duck, are spotted here during this season. The lake area is owned by South Eastern Railway, though the Forest Department of West Bengal also looks after the place. Efforts are made by local residents, Forest Department and Railways to improve the environment for the birds. }}
| hours=10AM–8PM | price= | lastedit=2023-01-05 | cAn amusement park. Within the park, there is a pond and the trees around here provide greenery to the region. A marriage hall is also present here for marriage events. The Panchdeep Tower within the park is the tallest structure in Howrah. }}
Local foods you must try are egg, chicken and mutton roll. Howrah is known for its egg chicken roll, which is available anywhere for ₹25. You will not find these foods anywhere else in the world. Mutton Biryani is also worth a try, in Nizams or Arsalan.
It might be worth while to stroll down Howrah Maidan just for the excitement of a local market, busy with street shops selling anything from clothes, to pots, to fruits. By bus or taxi from Howrah station it will only take 10 minutes to get there. | ph+91 33 3312-9000 | tollfree= | fax=+91-33-2289-5811 | hours=11AM–10PM | price=Free | image=Avani Riverside Mall - Howrah 2012-01-14 0957.JPG | lastedit=2022-10-01 | cThis three storey mall contains Eastern India's first PVR cinema hall. Large food court and many shops. }}
Howrah, like its twin city Kolkata, has an extensive public transportation network, from the modern rapid transit system to the old heritage wooden bus systems. As of 2022, Howrah and its suburbs are served by bus, ferry, metro, train and tram systems.
All modes of transportation are easily accessible around Howrah station. For short-distance travel, there are auto-rickshaws, electric rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.
Howrah (HOW-rrah) is on the western bank of the Hooghly River opposite of Kolkata. While it is a separate city, Howrah is very much a part of the Kolkata metropolitan area and Howrah station is where you will arrive if connecting with anywhere north, south or east of Kolkata.
Although the modern Howrah is developed largely under the British rule, the city is preceded by a major trading centre called Betor. Howrah station, the first railway station of Eastern India, was established in this city in 1854, with its first railway service to Hooghly began on 15 August of the same year. Although several other major stations have come up across Kolkata and Howrah, Howrah station still remains one of the busiest railway stations in India.