Kolkata/Calcutta, and all of India, can be dirty, hot, congested, chaotic; has heart-wrenching poverty, some of the worst roads in the world, and demands patience along with constant vigilance regarding water and food but Kolkata is also one of Travels With Sheila's favorite cities. Kolkata is also regarded as India's intellectual and cultural capital, filled with an abundance of colonial architecture If you find that hard to believe, cheer on the horses at the venerable Royal Calcutta Turf Club, built in 1820; smell the roses in The Kolkata Wholesale Flower Market; explore the Kumartuli District where sculptors fashion gigantic effigies of gods; visit Hindu Temples, Churches and Synagogues; eat wonderful food; and while walking sandals into the ground, prepare to see even more Let Travels With Sheila teach you how to Travel the World on a Budget, share exotic locations with you known only to locals, and most importantly, ease your fears about languages, currencies, personal safety and staying healthy. Follow her advice to avoid making mistakes she learned the hard way. HERE'S SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU'LL FIND INSIDE... - Important Tips for Traveling in India. - The Dos and Don'ts of Planning A Trip to Kolkata. - How to See The Best of Kolkata. Now, Travels With Sheila tells it like it is with personalized, up-to-date information and photographs. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, be catered to like a Maharajah or Rani, and see some of the most unusual sights in the world, visit Kolkata. Your first experience will overload senses, and appear to be an exercise in chaos, BUT...you'll be back to visit -- India is one of the most colorful and interesting countries in the world.