Current Time in Kolkata, India
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
भारत
Dialling: +91
City Details
Kolkata
কলকাতা
Lat: 22.5726° N
Long: 88.3639° E
Population: 15,000,000
Time Zone
Asia/Kolkata
GMT+5:30
Public Holidays in India
No holiday data available for this country.
Via Nager.Date
Time Difference from You to Kolkata
Business Hours in Kolkata
Sunrise & Sunset in Kolkata Today
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather in Kolkata, India
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Moon Phase in Kolkata Tonight
Overview
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and the cultural capital of eastern India, with approximately 5.1 million residents in the city proper and over 15 million in Greater Kolkata as of 2025. It was the capital of British India until 1911, which left an extraordinary inheritance of colonial architecture. It is the birthplace of modern India's literary, intellectual and artistic renaissance — produced Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Mother Teresa and economist Amartya Sen.
Administrative Region
West Bengal
IN-WB
Local Currency
₹
Metadata
- Web Domain.in
- ISO CodeIN-WB
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
The site was a cluster of three villages — Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata — on the east bank of the Hooghly River when Job Charnock of the British East India Company established a trading post here in 1690. Kalikata gave the city its name, likely referring to the Kali Ghat (the steps of the goddess Kali temple). Fort William was built in 1696 and the city grew into the most important commercial and political centre in the British Empire outside Britain itself, serving as India's capital for over 150 years.
🗣️ Languages
👥 Demographics
✨ Leisure Highlights
- •Victoria Memorial — finest colonial monument in India
- •Howrah Bridge — 1943 cantilever bridge over the Hooghly
- •Kumartuli — potters' quarter, traditional clay idol workshops
- •Indian Museum — oldest museum in Asia (est. 1814)
- •Dakshineswar and Belur Math temples on the Hooghly
🎒 Visitor Tip
The Kolkata Metro is India's oldest (1984) and covers central areas well. The iconic yellow Ambassador taxis and hand-pulled rickshaws in Tiretti Bazaar are genuine working transport, not props. Victoria Memorial is the single most impressive colonial monument in India — allow two hours. The market area around New Market and Sudder Street is the backpacker quarter with good budget accommodation. Cross the Howrah Bridge on foot in the morning for views of the Hooghly River at its most photogenic.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Built on the flat Gangetic delta on the east bank of the Hooghly River (a distributary of the Ganges), approximately 65km inland from the Bay of Bengal, at 1–9m above sea level. The terrain is entirely flat alluvial plain prone to waterlogging and flooding during monsoon. The city is effectively built on soft delta sediments.
Climate Stats
Tropical wet and dry / humid subtropical (Köppen Aw/Cwa)
Avg Summer
32°C
Avg Winter
18°C
Annual Rainfall
1582 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / Distance
🚄 Rail ConnectionsOperator / Distance
Nearby Cities & Excursions
Other times compared to Kolkata
Frequently Asked Questions about time in Kolkata
What timezone is Kolkata in?↓
Kolkata is in the Asia/Kolkata time zone (Asia/Kolkata), currently UTCGMT+5:30.
Does India observe daylight saving time?↓
No. India does not observe daylight saving time. Kolkata stays on IST (UTCGMT+5:30) year-round, so the clocks never change.
What is IST?↓
IST stands for Asia/Kolkata. It is UTCGMT+5:30 and is the standard time used in India.
How many hours ahead is Kolkata compared to London?↓
Kolkata is 5.5 hours ahead of London (GMT). During UK summer (BST), the difference reduces by 1 hour to 4.5 hours.
What is the time difference between Kolkata and New York?↓
Kolkata is 10.5 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for Kolkata?↓
The time displayed for Kolkata is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCGMT+5:30 mean for Kolkata?↓
UTCGMT+5:30 means Kolkata is 5.5 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in Kolkata?↓
Standard business hours in Kolkata are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM IST (UTCGMT+5:30). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the India national calendar.
What is the best time to call Kolkata from London?↓
The best overlap for a call between London and Kolkata is typically early morning in London (8–10 AM GMT), which corresponds to late afternoon or evening in Kolkata. Always check the current time before calling to avoid unsociable hours.