The historical context of Howrah (Haora), located on the west bank of the Hooghly River, is permanently intertwined with the rise of Kolkata (Calcutta), which sits directly opposite it. Known historically as the "Glasgow of India" and the "Sheffield of the East," Howrah transitioned from a collection of quiet marshy villages into one of the world's most dense, powerful industrial and railway hubs during the 19th and 20th centuries.