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Why did Kolkata become an important city on the Hugli River?

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Physical map showing the Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage networks across northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), and Myanmar. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, from the high Himalayas in brown and white to lowland plains in green, and marks major rivers, tributaries, glaciers, dams, irrigated areas, and regions subject to flooding. An inset locator map highlights the region within South Asia. — Ganges River The Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage network.

Kolkata’s importance as a major city and port on the Hugli River stems from its strategic location and historical development as a center for commerce and transport.1

Key factors contributing to its prominence include:

Strategic Geography: Situated about 96 miles upstream from the Bay of Bengal, the city developed as a vital point for the transshipment of goods between water and land, and between river and sea. The river at this location was wide and deep, providing excellent access for maritime trade.12
British Settlement: In 1690, Job Charnock of the East India Company selected the site for a trading post. The location was protected by the river to the west, a creek to the north, and salt lakes to the east, offering a secure environment compared to other European settlements higher up the river.2
Commercial Hub: The city attracted many Indian merchants who migrated from the silted-up port of Satgaon, further establishing it as a commercial center. It later became the capital of British India (1772–1911) and the seat of the Bengal Presidency, cementing its role as the dominant urban center of eastern India.21