[14] The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut.

Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578.

[15] As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli river) and perhaps a commercial port.

[16] In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank.

[18] On 11 October 1760, as a result of the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty with Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district.

From then onwards the corporation has been run by unelected board of administrators selected by the West Bengal government.

[35] The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area.

[5][36] Howrah also hosts the temporary administrative office of the state of West Bengal.

[37] Even though it is one of the largest cities in the state, Howrah witnessed urbanisation in an unplanned manner.

[citation needed] As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion and pollution.

The name of the novel City of Joy, which has been often the name the Kolkata metropolis been called, is actually based on one such slum of Howrah.

Of late, Howrah has seen a lot of new industrial proposals like the Kona Truck Terminus,[40] Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.

It was established in 1854 when a railway line was constructed connecting the city to the coalfields of Bardhaman.

Howrah is served by the Green Line with Salt Lake in Kolkata via a tunnel under River Hooghly.

Howrah & Mahakaran stations lying in between.The Esplanade to Sealdah section is still under construction as of 13 September 2024 estimated to be completed by 2025.

[48] Howrah hosts a branch of the Grand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration.

Howrah is also served by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located in Dumdum, Kolkata.

[citation needed] Shibpur hosts the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, containing the Great Banyan tree, Avani Riverside Mall is also located here and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur.

Near Howrah Station is the slum of Pilkhana which was the basis of the famous book and film "City of Joy".

[39] Liluah host some of India's oldest railway factories and is also the educational Hub of Howrah.