| West Bengal Sights |
| Map |
Kolkata Once known as 'Calcutta', the riverine city of Kolkata has many names, including 'The City of Palaces' and the 'City of Joy'. Kolkata grew on the banks of the River Hoogly in the great Gangetic Delta from three small villages, Sutanati, Gobindapur and Kolikata. The capital of the state of West Bengal, Kolkata is the second largest city in India and one of the important metropolitan cities in the country. Until 1911 Kolkata was the capital of British India, and Victorian buildings and churches from that time survive in today's crowded city. The Victoria Memorial is a grand edifice constructed in the memory of Queen Victoria. Howrah Bridge is another landmark. This hanging bridge is an architectural marvel of the country. The Birla Planetarium (the second largest planetarium in Asia and the Botanical Garden with its 250-year-old banyan tree are some of the other attractions of the city. Nearby is the Dakshineshwar Temple, an important pilgrimage center that attracts a number of tourists as well as pilgrims from all over the country. It is said that Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda, used to worship Goddess Kali in this place. Sunderbans The south of West Bengal is a fertile agriculture-based plain that produces a lot of rice. The plain ends in the Ganges's delta, where the mighty river (called Hooghly in this state) flows into the Bay of Bengal. The estuary is known as the Sunderbans, the world's largest Mangrove forests and a UNESCO heritage site. This network of creeks, canals, and rivulets is home to Royal Bengal Tigers that are adapted to living in such a watery environment. The area is also famous for its different kinds of bird species. Shantiniketan Two and a half hours away by train from Kolkata, this town in the Birbhum district is rich in culture and art. At Tagore's residence in the Uttarayan complex, you could visit the museum and his various homes. From Shantiniketan, you could also take a sojourn to Bakreswar, where ancient Kali and Shiva temples stand. The hot springs are famous for curing many chronic diseases. The place is also famous for Poush Mela, which is held every year in the month of December. Darjeeling Darjeeling is a famous hill station of West Bengal offering magnificent view of the Himalayas. The place is also dotted with several Buddhist monasteries. Darjeeling is famous for its flavored tea all over the world. The brew is often compared to champagne and the tea gardens that dot the slopes are witness to this mammoth industry. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a paradise for trekkers. The Tibetan Self-Help Center has a range of carpets for sale in their showroom, woven on the premises by refugees who fled their land with the Dalai Lama. |
| Kalimpong Kalimpong is another hill town located in the northern part of West Bengal. Kalimpong can be reached either from Siliguri or Darjeeling by road. Kalimpong is mainly visited to cherish the unique view of the Kanchenzonga. In the same area is Kurseong from where one can get a panoramic view of the Gangetic delta from Eagle's Crag. Malda In the heartland of Bengal's rich history is Malda with the relics of Muslim culture embodied in the Bara Sona mosque. Not very far is Behrampur, another cradle of Bengal's Muslim past. The Hazarduari Palace and the Khush Bagh revive memories of days gone by. Beaches In Digha and Shankarpur the state has some scenic beaches. |