With numerous hill stations, dense and verdant woods packed with diverse wildlife, cozy beaches, various seats of cultures and a large number of historical monuments as well as religious sites, the state represents an exotic and enthralling panorama of beauty and diversity of the nature. West Bengal is abundant in almost every thing, except a desert. The prominent cities in West Bengal include Kolkatta, Siliguri, Bakkhali, Sagardwip, Plassey, Burdwan, Durgapur, Kharagpur, Kalimpong, Darjeelingand Malda . The Best time to visit the state is between the months of October and March. some of the prime tourist attractions in West Bengal are:----
Kolkata
Kolkata is India's second largest city and the capital of West Bengal, located at the point where the Indian subcontinent starts to narrow into the triangular southern peninsula. Formerly the capital of British India (1772-1912), Kolkata is a city of joy and love, glory and grandeur, with a great deal of irresistible allure and charm - its imperial monuments, strong and keen cultural and religious flavor leaves an indelible impression on the tourists. Home to five Nobel laureates – Ronald Ross, Sir C.V. Raman, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, Kolkata is the nerve centre of intellect and human values, where many modern movements began in art, cinema and theatre, science and industry. India’s quest for freedom began here.Prime Tourist Attractions in Kolkata :
Kolkata, the gateway to Eastern India, has a colonial charm, bustling streets, variety and interest, rich cultural and historic heritages, enticing natural beauty and diversity, etc. which make it one of the first destinations in a tourist's itinerary while visiting the eastern part of India. From October to March, Kolkata wears a frisky, radiant look. Bright sunshine, mild winter, lights, iridescent lights and colors, numerous fairs and festivals, galas and excursions, the mood is highly infectious and spirit sweeping. Emerging out of its British Raj era, the Kolkata attractions are both of a heritage city and a modern city.
Victoria Memorial: It is one of India's most beautiful monuments, representing an impeccable and unique combination of classical European architecture and Mughal motifs. This magnificent edifice built in memory of Queen Victoria (who was once the Queen Empress of India) houses a large number of rare specimens of the historical preserves of the land.
HowrahBridge: It is another landmark that signifies the city of Kolkata. This hanging bridge is an ingenious engineering marvel. It is the third largest bridge in the whole world and has about 2 million people crossing over it daily.
MarblePalace:
Located on C R Avenue in north Kolkata at Muktaram Babu Street is built lavishly with Italian marble and has an elaborate collection of curios.
Shantiniketan :
Tagore's university township is an indispensable place for a tourist visiting Kolkata. It was here at which in 1901 Rabindranath Tagore started an experimental place of learning with a 'class room' under the trees, and a group of five pupils which later became the 'Vishva Bharati University in 1921.
Kalighat :
Legend has it that Kolkata (Calcutta) gets its name from 'Kalighat', where there is a numinous temple dedicated to Kali, replete with sweeping curved roof, typical of the traditional wood and bamboo construction of Bengal.
St.Paul's Cathedral:
Situated on the Chowringhee Road, is St.Paul's Cathedral, the first Episcopal Cathedral Church erected in the eastern world.
Belurmath:
About 10 km. from Kolkata are the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math, which has more than100 centers in India and abroad.
Dakshineswar :
Three Km from the Belur Math on the bank of the river Ganges is a beautiful Navaratna temple associated with the great religious prophet, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
Nirmal Hirday:
(Pure Heart) is the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity situated on J.C.Bose Road. It was Mother Theresa's first home for serving destitute and derelict people.
This is one of the largest planetarium in Asia constructed after the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi.
Alipore Zoological Garden :
Located opposite to the National Library at Belvedere Road is the popularly called Chidiakhana.Botanical Gardens, spread over an area of 273 acres on the west bank of Ganges. It is the largest of its kind in India.
EdenGardens Stadium :
It is supposed to be the largest in Asia with a seating capacity of over one lakh spectators.
Writers' Building :
It was till the mid - 19th century, the place of residence for the junior servants (who were called writers of the East India Company). Located at the northern end of Dalhousie Square, it now houses the Secretariat of West Bengal Government.
How to Reach :
Air - Kolkata is has the N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum. Regular flights to rest of India and world are frequently available here.
Rail - Howrah and Sealdah are two major railway stations, which are very well linked to the other parts of the country.
Road - Kolkata, being among the top metros of India, is best connected to the rest of India by excellent road network.
Accommodation :
Like any metropolitan city, Kolkata has numerous and wide options for stay. Luxurious star rated hotels, government owned hotels, guest houses, hostels, lodges and budget hotels offer the tourists with variety to choose from.
Hill Stations : in West Bengal
Major hill stations in West Bengal are Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The majestic Himalayas, sprawling tea gardens along the mountain slopes, the heritage of Toy Train (a World Heritage declared by UNESCO) and the colonial legacy - Darjeeling in itself presents some of the paramount tourist attractions in West Bengal. On the Kalimpong embodied is a beautiful slice of serenity, famous for its orchids and curio shops. Darjeeling, located 7,000 feet above the sea level is renowned for its magnificent mountains and scenic locale. It is also the glorious home of the Darjeeling flavored tea popular all over the world. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a paradise for trekkers. The Tibetan Center has a range of carpets for sale in their showroom.
Darjeeling is one of the most enthralling hill stations in the world. This celestial retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all under the blanket of a refreshing azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS.
Major Tourist Attractions near Darjeeling
NaturalHistoryMuseum
The Museum, contains a sophisticated collection of the fauna of the region. The specimens of all birds' species, reptiles and animals found here are overtly displayed. The butterfly and beetle section commands a special mention.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute :
This Institute is one of the most visited organizations in Darjeeling. The institute was started after Tenzing Norgay conquered Mt. Everest in 1953, and mountaineering got recognition as a serious and commendable sport. It offers magnificent views of Kanchenjunga.
The Lebong Race Track :
Just 8 Km from Darjeeling, this race course has the highest and smallest tracks in the world. Under the management of the Gymkhana Club, races are held during the military parades.
Tiger Hill :
Only 11 km from the Darjeeling and at an elevation of 2,590 meters, lies the famous Tiger Hill. The view of sunrise from the top of this hill is enthralling. It also gives fine scenic views of the mighty Everest and Kanchenjunga peaks.How to Reach Darjeeling:
Air - The closest airport is Bagdogra Airport, 90km from Darjeeling. This airport commands good connectivity with other Indian airports.
Rail - Nearest major railway stations are New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. From there Toy-train can be boarded, which takes about 7 hrs to reach Darjeeling.
Road - Darjeeling is amply connected via all weather motorable roads with Siliguri, Kalimpong, Gangtok.
Accommodation :
Darjeeling has moderately good number of hotels around the town. The hotels present both luxurious as well as economy stay. There are some 3 and 4 star rated hotels as well.
Kalimpong :
This beautiful hill town in North Bengal is easily accessible from either Siliguri or Darjeeling. KALIMPONG - means king’s minister’s strong hold - a Bhutanese word.
Situated at an elevation of 1250 meters, it enjoys temperate and congenial climate throughout the year. Somewhat secluded and tucked away in the corner under big Darjeeling umbrella, Kalimpong offers quiet, tranquil, and relaxed holidays, against the scenic and pacific backdrop of the Kanchenjunga.
The journey from Darjeeling to Kalimpong is a highly pleasant and beautiful experience. The road drops from Ghoom 7407ft. to Teesta Bazar 700 ft in 12 km and passes through lush green forests and tea gardens.
A point called the Viewpoint or ‘Lovers Meet’, offers magnificent views of the confluence of the Rangeet and the Teesta rivers, as also of the Himalayan mountain range from Durbindara summit.
Kalimpong’s tourist attractions include three Buddhist monastries, orchid nurseries, a sericulture centre and Dr. Graham’s Home, a large sprawling school established in 1900 for educating the children of tea workers.
