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India Tourism Guide >> West Bengal Travel Guide
West Bengal Travel Guide
West Bengal is a land of natural beauty, exquisite lyrical poetry and enthusiastic
people. Situated in the east of India, West Bengal is stretches from the
Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the South. This state shares
international boundaries with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Hence it is
a strategically important place.
The state is interlocked by the other states like Sikkim, Assam, Orissa
and Bihar. Hooghly and its tributaries - Mayurakshi, Damodar, Kangsabati
and the Rupnarayan, enrich the soils of Bengal. The northern districts of
Bengal like Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Bihar (in the Himalayas ranges)
are watered by the rivers Tista, Torsa, Jaldhaka and Ranjit. From the northern
places (feet of Himalayas) to the tropical forests of Sunderbans, West Bengal
is a land of incessant beauty.
West Bengal, like many other places in the world, is a place of contrasts-
a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of
growing urbanization, partly undefinable. Fish, crowds, politics, potholes,
monuments, art and cinema, cricket and soccer- all are indispensable parts
of Bengal.
The state is, in its physical form, a complete representation of the Indian
subcontinent. Darjeeling, its north end, touches the magnificent Himalayas
and the Dooars in the foothills are rich in forest. The indomitable river
Ganga flows across the State's rich alluvial plains to reach the Bay of
Bengal in the south, through vast swamps known as Sunderbans.
The districts in the west are semi-arid and sport loamy soil. Bengal does
have a many splendoured countenance, but it is up to you to explore and
discover it.
Durga Puja ,coinciding with Dussehra in other parts of the country, rouses
the state to a feverish pitch, with its preparations that touch the life
of every Bengali. Kali Puja, festival of lights (Diwali), Dol Jatra (Holi),
Ganga Sagar Mela at Sagar (January /February), the Muslim festivals of Id
and Ramzan, Baisakhi - Bengal's New Year's day, Rabindranath Tagore's birth
anniversary, Christmas and New Year are marked by typical abandon and devotion.
Calcutta, three hundred years old, traces its history to the landing of
Robert Clive on the banks of the Hooghly beside three villages. It was from
here the monumental British Raj was launched in India. The capital of West
Bengal, Calcutta is the major entry point.
If Delhi is the elegant capital of the nation, and Bombay its major industrial
city, then Calcutta ranks as the intellectual capital. Poets, thinkers and
film directors of international renown hail from this city where avant garde
plays and art exhibitions go on show practically every day of the year.
Calcutta was the first headquarters of the East India Company, and some
of its best known monuments were built by this British trading house. However,
the city has, within its 300 years history, hosted other communities
both from other parts of India as well as abroad, Chinese, Armenians, Jews
all of whom have left their imprint in pockets of Calcutta.
Sightseeing in this fascinating city includes Raj Bhawan, the residence
of the Governor of Bengal; Victoria Memorial, the citys landmark;
Botanical Gardens, which are notable for the oldest banyan tree, and orchid
house; Armenian Church; Marble Palace, one familys collection of memorabilia;
and the Birla Planetarium. Darjeeling, the states most popular hill
resort, is a slice of England 2,134 metres above sea level.
Surrounded by tea gardens growing the prized leaf known as Darjeeling, the
little town faces some of the Himalayas highest peaks. Darjeeling
is an abrupt variation from the lowlands of West Bengal. Buddhism, being
a major faith here, Darjeeling and the nearby town of Kalimpong have, between
them, several Buddhist monasteries, chiefly of the Yellow Hat sect.
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