Kolkata

West Bengal is one of the first destinations in a tourist's itinerary visiting the eastern part of the country. Calcutta (also Kolkata), the capital of the state, is the proud intellectual capital of the country. The Victoria Memorial is a grand edifice constructed in the memory of Queen Victoria. This building houses a number of rare specimens of the historical preserves of the land. Moreover, the manuscripts, the paintings and the sculptures here are outstanding.

Howrah Bridge is another landmark that denotes the city of joy. This hanging bridge is an architectural marvel of the country. The second largest planetarium in Asia, the Birla Planetarium, is another site that attracts attention of all regardless of their age. The Botanical Garden with its 250-year-old banyan tree (Ficus bengalhensis) is another attraction of the city. The Dakshineshwar Temple is 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. The recently built Vidyasagar Setu, another architectural marvel, connects both the banks of the Hooghly River. Thakur Bari, the residence of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is another site that receives a herd of visitors every year.

Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan, Tagore's university township, is a must on any itinerary that plots Bengal as a stopover. Just two and a half hours away by rail from Calcutta, 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 rise into the azure sky. The hot springs are famous for curing many chronic diseases.

Darjeeling

For witnessing the sheer magnificence of mountains, unsullied and pristine, one should visit the hill station of Darjeeling, located 7,000 feet above sea level. 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 Center has a range of carpets for sale in their showroom, woven with dexterity on the premises by refugees who fled their land with the Dalai Lama.

Mirik

One can also undertake short trips to Mirik, land of oranges, and the charming city of Kalimpong, famous for its orchids and curio shops. In the same area is Kurseong from where one can get a panoramic view of the Gangetic delta from Eagle's Crag. Upon reaching the foothills again, one may stop over at Malbazar to imbibe the magical mystery of forests and the tea garden dotted Dooars plains. The Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is known for elephants and other wild animals.

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.

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve

Sunderbans is the largest estuarine delta in the world and the biggest colony of the Royal Bengal Tigers. These evergreen mangrove forests pulsate with myriad forms of life, which hide during hide tide and the ebbing tide reveals them on the glistening mud flats. The land is split by numerous rivers and water channels all emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is believed that Bonbibi, the goddess of the forest, protects the woodcutters, honey-collectors and fishermen on their hazardous missions through the forest. For, as the local saying goes, `here the tiger is always watching you'.

Besides these, West Bengal has lot more to offer as a tourist destination. Digha, Siliguri, Gaur, Pandua, Murshidabad, Bishnupur and Haldia are some of the few places of West Bengal that need to be mentioned here.

Events And Festivals

Besides the other festivals of the Hindu solar calendar, Durga Puja is the one that gains ultimate importance and attention in West Bengal. Durga Puja is an extravaganza of almost seven days; but the preparation starts months before the actual event. New clothes are an integral part in puja for every Bengali.

Besides Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja and Janmashtami are some other festivals that are given special attention in Bengal.