West Bengal Tourism, Tourist Places, Tours and Travel Guide

Located in the eastern part of India, West Bengal is a land of myriad attractions. The state is adorned with picturesque hill stations, beaches, mangroves, wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls, islands, lakes, and rivers. The iconic monuments, ancient places of worship, imposing bridges, museums, palaces, bustling markets, and flavorful street food make the state a traveler’s paradise.

West Bengal marks a huge inflow of domestic and international tourists every year. According to the Department of Tourism, Government of India, more than 71 million tourists visited the state in 2018. It has many heritage and premium hotels, cottages, home-stays, and hostels for tourist to unwind and enjoy their tour.

West Bengal Tourism Information

Capital	Kolkata
Official Language	Bengali
Area	88,752 square kilometer
Main Cities	Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, Durgapur, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Asansol, Bardhaman, Chandannagar, Kharagpur, Bishnupur
Status	State
Official Tourism Website	http://www.wbtourism.gov.in
Major Railheads	Howrah Junction (HWH), Sealdah Station (SDAH), New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP), Kharagpur Junction (KGP), Durgapur Station (DGR), Asansol Junction (ASN), and Malda Town Railway Station (MLDT) among others
Airport	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Dumdum, Kolkata) and Bagdogra International Airport (Siliguri)

History of West Bengal

The discovery of Stone Age tools in the state indicates that the region had been inhabited since then. In the olden days, it included the current states of Tripura, West Bengal, and Assam’s Barak Valley, along with Bangladesh.

By the 7^th century AD, the present-day Bengal became a part of the Magadha Kingdom (one of the four major kingdoms in India) under the Mauryas and Guptas. By the 13^th century, the region saw the emergence of Islamic power and from the mid-14^th to end of 15th century it was under the reign of the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty.

Bengal continued to be under the Muslim rule till the British in 1757 defeated the last sovereign Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey. Calcutta (Kolkata) became the capital of British India in 1772 and remained so till 1911. When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was divided into two parts. While the western part became the state of West Bengal, the eastern part went to Pakistan and later became Bangladesh.

Geography & Climate

West Bengal shares its international borders with Bhutan and Nepal in the north and Bangladesh in the east. It has Assam on the east, Odisha on the south-east, Bihar on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south. Geographically, the state includes coastal areas, forests, river delta, fertile plains, and hilly regions. Ganga (River Hooghly) is the major river flowing through Bengal.

The state experiences a humid subtropical climate in the northern parts and tropical savanna climate in the southern region. Summers here are marked by extremely hot and humid days. Winters are mild and pleasant in the plains and extreme in the hilly regions. While the summer months of mid-March to mid-June are ideal for visiting the hilly regions, October to March is the best time to plan a visit to other parts of West Bengal.

Places to Visit in West Bengal

• Beaches: Digha, Mandarmani, Bakkhali, Shankarpur, Tajpur, Udaipur, Frazerganj, Sagar
• Churches: Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Bandel Church, Christ The King Church, Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth, Saint John’s Church, Saint Andrew’s Church
• Temples: Dakshineshwar Temple, Kalighat Temple, Ramakrishna Belur Math, Mayapur ISKCON Temple, Hangseswari Temple, Rampara Kalibari Temple
• Forts: Fort William, Buxa Fort, Kurumbera Fort, Fort Radisson, Fort Mornington
• Palaces: Marble Palace, Hazarduari Palace, Cooch Behar Palace, Jhargram Palace, Nashipur Rajbari, Shobhabazar Rajbari, Bawali Rajbari
• Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks: Jaldapara National Park, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Sundarbans
• Hill Stations: Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, Samsing, Kalimpong, Sandakphu, Siliguri
• Mosques: Nakhoda Masjid, Tipu Sultan Mosque, Lal Masjid, Rajabazar Barri Masjid, Karbala Masjid
• Museums: Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Mother’s Wax Museum, Tram Museum, Netaji Bhawan, Jorasanko Thakur Bari
• Other Attractions: Howrah Bridge, Toy Train in Darjeeling, Metcalfe Hall, Bandel Imambara, Prinsep Ghat, Eden Gardens, Sundarban, Magen David Synagogue

Cuisine of West Bengal

Bengali cuisine is a medley of distinct flavors. It is the only traditional multi-course cuisine to develop in the Indian subcontinent. Fish and rice are the staple items of this cuisine. Aloo Posto, Shukto, Ilish Macher Jhol, Tangra Macher Jhol, Shorshe Ilish Bhapa, Chingri Malai Curry, Kosha Mangsho, Cholar Dal, Mochar Ghonto, and Dhokar Dalna are a few lip-smacking delicacies from Bengal. Rosogolla, Sondesh, Narkel Naru, Patishapta, Mishti Doi, and Payesh are some of the must-try desserts.

Shopping in West Bengal

West Bengal offers a wide range of exciting items to take back as souvenirs. Some of the things you can buy during your visit to the state are:

• Kali Ghat Patachitra
• Bed sheet or saree with Kantha embroidery
• Dokra decorative pieces
• Jute footwear and bags
• Terracotta sculptures
• Tant, Tassar, and Baluchari sarees
• Sholapith handicrafts
• Darjeeling tea
• Traditional Bengali sweets

Things to Do in West Bengal

• Pay your respect at Dakshineshwar Temple
• Take a safari ride at the wildlife sanctuaries
• Enjoy a ride on the Toy Train in Darjeeling
• Go for paragliding and trekking
• Explore the pristine beaches
• Enjoy a fish roll at Dacre Street
• Shop till you drop at the Hogg’s Market
• Cruise through the River Ganga
• Enjoy a tram ride in Kolkata
• Watch the Light and Sound Show at Victoria Memorial

How to Reach West Bengal

By Air:

West Bengal is served by two international airports and both of them offer regular flights to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. The airports have regular flights to a host of international destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Myanmar, Bangkok, Bhutan, Dhaka, Chittagong, Kathmandu, Hong Kong, Kunming, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.

By Rail:

West Bengal is well connected by the Indian Railway. Kolkata serves as the headquarters for three zones of the railway – South Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway, and the Kolkata Metro, which is the first underground rail service of India. The state is also served by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) which operates the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Premium trains such as Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, and Duronto Express connect the state to other major states and cities in India.

By Road:

The road network of West Bengal is vast. National Highways such as NH 19 and NH 53 connect the state to other major cities and states of India. The Grand Trunk Road, one of the longest and oldest roads in Asia, passes through West Bengal. Government-owned and private buses can be used to travel in and around the state. One can also hire private taxies.