West Bengal is a perfect potpourri of culture, complex socio economy and different languages. It is a place of contrasts- a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization, partly indefinable. 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. The indomitable river Ganga flows across the State's rich alluvial plains finally to merge with Bay of Bengal in the south, through vast swamps known as Sunderbans. The districts in the west are semi-arid and sport loamy soil.

Durga Puja, coinciding with Dussehra in other parts of the country is the biggest festival of Bengal  and  rouses the state to a feverish pitch, changing  even the most known roads and areas with  riot of colours and amazing illuminations and creative temporary architect, into an never seen wonder world.
The capital of this state of contrast is Kolkata formerly called Calcutta.

Kolkata

Simultaneously noble and not so disciplined, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. It is indeed  crazy to talk about falling in love with a concrete jungle but being here for some time makes one feel kind of addicted to the daily chaos, street meetings, numerous hawkers on the streets offering whatnots, poverty on the streets  and also excellent group theatres, paintings,      filmshows, rich findings on numerous little magazines, cruising along the Ganges, or even hand pulled rickshaw ride through alleys and cartride along the lungs of the city called Maidan or just a lazy ride by a tramcar and above all the truly cosmopolitan crowd. Several of India’s great 19th and 20th century heroes were Kolkatans , including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel prize winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. As the former capital of British India, Kolkata retains a feast of dramatic colonial architecture. This is a fabulous place to sample the very tasty  Bengali cuisine specially with numerous preparations of sweet water fish and to share the city’s passion for sweets. Friendlier than India’s other mega-cities, Kolkata is really a city you “feel” more than just visit as exactly happened for the  French author Dominique Lapierre who  lovingly called it The City of Joy.

As if to maintain her complex character, the city still has many slums but is also developing dynamic new-town suburbs, immaculate state of art shopping malls and some of the best restaurants in India. It would certainly take sometime to realize why the city dwellers call this city lovingly as Kallolini Tilottama means the Bubbling Beauty.

Calcutta, three hundred years old, traces her 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, was the major entry point. 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 once again giving it the true cosmopolitan character.

Dakshineswar temple and Belur Math, or the famous paintings at Kalighat, the fascinating  daily flower market on the bank of Hooghly river, or the fascinating sculptors’ road called Kumartuli, the marble palace or the peaceful birdfilled garden of Digambar Jain Temple, Tagore’s house in north or Mother Teresa’s world famous Nirmal Hriday in the south, Victoria Memorial on the heart or  Science City on the east .. probably every place to visit in the city always makes someone feel of being in a place of contrast and colour.. the colour of life.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

Sundarbans Lie south-east of Kolkata in the 24-Paraganas (S) District of West Bengal and forms part of the Gangetic Delta, which borders on the Bay of Bengal. About half of the Sundarbans is under water and the rest of the landscape is characterized by low-lying alluvial islands and mud banks, with sandy beaches and dunes along the coast. As with the rest of the Bengal Plain, alluvial deposits are geologically very recent and deep. The entire mangrove forest extends over an area of 4,262 sq.km, of which 2,320 sq.km is forest and the rest is water  and is called Sundarban owing to the dominance of the tree species locally known as 'Sundari' because of its elegance .

Home to one of the largest concentrations of tigers on the planet, the reserve is a network of channels and semi-submerged mangroves that is part of the world’s largest river delta. Royal Bengal tigers not only lurk in the impenetrable depths of the mangrove forests, but also swim the delta’s innumerable channels. A trip to this watery World Heritage site is rewarding with or without a glimpse of the big cats. Cruising the broad waterways or through numerous creeks of  the world’s biggest mangrove forest and watching wildlife, whether it be a spotted deer, water monitor or luminescent kingfisher or even enjoying the mudskippers on the river bank is sublime and a world away. Mingling with local life during a short stay within the park could depict a fascinating picture probably unknown to the rest of the world.  

Digha

Digha, the ‘Brighton of the East” is located on the Bay of Bengal, 185 km south-west of Kolkata. It’s a nice escape from the city. A less crowded seaside hideaway can be found 14 km north at Shankarpur.

Mandarmani

Mandarmani is a beach resort in East Medinipur district of South Bengal.It is almost 180km from Kolkata. Mandarmani boasts of her truly virgin, 14km long motorable beach, longest in India.

Bishnupur

Mayapur

Mayapur is an  important pilgrim destination being the birth place of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is considered to be the reincarnation of Lord Krishna and Radha. During 1970 the world headquarters of ISCKON (International Society For Krishna Consciousness) was set up here. Mayapur is situated on the banks of River Ganges, nearly 130 km north of Kolkata.

Garhpanchkot

Surrounded by Panchet hills, this place is full of green with a rich biodiversity of the Sal forests of south Bengal. The Panchet Dam happens to be the star attraction over here.

Duarsini

On the foothills of a mound, by the bank of the rivulet Satgurung, stands Duarsini, an ethnic land with a wild smell. Popular as a birding spot, people come here too study ethno-botany and tribal culture.

Mukutmanipur

Mukutmanipur in Bankura is 250 km from Kolkata.The red soil of the land, the rolling hills of Chhotanagpur plateau, the endless forest of Sal and sunset on the huge reservoir  all make you feel linger on a small trip.

Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan - a school in the traditional gurukul system was founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1901. Tagore’s vision was a world where man exists in perfect harmony with nature. Shantiniketan – the abode of peace- is a fruition of this vision.Shantiniketan is the embodiment of serenity and peace, far removed from the concrete jungle. Here imposing sculptures of Ram Kinkar greet you at every turn of the road. Paintings of Nandalal, Abanindranath and Binod Bihari captivate your senses.

Murshidabad

A quiet town on the banks of the Bhagirathi river, Murshidabad has stood witness to events that changed the course of Indian history. Besides being an important historic spot this  is also the manufacturing point for fine silk and occupies a significant position in Indian textile map.

Malda

Malda, located 365 km north of Kolkata, was formerly known as English Bazaar. An English factory was established here in 1771. Malda is a base for visiting Gaur and Pandua. Gaur, capital to three dynasties of ancient Bengal – the Buddhist Palas, the Hindu Senas and the Muslim Nawabs – has seen three distinct eras of glory. Pandua, once the alternate seat of power to Gaur, has the third largest concentration of Muslim monuments in Bengal.

DOOARS

The forested areas of Northern West Bengal with lush green and undulated topography are simply mesmerizing. Imagine a greenery stretching upto  130 kms.in length where nature has lavished all her bounties and you  know it’s Dooars. Here, an unending stretch of virgin forest is crisscrossed by the river Teesta and her innumerable tributaries. The Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks and Tiger Reserve provide a home for a number of wild animals that include Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinoceros, Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Redpanda, Sambar, Cheetal, Hog-deer, Barking deer, Wild Boar, Common Langur and Rhesus Monkeys. Bird life also abounds and some of the last remaining water bodies harbor a large population of local migratory birds during the winter months.
The entire region had seen arrival of various Indo-Mongoloid tribes who came to settle in this fertile land. The majority are the Raj Bangsis and others are the Mech, The Ravas, the Totos etc. Some Limbus and Lepchas had also immigrated through the Terai crossing Mechi river.Then came the British and with them the Bengalees from today’s Bangladesh. The Planters also brought from the Chotonagpur plateau the Madeshias, Nageshias, Uraons and the Mundas to work as labour. All these various tribes brought along with them , their culture and beliefs. And thus Dooars became a conglomeration of rich tribal culture which added colour to the natural greeneries of Dooars.

Jaldapara WLS

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary is about 124 km from Siliguri the gateway to North East. This sanctuary was constituted in the year 1941 for the protection of Wild Life, particularly one-horned rhinos, an animal threatened with extinction.
River Toorsa runs through the Sanctuary. The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. The wild life, in addition to one-horned rhinos, consists of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, deers, sambhar, barking deer, spotted deer and hog deer, wild pig, bisons and a number of birds, peafowls. Elephant ride is arranged for viewing of wild life preferably at dawn.

GorumaraNational Park

Gorumara National Park, an important inclusion in the National Parks family in India, is famous for one of the last small pockets in Eastern India harbouring natural population of Great Indian one horned Rhinoceros, along with other mega herbivores like Indian Elephant, Gaur or Indian Bison and other herbivores and carnivores. The National Park is located in the flood plains of Jaldhaka and Murti river and other medium and small rivers and rivulets which have created a pocket of grassland.

Jayanti & Buxa Tiger Reserve

Jayanti can easily be called the queen of Dooars. With a feeble tourism infrastructure and thus maintaining  virgin serenity till date, Jayanti is famous for its rich variety of wild life and exotic scenic beauty. A stalactite cave popularly known as “Jayanti Mahakal” and ‘Pookri Pahar’ are worth visiting. At a close  distance from Jayanti lies Rajabhatkhawa another tiny spot with a leopard rescue centre, Orchidarium and a nature Interpretation centre. Visit to Jayanti perhaps remain incomplete without a visit to Buxa Dooar which once again has a tremendous historical impact. Made by the British as an army cantonment to keep an eye on Bhutaneese soldiers this fort had been converted into a prison during Indian freedom movement and became the address of numerous freedom fighters captive under the British Raj.

Buxa Tiger Reserve lies here and it is the eastern most extension of extreme bio-diverse North-East India & represents highly endemic Indo-Malayan region. The fragile "Terai Eco-System" constitutes a part of this Reserve. The Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to North of BTR. Manas Tiger Reserve lies on east of BTR. BTR, thus, serves as international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan. The reserve encompasses as many as eight forest types.There are some very interesting trekking routes all around Jayanti & Buxa  which offer rich density of birds, butterflies and mammals.

Samsing/Suntalekhola

Quite places on the foothill of Himalayas these two are  lesser-known lower hill-stations and offer an unimaginable landscape and peace – the true essence of Dooars. The landscapes suddenly become more romantic and the mystry around  will make you feel overwhelmed with ethnic feelings. Samsing is approximately 81 km from Siliguri via Chalsa. Through the lush green tea gardens of Chalsa, you come to the land of floating clouds and mesmerizing mountain streams. Samsing and Suntaleykhola are abode of birds and a heaven for any bird watcher.

Bindu/Jhalong/Paren

About 107 km. from Siliguri the last village of West Bengal on  Indo-Bhutan border, located on the bank of river Jaldhaka is an ideal place to unwind.. Journey to Bindu through Chapramari Forest is an awful experience. Jhallong and Paren , on the way too offer lot magic by mother Nature.

Mongpong

Let all your heavy thoughts  flow away with flickering ripples of Teesta at Mongpong only 32 kms from Siliguri. Located on the bank of river Teesta , Mongpong is at close vicinity to Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Gajaldoba dam.

Rongpo

The gateway to Sikkim, Rongpo is the ideal place to mingle with beautiful Teesta River and rafting, rock climbing and viewing wildlife are added attractions.

LEPCHAJAGAT

Bright sunshine amidst endless green with stunning views of the Himalaya made this little dot very special for those who want to avoid crowd of the very popular Darjeeling which is just 19 kms. away. This place is also a very popular Birding spot.

Darjeeling

Surrounded by tea plantation and nestled among the rolling mountains and indeed with Mt. Kanchenjunga towering over the azure sky at the backdrop, Darjeeling, fondly and rightly, is called "Queen of the Hills". This is the land of the muscatel flavoured Darjeeling tea revered by connoisseurs across the globe.

When Kanchenjunga gets covered under the mysty clouds go for exploring the colonial mansions and churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, the botanical garden and the very interesting Zoo for Himalayan fauna.

This is the land of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway where the century old miniature steam engine still chugs uphill vying for space with the fast disappearing Land Rovers.

Tiger hills is the highest point in the area which provides the most exotic view of the Kanchenjunga peaks. From this place the other peaks of the Eastern Himalayas can be seen. On a clear day the sight of Mt.Everest is just enthralling.
Darjeeling in a nutshell comprises of six T’s -Tea, Teak, Tourism, Toy Train, Tiger Hill and Trekkers’ paradise. A lazy stroll along the steep narrow streets , crowded with colourful souvenir and handicraft shops will make you feel how worth it is to call Darjeeling ‘Queen of Hills’.

KURSEONG

Situated at an altitude of 2458 Mts.(4864 ft), 51 kms from Siliguri and 30 kms from Darjeeling and with lush green tea estates all around, Kurseong's natural advantages make it a very attractive tourist destination.Located at a lower elevation for those who dislike the severe winters of Darjeeling, Kurseong enjoys a milder and a very healthy climate throughout the year.It is the peace, serenity and the healthy climate that attracted many a great person to this place.

KALIMPONG

Often called as the gateway of Himalaya, the tiny  town is 1250 m above sea level and offers excellent views of the Mt Kanchenjunga and the other Himalayan peaks. The popular view points are Durpin Dara and Deolo Hill. Kalimpong has several monasteries and also a Kali temple. The Tibetan Monastery and curio center and Dr Graham's home are important tour stops.The Golf course, rafting along Teesta and Rangit rivers also are reasons behind making Kalimpong a crowdpuller.

LAVA

32 km from Kalimpong and situated at an altitude of 7200 ft. Lava commands panoramic view of Jelep La and Rechi La . Short drives through dense forests of Neora range turns Lava into the tiny spot on the hill  with unspoiled idyllic surroundings. Being the gateway to Neora range Lava is a Birding hotspot. Being  one of the best birding spot in North Bengal, Lava attracts Birders from the entire world.

LULEGAON / Kafer

The canopy walk through the age old tall trees,the sensuous sunset and the rare and wild orchid all around makes Lulegaonj simply wild, wild east. 56 km from Kalimpong and situated at an altitude of 5500 ft. Lulegaon offers a panoramic view of Kanchenjunga.

RISHAP

Rishap means assembly of mountain peaks and old trees. Kanchendzonga and various snow-capped mountains of India and Nepal on one side and the mystic virgin Neora Valley National Park on the other make Rishap absolutely very special.

SingalilaNational Park

Bordering between West Bengal and Nepal Singalila National Park stands at the extreme northwest of West Bengal enjoying the status of the highest National Park of the state. The very basics mode of accessibility rather acts as a blessing in disguise and Singalila even today offers extensive patches of virgin greenery. Thick bamboo, oak and rhododendron forest between 2000 and 3600m cover the Singalila Ridge which runs roughly north to south.The very popular , easy to moderate graded  Birding trek to Sandakphu through and along Singalila national Park starts from a bustling township called Maneybhajan (2134 m) accessible by road from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railhead or Bagdogra, the nearest airport or even from the very popular tourist spot Darjeeling which stands only 30 kms away from Manebhanjan.

SANDAKPHU

Sandakphu is a vantage point from where one can see four of the world's five highest peaks, the fabulous 8000 m extravaganza - Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Lhotse in a continuous snow-clad arc. Standing at an altitude of 3636 mtrs. Sandakphu enjoys the status of highest point in West Bengal. The entire route along the Singalila National Park to Sandakphu offers a great range of wildlife which includes three magnificient species like Red Panda, Blood Pleaant and Styr Tragopan. SGNP has a checklist of 160 bird species some of the rare and difficult to find birds are found here. The incredible mountain range, the rich wildlife and the warm hospitality of the simple hill people all these would certainly add colour to a memorable journey to Sandakphu.

Tea Tourism :Darjeeling Tea Gardens

Average Raifall : 1750 mm 
Average Temperature :  Due to topography temperature varies widely among palces
Population of State : 80221171       
Best Time to Visit : Sep. to May
Main Raihead : Howrah, Sealdah, New Jalpaiguri
Major Airports : Dumndum, Bagdogra