WEST BENGAL
Overview
Calcutta was the capital of British India from 1772 till 1912 when the British moved their capital city to ‘New Delhi’.
The city now is the capital of the state of West Bengal and reverted to its pre-colonial name Kolkata in 2001. It is the third-largest city by population in India.
Kolkata is known for its imposing British colonial buildings and architecture, melange of street food, flower markets, second-hand books, and the sacred Hugli River.
Some call the city the 'City of Joy' because of its unfettered enthusiasm for its culture, art, traditions, literature, history, food and more. Kolkata's streets are vivid, hectic, chaotic, and yet, brimming with life and creativity. The city is the perfect combination of old-world charm and modern India.
The city prides itself as the birthplace of two internationally well-known sons, Swami Vivekananda, philosopher and social reformer (died age 39 in 1902) and Nobel laureate for literature (1913) Rabindranath Tagoor.
It’s best to explore Calcutta’s streets on foot with a guide, start early in the morning when traffic is sparse, and sample some Bengali nibbles like Luchi Aloo (fried flat bread with spicy potato) or
Kachori (sweet and spicy deep-fried snack) to name a couple then wash it down with a cup of Chai on a breakfast tour.
The flower market next to the Hugli River under the Howrah Bridge opens early in the morning and the best time to visit is about an hour after sunrise. Thousands of vendors and buyers flock here, and you will see groups of people sit in circles around giant piles of orange marigolds and pink crimsons hand-sewing them onto strings as garlands.
Then venture into the Jewish or Portuguese quarters or stroll down College Street, lined with piles of second-hand university books. Uncover a wealth of treasures from the Victoria Memorial with its gleaming mass of white marble, to the resplendent, if somewhat dilapidated, Marble Palace.
No trip here is complete without a visit to Kalighat Kali Temple, the city's holiest Hindu site and the origin of the city’s name.
For the perfect holiday memory of Kolkata take a sunset Kolkata cruise down the Ganges, there really is no better way to see this vibrant city and all its wonderful contradictions.
Golf enthusiasts will find there are some of India's finest golf courses in and around the city.
Places to visit in West Bengal
DARJEELING
Darjeeling is a hill town in the Himalayan foothills at a height of about 7,000 ft in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Mt. Kanchenjunga part of the Himalayan Range and the third-highest peak in the world and the highest in India, is visible from here, and you can enjoy a panoramic view of the peak on a clear day.
To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, to the east the Kingdom of Bhutan, to the north the Indian state of Sikkim, and farther north the Tibet. Bangladesh lies to the south and southeast.
“The Opium Wars” between the British Empire and China (1839-1842 and 1856 -1860) led the empire to grow tea outside of China and the trials were first done in Darjeeling (1859) quite successfully and tea became a major cash crop for them in India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya and so on.
“Darjeeling Tea” was given geographical indication in 2003 by the World Trade Organization as much for the protection of the brand as for the development of the region that produces it.
The region's indigenous cuisine is rich in fermented foods and beverages. Tourists have flocked to Darjeeling since the mid-19th century.
Darjeeling became a popular summer resort for the British Raj elite. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow-gaged rail
way was completed in1881 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO In 2005.
A ride on this “Toy Train” is something to remember, it begins its journey from the plains and rises to nearly 7,000 ft above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the mountains as it shunts along.
If you want to explore Darjeeling deeper and closer, trekking is the best way to do it. There are several trails through which you can see and know a lot more about this gorgeous hill station.
Some of Darjeeling's most popular attractions include monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway cable car, which is the longest Asian cable car. Tiger Hill is a fantastic spot to see the sunrise over the mountains in all its fiery glory. Darjeeling is a picturesque destination indeed.
