Tourist Attractions In West Bengal:

West Bengal's major attractions are the Dutch, French, English and Portuguese styled buildings and historic monuments. The land speaks about the golden era of trade and commerce, a rich culture and a land torn by betrayal, partition, poverty and famine. The historical remains of Malda, British era buildings and monuments of Kolkata, the Nawab's city Murshidabad, or Rabindranath Tagore's Shanti Niketan gives the picture of the glorious past of the state. The Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, Hazariduar in Murshidabad are some of the most visited sites in the state.

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:

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:

Mirik Lake 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.

How to Reach West Bengal:

by Air: The state has an international airport in Kolkata, the state capital and another domestic airport at Bagdogra near Siliguri, in the northern Bengal. These two airports are served by nearly all public and private airlines and linked to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and so on. Most of the destinations in West Bengal are located at convenient distance from Kolkata and Bagdogra

by Road: An extensive road network covers the entire state. A number of National Highways and State Highways crisscross the land. One can also approach the state from neighbouring states, name Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand. Cross border road transportation is also operational with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

by Rail: The state has a very good rail network too. Two railway stations namely: Howrah and Sealdah near Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri, close to Siliguri, are key railway stations in the state. There are numerous other railheads that are served by important trains from all over the country and link major destinations within the state.