Location : East India
Major Attractions : Gangtok
Best time to Visit : September to December


About West Bengal
The north eastern region of India is home to some of the most exotic locales found anywhere in the country. West Bengal is one such state which is known for some of the most magnificent forts and monuments, ancient religious sites, unique culture and exotic cuisine. Encompassing a huge area of 88,752 sq. km, West Bengal is bordered by the states of Orissa on its south, Assam and Sikkim towards the north and Bihar and Jharkhand on the west. The state also shares international borders with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Bengali is the most widely spoken language while Urdu and Hindi are also used by a few.

West Bengal in History
History of West Bengal goes back 4,000 years to the time when the region was inhabited by Dravidians and a few other local tribes. It wasn't until the 7th century

that Bengal became a kingdom and King Shashank was declared as the ruler. Subsequently, Bengal came under the rule of several dynasties during the next few centuries when the Mughals conquered the region and ruled here until the Britishers under the name of East India Company defeated Siraj ud Daulah. After India's independence in 1947, Bengal was divided into West Bengal, which came under the Indian governance and East Bengal, which passed into the hands of Pakistan. East Bengal later became an independent nation after the war of 1971.
Tourist Attractions in West Bengal
Often referred to as the gateway to the east, West Bengal is a state of diversities. While cities like Kolkatta (Calcutta) display the living remains of a glorious colonial past, those like Darjeeling are known for their exotic environs and immense natural beauty. The varied landscape of West Bengal, comprising of the lower Ganges and a few other rivers down south, mammoth mountains in the north and the forest of Sunderbans, have successfully attracted thousands of tourists year after year. Amongst the most visited tourist destinations of West Bengal are Kolkatta, Darjeeling, Durgapur, Murshidabad and Burdwan.

Forts & Monuments in West Bengal
West Bengal was one of the earliest places that came under colonial influence. Numerous dynasties have ruled over the state and left their imprints in the form of mammoth forts and charming palaces. The colonial architectural marvels of Kolkatta are especially worth a dekko. Some of the most famous monuments of Kolkatta are the Victoria Memorial, Imambara, Tipu Sultan's Mosque, Raj Bhavan, Fort William, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Nizam Palace.

Wildlife in West Bengal
With a forest cover of 14% out of the total area of the state, West Bengal consists of 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 3 Tiger reserves and 5 national parks. The mangrove forests of Sunderbans, also a world heritage site, provides shelter to myriad variety of flora and fauna. Situated in the southern part of West Bengal, these forests are a popular haunt for wildlife enthusiasts coming to India. Some of the famous wildlife habitats in the state are Sunderbans National Park and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Climate in West Bengal
The landscape of West Bengal is diverse, consisting of both plains and mountains. The climate of West Bengal is tropical with large variations in conditions on the plains and mountains. The plains experience hot weather during summers and pleasant during winters while the mountains remain pleasant almost throughout the year. Summer season in West Bengal lasts from March to June when the temperature may rise up to 45 degrees. Winters can be extremely cold and the temperatures can sometimes dip close to 0 degrees. Monsoons lash West Bengal from mid-June to September. The best time to visit West Bengal is from October to March.

Getting There
By Air : Kolkatta International Airport, also known as the Subhash Chandra Bose Airport connects West Bengal with other cities of the world. Bagdogra is another airport which receives domestic traffic from major cities in India including Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

By Rail : The two major railheads of the state are located at Howrah and Sealdah near Kolkatta. A number of daily trains connect these with other major cities in India. Other major railheads in the state are located at New Jalpaiguri, Kharagpur and Asansol. Other means of local transport are easily available from all these places to reach different locations in West Bengal.

By Road : A well built network of roads connect the state with neighbouring states of Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand. State transport buses ply regularly between these locations. Road transport is also available from the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.