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Calcutta, three hundred years old, traces
its 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 is the
major entry point. Poets, thinkers and film
directors of international renown hail from
this city. Some of the best known monuments
of the British Raj were built here. |
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Sightseeing in this fascinating city
includes Raj Bhawan, the residence of the
Governor of Bengal, Victoria Memorial, the
city’s landmark, Botanical Gardens, which
are notable for the oldest banyan tree, and
orchid house, Armenian Church, Marble
Palace, one family’s collection of
memorabilia and the Birla Planetarium.
Darjeeling, the state’s most popular hill
resort, is a slice of England 2,134 meters
above sea level. Surrounded by tea gardens
growing the prized leaf known as Darjeeling,
the little town faces some of the Himalaya’s
highest peaks. Darjeeling isan abrupt variation from the lowlands of
West Bengal. Buddhism, being a major faith
here, Darjeeling and the nearby town of Kalimpong have, between them, several
Buddhist monasteries, chiefly of the Yellow
Hat sect. |
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Calcutta |
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Grown from mangrove swamps, Calcutta is the
largest metropolis in India. Calcutta's role
in the national economy is of crucial
importance as the Gateway to Eastern India.
Ships were the beginning of Calcutta's
history & the river Hoogly was the key to
the city's fortunes. |
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| Vishnupur is famous for
the exquisite 17th & 18th century terracotta
temples, Seat of classical music. The
Stylized, "Bankura horse" symbolic of
excellence in rural handicrafts is native to
this district. Belur Math is a modern temple
within the grounds of the Ramakrishna
Mission. Dakshineshwar Temple, dedicated to
Kali is built in the architectural style of
Bengal. |
| Area: 187 sq. kms.
Altitude: 5.8 meters.
Climate (deg c): Summer- Max. 41.7,
Min. 38.1. Winter- Max. 29.3, Min. 9.6.
Rainfall: 158 cms June to
Mid September. Clothing:
Tropical. Languages Spoken:
Bengali, English, Hindi. Best Season:
Throughout the year. |
Places Of Interest:
Belur Math, Botanical Garden, Dakshineshwar
Temple, Howarh Bridge, Jain Temple, Kali
Temple, Marble Palace, Nakhoda Mosque,
National Library, Rabindra Sarobar, Raj
Bhavan, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of
Culture, Sahid Minar (Ochterlony Monument),
St.Paul's Cathedral, Victoria Memorial,
Zoological Gardens. |
Museums an Art Galleries:
Academy of Fine Arts, Birla Academy of Art &
Culture, Birla Industrial & Technological
Museum, Birla Planetarium, Gurusaday Museum,
Nehru Children's Museum, Rabindra Bharati
Museum, State Archaeological Gallery,
Victoria Memorial Hall Museum. |
Excursions:
Digha Beach- 185 kms, Santiniketan- 213 kms,
Bakkhali Beach- 132 kms, Chandannagar- 39
kms, Diamond Harbour- 51 kms, Sundarban- 131
kms, Tribani- 48 kms, Gangasagar- 140 kms,
Malda- 340 kms, Kalna- 82 kms, Navadweep-
110 kms, Mayapur- 134 kms, Murshidabad- 221
kms, Vishnupur- 152 kms, Belur Math- 16 kms,
Dakshineshwar Temple- 20 kms, Botanical
Gardens- 8 kms, Murshidabad- 221 kms,
Shantiniketan- 167 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Well Connected with the major
cities.
By Rail: Howrah and Sealdah are the
main railway stations in Calcutta. Calcutta
is well Connected with the major cities.
By Road: Well Connected with the
major cities. |
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Sunderbans |
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The biggest colony of the `Royal Bengal
Tigers' - the Sundarbans. These evergreen
mangrove forests pulsate with a myriad forms
of life. Above the Kingfisher and
White-bellied Sea eagle add a brilliant
burst of colour. The sea creeps in at high
tide. |
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ebbing waters reveal nature so alive 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
wood-cutters, honey-collectors and fishermen
on their hazardous missions. For, as the
sayinggoes,
`Here the Tiger is always watching you'.
Some people, believe that they could,"
however, have got their name from the
profusion of Sundari trees. Some wild
creatures are spotted deer, boar, monkey,
crocodile, python, Salvatore lizards, and a
wide range of water birds. |
| Area: 2608 sq. kms.
Altitude: Sea Level.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max.
42, Min. 37. Winter- Max. 29, Min. 9.2.
Clothing: Summer-
Tropical/Cotton, Winter- Woolens.
Languages spoken: Bengali, Hindi,
English. Best season:
September to March. July to September for
Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Calcutta-
131 kms which is connected with all major
cities in India.
By Rail: From Calcutta there are
suburban train to Canning and buses to
Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from
where Motor launch services are available
for Sundarbans.
By Road: Namkhana- 105 kms, Sonakhali-
100 kms, Raidighi- 76 kms, Canning- 64 kms,
Najat- 92 kms. |
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Jaldapara
Sanctuary |
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Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary situated in
Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri
district in West Bengal was constituted in
the year of 1941 for the protection of wild
life, particularly single horned Rhinos.
River Torsha runs through this river rain
forest sanctuary which is mostly covered
with tall grasses. The wild life, in
addition to the famous single horned rhinos,
consists of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild
elephants, deers, swamp deers, hog deers,
wild pigs, bisons and a number of birds,
pea-fowl etc. |
| Area: 100 sq. kms.
Altitude: 61 meters. Best
season: October to May.
(Particularly March & April, when new grass
is growing). Clothing:
Summer- Cottons, Winter- Woolens.
Languages spoken: Bengali, Hindi,
Nepali, English. |
Excursions:
Nearby Tea Gardens and- Tribal Village,
TOTOPARA. |
Reach -
By Air: Bagdogra is the nearest
airport-Shiliguri to Bagdogra - 13 kms.
By Rail: All the mail & express
trains stop at Birpara/Hasimara railway
stations both are 20 kms away from the
sanctuary.
By Road: Jaldapara is connected with
Darjeeling and Shiliguri. By Road:
Darjeeling-Shiliguri-Jalpaiguri- ( via New
Teesta Bridge)- Mainaguri- Dhupguri-
Gairkata- Birpara- Madarihat- 224 kms. |
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Bakkhali |
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The second popular sea resort of West Bengal
is Bakkhali , situated only 132 kms away
from Calcutta , It is quiet and charming. |
Reach
By Rail: There is also a train
service from Sealdah station upto Diamond
Harbour. Namkhana is 58 km from diamond
harbour. Kumardhubi- 10kms and Barakar-
12kms are the nearest railway stations.
Asansol Junction is about 35 kms from here.
By Road: Dhanbad- 50 kms. |
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Shantiniketan |
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Shantiniketan is an International University
founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath
Tagore where the cultures of the East & the
West could meet and mingle. Named
Vishva-Bharati, the University represents
Indian traditions while incorporating the
best of other cultures. Shantiniketan, the
abode of peace, was initially an Ashram or
hermitage founded in 1863 by Maharishi
Devendranath Tagore. In 1901 his son,
Rabindranath converted it into an
experimental open-air school with just five
students. He widened the scope of studies
which gradually formed |
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nucleus of a University. Another interesting
feature about Santiniketan is that splendid
sculptures, frescoes, murals and paintings
of Rabindranath, Nandlal Bose, Ramkinkar,
Bindobehari Mukhopadhyaya and others adorn
the campus. |
| Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max.39.4, Min.34.3. Winter-
Max.15.7, Min.12.1. Rainfall:
125 cms ( June to September ). Heavy in
July\August. Season:
Throughout the year. |
Places Of Interest:
The places of interest are mainly on the
campus and have a distinctive feature of
some of the best in Indian art and culture.
China Bhavan, Chhatimtala, Kala Bhavan,
Patha Bhavan, Prayer Hall, Bichitra, Sangeet
Bhavan, Uttarayan Complex, Udayana, Konarka,
Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi, The Bichitra
( or, Rabindra Bhavan ), Kala Bhavan,
Bichitra (Rabindra Bhavan), Deer Park,
Uttarayan Gardens. |
Excursions:
Fullora- 40 kms, Nalhati- 104 kms,
Kankalitala- 7 kms, Massanjore- 78 kms,
Kendubilwa- 42 kms, Nanoor- 23 kms, Tarapith-
80 kms. |
Entertainment:
Festivals accompanied by songs, dance and
dramas are held here throughout the year. |
Shopping:
Grameen (Bolpur), Sarvodaya Ashram (Bolpur),
(Handicrafts & handlooms) Vishwa Bharati
Shilpa Sadan (Shantiniketan), Shantiniketan
Co-operative Stores (Shantiniketan). |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport is
Calcutta- 213 kms.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is
Bolpur- 2 kms.
By Road: Calcutta- 213 kms, Durgapur-
56 kms, Sarnath- 197 kms. |
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Vishnupur |
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Terracotta, metal ware & temples
characterise Vishnupur. The temples are
built mostly of brick & at times, of
laterite. Clay & laterite are the only
building materials available here besides
wood and bamboo. The architecture is modeled
on the pattern of Bengali huts built of
bamboo & mud and roofed with thatch.
Vishnupur will remain ever famous for its
distinct style of music, i.e. the Vishnupur
Gharana, if not anything else. The name of
Jadu Bhatt, the music teacher to
Rabindranath Tagore, is remembered with
respect to this day. A discerning visitor
may find traces of the past splendour and
glory that was Vishnupur in its superb
temples and unique handicrafts. |
Area: 20.6 sq. kms.
Altitude: 70 meters.
Temperature (deg C): Summer-
Max.44, Min.28. Winter- Max.29, Min.21.
Rainfall: 14.3 cms
(July-August)Clothing:
Summer- Tropical, Winter- Light woolens.
Languages spoken: Bengali,
English. Best Season:
September to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Ras Mancha, Dalmadal Cannon, Jor Bangla
Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, Malleswar
Temple, Lalji Temple, Mrinmoyee Mandir,
Shyam Rai Temple, Malla King's Fort, Jogesh
Chandra Pura Kirti Bhavan Museum. |
Excursions:
Jairambati- 43 kms, Kamarpukur- 48 kms,
Mukutmanipur: 82 kms, Bahulara- 25 kms,
Panchmura- 21 kms, Susunia Hills- 50 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Calcutta is
201 kms away from Vishnupur.
By Rail: Vishnupur, the railway
station is connected with Calcutta (Howrah).
By Road: Calcutta- 151 kms, Durgapur-
81 kms, Purulia- 145 kms, Bankura- 34 kms,
Mukutmanipur. |
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Darjeeling |
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Darjeeling is nested in a setting of
Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, Tibetan
Monasteries, Himalayan Tribal Life, Pine
Trees etc. Which make her qualify as the
queen of the hill stations. |
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Altitude: 2134 meters.
Climate (deg C): Summer-
Max. 14.9, Min. 8.6. Winter- Max. 6.11, Min.
1.50. Best Season: April to
middle June and September to November.
Clothing: Summer- Light
Woolens & Tropical. Winter- Heavy Woolens. |
Places Of Interest:
Tiger Hill- 11 kms, Ghoom Monastery- 8 kms;
Batasia Loop- 5 kms, Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute- 2 kms, Himalayan
Zoological Park, Darjeeling Rangeet Valley
Passenger Ropeway- 8 kms, Tibetan Refugees
Center, Lebong Race Course, Natural History
Museum, Happy Valley Tea Estate, Lloyds
Botanical Garden, Observatory Hill, Dhirdham
Temple, Senchal Lake. |
Excursions:
Sandakphu- 58 kms, Tonglu, Phalut. |
Reach -
By Air: Bagdogra Airport- 96 kms is
directly connected to Calcutta, Delhi, Patna,
Guwahati and other places of North-East
India.
By Rail: Directly connected to
Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati, Madras, Bombay,
Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Tirupati,
Trivandrum, Cochin.
By Road: Calcutta- 651 kms, Gangtok-
100 kms, Kalimpong- 51 kms. |
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Sagardwip
(Sagar Island) |
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Gangasagar Mela, the largest fair in west
Bengal held near the confluence of the Ganga
and the Bay of Bengal, draws millions of
pilgrims from all over India. They come for
a holy dip on Makar Sankranti (last day of
the Bengali Month) and after their
obligations at the Kapilmuni Temple nearby. |
Reach:
Namkhana- 105 kms.Namkhana to Chemaguri by
launch across the river Muriganga
from Chamaguri to Gangasagar by road- 10kms.
One may cross the Muriganga from Herwood
Point near Kakdip to Kaachubrie also.
Kakdwip is 85 kms. from lot No. ',to
Kachuberia and bus service from Kechuberia
to Gangasagar-30 kms. |
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Raijang
Bird Sanctuary |
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Altitude: 30 meters above
sea level. Temperature (deg
C): Summer- Max. 25, Min. 21. Winter- Max.
23, Min. 09. Rainfall: 155
cms (July to September). Clothing:
Summer- Cottons, Tropical. Winter- Woolens.
Languages spoken: Bengali,
Hindi, English. Best season:
Throughout the year but preferably October
to March. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Calcutta- 425
kms and Malda- 76 kms.
By Rail: Malda Town- 76 kms is the
nearest convenient railhead connected with
the major cities.
By Road: Calcutta- 425 kms, Malda- 76
kms, Shiliguri- 181 kms. |
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Plassey |
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A place of great historical importance. Here
in the year 1757 a battle was fought between
the British and the last Nawab of Bengal,
Bihar and Orissa. Clive the British Chief
defeated Nawab - Siraj-ud-daula by unfair
means. Siraj-ud-dula was killed and
Mirzaffar became the Nawab. The historic
battle field is till preserved. A memorial
was erected by Lord Curzon at the mango
groves where the actual battle took place. |
Reach: Calcutta- 172 kms, Calcutta,
Bahrampore- 43 kms.
By Road: Calcutta,
Bahrampore. |
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Kurseeong |
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The word Kurseong means the place of White
Orchid. Because of its lower elevation,
Kurseong enjoys a milder and very healthy
climate throughout the year. Kurseong means
the places of White Orchid. Because of its
lower elevation, Kurseong enjoys a milder
and very healthy climate throughout the
year. |
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Altitude: 4860 feet (2458
meters). Temperature (deg
C): Summer- Max 32, Min 19. Winter- Max 15,
Min 6. Rainfall: 160 inches
annually(mid June
to August). Best season:
March to mid June & September to mid
December. |
Places Of Interest:
Eagle's Crag, Deer Park, Forest Museum,
Giddhapahar Mandir, Ambotika Shiv Mandir,
Makaibari Tea Estate, St.Mary's Hill,
Dowhill, Baggaura, Chimney, Kettle Valley
Picnic Spot, Namsu, Netaji Kothi. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Bagdogra- 60
kms, is connected to Calcutta, Delhi,
Guwahati & other places of north-eastern
India.
By Rail: Kurseong itself is a railway
station. New Jalpaiguri- 57 kms from
Kurseong, is directly connected to the major
places.
By Road: Shiliguri- 51 kms, Guwahati-
560 kms, Calcutta- 636 kms, Delhi- 1359 kms,
Kathmandu- 621 kms. |
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Kalimpong |
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Just 51 kms east of Darjeeling is situated
the picturesque town of Kalimpong, the
former headquarters of the Bhutanese
Governor. Situated at an altitude of 1250
meters between the Deolo and Durbindra
Hills, Kalimpong is an ideal place for a
quiet holiday amidst gently rolling hills
and deep valleys at the foot of the mighty
Himalayas. |
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Altitude: 1250 meters.
Languages spoken: Gorkha,
Nepali, Bengali, Hindi, English. Places Of Interest:
Durpin Dara, Shri Ganeshmoni Pradhan
Nursery, Standari Nursery, Shri L.B.Pradhan
Nursery, Gouripur House, Swiss Welfare
Dairy, Tibetan Monastery. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Bagdogra- 80
kms is connected to Calcutta, Delhi,
Guwahati & other places of north-east.
By Rail: Two nearest railway stations
are New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Shiliguri where
NJP is directly connected by rail with the
important places.
By Road: Calcutta- 651 kms, Guwahati-
513 kms, Delhi- 1312 kms and other major
cities. |
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Durgapur |
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Durgapur projects an image of an
industrialized India. It is the third
integrated steel plant of Hindustan Steel
Limited and occupies an area of 6.47 sq.
kms. Founded under the Colombo Plan Mission
which visited India in April, 1955, the
plant has been instrumental in changing the
rural face of Durgapur into a vast
industrial complex comprising public and
private sectors. |
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Area: 41 sq. kms.
Altitude: 68.9 meters.
Temperature (deg C):Summer-
Max.46.1, Min. 37.8. Winter- Max. 32.2, Min.
29.4. Rainfall: (150 cms
June to September). Clothing:
Summer- Tropical, Winter- Light woolens.
Languages spoken: Bengali,
English. Best Season:
Throughout the year. |
Places Of Interest:
Alloy Steel Project- 10 kms, Mining and
Allied Machinery Corporation- 6 kms,
Durgapur Coke Ovens Project Limited- 6 kms,
A.V.B.- 6 kms, Durgapur Barrage- 3 kms,
Durgapur Steel Plant- 10 kms, Philips Carbon
Black & Sankey Wheels. |
Excursions:
Asansol- 42 kms, Chittranjan- 77 kms,
Jaidev- 22 kms, Shantiniketan- 61 kms,
Vishnupur- 72 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest national and
international airport is Calcutta- 176 kms.
By Rail: Durgapur itself has a
railway station.
By Road: Calcutta- 176 kms, Patna-
414 kms, Asansol- 50 kms, Shantiniketan- 62
kms, Vishnupur- 72 kms. |
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Digha |
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Beach-on-the-bay of West Bengal, Digha, has
the whispery, languid, soft-focus, charm
which is so graciously bengali : sighing
casuarinas, ponies nodding on the beach,
prolonged meals in the flavorsome
sweet-&-salt idiom of the state and timeless
days and nights of nothing to do but unwind
and find yourself. |
Reach -
By Air: Calcutta is the nearest
airport- 210 kms.
By Rail: Contai Road- 37 kms is the
nearest railway station.
By Road: Calcutta-Howrah-Mechheda-Norghat-Contai-Ramnagar-Digha-
185 kms, Calcutta-Deulti-Kolaghat-Kharagpur-Digha-
243 kms, Tarakeswar- 355 kms. |
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Buxa Tiger
Reserve |
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Buxa Tiger Reserve was set up in the year of
1982-83 at the north eastern corner. This
picturesque reserve with its proigous Terai,
Bhabar as well as Hilly landscape, is
dissected by numerous rivulets. The
varitable flora and fauna of these wet
forests attracts tourists and nature lovers
every year. This part of the country is
characterized by its high degree of plant &
animal bio-diversity where 60% species are
endemic to the area. The Generic diversity
of mammals is second highest among all the
tiger reserves of India. Astonishing
bio-diversity of animals comprise of a reach
avifauna of more than 230 identified
species, 67 mammals (out of which 21 are
endangered), 36 species of reptiles (10
numbers are endangered). Apart from Bengal
Tiger there are plenty of Leopard, Fishing
Cat, Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Indian Civet,
Palm Civet etc. The Hornbills including
greater Pied Hornbill abound the area. One
of the rarest bird of India the Black-necked
Crane has been sighted in the Reserve during
the early winter. The migratory beautiful
Black Stork is a visitor of the area. The
monsoon ends and beautiful Minivets, Sultan
tits arrive, during summer rare Ashyminivet
is also sighted. |
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