West Bengal Tour & Travel

Junput- The Legacy Tourist Destination Of Midnapore

2012-01-19T05:08:00.000-08:00

Locatedbeside the bay of Bengal and 9 km away from Contai, Junput is thelovable sea beach and sea resort. The view of sunrise in Junput seabeach is a treat to eye for anyone. Junput offers a beautifulsea-view from the unspoilt sea beach and a number of casuarina treeson the coast line. Junput is the ideal place for spending a leisuretime as well for a small duration picnic or hangout.

Howto reach?

Junputis situated 40 km away from Digha. A regular bus service is availablefrom Digha to Junput. The bus service would lead to Junput throughKanthi. Or the travelers can reach to Junput by availing the autorickshaw, rickshaw or the bus service from Contai.

Junputcan also be accessible from kolkata through private cars.

WhyJunput is the tourists choice?

Thecalm weather and the calm waters of the Bay of Bengal, a solitarybeach has made this place an worth of visit as well as the abode ofpeace. Apart from spending the leisure time in the sea beach, thetourists can also roam around to visit the adjoining places like: aconfluence point of the Ganges and the Rasulpur river adjoining toJunput is a place one must visit, a Fishery Department's museum witha great collection of rare species of the fishes, various kinds ofsnakes and many more. The taxonomies of various wild animals are alsoa place to visit. There is also a shark oil extraction and sea fishresearch center located at Junput named as “A Center for Studies inMarine Biology”. There is also a breeding farm of the ducks inJunput. Besides, the biggest fish drying farm is located at Junput.Another important tourist destination of Junput is the Dariapur lighthouse and the Kapalkundala temple.

Hijliand Dariapur are two tourist destinations located at the outskirts ofJunpur.

Whereto stay?

Thereare many hotels, resorts and guest houses in Junput. Tourists canrest in there. All they need to do is to book the hotels or guesthouses before reaching at Junput as there is no spot bookingfacility.

Whento visit?

Theweather of Junput remains pleasant all around the year. So, thetourists can visit the place at any time of the year.

Kurseong- Land Of White Orchids

2011-12-17T02:21:00.000-08:00

Kurseong is a quiet hill station on the lap of the Himalayan ranges. The town is located 30 km away from the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The pleasant climate of this area has made this place a important tourist destination.

This hill station is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy the pleasure of being in the alpine surrounding forest without thinking about the chilling cold. A healthy climate reigns in this hill station except the days of monsoon. During the rainy season, it rains without any break. The natural beauty of this place generates more and more because of this rain.

How to reach:

Kurseong is just 47 km away from Shiliguri. The place is well connect with Siliguri by the Darjeeling Himalayan railway and by road. The nearest railway station of Kurseong is the New Jalpaiguri Station. Tourists can also reach Kurseong through air The nearest located airport to this city is the Bagdogra airport. Toy train facility is available in the heart of the city and it runs through the city. Tourists can avail this railway service to travel at shorter distances within the city.

Best time to visit Kurseong:

The best time to visit the hill station of Kurseong are between the time of the end of the March and May and between August end and October.

Places to visit at Kurseong:

As you leave the town of Kurseong, you would find acres and acres of hill slopes covered with the tea trees. Kurseong is one of the best tea producing areas of West Bengal. There are several tea gardens in Kurseong including Makaibarie, Castleton, Goomtee and Ambotia.. Tourists can spend a day out at these tea gardens and can experience how the tea leaves are processed and prepared in the tea gardens. These gardens also offer 'bed and breakfast' accommodation facility in the workers quarters.

There are several religious places to visit in this city. Such as: The Giddapahar Durga Mata Mandir, The Ambhotia Shiva Temple, St. Paulseak Church, Jagdish Mandir, Buddhist Gompa in Dowhill Road and in Montieviot and Juma Mosque. Travelers can drive down their way to visit all these places. Another places to visit in Kurseong are the Deer park, Eagle's craig, and The Kholas like the whistle khola.

Kulik Bird Sanctuary: A Home For The Birds

2011-10-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Located at Raigunj, in the Uttar Dinajpur district of Westbengal, Kulik bird sanctuary is a paradise to the people who love to watch birds. The kulik bird sanctuary is known as the second largest sanctuary for the birds in Asia with an area of 1.30 sq. km. The sanctuary has built up in the form of “U”, the English alphabet. The sanctuary is attached with the Kulik river . During the monsoon time, the water of the river enters in the sanctuary. It provides huge food sources to the birds as well as the artificial canals associated with the river works as a breeding ground for the Asian openbills.

How to reach in the bird sanctuary:

The Kulik bird sanctuary is situated in Raigunj, besides the NH34. The place is 425 km away from Kolkata and 181 km away from Siliguri. Tourists can reach in the forest by availing the bus services.

The special features of the kulik bird sanctuary:

The plantation of this sanctuary is basically a dry deciduous forest which is planted artificially. The main species of plants, which are available here include: Jarul, Kadam and Eucalyptus. The sanctuary is a home of about 164 types of birds including flycatchers, owl, kites, woodpeckers, drongoes, kingfishers and many more. and in the winter season around 80,000 migratory birds come to visit this place from the South Asian countries and from the coastal areas. The migratory birds include: little egrets, pond heron, open bill storks, Indian Shag, Asian openbill, little cormorants and black crowned night heron. The bird lovers will amazed to see the wide variety of colorful birds available here.

Ideal time to visit this sanctuary:

The sanctuary remains open for the tourists all the time. But the ideal time to visit this sanctuary is the winter season, as the tourists can enjoy the movements of the migratory birds. The high time to visit this bird sanctuary is from the month of December to February.

Gorumara-A Trip To The Green Castle

2011-09-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Gorumara National Park is a must to visit place while you are visiting Dooars. The national park is a two-hour drive from NJP or Bagdogra through the tea gardens and winding roads. The savannah woodland and the riverine grassland cover around 20% of the total park area of Gorumara. It is used as the grazing ground. The Jaldhaka, Indong and Murti rivers flow through the Gorumara park and makes the natural beauty at its best.. Gorumara is stretched in a total area of 80 sq. km. The forest was declared as a national park in the year 1994 because of this great variety of flora and fauna. The Gorumara grassland is specially famous for the one-horned Asiatic rhino.

Where to stay?

Murti forest bungalow

Watch tower

Gorumara has gained a huge popularity in recent few years. Now a days, many private resorts have grown in the adjoining Lataguri town to meet with the growing demands of the tourists. Tourists are also provided accommodation in the Murti tourist center, which is the most luxurious guest house in the forest. The guest house is located at the bank of the Murti river and has a frontal view of the Tondu forests.

Beside that, there are several watch towers in various parts of this national park to provide the tourists a better view of the Jungle. These watch towers include: Rhino Point; which is located in front of the Gorumara Forest Rest House; Jatraprasad Watch Tower; Chukchuki Tower for the birds only and Chandrachur Tower in old Khunia.

The wild life in Gorumara:

Hornbill

One horn rhinos

Indian Bison

The watchtowers of the Gorumara forest offers a panoramic glimpse of the entire Murti vally and the Gorumara national park. Towers are the best place to observe birds and wild animals. Most common birds and animals available in this national park are: Indian one horned rhino, Gaur or the Indian bison, elephant, leopards, Malayan giant squirrel, rock python and deer. These animals come to the salt reservoir, located below the watch tower at a regular basis. The tourists need get a special permission to enter in the core area of Gorumara.

Special features of Gorumara:

Leopard

The Gorumara national park has almost 48 kinds of herbivores and carnivores, 22 kinds of reptiles, 193 species of birds, 27 species of fishes, 7 species of turtles and other micro and macro fauna.

Several bird species are also seen in this national park. Such as: Mini vets, Hornbills, Pheasants, Woodpeckers, Cormorants,Cuckoos, Pigeons, Orioles and Mynas. During the winter months, many winter birds visit this park. These birds include: Indian Shag, Corporant, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Egrets, Darter and Law ping. The night hunters in this forests are the Night jars and Owls.

Best time to visit Gorumara:

The perfect time to visit this national park is from November to March. Monsoon starts here very early, in the month of April.

Bishnupur is a famous Town for its terracota temples

2011-06-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Bishnupur/Vishnupur was the capital of the Mallabhum kingdom, In the 18th century to 19th century it was the most important Hindu dynasty in Bengal . The town has more than twelve terracotta temples. The temples are located in Bishnupur and across many other small villages in the Bankura district.Terracotta, metal ware and temples is most characteristic of Bishnupur. The temples were crafted from the local laterite and brick, 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. Bishnupur will remain ever famous for its distinct style of music, which called Bishnupur Gharana, if not anything else. The name of Jadu Bhatta, the music teacher to Rabindranath Tagore, is remembered with respect to this day. A discerning visitor may find traces of the past splendor and glory that was Bishnupur in its superb temples and unique handicrafts.

Place of interest :-

Rasmancha ,Jorebangla Temple of Keshta Rai ,Nandalal Temple,Radhamadhab Temple,Kalachand Temple,Radhagovinda Temple,Sarbamangala,Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Rai,Krishna-Valaram Temple,Mrinmayee Temple,Radhashyam Temple,Jor Bangla.Temple,Radha-Laljiu-Temple,Madanmohan-Temple,Madanmohan Temple,Malleswar,Sanreswar,Radhalaljiu, Madangopal,Chhinnamasta-Temple,Dalmadal Cannon,Lalgarh,Lalbandh,Acharya-Jogeshchandra-Museum,Gumgarh,Pathar-Darwaja,Garh Darwaja,Stone Chariot,Nutan Mahal,Birthplace of Shrinibas Acharya.

How to Reach:- Direct train Connection: From Howrah Rly. Station to Bishnupur Rly. Station by Purulia Express, Rupashi Bangla Express. On road from Kolkata to Bishnupur via Arambag or Koltata to to Bishnupur via Burdwan, Khandaghosh or Kolkata to Bishnupur via Durgapur, Bankura.Handicrafts:- Baluchari & Swarnachari Sari, Terracota models, Dokra, Wood Curving, Coach Shell curving, Dosh Avatar Playing Cards.

Festivals:- 5 day long-Bishnupur Mela from 23rd - 27th Dec., 2 Day long Bishnupur Utshav, Ratha Yatra.

Best Time to visit:- October to February

Chandraketugarh an archaeological Place

2011-02-25T23:48:00.001-08:00

A famous archaeological site Chandraketugarh is located beside the river Bidyadhari about 35 km. north-east of Kolkata, India, in the district of North 24 parganas. It lies about a km from Berachampa on the road (Taki Road) to Haroa. This port-city, was discovered in 1955. The excavations held here have revealed several materials, which prove the antiquity of the site and its archeological importance. Excavation for several years has revealed relics of several periods, though the chronological classification of the relics needs further work. Evidences of the Maurya to the Pala ages have been excavated, which include clay pipes, drainage systems, minted copper coins, ivory bangles and beads, bronze and terracotta images. Other notable things are a 45 sq km sized prayer hall dating back to 700-600 BC and Kharosti script of 600-400 BC. One can find some of these excavated materials in the collection of the Asutosh Museum of Indian Art and the State Archeological Museum, Kolkata. Moreover, there are numerous private collections in and around the town.Several levels of excavation show Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) relics,other wares of approximately 400 BC to 100 BC,relics contemporary with the Kushanas, Maurya through the Gupta periods and late Gupta times etc.

A civilization that flourished between 4th century BC and the 12th century AD, Chandraketugarh, comprises
of the remains of a temple and a palace, which has been excavated from a mound. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, which carried out the excavation, the era was a prosperous one under the mythical emperor Chandraketu, spanning at least six eras, beginning from the pre-Mauryas and ending with the Palas. According to some historians, maybe this Chandraketugarh and the adjoining area is the place that the ancient Greek and Roman writers called 'Gangaridai.'

The site of the remains of the palace, and the temple in Beramchapa, is named “Khanamihirer Dhipi”. Nothing much is left of the structure except for the thick walls and several flights of stairs but that has not taken away the grandeur of the palace or the temple. A sharp contrast of the old and the new has, however, set upon the place with modern day apartments around the site and cars speeding down the road beside the static remains of the age old civilization. Children of the vicinity jump up and down the walls and play amongst the ruins; few adults gather there to gamble over the game of cards and tourists walk about with a feeling of awe witnessing archaeological skills of the ancient primitive era.

The remains of the once palatial structure have been declared a national property under the ’Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958’. Further 300 metres from the site have been declared prohibited for the purpose of both mining operation and construction. The discovery of kingdom of the bygone era was made following the excavation carried out by the Ashutosh Museum of the Calcutta University in 1956-1957 which revealed the cultural remains.

The most extraordinary unearthing has been the brick temple, endowed with architectural and decorative designs belonging to the Pala period. Buddha images and stupas, terracotta plaques and sealing, Jataka stories coins, different types of beads, were among the several other findings from the quarry.

Famous as a repertory of exquisite Sunga terracotta the site has yielded silver coins, cast copper coins, coins of Kushana and Gupta period, terracotta plaques and figurines of Maurya, Sunga, Kushana and Gupta period, beads of different materials, bone objects and several other antique pieces.

The historical past of Chandraketugarh has been of immense significance and interest not only for archaeologist but also for tourists because it’s very fortunate that visitors get to see the great workmanship, sculpting skills and masterpieces of artists dating to thousands of years past, if not fully, which stood the test of time. The nature of the remains, reminisces the fact that Chandraketugarh was a prosperous early historical urban settlement.

A dusty road from Baramchapa, which after some distance turns into a path flanked by green fields on either side, leads the way to Chandraketugarh. Excavations here too were carried out by the ASI, which put up a board in front of the ruins declaring it a monument of historical importance. Vast acres of land, a small playground and greenery up to the horizon makes the place an ideal picnic spot.
Famous as a repertory of exquisite Sunga terracotta the site has yielded silver coins, cast copper coins, coins of Kushana and Gupta period, terracotta plaques and figurines of Maurya, Sunga, Kushana and Gupta period, beads of different materials, bone objects and several other antique pieces.

Nabadwip a place of Religious- Learning- Historical and birthplace of Sri Chaitanya

2011-01-20T02:59:00.000-08:00

Nabadwip is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Its name means "9 islands" in a Bengali term. The 9 islands are Antardwip (Sri Mayapur), Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip. It is a place of many lilas (or "pastimes of God" in Hinduism) of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Many pilgrims from origins worldwide adhering to Gaudiya Vaishnavism come to Navadwip every year on pilgrimage and for festivals like Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama and holidays like Gaura Purnima. Tourists from all over the country come to Nabadwip for religious expeditions. Buses survice available from Kolkata to the Nabadwip township. There are special services provided by the ISKCON into the adjoining region of Krishnanagar. Trains from the Sealdah Railway Station can be boarded, which stop at the Nabadwip Station. The airports at Kolkata ( domestic and international) are the nearest to the region.

Nabadwip was the capital of Ballal Sen and later Lakshman Sen, the famous rulers of the Sena Empire, who ruled from 1159 to 1206. In 1202, Nabadwip was captured by Bakhtiyar Khilji. This victory paved the way for Muslim rule in Bengal. Nabadwip was a great center of learning from the very beginning. For five centuries, it was also called “Oxford of Bengal.

Nabadwip is geographically situated at the convergence of the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers. The Bhagirathi has shifted its course and after that Nabadwip which was earlier located on its eastern bank can be seen on the western bank. The place of Nabadwip constitutes the birth place of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Chaitanya is considered as one of the greatest reformers and religious heads of the region. Sonargouranga, the famous temple holding the golden statute of Sri Chaitanya is the prime attraction in the premises of Nabadwip. Besides Sonargouranga there are a number of temples worth visiting in the town. The Royal Palace, known by the name of Rajbari witnesses a large number of visitors, especially during the festival of Jhulan Mela. Some other attractions include the Roman Catholic Church, College Bhavan, Public Library, Krishnanagar Academy and the Protestant Church. The main festival of Nabadwip is "RASH UTSAV". It is also known as "Pat Purnima" or "Rash Kali Puja" or "Shakta Rash". The varieties of Baishnaba, Shakta, Saiba Pratima (Idols) attracts every one. The Rash Utsav is like national festival of the inhabitants of Nabadwip.

KALIGHAT TEMPLE AND MAA KALI

2010-11-27T04:26:00.000-08:00

Near about 200 years ago there was a small hut, in the early Sixteenth century a small temple was constructed by King Manasingha. The present temple was built by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family of Barisha in 1809. The temple was initially on the banks of Hooghly. The river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga, connecting to Hooghly. The present dakshina Kali idol of touchstone was created by two saints - Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri. It was Padmabati Devi, the mother of Laksmikanta Roy Choudhury who discovered the fossils of Sati's finger in a lake called Kalikunda. This made Kalighat as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas.A large rectangular covered platform called Natmondir has been erected adjacent to the main temple, from where the face of the image can be seen. This was originally built by Zamindar Kasinath Roy in 1835. It has been subsequently renovated often. The spacious varandah of the main temple Facing the image is known as Jor Bangla. Rituals occurring inside the sanctum sanctorum are visible from the Natmondir through the Jor-bangla. his is a rectangular altar about three feet high bearing a small cactus plant. Beneath the tree, on an altar three stones are placed side by side - left to right representing the Goddesses "Sosthi", "Sitola", and "Mongal chandi". This sacred spot is known as Sosthi Tala or Monosha Tala. This altar was constructed by Gobinda Das Mondal in 1880. The place of the altar is the Samadhi of Brahmananda Giri. Here all the priests are female. No daily worship or offering of Bhog (food offering) is done here. The Goddesses here are considered as part of Maa Kali. This is the spot adjacent to the Natmondir, southwards meant for Bali (sacrifice). There are two Sacrificial altars for animal sacrifices side by side. These are known as Hari- Kath.The bigger one is for buffalo sacrifices and the smaller one for goats and sheep. The animals are sacrificed with a single stroke of the knife and there is very little cruelty to animals when compared to the professional abattoirs.

Murshidabad,last capital city of independent Bengal

2010-09-22T02:26:00.000-07:00

Hazar Duari Palace

Murshidabad, the last capital city of independent Bengal, is situated on the left bank of the Bhagirathi River. Headquarters of the district is Baharampur . Continuously change there historical environment of the city . The capital city of Sasanka, the king of Gouda in the 7th century AD and of Mahipala, one of the later Pala kings of Bengal, was in this district too. The city was named after the Nawab of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan who was a Brahmin who worked in the Mughal army, till Emperor Aurangzeb made him the Nawab of Bengal in 1706 AD. He made Murshidabad the capital city of Sube Bangla, which comprised of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa

Bara Imambara

in 1705 AD. All of Bengal was once governed from this town. Siraj-ud-Daulah was the last independent Nawab of Bengal. A city of splendors and famous for its silk.Baluchari sarees is famous in Murshidabad district.

There have many historical place for visiting like Hazar Duari Palace, Bara Imambara, Nasipur Palace, Jafarganj Cemetery, Mati jhee, Kath-gola etc..

Hazar Duari Palace -A palace of 1000 doors - real and fake.The palace was constructed by Duncan Macleod in 1837 on the orders of the Nawab. It has a typicaI European style of architecture. This has now been converted into a museum.

Bara Imambara- The mosque is situated just opposite the palace. Both are on the side of the river Bhagirathi.


Nasipur Palace

Nasipur Palace- The palace was built by King Kirtichand Bahadur in late 19th century. Within the palace compound are temples: the Ramachandra temple and the Lakshmi-Narayana temple. Closely situated is the Ashram of Mohandas and Jafraganj Deuri. The two cannons present here are said to be gifted to Mir Jafar by Clive.

Jafarganj Cemetery

Jafarganj Cemetery- About half a mile from the Hazarduari Palace is Jafarganj the ruined palace of Mir Jafar. The Cemetery contains the tombs of the Nawab's Nazim, from Mir Jafar to Humayun Jah. Mir Jafar's father Syud Ahmed Nazafi, Alivardi Khan's sister, Shahkhanum, Mir Jafar's widows, Munni Begam and Babbu Begam, Mohamed Ali Khan, the brother and Ismail Ali Khan and Asraf Ali Khan, the sons-in-law of Mir Jafar, lie buried here. This cemetery was built by Mir Jafar, over an area of 3.51 acres.

Mati jheeel

Mati jheel- This beautiful horseshoe shaped lake was excavated by Nawazesh Mohammad, the husband of the famous Ghasseti Begum. In the palace adjoining it (now in ruins) Lord Clive celebrated the acquisition of the Dewani of Sube Bangla (Bengal, Bihar & Orissa) in 1765. Moti Jheel was the home of Warren Hastings when he became the Political President at the Durbar of the Nawab Nazim ( 1771 - 73 AD ). Sir John Shore, afterwards Lord Teinmouth, also lived here. Moti Jheel is also known as the "Company Bagh", due to the fact of it having been in the occupation of the East India Company. The only old building existing is the Mosque of Shahamat Jang.

Kath-gola

Kath-gola- The palace garden of Raja Dhanpat Singh Dugar and Lakshmipat Singh Dugar and their famous Adinath Temple were built in 1873, by Harreck Chand. The walls of this temple are also intricately designed. A typically Jain style of ornamentation lends a unique beauty to this Jain temple. It is about half a km South-East of Mahimapur. Though some of its glory has been lost, it still remains a major tourist attraction, chiefly because of the beautiful temple with an admirable work of stucco.

Buses are the most common form of transport, and they are easily available, and run to a wide range of destinations within and without the district. Bus transport is cheap (costsRs. 80 to Kolkata from Baharampur ) Trucks carry majority of goods transported in the district. Overloaded trucks on the road are also a common sight, and they are a major reason roads are in bad condition. There are two major rail routes. The major line runs north-south and connects the district to Kolkata and North Bengal. There is another line that branches out from this line at Azimgunj and connects the Sahebgunj loop at Nalhati

Parmadan Deer Sanctuary (Bibhuti Bhushan Wildlife Sanctuary)

2010-08-28T03:24:00.001-07:00

Bangaon is a city and a municipality in North 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal, India. Bangaon is one of the five sub-divisions of the District Of North 24 Parganas. Other sub-divisions are Barasat, Barrackpore, Basirhat and Bidhan Nagar. Parmadan Deer Sanctuary (Bibhuti Bhushan Wildlife Sanctuary) is a 92-hectare park in North 24-Parganas to the north and west. Parmadan Deer Park is located on the bank of the river Ichhamati covers an area of 94 hectres. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1980. In order pay a tribute to the famous bengali writer Bibhutibhusan Bandhyopadhay, the sanctuary was renamed as Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1995. There is a lot to see and do on this trip. It’s all about experimenting with options, just like the authorities did sometime in 1964, when 14 Chitals were released in the wilderness.

Without predators, the herbivores did very well for

themselves and the success prompted the authorities to declare the jungle a wildlife sanctuary in 1980 and christen it Parmadan. Later, in 1995, it was re-christened Bibhuti Bhushan Wildlife Sanctuary, after author Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay, but the local populace still prefers Parmadan.There are more than 200 deer in the park at present and, considering that the rut has begun in earnest, still more are on their way. And the best time to sight them is during feeding hours, at9 am and 4 pm,Coming back to the options, the choice is between a walk in the woods (which apart from the deer also houses myriad birds and a large number of langurs), a visit to the nearby villages, a boat ride down Ichhamati or making the 45-minute journey to Chuyatiya (the international border between India and Bangladesh). Just about enough to keep you busy over the weekend.

Bakkhali

2010-06-12T00:24:00.000-07:00

The citizens of Kolkata love to travel and the nearby getaways offer quick and cheap alternatives. These places are not very great spots and their development has not been easy because of geographical reasons. But they offer interesting alternatives to the more popular destinations. Bakkhali is a small beach resort about 132 kms from Kolkata. Despite being isolated and having limited accommodation, it is very popular with the citizens of

Kolkata. One can walk to the Frasergunj beach from Bakkhali.South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India.It is located on one of the many delta islands spread across southern Bengal Most of the islands are part of the Sunderbans, barring a few at the fringes. Some of these are joined together with bridges over narrow creeks. This small island juts out

into the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal. It has a 7 km long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Frasergunj with gently rolling waves.These are twin towns now forming one continuous locality. Casurina trees line the beach. Except on an occasional holiday the beach is not crowded. Even if one part is crowded on a particular day, there will be plenty of barren pockets. A small stretch near Bakkhali has been lighted up. It is a hard beach suitable for cycling or even driving. One can take long walks.

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Travellers destination to Lava - Loleygaon - Rishap

2010-04-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

Lava – Lava Situated at an altitude of 7200 feet and is 101 kms from Siliguri via Kalimpong, is a small place of hills & jungles. it is always cool & calm. Lava is famous for its proximity to the Neora Valley National Park and its beautiful view of the Jelep La and Rechi La passes.Oak and fir trees welcome the visitor at Lava.Take a Jeep ride to Neora Valley National Park ( 10 kms).Neora Valley National Park is a place for number of wild animals. Common tourist places around Lava include Ratnarishi Gumpha, Neora Lake, Silviculture Research Centre,and Chhangey falls. Treks to the Neora valley startsfrom Lava. Apart from long treks across the valley, small treks are also possible in the region. Common treks include trek to Tiffin Dara, Aluabari etc.Lava is also known for its leaches. During the rainy season vegetation around the place remains covered by leaches.

Loleygaon - Loleygaon is 20 kms from Lava and 56 km away from Kalimpong and situated at an altitude of 5500 ft. , is basically a Lepcha village always attract people for its superb natural beauty, Panoramic view of Kanchenjunga can be obtained from this point, deep forest and watching one of the most beautiful Sunrise on Kanchenjunga, which can be enjoyed from Jhantidhara Sunrise Point, 4 kms from Loleygaon. Heritage forest which is enriched by Oak, Pine & numerous named & unnamed trees is a protected forest also place for some beautiful species of birds & wild animals. Newly built wooden hanging foot bridge over canopy of huge trees is major attraction and walking on the bridge is an unforgettable experience for the life.

Rishap – Rishop or Rishyap, developed recently in 1998, is rapidly becoming a popular tourist point. Rishap is a small village on the hill top can be reached from Lava on trekking ( only 4 kms) or Four Wheels ( 12 kms). But the bumpy road can make uncomfortable. It’s main attraction is overwhelming 300 degrees view of snowcapped Himalayas including Kanchenjunga. Rishap is enriched with variety of birds.An excellent view of Kanchenjungha from 'Tiffin Dara' in Rishop attracts tourists to this place.Sunrise in Rishop will be in memory for years. The blue mountains of Sikkim by its side are also worth watching. Nathu La and Jalep La are also visible from Rishop. Sunset turns the snow-capped pinnacles into pink
and gold.

SUNDARBAN

2010-01-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

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. The 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 saying goes, `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.Home to one of the largest concentrations of tigers on the planet, this 2585-sq-km reserve is a network of channels and semi-submerged mangroves that is part of the world’s largest river delta. Royal Bengal tigers (officially estimated to number 274) not only lurk in the impenetrable depths of the mangrove forests, but also swim the delta’s innumerable channels. Although they’re known to have an appetite for humans, tigers are typically shy and sightings are a very rare exception. Nevertheless, a trip to this watery World Heritage site is rewarding with or without a glimpse of the big cats. Cruising the broad waterways through the world’s biggest mangrove forest and watching wildlife, whether it be a spotted deer, 2m-long water monitor or luminescent kingfisher, is sublime and a world away from Kolkata’s chaos.

The best time to visit the tiger reserve is between October and March. Visiting independently is difficult, with permits and tricky transport connections to organise, and it’s not cheap; you’ll have to bear the cost of boat rentals alone. Organised tours are the easy and comfortable alternative.

At Sajnekhali, the official gateway into the reserve, you’ll find the Mangrove Interpretation Center (admission Rs 2; 8.30am-5pm), with a small turtle and crocodile hatchery, displays on local conservation issues and a collection of pickled wildlife.

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.

NOW DIGHA IS A BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATION

2009-12-09T23:05:00.000-08:00

Digha is one of the most popular beach haunts and weekend getaways for the people of West Bengal.Around 187 km away from Kolkata, Digha, originally known as Beerkul, is well known for its hard flatbeaches, allowing long drives and walks during the low tides. However, this beach town has seen severe oil erosion, thus losing some of the glory it enjoyed in its heydays. This has resulted in the formationof New Digha, an extension of Digha, 2km away. This is a pleasant enough stretch, lined with Casuarinaplantations, and the sea is calm and safe for swimming.A small town, Digha is crowded with hotels generally around one main road. Its proximity to Calcutta (187 kms) attracts tourists throughout the year. Digha is a hard beach where one can drive during low tide. The beach is however facing the problem of sea erosion.Bathing is advisable only during the low tide. One can view both sunrise and sunset at Digha sea beach.

New Digha

New Digha is an extension of Digha. It too has several hotels. There is a small park with a lake here.

Shankarpur

Not far from Digha (appx 14 kms) is the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour Project. It is also being developed as a beach resort.

Chandaneshwar

Only 8 kms from Digha, Chandaneshwar is the site of an old Shiva temple.

Mandarmoni

virgin beach in east midnapore.Thousands of small crabs crawl around the 13 km. long virginbeach makingit look like a simmering field of the red flower Mandar. Years ago the resemblance ignited the imagination of the locals. They named it Mandarboni.In course of time it has become Mandarmoni.Not much has changed since then. Mandarmoni on the Bengal coast remains the very same bright and serene seaside, fanned by tropical breeze from the Bay of Bengal The only difference - it is now an exotic holiday destination.

Best Time To Visit

The winter months are a good time as summers can be hot and humid.

Accommodation Option

There are both private hotels and West Bengal Tourism guesthouse here.

Access

Rail: Digha is well connected with Rail from Howrah as well as Kharagpur. From Howrah daily 2 trains and from Kharagpur weekly 1 train is running.

Road: Route 1. Calcutta-Howrah-Mechheda-Norghat-Contai-Ramnagar-Digha: 185 km.

Route 2. Calcutta-Deulti-Kolaghat-Kharagpur-Digha: 243 km.

Route 3. Tarakeswar-Harinkhola-Arambag-Vishnupur-Kharagpur-Digha: 355 km

Bus : Regular direct buses are available from Calcutta to Digha. C.S.T.C. Express buses ply from Esplanade (Calcutta) from 0630 hours to 1000 hours (Fare Rs.30/-). Luxury buses from West Bengal Tourist Bureau, 3/2 B.B.D.Bagh departs daily at 0700 hours (Fare Rs.40/-).

Malda

2009-10-16T22:37:00.003-07:00

Malda is an important city of West Bengal situated on the banks of the river Mahananda. It lies 347 kilometers north of Kolkata. It was formerly known as English Bazaar. An English factory was reputable here in 1771. Malda is a base for visiting the historical sites of Gaur and Pandua. Gaur was capital to three dynasties of ancient Bengal , the Buddhist Palas, the Hindu Senas and the Muslim Nawabs and has a glorious past. Pandua, once the alternate seat of power to Gaur, has the third largest concentration of Muslim monuments in Bengal. The Malda Museum has a great collection of the region's architectural and anthropological specimens. Malda can be reached by bus from Kolkata, Murshidabad and Siliguri, and by train from Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri. It is the Divisional Headquarter of the Eastern Railway and almost all trains bound for North Bengal and North Eastern states of India halt at Malda station. Malda is famous for its ?Fajli? mango orchards.

Access
Malda may be reached by road-bus service from Kolkata, Murshidabad and Siliguri, and train services from Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri.
Gaur is 12 km south of Malda, exact on the Indo-Bangladesh border. It is linked by road, bus, taxi and rickshaw services from Malda. Situated on the main highway, Pandua is 18 km north of Malda. Adina is another 2 km north of the village of Pandua. Reachable by road from Malda, there are bus and taxi services.

Places of Interest
It had been surrounded by the restrictions of antique ‘Gour’ and ‘Pandua’ (Pundrabardhana). These two cities had been the capital of Bengal in olden and medieval ages and are central, north and south, from English Bazar Township.

Ramkeli
A miniature village on the way to Gour, Ramkeli is well-known for being the temporary home of Sri Chaitanya, the enormous spiritual reformer of Bengal, where he had stayed for a small amount of days on his way to Brindaban. An accumulation of two tamal and two kadamba trees can still be seen, underneath the saint is said to have meditated. A small temple constructed below this tree contains Sri Chaitanya's footprints on sandstone.
Gour
Gaur, 12 km south of Malda, right on the Indo-Bangladesh margin, is one of the most significant Historical spaces of 14th and 15th century Bengal having enormous worth from the archeological point of vision. The remnants chiefly worth seeing are the Bara Sona Mosque, Dakhil Darwajah (built in 1425), Qadam Rasul Mosque, Lattan Mosque and the carcass of the widespread reinforcement. There are colourful enameled strips on the Gomti Gate and Firoz Minar.

Darjeeling and It's Close Land

2009-09-30T05:32:00.000-07:00

A view of old Darjeeling town

Darjeeling town : at present

The name Darjeeling is a composition of 'dorje' meaning 'thunderbolt' and 'ling' meaning 'place' ... 'the Land of Thunderbolt'. The Nepalese had marched till the east of Sikkim in 1780 as far as Tista river. Due to a disagreement with Nepal, the British declared war against Nepal at the end of 1813. In 1816 by a treaty signed at Seagoulie, Nepal ceded 4000 sq. miles of territory and by the treaty of Titalya in 1817 the Rajah (king) of Sikkim was reinstated.

An old but comfortable mode of transport

In 1828 two British officers, Capt. C. A. Lloyd and Mr. J. W. Grant, after settling the internal factions between Nepal and Sikkim, found their way to a place called Chungtong to the west of Darjeeling and were very impressed with what they saw and thought of making this place a sanitarium. Other British officers also reported favourably on the situation of the hill of Darjeeling.

The East India Company then directed its officers to start a negotiation with the Rajah of Sikkim for the cessation of the hill either for an equivalent in money or land. This transfer was successfully done in 1835 for an allowance of Rs. 3,000/- per annum. The Rajah of Sikkim's revenue from this tract of land had never exceeded Rs. 20/- per annum. Later this allowance was raised to Rs. 6000/- per annum. In 1849 the relation of the British and Sikkim worsened with the imprisonment of two British officers by Sikkim authorities. Eventually they were released but as a punishment the British stopped the annual allowance and annexed this territory.

By 1860s peace was restored in the borders and the march of progress began. Roads and important construction were done, Loreto Convent in 1847, St. Paul's School in 1864, Planters' Club in 1868, Lloyd's Botanical Garden in 1878, St. Joseph's School in 1888, Railway Station in 1891, Town Hall (present Municipality Building) in 1921.

Old Darjeeling goods train

Tea Plantations started developing all around Darjeeling. During this time immigrants flooded in to work in construction sites, the Tea Gardens and other agricultural works. The population of Darjeeling was barely 100 in 1835 and was about 94,712 in 1871-72, 155,179 in 1881 and 249,117 in 1901.

With India attaining independence on 15th August 1947, the district of Darjeeling remained in the partitioned section of Bengal (West Bengal) and therefore in the Indian union. With the district's sub-Himalayan and geographical condition, it occupied an unique status in the state. The only remaining industry, that is the Tea industry, continued to play a major role in the economy of the area and the country as well. The other natural wealth forests have been adversely affected by the ever growing population, now estimated to be around 1,200,000. In the years since independence, much has been done for the area's education, communication, attention to cash crops like orange, potato, cardamom, ginger, etc.

An old bamboo bridge over Rangeet river

On 29th May 1953 two men set foot on Mount Everest for the first time in history and one of them was Tenzing Norgay, from Darjeeling. Subsequently, this historical event led to the formation of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. Of the old heritage the Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) is now listed under UNESCO's world heritage.

Since the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988 the hill areas fall under its jurisdiction. It has elected Councillors and they have the authority in managing certain affairs of the hill like education, tourism, health etc.

Gifted to the British East India Company in 1817, Darjeeling is the hill station of West Bengal.

This has been called the queen of hill-stations.Darjeeling is one of India's most famous hill resorts. It is 2134 m or 7000ft above sea level.

In 1835, Darjeeling was given to the East India Company by the King of Sikkim. It became a popular resort for the British who wanted to escape from the sweltering heat of the plains.

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.

The toy train coming from Siliguri is some thing which is liked by the elders and the children equally. The real fun in coming to Darjeeling is on the toy train. It takes six to seven hours to cover a distance of 82 kms and the slow speed gives you enough time to watch and appreciate the beauty which nature has provided it. This train passes through the Forests, waterfalls, over deepvalleys and through the mountains and tunnels

The city is centered around the Mall which has a variety of shops, restaurants and hotels. Beautiful walk ways start from the Mall.

Between Darjeeling and Siliguri is the small town of Kurseong which has several educational institutions and churches.

Trekking enthusiasts can check out Sandakphu and Phalut. From Sandakphu one can see four of the five highest mountain peaks in the world - Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and Kanchanjunga.

Darjeeling : The town and hill station of Darjeeling lies in northern West Bengal, India. Darjeeling district lies between 26° 31' and 27° 13' north latitude and between 87° 59' and 88° 53' east longitude.

Altitude : Comprising mainly of mountain terrain, Darjeeling stands at a height of 2134m (7053 ft) on a mountain ridge.

Area : Darjeeling town covers an area of 11.44 sq. kms.

Population : About 100,000.

A walk around the Mall

Languages spoken : English, Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan and Bengali.

Climate : Almost every year Darjeeling's temperature drops below freezing during the Winter season, from November to February. In Summer, Darjeeling is delightfully cool with the maximum temperature reaching about 20°C.

Rainfall : Rain falls mostly during months from June to September. The annual recorded rainfall in Darjeeling is 320 cms.

Clothing : Light woollen for summer and heavy woollens for winter.

Best months to visit : March to mid-June and September to mid-December.

Transport and Communications :

Railway : Darjeeling Railway station is in Darjeeling town. Toy Train journey from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling takes about 8 hours.
New Jalpaiguri is the major railway station (88 kms about 3 hours drive) which is connected to all the major cities in India.

Airport : Nearest Airport is Bagdogra (90 km) which has flights connecting to Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati. Drive from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling takes about 3½ hours. Airlines bookings can be made from Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Toy Train

Roadways :	Darjeeling -	Siliguri/Bagdogra airport (90 km )/New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (80 kms)
	Darjeeling -	Kalimpong 51 kms.
	Darjeeling -	Gangtok, Sikkim 115 kms.
	Darjeeling -	Pashupati (27 km) (Nepal border)(Not authorised entry point for foreigners, only Indian and Nepali citizens are allowed to enter from here)
	Darjeeling -	Kakarvita (117 km) (Nepal border)
	Darjeeling -	Phuntsoling (233 km) (Bhutan border)

Postal Service & Couriers : Darjeeling town has two Post Offices and also has offices of some courier services.

Telephone : International code for India - 91
Local code for Darjeeling - 0354
Darjeeling town has lots of STD/ISD booths scattered all over the town from where local and long distance calls can be made.

Internet Cafe : Email and internet facilities are available. There are lots of Internet Cafes in town. Compuset Centre's Internet Cafe at Gandhi Road, (Near Bethany School), Darjeeling has fast DIAS (DSL) line (opens everyday at 9 a.m.).

Other facilities :

Banks : ICICI Bank and State Bank of India can exchange foreign currencies besides some major hotels and currency dealers in town. These two banks also has ATM facilities.
Other Banks in town : Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, UCO Bank, U. B. Khetriya Gramin Bank and Vijaya Bank.

Plucking tea leaf in Darjeeling

Darjeeling produces the world's best aromatic tea. Presently Darjeeling has 86 tea gardens which produce about 10 million kgs of tea annually. Tea is grown in Darjeeling from a height of 100 mt. (300 ft.) to 2,000 mt. (6,000 ft). Output and the quality of tea varies with the altitude. Most of the Darjeeling tea estates have China or China hybrid plants, although some tea estates at lower elevations have Assam hybrids too. The China or China hybrid plant is small leafed and, therefore, difficult to pluck. Some 6,000 shoots of tea leaves and a bud from these bushes make about ½ kg. of tea, whereas a broad light leaf of Assam variety can produce the same quantity with about 3,000 shoots. All Darjeeling teas are hand plucked.

The average production in the hill per acre is almost half compared to the production in the warmer plains. It is this climate and high altitude affecting the slow growth of the tea leaf which help to give Darjeeling teas the flavour for which it is known. In other tea growing areas and other tea growing countries tea is produced throughout the year, but in Darjeeling it hibernates in dry and cold winter. Growth starts in Spring when the tea bushes of Darjeeling are covered with a mass of small soft shoots. This is the first 'flush' tea. After which there is a lull in the growth until the second 'flush' appears; the quantity of leaf on the bushes is not great but a unique flavour predominates in the first and second 'flushes'.

The monsoon starts in Darjeeling about mid-June and from July onwards the quality of tea (monsoon 'flush') is of standard character until the rains stop in October. Then for a short period until the end of the season in November, a small crop of 'autumnal' leaf is harvested which is flavoury but has 'thin' liquor.

Darjeeling tea's unique flavour is influenced by altitude, type of soil, slopes and the character of Nepali labourers who hand-pick these tea leaves.

Every tea garden has its tea processing factory. The hand picked tea leaves are brought to the factory and are spread out thinly on tiers of racks or troughs for 'withering'. This process reduces the moisture and makes the leaf flaccid within a period of about 18 hours. So the leaves plucked today is ready for final processing next day. The next stage is called 'rolling' where these limp and withered leaves are twisted and their cells ruptured so as to expose their juice in the rolling machines. The rolling process continues for 1½ hours. The leaf is then spread out for about 2 to 3 hours for 'fermentation' in rooms where the humidity is controlled to 95%. After this it is taken to drying machines (temperature 200° to 225° F). Then it goes to 'sorting' where different quality teas are sorted. The best quality tea comes from the 'leaf' grades ('broken' grade, 'fanning' grade and 'dust' produces lower quality teas). Of the total crops of 10 million kgs. the first and second flushes and the autumnal teas are highly prized. India alleges that Darjeeling produces only 10 million kgs. tea but about 40 million kgs of 'Darjeeling tea' is available in the world market every year. That is why the Tea Board is taking steps to protect the name 'Darjeeling Tea' against erroneous use.

The use of chemical fertilizers in tea gardens is being reduced to a minimum and some of the tea gardens have gone organic with no use of chemical fertilisers at all.

Inspite of the problems and the adversities in a fast changing world, Darjeeling tea estates are striving to maintain and indeed improve the unique quality which has made Darjeeling tea renowned as the finest in the world.

Tiger Hill : Situated at an altitude of 2590 metres (8482 ft.), it is 15 km from Darjeeling town. An early morning trip to the Tiger Hill promises an unique experience. A view of the sunrise amidst the Himalayan range has earned it an international fame. From here you can get a glimpse of Mount Everest, the highest mountain and Kanchenjunga range.

Prayer flags fly in the winds at Observatory Hill

The Observatory Hill : Apart from the magnificent view it commands, this hill atop the Mall also is attached with great religious importance as a revered temple complex for both the Hindus and the Buddhists.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or the Toy Train : This fascinating narrow gauge steam engine train still operates with the original steam engine and the loops and the zigzags along the route are remarkable feats of engineering. The journey from New Jalpaiguri may be a pleasant experience but it is the short ride from Darjeeling town to Ghoom, the nearest station, that becomes a joy ride in itself. The Toy Train is considered an engineering marvel and some prefer to call it one of the wonders of the world, to be preserved forever.

Batasia Loop and the War Memorial : About 5 kms. from Darjeeling, this railway loop is a marvellous feat of engineering and with its magnificent view of Darjeeling town with the Kanchenjunga mountain is worth an experience, whether aboard the Toy Train or just watching the Toy Train pass through this loop. The War memorial is constructed in the memory of the brave sons of Darjeeling who died for the country since Independence in 1947.

Tea Gardens : While in Darjeeling a visit to any nearby Tea Garden to watch the actual process of the manufacturing of Darjeeling Tea is worth it. Some of the Tea Gardens also sell their packet teas. There are about 70 tea gardens in this hill region and the most accessible one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate, which is about 3 kms. from the town or within a walking distance of about 40 minutes (Closed on Monday).

Buddhist Monasteries : In and around Darjeeling there are important and interesting Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The oldest one is called the Yiga Cholling Monastery which is situated about 8 kms. from the town at Ghoom and enshrines an image of 'the Coming Buddha' or the Maitriya Buddha. It was constructed in 1875 and belongs to the Gelugpa Sect. The Samten Cholling Monastery is another interesting monastery nearby. The Drukpa Kargyud Monastery, also known as Dali Monastery, is a big monastery located 5 kms. from the town. It belongs to the Drukpa Sect and the Drukchen Rimpoche resides here. The Bhutia Busty Monastery is situated at C.R. Das Road and is within 15 minutes walk from the Mall.

Yiga Cholling Monastery in Ghoom

Japanese Peace Pagoda : The Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist inaugurated the Japanese Peace Pagoda in 1992. It is a recent landmark constructed by Japanese Monks and commands an excellent view of the town and the Himalayan Range.

Dhirdham Temple : Situated just below the Railway station the temple is a structural replica of the famous 'Pashupatinath' temple of Kathmandu, Nepal.

A view from The Mall

The Mall and Chowrasta : The Mall road originates and culminates at the Chowrasta which is the hub of Darjeeling town, a square on the ridge of Darjeeling town and a good place to sit and relax. It is ideal for a leisurely walk around a setting that is perfect. A walk around The Mall is a must just at any time of the day with the pleasant view of the mountains, valleys with rhododendron trees and old houses.

Natural History Museum : While taking a walk in The Mall a visit to the Museum of Natural History which lies closeby is worthwhile. This fine small museum exhibits an unique collection of the fauna of the Himalayan region, especially of the Eastern Himalayas.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute : It was founded in 1954 after the historic conquest of Everest on the 29th of May in 1953, when two people set foot atop Mount Everest. They were, Tenzing Norgay (Sherpa) from Darjeeling and Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand. As an honour to the great Sherpa this Institute was formed with the aim of imparting mountaineering skills to all the enthusiasts. Tenzing Sherpa himself was one of the founding members and also the Field Director of the Institute. It is situated on Jawahar Parbat and adjoins the Zoo. This Institute also houses a museum which holds a rare collection of mementos from various Everest expeditions. Nawang Gombu, the first man to have climbed the Everest twice is presently the Chief Advisor for the Mountaineering Training.

Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Centre : A high altitude wild life park and new home of the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer etc. , Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park or the town Zoo exhibits some rare Himalayan Fauna including the Snow Leopard, Red panda, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Pheasants, etc. It is a treat for all wild life enthusiasts. Just nearby is a very successful Snow Leopard Breeding Centre.

Lloyds Botanical Garden : This is a colourful garden situated just below the market. In 1878 Mr. W. Lloyd gifted 40 acres of hillside to make a garden with local plants and flowers. It still has the most varied collection of rhododendron, magnolia, orchids, etc. of the Eastern Himalayas. It also has a glass-house full of alpine flowers and also features an Orchidarium and a collection of medicinal plants.

Lloyds Botanical Garden

Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway : This Ropeway is in one of the most beautiful part of the town and is situated at North Point about 3 kms. from town. The cable car ride takes 6 passengers at a time and it passes over the lush green tea gardens with breathtaking view of the mountains (Kanchenjunga) and provides an experience that cannot be easily forgotten. The valley has glorious views of Sikkim and the river Rangeet.

Carpet weaving at Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre

Handicrafts : Darjeeling has some interesting places to watch the local handicrafts being made as well as a various range of choiced handicraft souvenirs. The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre is a self-supporting Centre for Tibetan refugees which manufactures some intriguing Tibetan handicrafts. Established for the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees who had followed the Dalai Lama to India in early 1959. It offers a wide choice of Tibetan handicrafts, Tibetan woollen carpet is very popular. Hayden Hall, a Roman Catholic social service centre also has a handicraft section with the purpose of helping the local poor people.

Handmade items are available for sale at reasonable prices. The Manjusha Bengal Emporium offers prominent hill handicrafts, handloom and silk products of West Bengal for display and for sale. It is situated at Nehru Road. Gram Shilpa is another such showroom displaying Khadi handloom silk products and set up by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Govt. of India. It is situated in Chowrasta.

Ava Art Gallery : Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from the motor stand, it is just below the main road on the way to Ghoom. This gallery houses fine art and embroidery work of Mrs. Ava Devi.

Toy Train passing through Batasia Loop

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is lovingly called the "Toy Train". The Toy Train ride is a romantic approach to the Himalayas, a mysterious region. The landscape can only be described as spectacular and the views of the Himalayan peaks breathtaking. The Darjeeling Toy Train is one of the most famous narrow (2 feet ) gauge trains.

This joy ride begins at New Jalpaiguri, a busy railway station in the plains. The plains are much more warmer than the hills and as the train climbs up the mountains the climate gets much colder. Therefore it is advisable to keep warm clothes handy as one needs them. Leaving New Jalpaiguri station the train passes through the outskirts of Siliguri town and reaches Siliguri station. After a short halt the train leaves Siliguri station and crosses the Mahanadi bridge over the Mahanadi river which flows from the Himalayan foothills.

After six miles train reaches Sukna station from where the real ascent begins. Here the train normally stops for the engine to take water. The traveller can now notice the change of local people who have sharp mongoloid features and are mostly Nepali. From here the blue mountain ranges of the foothills are visible and the train quickly rises from the plain passing through tea gardens and forest of teak and sal.

Toy Train passing through forest near Sukna

The train now passes through Rangtang station (1404 ft/430 m) and a little further away the train may stop for water again. From here the view of wooded mountains is really beautiful. The train moves on with the view of tea gardens, tea factories and forests. It then passes Chunbhati. Before the railway line was built, there was a bungalow here where the travellers travelling in palki (palanquin) used to rest for the day. The train is now fairly among the mountains and a panoramic view of the deep valley and higher range of mountains is visible. Then the train passes the Tindharia Railway workshop to reach Tindharia station (2,822 feet/860m).

Toy Train climbing the mountain

Tindharia, in the old times, was the spot where travellers used to stop for tea. From here one can get an extensive view of the hills. Leaving Tindharia one can see the jagged rock-faced mountains up ahead called Giddapahar (Eagle's Craig) which the train later has to pass through. Using "zig-zag reverses" the train leaves Gayabari station (3,400 feet/1040m).

After this station the train stops for water near Pagla Jhora (Mad Torrent). During the monsoon this small stream swells up and is big enough to wash away the road and railway line. Shortly after this the train reaches Mahanadi Bazar station (4,000 ft/1,225m). Just near this town is the source of the Mahanadi river which the train had earlier crossed shortly after leaving Siliguri. Leaving Mahanadi the train travels west through Gidhapahar (Eagle's Craig) with an excellent view of the valley, the hills and tea gardens and reaches Kurseong station (4,864 feet/1485m).

Kurseong is a thriving little hill station. Here one can get the first glimpse of a hill town and the hill people. Leaving Kurseong the train passes through Kurseong bazar and goes on in its journey. The sight of Tibetan prayer flags as the train passes over Hussel (whistle) khola (stream) makes the traveller feel that he is now truly in the mountains. The train passes through small forests of maple, chestnut, pear, cherry, criptomeria (introduced from Japan), etc. and cardamom plants.

Now the train reaches Tung (5656 ft/1725m) which gives us an excellent view of the Kurseong ridge. As the train passes along the road, one may notice by now that through the journey from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling there are over 100 road crossings and most of the time the train runs along parallel with the cars and other vehicles.

Toy Train in one of the road crossings

The journey new leads through Sonada (6552 ft. /2000m). As the train passes through Sonada bazar, one can get a glimpse of Tibetan chorten (stupa) on the way. Now the train passes through Senchel Reserve forest with oaks, chestnuts, walnuts, magnolias, rhododendrons, etc. During spring one can see the bright blooms of rhododendrons, cream magnolias and orchids in this moss-laden forest. On top of this hill is a famous tourist spot Tiger Hill with a unique view of the Himalayas and also of the sunrise. This forest region is well known worldwide for bird-watching.

The train now passes through a small town called Jorebunglow. The road here is very narrow and often there are traffic jams since all the traffic in and out of Darjeeling pass this point. This must be the only place where the train may have to stop for a while in case of a traffic jam or have to back up a bit to ease the traffic. The train now reaches Ghoom (7407 ft/2260 m) the highest point of the journey.

Toy Train near Darjeeling town

Leaving Ghoom the train descends towards Darjeeling. On the way the train passes through Batasia Loop with its memorial to the Gorkha soldiers. From the Batasia Loop you can get a spectacular view of Darjeeling town with the Kanchenjunga and other snowy mountains in the back-drop. From now onwards uptill Darjeeling, the snowy peaks are in full view for the travellers' eyes. Finally the train enters the Darjeelins Station, the destination of the journey. Darjeeling, a town with all its charm and beauty awaits the weary traveller.

Darjeeling has plenty of tourist spots in and around the city. Some of the most important are listed here.

The Japanese peace pagoda depicts the various stages of the Buddha's life.Another attraction is the nation's oldest passenger ropeway which connects North Point to Singla Bazar.

A visit to the Tiger Hills before dawn is a must for all Darjeeling visitors who want to see sunrise over the Mt Kanchenjungha. Tiger Hill is 2590 m above sea level and 11 kms from town (45 min).

Two kilometers from Darjeeling is the town of Ghoom which is the highest railway station in the world. It also has a monastery.

The Batasia loop (5 kms from Darjeeling) on the Darjeeling Himalayan railway is an engineering marvel and is another attraction even if someone doesn't want to take the slow train ride.

The Tenzing Norgay Himalayan Mountaineering Institute trains mountaineers. It has a small museum as well. Adjacent to it is the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.

The Lloyd's botanical gardens is another attraction.

The two popular view points are Jawahar Parbat and the Observatory Hill which offer views of the Himalayan ranges.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park : Located adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. It is a high altitude wild life park and a new home for the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Deer, Deer Panda, Llama and birds. It is open from 8 am to 4 PM

The Dhirdham Temple, built in the style of Katmandu's Pashupatinath temple adds to the varied religious architectural styles of Darjeeling. It is near the railway station.

Senchal Lake : A favorite Picnic Spot about 10 k.m. from the town. The lake provides water supply to the

rom Calcutta (665 km)

By Road : Darjeeling is connected to Siliguri the main city in the plains by the Tenzing Norgay Road (formerly Hill Cart Road).

By Bus: Bus services between Darjeeling and Siliguri are frequent. Private taxis, landrovers are also available. From Siliguri by bus/taxi/trekker to Darjeeling (80 km), about 4 hours.

By Rail: You can take the famous toy train, which is a meter gauge train operating over breath taking scenery. The journey takes approximately seven and half hours.

New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri Junction stations at the base of the Darjeeling Hill areas have direct railway connections with Calcutta, Mumbai, Guwahati, Madras, Lucknow, and Delhi.

Some Important train services connecting New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri with major cities.

From Kolkata

Darjeeling Mail
Kamroop Exp.
New Jalpaiguri
Teesta Torsa
Kunchanjunga Express

From New Delhi

North East

From Mumbai

Bombay Mail

From Madras

Howrah Mail

From Guwahati

Assam Mail

By Air: By air to Bagdogra (Siliguri) - flight duration is about 45 minutes. Indian Airlines as well as private airlines operate on this route.

Bagdogra, the airport for Darjeeling hill areas has direct air connections with New Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati.

LODGING:Plenty of accommodation is available which will suit all budgets

Industry - Agriculture

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Industry | Agriculture

Industry

West Bengal is known for its position among the leading industrialized states of India. There are over 10000 registered factories in the state and the state government has opened 'Shilpa bandhu', a single window agency for providing investors with all kinds of assistance in setting up a city is noted as a major centre for industries including thand running industrial units. Calcutte jute industry. There are a number of Steel plants in the state apart from the alloy steel plant at Durgapur. The centre has set up a number of industries in the areas of tea, sugar, chemicals and fertilizers. Good natural resources like tea and jute in and near Bengal made West Bengal a major centre for the jute and tea industries.

The manufacturing industries play a vital role in the economic life of the state. Among the important industries, manufacture of shoes, medicine and pharmaceuticals, weaving of cotton textiles, spinning and weaving of jute, manufacture of fabricated metal products and structural metal products, production of ice and Shulekha ink etc are worth mentioning.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people of the state. The Majority of the population are cultivators and agricultural labours. Rice is the Principal food crop of West Bengal. Other food crops include maize, pulses, oil seeds, wheat, barley, potatoes and vegetables. The state supplies about 66% of the jute requirements of the country and its soil and heavy rainfall are suitable for jute cultivation. Tea is another important cash crop. Darjeeling tea is famous for its high quality. Tobacco and sugarcane are also grown in the state.

2009-08-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

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KOLKATA

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In 1690, Job Charnok, an agent of the East India Company chose this place for a British trade settlement. Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata now known as Kolkata.Now It's the capital of West Bengal and it is one of the major metropolitan cities of India along with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Majority of the residents of the city are Hindus but Muslims,Sikh, Christian, Jain, Persis, Buddhist and many others religious peoples are live together with love and effection.

Kolkattans are very talented people and have an artistic flair.Kolkata famous for its cultural activities like theater, music, dance, art and poetry.There are many kind of bars and discotheques, where you can go and enjoy.

Kolkata is easy to access by air, rail or road. In fact, if you're on an extended vacation in India, and are planning to get to Calcutta from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you can even take the ship from the islands to Kolkata.

Kolkata is well connected by air to all major countries in the world, as well as to Indian cities. The air carriers that have flights to and from the city include Aeroflot, Air France, Air India, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Royal Nepal Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International.

Most inward bound trains stop at Howrah, which is also the station from which major trains to other cities depart. Most trains heading to areas such as New Jalpaiguri and other provinces in the north-east stop at the other station, Sealdah. Local trains to nearby towns are available from both stations, depending on which part of West Bengal you want to go to.

Buses are also available to nearby towns, especially if you wish to visit Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri on your trip to Calcutta. Depending on which direction you're heading in, buses could depart from the end of the Maidan near Chowringhee Road, or the bus stand at Babu Ghat near Fort William. A few tour operators have their own private bus stands, so do make inquiries.

Calcutta is the perfect place to plan and start out on a variety of holiday tours that suit the needs and interests of tourists of every kind. If you have a yen for adventurous holidays, you can use Kolkata as your base to start off on a trekking expedition. Calcutta is also at a comfortable distance from many beaches. Some of these are usually packed with tourists, while others are more secluded.Kolkata is the gateway to a variety of places that could make your honeymoon as special as it should be. Most honeymooners prefer to use this city as the base camp, striking out for a beach or a hill resort nearby, before returning to Kolkata and to their homes.Art connoisseurs, heritage hunters, party people, history lovers - there's a nook for every kind of traveller in Calcutta. A visit to a temple or cathedral in the morning, an afternoon among the cool, silent allure of its museums, an invigorating evening walk alongside a heritage building or two, a rip-roaring end to the day at the city's night spots - it's possible to pack all this and more into a day of Kolkata travel. Fire temples, synagogues, beautifully crafted mosques, streets choc-a-bloc with temples… Calcutta is home to people of diverse religious beliefs. If you avoid guides, middlemen (called pandas) and beggars, and keep a sharp eye on your wallet, the pilgrimage spots in this city can be the best way to bond with the soul of the city. Most fairs in Calcutta are held in what is known as the lungs of the city - the Maidan. These sprawling fields next to the Victoria Memorial and Birla Planetarium host a dazzling array of fairs through the year. Don't be surprised if you find a true-blue Calcuttan planning what to buy each month and which fair to buy it at - these shows have become a permanent feature of the Calcutta landscape. When's a bamboo tent not a bamboo tent? When you're in Calcutta. For, in this city, a step into a luxurious bamboo edifice known locally as a pandal could well be your baptism to the festive side of the city. Pandals, in which the idols of deities are places and worshippers congregate, are a staple of Hindu festivals Kolkata, but the festive landscape of Calcutta isn't about which religion you belong to. Festivals are a great opportunity to meet people, soak in the culture of the city, pamper your taste buds, discover the cosmopolitan side to the city and, of course, give yourself up to religious fervor.

From hole-in-the-wall travel agents to custom-made tours, from hops around the city to a leisurely cruise down the Ganges, Calcutta has something for the holiday maker of every kind. It is a city where you can go around on a shoe-sting budget, or opt for a cruise that is high on comfort and luxury.

In keeping with the variety offered by the city, we offer tours that are tailor-made for every kind of budget, and for every interest you might have. Check out our tour packages and get the best out of your stay in Calcutta.

BENGAL TRAVEL GUIDE

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Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and West Bengal is a famous tourist destination in the country. The state has everything
from the Himalayan foothills in the north ,to the shores of the Bay of Bengal in
the south.Darjeeling and Kalimpong are beautiful hill station in the foothills of the great Himalaya and a famous hill station of India and is the prime tourist destination in West Bengal.

Kolkata,the cultural capital of India is home to several historic monuments and modern attractions as well.Some of beautiful tourist spot within lot of place but within in low cost Kolkata(VictoriaMemorial,Indian Museum,Eden Gardens,BelurMath,Dakshineswer,Kalighat,BirlaMandir,St.Paul’sCathedral,Pareshnath
Jain Temple,Victoria Memorial,Science City,Nicco Park,Zoological Garden etc.),Digha, Shankarpur, Junput, Bakkhali, Sagardwip, Sunderban National Park, Singalila National Park, Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary, Shantiniketan , Ganga Sagar , Gandhi Ghat , Diamond Harbour , Krishnagar , Nabadwip and many other beautiful place are situated here.