Visit the Spectacular Landscapes of West Bengal to Captivate Your Souls

From the tea draped Himalayan foothills to the steamy mangroves of the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal holds a wide range of wonderful destinations and experiences within a single state. Be it mountains or lush green forests, sea beaches or places for worship, the state holds all. From the breathtaking views of Darjeeling to the quiet retreats of Siliguri, the diversified physical features of the place make West Bengal one of the most favourite tourist spots. The state is located in the eastern part of India and attracts tourists from across the world.

Flourishing History of West Bengal

Referred to as Vanga in the Mahabharata, this region has a long history predating the Aryan invasion of India. It was a part of the Mauryan Empire in 3rd century BC before being overrun by the Guptas. From 800AD till the 11th century, Palas established their power. At the beginning of the 13th century, Bengal became the part of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughals. Thereafter, it fascinated numerous foreign rules, Portuguese in the 16^th century, Dutch in 1632, French between 1673-76, Danish in 1676, and British in 1690. The increased influence of the British resulted in conflicts with the Nawab. The battle of Plassey and the battle of Buxar sealed the fate of the Mughal rule. Later, the British brought forth the Dual system of administration, and in 1905, Britishers partitioned Bengal on religion basis. Calcutta remained the British's capital till 1911. During the independent, Bengal was divided between Indian and Pakistan. India's share is known as a West Bengal and Pakistan's share is known as East Pakistan.

From 1960-70, West Bengal witnessed one of the worst religious riots after independence due to the severe power shortages, strikes and a violent Marxist-Naxalite; it destroyed much of the state's infrastructure. In 1977, the leftist group of India entered in West Bengal's political scenario and leaded stability in the state. West Bengal later gathered pace after the LPG economic reforms were brought in 1991. Today, the state is one of the most developed states in India.

10 Fascinating Places in West Bengal, You must Visit

Kolkata: "The cultural capital of India" and one of the best places to visit in West Bengal, Kolkata offers a glimpse of what the entire state is about. It has elegant British Raj Buildings, gardens, historic colleges, buzzing nightlife, and delicious foods. It is also famous for the famous cricket stadium Eden Garden.

Darjeeling: A quaint little mountain city of West Bengal, Darjeeling is one of the most famous hill stations in India. The region is blessed with tea-estates, birds of different species, white magnolias and many more. Trekking, river rafting, and bird watching are some of the activities you can do here.

Siliguri: Siliguri present spectacular views of Himalayas' it is very famous for its tea gardens and thick forests. Kali Mandir, Coronation Bridge, Chilapata Forests and Salugara Monastery are some of the best places to explore in Siliguri.

Hooghly: Famous historical tourist spot in West Bengal, Hooghly is the best option to explore the stories of the past and relive the historic era. Hooghly is reckoned to be the place, where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sarda Devi stayed for several years.

Shantiniketan: Well-known as the treasure trove of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Shantiniketan is situated in a small town near Bolpur. Visit this unique tourist destination to seeing the splendid sculpture and paintings of Rabindranath.

Sunderban: Sunderban is the largest delta of the world, and it is a magnificent tangle of mangrove forest that is the only one of its kind in the whole world. Explore Sunderbans through the boat and be ready to get a unique experience.

Kalimpong:  Kalimpong is a lovely hill station and a perfect alternative to be away from the crowd. It has plenty of hills and villages to explore in the vicinity. Kalimpong is also a religious center of Buddhism and has monasteries that hold some rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.

 Mandarmani: Famed as the longest drivable beach of the country, Sunderban is the fastest growing tourist destination in West Bengal. It is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunrise and enjoy water sports like surfing, jet skiing and more.

Bankura: With its terracotta temples, dense virgin forests, rolling hills and other amazing scenic spots Bankura is a preferred visiting place of West Bengal. Besides, there is a lake in Mukutmonipur that offers a stunning reflection of the azure sky above making it delightful site to see.

Kurseong: Feel the fresh breeze and scenic beauty in front of your eyes on Kurseong. The peaceful atmosphere with aerial viewpoints, tea gardens, and rich flora and fauna drew the attention of tourists.

How to Reach

By Air: West Bengal has its international airport- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata. Besides, there are domestic airports at Bagdogra new Siliguri.

By Rail: The state has good railway connectivity; its key stations Howrah railway station and Sealdah railway station.

By Road: West- There is a well planned and extensive road network with national highways and state highways.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit West Bengal is from October to March.

West Bengal is home to different civilizations and cultural diversity with natural charm. There are forests and valleys, picturesque settings and tranquil mountains walk. Make your plan to visit the amazing landscapes of West Bengal to captivate your souls.