Historical Background:
This State on Eastern India bordering the Bay of Bengal on the South and the Himalayas on the North has a rich history as it was once the seat of British governance. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal was once the capital of British India and served as one of the most important ports of the time. After the partition in 1947, India secured the part of Bengal which was then termed West Bengal and this State has some of the best tourism riches on offer.
Language And Culture:
The native language is Bengali and the State has a predominantly Bengali ethnicity in its population. A majority of them are Bengali Hindus. West Bengal has a rich literature with Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore and several other prominent authors and poets being from this part of India. In terms of films, legendary filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen hails from this land and even in contemporary times, directors such as Aparna Sen and Srijit Mukherjee have made Bengal proud with National Award-winning movies. The influence of Terracotta and British and Islamic styles can be observed in the architecture and the State has a rich armory of music and dance with folk music, Rabindra Sangeet, and Chau dance which originated here.
Popular Attractions In The State:
While you will experience the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas on one hand with regions such as Tiger Hill, you can enjoy the serenity of the forests in North Bengal as well. The forests of Terai and Duars, boast of significant wildlife including elephants, rhinoceros, deer, leopards, and even tigers. Beautiful hill stations such as Darjeeling make for picture-perfect tourist destinations and the mangrove forests of the Sunderbans provide for the most elegant creature of the wild, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Tourists and be a part of history as they move through the ancient towns of Murshidabad which was once the abode of the Nawabs. The capital of the State, Kolkata has a lot to offer with the beautiful Ganges bypassing the city. There are attractions such as the Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, glamorous shopping destinations such as New Market and malls, and the lip-smacking sweets and street food which is famously known all over the world. You can also experience the beautiful beaches of Digha, Tajpur, and Mandarmani along the Bay of Bengal.
Transportation:
The State is well-connected by roadways, railways, and airways. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata has flights operating from all parts of the country and also countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, East Asia, Bhutan, etc. There is also an airport in North Bengal near Siliguri which is the Bagdogra Airport. There are extensive bus services that run inter-state and the rail routes connect West Bengal to all parts of India with some of the centers of Eastern Railways such as Howrah Station, Sealdah Station, and Kharagpur Station being located in this State.
Best Time To Visit:
The best weather in the State can be experienced during the months of October to March and you can visit this beautiful part of India during this time. The Durga Puja also happens during October and it is one of the main festivals of the State.
