The climate is, however,
hot - blame the climate for the Bengali's hotheadedness. The
rains come around July. But it is hot and sweaty all the year
round. However, Darjeeling, the most popular hill station of
the region, and its surrounding areas, prove a respite.
Wonderfully cool, its landscape is aweinspiring. Here, the Himalayan
Mountaineering Museum, Ghoom Buddhist
Monastery and the Singlaa bazaar are
major attractions. Kalimpong is another beautiful little town.
The dawn breaking over Kanchenjunga, horse riding, tea gardens
and treks, all the expectations of a hilly holiday are
fulfilled. West Bengal, thus promises you both plains and
mountain peaks.
Calcutta, the capital, is a city not to be missed. Its varied
past has a way of lingering on in unexpected corners. The Victoria
Memorial at one end of Chowringhee is a marble
monument to commemorate Queen Victoria's India. The Botanical
Gardens is full of a wonderful variety of tropical plants. The
Eden Gardens stretching over acres of lush
green grass is the famous cricket field. A two-day-one-night
cruise to the mangrove forests of the Sunderbans
entails spending nights in a forest bungalow on stilts and the
chance to see the Royal Bengal Tiger. Digha,
the beach resort of Calcutta, is easily accessible by road and
a wonderful getaway.
Best time to visit: The Durga Puja months of
September-October and December-January.
Places
to visit:
Victoria Memorial - A splendid example of
British architecture, it was built in memory of Queen Victoria
and was inaugurated by Prince of Wales in 1921. The Memorial is
based on the architecture of the Taj and is built in marble.
Birla Planetarium - is one the earliest
planetariums in India and a major tourist attraction. The
auditorium has a capacity of 500 and there are daily
multi-lingual film shows. The planetarium gives complete
information about the Universe and the solar systems. The models
kept here are a special attraction for the children.
Sahid Minar - A combination of Turkish,
Egyptian and Syrian architectural elements, this 48-m high
monument was built in 1828. It is located on the northern part
of the Maidan. From the top of the minar, the view of Calcutta
is panoramic. But permission is needed from the police
headquarters in Lal Bazar to climb the tower.
Kali Temple - The present temple was built in
1809 on the site of an ancient temple. It is also known as the
Kalighat temple. It is after the name of this temple that the
English christened the place, Calcutta, an anglicized form of
Kalikata.
Eden Gardens - Named after the sister of
Alexander, the Eden Gardens is a lush area covered by trees and
garden. The major part of the garden is covered by one of the
largest and most beautiful stadia of India- the Eden Garden or
the Ranji stadium.
Ravindra Gallery- This gallery has some of the
rare and fine pictures and manuscripts of Nobel Laureate
Rabindra Nath Tagore. The paintings are done in a style peculiar
to the poet and attracts many visitors. This place is also the
venue for various cultural programs.
Rabindra Setu ( Howrah Bridge) - is one of
three bridges on the river Hooghly and is the most famous symbol
not only of Calcutta but also of West Bengal. Howrah Bridge is a
bridge suspended on pillars. The newly constructed Vidya Sagar
Setu is also a cable suspended bridge. It was built to reduce
the pressure of traffic on the old Howrah Bridge. The design of
the new bridge is very similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San
Francisco.
Belur Math - The Ramkrishna Mission established
by Swami Vivekanand has its head Quarters here.
Digha - is the nearest sea beach from Calcutta.
It takes a six-hour bus journey from Calcutta to reach here.
Digha offers every possible attraction for a sea-loving
traveler: good surf and golden sands. Just eight kilometer from
Digha is the Chandaneshwar Siva Temple across the border in
Orissa.
Tiger Hills - is the highest point in
Darjeeling and it provides the most exotic view of the
Kanchenjunga peaks. From this place the other peaks of the
Eastern Himalayas can also be seen. The sight of the sun rising
from over the Tiger Hills is an unforgettable experience. The
first rays of the sun on these peaks of the Great Barriers gives
an impression of molten gold having been spread.
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