West Bengal is located in eastern part of India. The state touches the feet of grand Himalayas, on its northern side and rests in with Bay of Bengal, in the south. This strategically-important state shares its international border with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Famous for its rich culture, cuisine and art, it is one of the important tourist destinations in India. The land of tiger, West Bengal is also well known for its passion towards sports, especially cricket and football. The sacred Ganges River flows through the state and houses some of the most visited places in the country along its bank. As happens with every great place in the world, West Bengal too is a blend of modernity and traditionalism.
The glimpses of every era, right from the feudal to the modern, can be seen in West Bengal. The natives of the state, better known as Bengalis, are of religious nature. This explains the fact that a range of religious festivals are embedded in the state culture and during festive days, it seems that whole Bengal is in a celebratory mood. The season of Durga Puja starts around October and the state gets gripped by the festive fever. Around this time, the celebrations are a mixture of cuisine and art. Dusshera and Diwali follow next. Dol Jatra (Holi), Ganga Sagar Mela (January /February), Bengali New Year, and Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary are the other festivals that touch the heart of every Bengali.
Though West Bengal mainly showcases its cultural heritage, it has an enormous capability to satisfy almost all kinds of tourist. Apart from religious places, manmade marvels of Mughal, Colonial and Modern era are present across the state. Right from the natural treks in Darjeeling to the sand, sea and seagulls of Digha, varied attarctions can be witnessed here. Not to be forgotten are the vast swamps of Sunderban, serving as abode to many forms of wildlife. Many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries provide visitors a chance to be in the lap of Mother Nature. With river, mountains, plains and sea, all present in the land of Bengal, the state represents India in its true sense.
    |
