West Bengal travel

West Bengal

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Exterior of Standard Charter building on Mahatma Gandhi Road.

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Overview

A sliver of fertile and densely populated land running from the tea-draped Himalayan foothills to the steamy mangroves of the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal presents a remarkable range of destinations and experiences within a single state. In the tropical southern areas, the wildlife-rich, mangrove-lined waterways of the Sundarbans vie for attention with Bishnupur's ornate terracotta Hindu temples and the cultured, arty vibes of Shantiniketan. Upstream from Kolkata (Calcutta) on the Hooghly River (a branch of the Ganges) you'll reach old European trading towns and three former Bengali capitals at Murshidabad, Gaur and Pandua. The cool northern hills are home not just to British聽colonialist hill stations like bustling Darjeeling and more laid-back Kalimpong, but also to fantastic vistas of massive Khangchendzonga, rolling green tea estates, some great hiking and the huffing and puffing 'toy trains' of the almost 140-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Makaibari

West Bengal

If you like tea, you should visit this celebrated organic and biodynamic Darjeeling tea estate. Walk-in visits to the processing factory, with huge鈥�

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Darjeeling

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known affectionately as the toy train, made its first journey along its precipice-topping, 2ft-wide tracks in 1881 and鈥�

Singalila National Park

Darjeeling

Singalila National Park covers the Indian side of the scenic Singalila Ridge, the Darjeeling region's finest trekking area, along the India鈥揘epal border鈥�

Tiger Hill

Darjeeling

To watch the dawn light break over a spectacular 250km stretch of Himalayan horizon, including Everest (8848m), Khangchendzonga (8598m) and two more of鈥�

Observatory Hill

Darjeeling

The hill rising above Chowrasta is home to several much-visited temples, approached through a flurry of colourful prayer flags and hanging bells. The main鈥�

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

Darjeeling

Within the zoo precinct, the prestigious HMI was founded in 1954 and has provided training for some of India鈥檚 leading mountaineers. Its fascinating鈥�

Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre

Darjeeling

Established in 1959, this refugee centre includes a Tibetan Buddhist temple, workshops producing carpets, woodcarvings, wool and woollen items, plus a鈥�

Happy Valley Tea Estate

Darjeeling

This 1854 estate on the northwest edge of town is a good place to learn about tea, especially when plucking and processing are in progress (March to鈥�

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