Tourism in West Bengal

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

West Bengal is a state in the

Gangetic Plain in the south and the sub-Himalayan and Himalayan area in the north. The tourism in West Bengal is maintained by WBTDCL
, a state government owned enterprise.

West Bengal is located on the eastern bottleneck of India stretching from the

Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. Some of India's most preferred travel destinations like; the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state, the highest peak of the state Sandakphu (3,636 m or 11,929 ft)[2] and the Sundarbans mangrove
forests in the extreme south.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or Toy Train is West Bengal's third wonder

During the

British India
and witnessed a spate of frenzied construction of buildings, largely influenced by the conscious intermingling of Neo-Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Oriental and Islamic schools of design. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and to a much lesser extent, by the Portuguese and French.

Currently

Indian National Award winning filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.[3][4][5]

Architectural and geographical

Howrah Bridge
The Great Banyan Tree as a whole

The state of West Bengal has significant architectural and natural heritage. The capital of the state, Kolkata is also known as the "City of Palaces". It is also known as the "City of Joy" as coined by French author Dominique Lappierre through his synonymous book.[6][7] West Bengal is famous for its terracotta temples of Bishnupur.[8][9]

palanquins (mostly belonging to 18th and 19th centuries). Cooch Behar Palace built in 1887, was designed on the model of Buckingham Palace in London, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan
.

The

Darjeeling District
, is in West Bengal.

The Ganges Delta (also known as the Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta,[15] the Sunderbans Delta, or the Bengalla Delta) is in the South Asia region of Bengal, consisting of West Bengal and its neighbouring country of Bangladesh. It is the world's largest delta, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the most fertile regions in the world, thus earning the nickname "The Green Delta". It stretches from the Hooghly River on the west to the Meghna River on the east. It is approximately 350 km (220 mi) across at the Bay of Bengal.[15] Kolkata and Haldia are the principal Indian seaports on the delta.

The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden or Calcutta Botanical Garden (previously known as Indian Botanic Garden)[16] is the largest and oldest reserve of greeneries of its kind in Southeast Asia. It is also a premier institution for botanical and horticultural research in India. The garden is situated on the west bank of the River Hooghly in Shibpur, Howrah, nearly 8 km from center of city Kolkata. Located here is the Great Banyan Tree. It was the widest tree in the world in terms of the area of its canopy and is estimated to be about 200 to 250 years old. It became diseased after it was struck by lightning, so in 1925 the middle of the tree was excised to keep the remainder healthy.

West Bengal also has some more

Nakshi Kantha (handicraft), Darjeeling tea (agricultural), Santipore saree (handicraft), Shantiniketan leather goods (handicraft), Fazli mango (agricultural), Khirsapati or Himsagar mango (agricultural), Laxman Bhog mango (agricultural), Baluchari saree (handicraft) and Dhaniakhali saree (handicraft).[17][18]

Sea beaches

Mandarmani Sea Beach

West Bengal stretches to the

Odisha, has some scenic coastal settlements, such as Digha, Shankarpur, Mandarmani, Bakkhali, Gangasagar and Tajpur. Some of these have beaches which are hard enough for cars to drive on.[19]

Hill stations

There are many hill stations in North West Bengal, of which

Sandakfu
.
Bagmundi
is also famous among tourist, it is situated in Southern Part of West Bengal

Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks

Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary.

West Bengal has 3.26% of its geographical area under protected areas comprising 15 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks

Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary and Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary
.

Flora and fauna

A Bengal tiger

As of 2009, recorded forest area in the state is 11,879 km2 (4,587 sq mi) which is 13.38% of the state's geographical area,

Sundarbans, is located in southern West Bengal.[23]

The southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the

Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation. A notable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundari (Heritiera fomes), from which the forest gets its name.[25]

The distribution of vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation and

precipitation. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are densely wooded with Sal and other tropical evergreen trees.[26] However, above an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the forest becomes predominantly subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), temperate-forest trees such as oaks, conifers, and rhododendrons predominate.[26]

Gorumara National Park Panorama from Jatraprosad watch tower

Wildlife include

Gangetic dolphin, river terrapin and estuarine crocodile.[28] The mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal.[28] Recognizing its special conservation value, Sundarban area has been declared as a Biosphere Reserve.[20]

Culture

The culture of West Bengal attracts tourists from around the world. It has its roots in

Nobel laureate and composer of India's national anthem. Swami Vivekananda was a key figure in introducing Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and the USA.[29]
They all belong from West Bengal, and their houses and residencies like Shantiniketan and Jorasanko Thakur Bari attract many tourists.

West Bengal also has a long tradition of popular literature, music and drama largely based on Bengali folklore and

epics and Puranas
.

Basanta-Utsab, Shantiniketan

The

Atulprasad and Rajanikanta
's songs and "adhunik" or modern music from films and other composers.

However, since the early 1990s, there has been an emergence and popularisation of

Chau dance of Purulia is a rare form of mask dance. West Bengal is known for Bengali folk music such as baul and kirtans
and gajan, and modern songs including Bengali "adhunik" (modern) songs.

Sunderbans

The state is home to a

Bollywood) is derived from that name. The Bengali film industry is well known for its art films, and has produced acclaimed directors like Satyajit Ray and actors like Uttam Kumar and singers like Arijit Singh
.

Among other types of theatre, West Bengal has a tradition of folk drama known as

jatra.[31][32]

West Bengal has been the harbinger of modernism in fine arts.

Kolkata was also the workplace of several social reformers, like Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda. These social reforms have eventually led to a cultural atmosphere where practices like sati, dowry and caste-based discrimination or untouchability, the evils that crept into the Hindu society, were abolished.

Kumortuli is a famous tourist attraction in Kolkata. It is traditionally a potters' quarter in North Kolkata. By virtue of their artistic productions these potters have moved from obscurity to prominence. This Kolkata neighbourhood not only supplies clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses to barowari pujas in Kolkata and its neighbourhoods, but also exports a number of idols. It is one of the seven wonders in Kolkata.[33] Bengal is also well known for its variety of handwoven Sarees.[34] It is home to exquisite sarees such as Jamdani Sarees, Baluchari Sarees,[35] Kantha stitch Sarees, Tussar Silk Sarees, Muslin Sarees and Matka Sarees. These variety of handwoven sarees in a single place is a rarity in today's modern times.

Cuisine

Rice and fish are traditional favourite foods, leading to a saying in Bengali, machhe bhate bangali (

hilsa
preparations, a favourite among Bengalis. There are numerous ways of cooking fish depending on the texture, size, fat content and bones.

Sweets occupy an important place in the diet of Bengalis and at their social ceremonies. It is an ancient custom among both Hindu and Muslim Bengalis to distribute sweets during festivities. The confectionery industry has flourished because of its close association with social and religious ceremonies. Competition and changing tastes have helped to create many new sweets. Bengalis make distinctive

phuchka.[37][38]

Darjeeling Himalayan Hill Region

Main article: Culture of Darjeeling
Colourful Buddhist prayer flags around Mahakal Temple at Observatory Hill, Darjeeling

Apart from the major Hindu religious festivals like

Buddha Jayanti and Tendong Lho Rumfaat, to name a few, which provide the "regional distinctness" of Darjeeling's local culture from the rest of West Bengal.[39]

A popular food in Darjeeling is the

Churpee, a kind of hard cheese made from cow or yak's milk, is another popular mini-snack that is both nutritious and a pastime. A form of noodle called thukpa, served with soup and vegetables, is popular in and around the hills of Darjeeling. Chhang and tongba are local alcoholic beverages made from millet.[40]

Pilgrimages

West Bengal attracts tourists for pilgrimages to the holy places of different religions.

Hinduism
Goddess Bhavatarini
from the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

People from different sections of the world come to West Bengal for holy pilgrimages as Kolkata is one of the

other 52 shaktipeethas
, some are located in West Bengal. They are as follows:

Only one Maha Shaktipeethas, known as Pradyumna, existed. This temple is currently non-existent. Only ruins are found in these places. Instead, Sringeri in Karnataka is believed to be the Shakti Peeth of this aspect of the Goddess.

Other than the shaktipeethas many other famous temples also exist. They are the famous Belur Math, Mayapur ISKCON Temple, Hangseshwari Temple, Tarakeshwar Temple, Thakurnagar Thakur Ari Temple, Baranagar Math and Dakshineswar Kali Temple.

Jainism
Calcutta Jain Temple
Parshwanatha
temple
Islam
The Nizamat Imambara is the largest one in India and Bengal

There are countless mosques in West Bengal but some of them are famous like the

Katra Mosque which is also in Murshidabad, Furfura Sharif and Tipu Sultan Shahi Mosque on Chowringhee Road
in Kolkata.

Sikhism

There are many Gurudwaras in West Bengal like Gurudwara Bari Sangat in Kolkata, Gurudwara Chhoti Sangat, Gurudwara Nima Serai Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur,

Gurudwara Sikh Sangat and Gurudwara Liluah Belur Sikh Sangat in Liluah
.

Christianity

There are also many churches in West Bengal like the

Church of the Lord Jesus
.


St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata
Buddhism

There are also many Buddhist monasteries in West Bengal, especially in the hilly regions, like the Ghoom Monastery, Bhutia Busty Monastery, Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Monastery, Tharpa Choling Monastery and Zang Dhok Palri Phodang.

Seven wonders of West Bengal

Sunderbans is the first wonder of West Bengal

NDTV along with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, conducted a nationwide campaign for searching the "Seven Wonders of India" in 2008–09. The campaign started with shortlisting 200 places from all of the Indian states and then inviting the public to cast their vote for their favourites. It also included seven wonders of particular states. In West Bengal a total 13 were selected of which the "Seven Wonders of West Bengal" were shortlisted. The list of the 30 selected places are as follows:

The shortlisted list, compiling of the "Seven Wonders of West Bengal" as per the votings is as follows:

Gallery

See also

Notes

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  2. ^ Pal, Supratim (14 May 2007). "Top of world in kingdom of cloud". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  3. ^ "SRK becomes brand ambassador of West Bengal". The Times of India. PTI. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  4. ^ Soudhriti Bhabani (3 October 2012). "Shah Rukh Khan to promote Mamata's brand Bengal". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  5. ^ Tanvi Trivedi (22 November 2012). "After Big B-SRK, other states too roped in stars". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
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  7. ISBN 9788173018824
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  8. ^ S. S. Biswas; Zulekha Haque (1995). Terracotta temples of Bengal. Friendship Publishers.
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  12. ^ "Hazarduari Palace Museum, Murshidabad (West Bengal) handed over to ASI of India". Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  13. ^ The South Park Street Cemetery, Calcutta, published by the Association for the Preservation of Historical Cemeteries in India, 5th ed. (2009)
  14. ISBN 9781439873762
    . Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  15. ^
    ISBN 978-0-87779-546-9. Archived
    from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  16. ^ "Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah." BSI. Web. 28 February 2011. <"Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah". Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.>
  17. ^ Gopen Roy (1989). Nakshi kantha. Indian Society of Oriental Art. p. 30. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  18. ^ Ashish Basu (1990). Handicrafts of W. Bengal: a retrospect. p. 51. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Sea beaches in West Bengal". Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  20. ^ a b c "Forest and tree resources in states and union territories: West Bengal" (PDF). India state of forest report 2009. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. pp. 163–166. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
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  26. ^ a b "Natural vegetation". West Bengal. Suni System (P) Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
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  29. ISBN 3-935001-06-1
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  31. ^ Chakraborty, Ajanta (5 July 2011). "Meet the new Mamata Banerjee". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012. The jatra industry based out of Kolkata's Chitpur Road has gone through a severe blow with the growth of video parlours.
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  42. ^ "East Bengal Football Club". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2012.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for West Bengal.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tourism in West Bengal.
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