With a number of hill stations, dense woods packed with exotic wild lives, scenic beaches, seat of cultures and historical monuments as well as religious sites, the state represents a panorama of in West Bengal. You may say West Bengal is an epitome of India having everything except a desert. Travel.mapsofindia underlines some important tourist attractions in West Bengal:
Hill Stations: Major hill stations in West Bengal are Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The majestic Himalayas, sprawling tea gardens along the mountain slopes, the heritage of Toy Train (a World Heritage declared by UNESCO) and the colonial legacy - Darjeeling itself offers some of the biggest tourist attractions in West Bengal. On the Kalimpong embodies a beautiful slice of serenity.
Seat of Culture: A tremendously rich culture is one of the biggest tourist attractions in West Bengal. Once the capital of British India, Kolkata is still referred to as the cultural capital of the country, often.
West Bengal has produced some of the great poet, painter, filmmaker and intellectuals who earned worldwide distinction by their merit. In places like
Shantiniketan, where Tagore founded one of the world's renowned universities and in the temples of
Vishnupur you would get enchanting glimpses of Bengali tradition.
Wild Lives: In both of its southern and northern sides, the state has rich forestlands, which are full of rare animals like wild elephants, one-horn-rhinos and so on. But the biggest of all tourist attractions in West Bengal is the
Royal Bengal Tiger, which is found only in the large mangrove forest of
Sunderbans in the southern Bengal. Other wild life destinations in the state are the jungles of
Dooars and
Jaldapara.
Beaches: In
Digha and
Shankarpur, the state has some of its scenic beaches, which draw hordes of tourists every year.
Religious Sites: Like all places in India, the state has its share of religious destinations too. The temples of Kalighat in Kolkata and those of
Belur and
Dakshineswar, which are located close to the city, are important sites for the enthusiasts.
Festivals: Festivals set the state in an altogether different mood. At the slightest excuse, the Bengali folks jump into gala festivities. But the greatest festival in the state is the
Durga Puja. Though a Hindu festival, it is more secular in nature. A wondrous manifestation of art, culture, creativity, affluence and revelry takes place during October-November, which can hardly be believed unless visited.
