Exterior of Standard Charter building on Mahatma Gandhi Road.

West Bengal

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 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.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real West Bengal. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Get started

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from West Bengal

Filter by interest:

Beaches

Best day trips from Kolkata

Mar 21, 2018 • 5 min read

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of West Bengal with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Go Beyond

West Bengal and beyond