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Archive for the ‘West Bengal’ Category

Mandarmani is a small beach town that is located in the state of West Bengal. It is situated along the Southern regions of the state. The place is famous its long stretches of virgin beaches that are yet to be touched by tourism. The place is well known for its exquisite sunrises and sunsets and it is a good place to unwind away from the hectic life of the city. The waves are low and this makes it an ideal place for swimming.

The beach is located at a distance of around three kilometers from the town of Shankarpur and you can reach the place on foot easily. You can engage in activities such as beach cricket and volleyball in Mandarmani. If you are adventurous, you can also opt for boat rides into ocean. However these might not be safe as boats are generally made from logs of wood tied together.

The entire stretch of Mandarmani beach is around 13 kilometers and you can drive along the shore. You can also visit the popular beach town of Digha that is located nearby and this can be an interesting day trip. Digha is a much more populated place and there are many more tourist activities that you can opt for here.

Digha is located in the East Midnapore District and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. Lying 187 km away from Kolkata and at an average elevation of 6 m above sea level, Digha is the most popular sea resort of West Bengal.Originally known as Beerkul, it was discovered by the British in the late 18th century. Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, described Digha as ‘Brighton of the east’ in one of his letters to his wife.

The Digha Beach is popular for its views of the Bay of Bengal amidst the many casurina plantations along the seaside. The sea at Digha is mostly calm and shallow upto a mile off the beach, which makes its makes it safe for various marine activities like swimming, scuba diving, jet ski-ing and surfing. Lately, due to erosion of the beach leading to a receded landspace, as well as for cleanliness reasons, a new Digha Beach has been developed as an extension to the old Digha beach, at a distance of 2 km from it. Visitors can also head to two other nearby spots: the Udaipur Beach and the Shankarpur Beach, which are relatively untouched.

The latest attraction of Digha is the recently built Science Centre. Digha also boasts of the largest aquarium in India, the Aquarium of Zoological Survey of India. Some of the other tourist places in the region include Subarnareskha River, Talsari, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; the Subarnareskha Delta and the Mandarmani Beach.Digha has its own railway station and is well connected to Howrah and Kharagpur. Direct buses ply from Esplanade (Kolkata) to Digha on a frequent basis. The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is the nearest airport.

Siliguri is blessed with wonderful natural beauty. Siliguri is renowned for its three “T” – the tea, timber and tourism. The other two may be part of economic world but the tourism is the blood vain of Siliguri. The distant view of Kanchenjunga from Siliguri is a clear day is enough to take away the mind to a long journey from the world of reality.

Located at the foothills of the glorious Himalayan range, the city, apart from boasting a panoramic view of the nature, has a number of tourist attractions to its credit. Right from the holy and scared ISCKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temple to the numerous shopping centers and the informative, yet entertaining Science City, Siliguri has a number of places that are worth watching.

It is located 5 km north of the city Siliguri alongside the National Highway 31 in Matigara. This Science Museum exhibits many scientific experiments and scientific equipments. The Science city complex encloses a planetarium and a Nature Interpretation Centre. The Science City of Siliguri shows the biological diversity of the region. the visitors can also enjoy the flora and fauna existing in Siliguri range. Another attraction of the place is observing the dialect, customs and traditions and culture of the people living in North Bengal.

Tourist Places :

Kalimpong – Kalimpong is a quieter destination situated at an elevation of 1243 meters / 4078 feet. Durpin Hill is known for the famous Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery, Jelap La View Point, Pine View Point, Chitra Bhanu & Kalim Temple, Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong Arts & Crafts Centre, Nature Interpretation Centre are some more places of Interest.

Railway Junction - For those who love to have a glimpse of the bygone era, Siliguri Junction is just the ideal place to be in. In the junction, one can see the steam engines of narrow-gauge ‘C’ class, a relic of the British Raj. Started in 1949, it once was the departure point for all the trains in the northeastern region.

Darjeeling – Popularly known as the Queen of the Hills and is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas at an elevation of 2123 meters / 70001 feet. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a World Heritage site declared by UNESCO. It’s a ride worth cherishing.

Siliguri is located ideally in Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s neck), which is a thin strip of land connecting the Mainland of India with the north east of India. Siliguri is a prominent town in the Darjeeling district of the state of West Bengal in India. This has been famed as the commercial centre of North Bengal. This is the transit location to the neighboring countries like Bangaladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Mynamar. Siliguri, located in the Himalayan plains, is gateway to the main hill stations in the Himalayan ranges.

Gangtok, Mirik, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong are the hills stations which can be approached only through Siliguri. Hence Siliguri is a significant halting place for the tourists and pilgrims. Siliguri, one of the fastest growing cities in the north east, is famous for tea plantations. The cooler climate is ideal for the proper growth of Tea plants. Many tea brands with export quality are cultivated in Siliguri. The Mahananda River and Balasan River are flowing through the plains in Siliguri make the land fertile. Siliguri is famed for military bases of Indian forces. The Indian armies, the Shashatra Seema Bal, the Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force have its bases at this place.

Attractions

Coronation Bridge
Coronation Bridge, also known as Sevoke Coronation Bridge, is built in 1930 over the renowned Teesta River at the confluence of Rangeet River and Teesta River in West Bengal to mark the Coronation of the King George V. This bridge, located close to Sevokeswari Kali Mandir in Siliguri, is a very important bridge in the north east region of India and connects Darjeeling with Jaipalguri.

The Coronation bridge is constructed with a marvelous design and architectural style of British. It is a real specimen of the excellence in craftsmanship. The plenty of foliage and lusting greenery, the serene atmosphere and crystal clear waters at the Teesta River make this place a favorite and refreshing picnic spot.

The Science City
Science City in Siliguri, also known as The North Bengal Science Centre, is a knowledge base of science and it is a highly accomplished institution in north Bengal. This is located at the Northern suburbs of Siliguri town known as Matigara. This Science Museum exhibits many scientific experiments and scientific equipments. The Science city complex encloses a planetarium and a Nature Interpretation Centre. This centre displays the region’s natural diversity. The exhibits include many kinds of flora and fauna existing in the Siliguri ranges. There will be interesting shows on astronomy in the planetarium. This city is a common place for educational tours.

Madhuban Park
Madhuban Park is a spectacular park located in the outskirts of Siliguri is founded by Indian Army. This park is well maintained and serves as an exquisite picnic spot in West Bengal. This is a significant place as many tourist land here en-route to Sikkim and north eastern regions. The Park is the worthy trail of the renowned Sukna forest. The lush green surroundings, cool climate and serene ambiance in this Park offer the tourist a secluded evenings and weekends. The park houses animals like rabbits, peacocks and deer. Many varieties of butterflies with many colors can also be spotted here.

Shantiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum District of West Bengal and about 212 kms north of Kolkata. It is famous due to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a University town – Visva-Bharati University. The place now attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Shantiniketan also spelled Santiniketan, was previously called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit), and owned by the Tagore family. It is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath wrote many of his literary classics (namely Tagore songs, poems, novels etc) here, and his house is a place of historical importance.

In 1901, Rabindranath started a school at Shantiniketan named Bramhachari Ashram that was modeled on the lines of the ancient Gurukul system that later came to be known as the Patha Bhavan, the school of his ideals, with central premise that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful. With the financial backing of the Maharajah of Tripura, the Visva-Bharati Society was established in 1921. Tagore envisioned a center of learning which would have the best of both the east and the west. Nobel Prize (1913) won by Rabindranath Tagore, not only the enhanced the pride of India but also the prestige of Shantiniketan. The school was expanded into a University. It was named Visva-Bharati, which was defined by Tagore as ‘Where the world makes a home in a nest.” The Open-air education as opposed to being cloistered in the four walls of a classroom became a reality here. Eminent people from all over the world came to Visva-Bharati during its peak period. Visva-Bharati became a Central University in 1951. Leaves of the Chhatim (Saptaparni – or 7-leaf sprigs) trees are given to graduating students at the annual convocation. Many world famous teachers have become associated with it over the years. Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, and Amartya Sen are among its illustrious students. The Prime Minister of India is the Chancellor of the University.

Tagore envisioned a centre of learning which would have the best of both the east and the west. He established the Visva Bharati University in West Bengal. The university holds two campuses. One is at Shantiniketan and the other at Sriniketan. Sriniketan focuses on agriculture, adult education, village welfare, cottage industries and handicrafts.

Built over twenty- two years of painstaking labour, it is an all marble structure with very high quality Rajasthani engravings. The total cost incurred for the construction was Rs. 180 million. Spread over an area of 44-katha land and extending to a height of 160 feet, the temple has been modeled on the Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneshwar, popularly known as Laxmi Narayan temple. This marvelous and imposing structure in white, attracts huge crowds everyday and is one of the best fascinating tourist spot of Kolkata.

What is most amazing about this temple is that it reveals the scientific thought process of the people in that era. A visit to this temple will reveal the intricate Rajasthani temple architecture, which is predominant. The manner in which the layering and decoration of the temple facades have been done is a pointer to the high degree of skill involved during the construction process.This marvelous structure in white attracts huge crowd everyday and is one of the best fascinating tourist spot of Kolkata.

Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is also the commercial capital of East India, located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. The city of Kolkata has 4.5 million residents, and the metropolitan area, including suburbs, has a population of approximately 15.7 million, making it the third most populous metropolitan area in India and the 13th most populous urban area in the world.

The city is also classified as the eighth largest urban agglomeration in the world.Kolkata has long been known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage. As the former capital of India, Kolkata was the birthplace of modern Indian literary, artistic and scholastic thought. The people of Kolkata tends to have a special appreciation for art and literature; its tradition of welcoming new talent has made it a “city of furious creative energy.There is a plethora of sightseeing places in Kolkata. We will brief you on the following popular places to visit in Calcutta.

Fort William is a must visit tourist attraction place of Calcutta. Situated at the banks of river Hooghly, it was named after King William III of England. Fort William of Kolkata, India, was established during the tenure of British Raj in 1696. It was the guardroom of this two-storied building, where the black hole tragedy took place. During the Plassey war in 1757, Siraj Ud Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal attacked on the fort and defeated the Britishers. This paved way for the construction of a new fort by British.

The new fort was initiated by Robert Clive, which got completed by 1780. The basic purpose of setting up Calcutta Fort William was to prevent attacks from Muslim invaders. The area that was cleared around the fort became maidan, where several exhibitions and fairs take place. The foundation of the old fort is still intact. Till date, it is a military area and the Arsenal inside it is worth watching, but for that prior permission of the commanding officer is required.

Calcutta Victoria memorial hall is a fabulous museum that was established in the year 1921. The credit for designing and drawing the plan for this monument goes to Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects. Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, India is a fantastic place that will take you into the world of past history, where you can view the photos and effigies of prominent personalities, who made an incredible contribution in the glory of India. Today, Victoria memorial is one of the finest art museums in Kolkata. It is a 184 ft tall edifice that was constructed on 64 acres of land. The museum houses a group of mind-blowing figures above the north porch that epitomize prudence, learning and motherhood.

Eden garden of Kolkata, India is one of the major tourist attraction places of the city of joy. Eden gardens is basically a cricket stadium, where people have witnessed the history of Indian cricket. It is the oldest cricket playground in the country and also the finest one. Calcutta Eden Gardens Cricket Club came into existence in the year 1864. The first ever first-class match that took place in the Eden Gardens was in 1917-18 and the first test match to be played here was in January 1934 against Douglas Jardine’s MCC. It was in February 1987, when the first ODI match was hosted here. It has undergone a tremendous modernization and infact, today it boasts of its large accommodation that can capaticitate about 1,20,000 persons. Eden gardens of Calcutta definitely falls into the category of must see places.

Saheed Minar, situated near Esplanade on the Kolkata Maidan, was initially known as Octerloney Monument. It was named after its founder, Sir David Ochterlony. This magnificent monument was established in the year 1848 so as to mark the founder’s victory in the Nepal War (1814-1816). The construction of Calcutta Saheed Minar follows an architectural variety. Its foundation is based on the Egyptian style, whereas the main Shahid Minar in Calcutta and its dome follow Syrian and Turkish designs respectively.

Marble palace of Kolkata, India is a must visit tourist attraction spot. Built in the year 1835 by Rajendra Mallick, it is an exquisite art gallery. Marble palace houses the marvelous objects of art, sculptures, pictures & oil paintings. Its major highlight includes the Reuben’s masterpieces. You can also find the original paintings of Rembrandt, Reynolds and Van Goyen etc. Calcutta marble palace is the one of its kinds and consists of exquisite pieces of art. It also has a zoo, where you can find different kinds of birds and animals. Infact, it has a rare collection of birds.

Location: Over Hooghly River, Kolkata

Type: Cable Bridge

Highlights: One of the largest cable bridges in India as well as Asia

The Vidyasagar Setu, popularly known as the second Hooghly Bridge is situated about 2 kilometers south of Howrah Bridge, Kolkata. The Vidyasagar Setu is the latest suspension bridge of Kolkata across the Hooghly connecting the city to its twin city of Howrah. Vidyasagar Setu of Kolkata has 9 lanes of traffic routes enabling it to handle nearly 85,000 vehicles daily. The Vidyasagar Setu of Kolkata is a toll bridge for all types of vehicles entering and going out of Kolkata.

Comprising of nine traffic tracks, the 457 meter long Setu is a unique engineering wonder as its framework is aptly backed by 121 loops. The very base of Vidyasagar Setu goes to a depth of 100 meter in the River Hooghly. With a width of 115 meter, the Setu is believed to have incurred a considerable cost of Rs. 388/- crore.

The construction of Vidyasagar Bridge started in 1978 and it was finally inaugurated on 10th October 1992, after a construction period of about 14 years. The commissioning agency of this bridge was the Hooghly River Bridge Commission (HRBC) and the contracts of construction were given to the consortium of Braithwaite, Burn and Jessop, popularly known as BBJ. The total construction cost is estimated to be 388 Crores.

The toll bridge of the Vidyasagar Setu easily connects Kolkata to the Botanical Gardens and the Bengal Engineering College. The Hooghly River Bridge Commission (HRBC) is the commissioning agency of Vidyasagar Setu of Kolkata.