Major Tourist Places in West Bengal

• Darjeeling

  Darjeeling is a town in India's West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or ???Toy Train,??? completed in 1881. It's famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world???s highest peaks.

  Hill

• Tiger Hill

  Tiger Hill is located in Darjeeling, in the Indian State of West Bengal, and is the summit of Ghoom, the highest railway station in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ??? a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a panoramic view of Mount Everest and Mount Kangchenjunga together.

  Hill

• Howrah Bridge

  Howrah Bridge is a bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the two cities of Howrah and Kolkata.

  Bridge

• Kolkata

  Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India's West Bengal state. Founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India's capital under the British Raj from 1773???1911. Today it???s known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries and cultural festivals. It???s also home to Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, whose tomb is on site.

  City

• Sandakphu

  Sandakphu or Sandakfu or Sandakpur is the highest peak in the district of Ilam, Nepal and West Bengal, India. It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border.

  Snow

• Siliguri

  Siliguri is a city in the northeast Indian state of West Bengal. It sits in the foothills of the Himalayas, surrounded by tea gardens. It???s home to the North Bengal Science Centre, with its digital planetarium and model T. rex. To the east is leafy Surya Sen Park, named after an independence activist, and the huge, white-domed ISKCON Temple. Farther north, the Salugara Monastery is a colorful Buddhist shrine.

  City

• Mandarmani

  Mandarmani is a seaside resort village in the state of West Bengal, India, lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the large and fast developing seaside resort village of West Bengal. It is almost 180 km from Kolkata Airport on the Kolkata - Digha route.

  Beach

• Sundarbans National Park

  The Sunderbans, one of the top national parks in India, is a magnificent tangle of mangrove jungle that’s the only one of its kind in the world. It's spread over 102 islands (54 of which are inhabited) and extends into neighboring Bangladesh. The Sundarbans is only accessible by boat and exploring it this way is a unique experience that shouldn't be missed. Don’t be hopeful of seeing any tigers though. They're very shy and usually remain well hidden in the reserve.

  Wildlife

• Victoria Memorial

  The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1809–1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly River, near Jawaharlal Nehru Road (better known as Chowringhee Road). Every year thousands of people come to visit this museum.

  Museum

• Dakshineswar Kali Temple

  Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, meaning, 'She who liberates Her devotees from the ocean of existence i.e. Sa?s?ra'. The temple was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal. 

  The temple compound, apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. There are twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva—Kali's companion—along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. 'Nahabat', the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life.

  Temple

• Batasia Loop

  Batasia Loop is a railway loop in Darjeeling of West Bengal at a distance of 4 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Situated below the Ghoom station, it is one of the mesmerizing places to visit in Darjeeling.

  Batasia Loop was built in 1919 as an engineering requirement to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. At this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. After Ghoom (the highest railway station), there is a sharp fall as the toy train moves towards Darjeeling. There was no way a narrow gauge toy train could navigate the drastic fall of about 100 feet to the gradient of the slope. So, a large circular area was built for the loop to make the slope gentle.

  Hill Station

• St. Paul's Cathedral

  St. Paul's Cathedral is a CNI (Church of North India) Cathedral of Anglican background in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, noted for its Gothic architecture. It is the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta. The cornerstone was laid in 1839; the building was completed in 1847. It is said to be the largest cathedral in Kolkata and the first Episcopal Church in Asia. It was also the first cathedral built in the overseas territory of the British Empire. The edifice stands on Cathedral Road on the "island of attractions" to provide for more space for the growing population of the European community in Calcutta in the 1800s.

  Church

• Kalighat Kali Temple

  Located in Calcutta on the banks of River Hoogly, Kalighat temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. One of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the various body parts of Goddess Sati are believed to have fallen, Kalighat is the site where the toes of Sati fell. Considered extremely sacred, thousands of devotees throng the temple irrespective of sectarian differences. Originally the temple dates back to the 16th century though in its present form the Kalighat temple is only 200 years old.

  Shakti Pithas

• Dakshineswar Kali Temple

  Located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata on the banks of River Hoogly, the Dakshineswar temple is the abode of Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali. The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855. In 1856 Ramakrishna Paramhans became its head priest. It was his association with the temple which accounts for the fame and popularity of Dakshineswar temple. The temple complex also houses twelve identical temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the primary pilgrimage centres of eastern India.

  Temple

• Attahasa : Shakti Phullara

  Attahasa : Shakti Phullara, Body part-Lips: This Peeth is located in Attahasa Village of Labhpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal. The goddess appears as Shakti Phullara and her lower lip is said to have fallen here. It is compulsory to offer sour eatables whenever bhog is offered to the Shakti. 

  Shakti Pithas

• Bahula: Shakti Bahula

  Bahula: Shakti Bahula, Body part--Left Arm: Located on the banks of Ajay River, this holy land is situated in Ketugram, roughly eight kms from Katwa of Bardhaman district in West Bengal.  The goddess resides here in the form of Devi Bahula and is accompanied by Bhiruk as the Bhairava. The left hand of Sati fell on this land.

  Shakti Pithas

• Bakreshwar : Shakti Mahishmardini

  Bakreshwar : Shakti Mahishmardini, Body part--Centre portion between eyebrows: This Peeth is located on the banks of Paaphara River, approximately 24 kms south west of Siuri town.  The centre portion of Goddess Sati had fallen here and she is worshipped in the form of Shakti Mahishmardini The temple is renowned for its eight natural hot springs which are enriched with healing powers.

  Shakti Pithas

• Kankalitala: Shakti Devgarbha

  Kankalitala: Shakti Devgarbha, Body part--Pelvis: Located on the bank of Kopai River, in the Birbhum District of West Bengal, this temple is locally known as Kankaleshwari.  The Goddess is worshipped here as Devgarbha or Kankaleshwari.

  Shakti Pithas

• Kireet: Shakti Vimla

  Kireet: Shakti Vimla, Body part--Crown: Crown of Sati had fallen in Kireet, near Lalbagh court road of Murishabad district in West Bengal. Maa is worshipped here as Goddess Vimla.

  Shakti Pithas

• Ratnavali: Shakti Kumari

  Ratnavali: Shakti Kumari, Body part--Right Shoulder: Locally known as the Anandamayee Temple, Kumari Shakti Peeth is situated on the bank of Ratnakar River in Khanakul, West Bengal.  Here, right shoulder of goddess Sati had fallen. She is worshipped in the form of Shakti Kumari.

  Shakti Pithas

• Trisrota: Shakti Bhraaamari

  Trisrota: Shakti Bhraaamari, Body part--Left Leg:This Shakti Peeth is on the bank of Teesta River in Jalpaiguri of West Bengal, and is locally known as Bhramari Devi Temple. Sati's left leg had fallen here and she resides in the form of Shakti Bhraamari.

  Shakti Pithas