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Calcutta, three hundred years old,
traces its history to the landing of Robert Clive on the banks of the
Hooghly beside three villages. It was from here the monumental British
Raj was launched in India. The capital of West Bengal, Calcutta is the
major entry point. If Delhi is the elegant capital of the nation, and Bombay its major industrial city, then Calcutta ranks as the intellectual capital. Poets, thinkers and film directors of international renown hail from this city where avant garde plays and art exhibitions go on show practically every day of the year. Calcutta was the first headquarters of the East India Company, and some of its best known monuments were built by this British trading house. However, the city has, within its 300 years’ history, hosted other communities both from other parts of India as well as abroad - Chinese, Armenians, Jews - all of whom have left their imprint in pockets of Calcutta. Sightseeing in this fascinating city includes Raj Bhawan, the residence of the Governor of Bengal; Victoria Memorial, the city’s landmark; Botanical Gardens, which are notable for the oldest banyan tree, and orchid house; Armenian Church; Marble Palace, one family’s collection of memorabilia; and the Birla Planetarium. Darjeeling, the state’s most popular hill resort, is a slice of England 2,134 metres above sea level. Surrounded by tea gardens growing the prized leaf known as Darjeeling, the little town faces some of the Himalaya’s highest peaks. Darjeeling is an abrupt variation from the lowlands of West Bengal. Buddhism, being a major faith here, Darjeeling and the nearby town of Kalimpong have, between them, several Buddhist monasteries, chiefly of the Yellow Hat sect. |
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Grown from mangrove swamps, Calcutta is the largest metropolis in India. Calcutta's role in the national economy is of crucial importance as the Gateway to Eastern India. Ships were the begining of Calcutta's history & the river Hoogly was the key to the city's fortunes. GENERAL INFORMATION :
Area :
187 sq. kms. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
HOTELS
PLACES OF INTEREST
EXCURSIONS
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A thrilling cruise through the
largest estuarine delta in the world and the biggest colony of the
`Royal Bengal Tigers' - the Sundarbans. These evergreen mangrove
forests pulsate with a myriad forms of life. Above the Kingfisher and
White-bellied Sea eagle add a brilliant burst of colour. The sea
creeps in at high tide. The forests float. The ebbing waters reveal
nature so alive on the glistening mud flats. The land is split by
numerous rivers and water channels all emptying into the Bay of
Bengal. Venture further to discover a rich tribal folklore. It is
believed that Bonbibi, the goddess of the forest, protects the
wood-cutters, honey-collectors and fishermen on their hazardous
missions. For, as the saying goes, `Here the Tiger is always watching
you'.
Delta-forest home of the
Royal Bengal Tiger. The Ganges, which is rightly known as the Ganga,
carries silt and fertility from its ice-melt sources in the high
Himalayas, through the lush plains of India, past the riverine port of
Calcutta. Here, however, it is no longer the Ganga because it has
become one of the major distributaries. For, in the flat grey-clay
lands of Bengal, the great river splits into numerous channels,
dividing and sub-dividing like the roots of a tree, till it pours
through many mouths into the Bay of Bengal.
Between Calcutta and the
final outpouring of the river are the lands knows as The Sunderbans:
literally, the Beautiful Forests. Some people, believe that they
could," however, have got their name from the profusion of Sundari
trees. These forests are extremely dense, often impenetrable, fringed
by mangrove jungles and are one of the most intriguing wilderness on
earth. Most journeys through these humid forests are done by boat, and
it is a fascinating trip. Fishermen’s boats, like black scimitars,
drift past, spreading nets for the fish that teem in these rich
waters. Near the delta villages the clay is relieved by green
vegetation. When the tourist ferry stops, occasionally, visitors walk
ashore on palm- and-bamboo jetties to enter forest areas fenced in by
bamboo corrals.
Fiddler crabs extend their
cherry-red claws out of their mud burrows; curious, air- breathing,
mud skipper fish climb the stilt roots of the mangroves on their
flipper-like fins, viewing intruders with pop-eyed amazement. Tribes
of honey gatherers live in these dark forests. They believe that the
giant, saline water drinking Royal Bengal Tigers always attack from
the rear and so they wear masks on the backs of their heads. This is
why a posse of armed policemen accompanies all visitors who venture
into these beautiful forests. Other wild creatures which lucky
visitors might see are spotted deer, boar, monkey, crocodile, python,
Salvator lizards, and a wide range of water birds. GENERAL INFORMATION :
Area : 2608
sq. kms. ENTRY PERMIT
To visit Tiger Project area including
Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary permission is to obtained from: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
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Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary
situated in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri district in West
Bengal was constituted in the year of 1941 for the protection of wild
life, particularly single horned Rhinos. River Torsha runs through
this riverrain forest sanctuary which is mostly covered with tall
grasses. The wild life, in addition to the famous single horned
rhinos, consists of Royal Benggal Tigers, wild elephants, deers, swamp
deers, hog deers, wild pigs, bisons and a number of birds, pea-fowl
etc. GENERAL INFORMATION :
Area :
100 sq. kms. HOW TO GET THERE
EXCURSIONS
Local excursions may be
arranged to visit tea gardens to see the manufacturing of tea in the
nearby tea gardens by prior arrangement with the
authority.Anthropological excursion in nearby Tribal village, TOTOPARA,
can be arranged. CONDUCTED TOUR
Regular (2-day) conducted tours to
Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary including Dooars and Phuntsholing
(Bhutan) @ Rs.650 per head are organised by the Tourist Bureau, Govt.
of West Bengal, Hill Cart Road, Shiliguri, Phone: 21632. TOURIST INFORMATION
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The second popular sea resort of West
Bengal is Bakkhali , situated only 132 km away from Calcutta , It is
quiet and charming. Transport
A three hour bus journey
from calcutta to Namkhana, a ferry across the river Hatania Doania,
and another bus journey for one and half hour to Bakkhali Between
Calcutta and Namkhana there are CSTC buses an well as private bus.
There is also a train service from
Sealdah station upto Diamond Harbeur Namkhana is 58 km from diamond
harbeur How To Reach Kumardhubi (10kms.) and Barakar (12kms.) are the nearest railway stations. Asansol Junction is about 35 kms .fro, here . Regular bus services are available from Dhanbad and Maithon to this place. Taxies are also available. Dhanbad is 50 kms. from here. |
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An International University founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore where the cultures of the East & the West could meet and mingle. Named Vishva-Bharati, the University represents Indian traditions while incorporating the best of other cultures. Shantiniketan, the abode of peace, was initially an Ashram or hermitage founded in 1863 by Maharishi Devendranath Tagore. In 1901 his son, Rabindranath converted it into an experimental open-air school with just five students. It proved a success. He widened the scope of studies which gradually formed the nucleus of a University.
Another interesting
feature about Santiniketan is that splendid sculptures, frescoes,
murals and paintings of Rabindranath, Nandlal Bose, Ramkinkar,
Bindobehari Mukhopadhyaya and others adorn the campus. GENERAL INFORMATION :
Temperature
(deg C) : Summer- Max.39.4, Min.34.3; Winter- Max.15.7, Min.12.1.
The University remains
closed in May-June and for one month during the Puja Holidays i.e.
September-October. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
WHAT TO SEE Shantiniketan is a University town and a centre of learning. The Uttarayan complex where the poet lived consists of several buildings such as Udayana. Konark, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi which reflect the architectural genius of the poet's illustrious son the late Rathindranath Tagore. In addition there are Kala Bhavan (College of Fine Arts and Crafts). Sangit Bhavan (College of Music and Dance), Vidya Bhavan (College of Humanities), Siksha-Bhavan (College of Science) and Vinaya Bhavan (Teacher's Training College), Cheena Bhavan and Hindi Bhavan. The Shantiniketan campus of Viswa Bharati has grown up to be a centre for learning with a bias towards art, music and humanities. At Shriniketan, mainly a Centre for Rural Service and Studies (Palli Samgathan Bibhaga), there is a college of Agriculture (Palli Siksha Sadan) as well. The places of interest are mainly on the campus and have a distinctive feature of some of the best in Indian art and culture.
N O T E : PHOTOGRAPHY IS
NOT PERMITTED. Shantiniketan : Winter:- 1400 to 1630 hours, Summer:- 1430 to 1730 hours. During vacations:- 0730 to 1100 hours.
Shriniketan :
Winter:- 1030 to 1230 hours, Summer:- 0800 to 1000 hours. MUSEUM & ART GALLERIES
Kala Bhavan, Bichitra (Rabindra
Bhavan). PARKS & GARDENS
EXCURSIONS Fullora (40 kms), Nalhati (104 kms), Kankalitala (7 kms), Bakreshwar (58 kms): Nearest railway station Dubrajpur 12 kms. WBTDC Tourist Lodges & PWD Inspection Bungalows available Massanjore (78 kms) : Mayurakshi Bhavan, Youth Hostel available to stay there. Kendubilwa (42 kms) : Buses ply from Bolpur railway station. Buses also ply or Kenduli from Calcutta for tourists. Nanoor (23 kms) : Birthplace of the Vaisnava poet,Chandidas (14th century). Buses ply from Bolpur railway station. Travet Sng time: one hour.
Tarapith (80 kms) : One can reach
Tarapith firstly from Bolpur to Rampurhat by train or bus and then 5
kms by bus or cycle rickshaw. Ramkanai Dharamshala a number of hotels
are there. CONDUCTED TOUR Guide services available from the Public Relations Officer's Office, Vishwa Bharati. Regular conducted tours from Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge by Uttarayan Travels (Approved by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation). Around Shantiniketan : Shantiniketan-Shriniketan-Deer Park-Amar kuthi-Kankalitala. Daily except Wednesday. Rs.75/- per head. Outside Shantiniketan: Joydeb (Kenduli)-Bakreshwar-Tarapith-Mssanjore. Every Wednesdays and Sundays. Rs.100/- per head. Outside Shantiniketan: Nanoor-Lavpur-Sainthia-Birchandrapur-Nalhati-Akalipur. Every 2nd & 4th Saturdays. Rs.100/- per head. Paush Mela : 2 days in December. Rs.300/- per head. With dormitory accommodation and food all inclusive. Joydev Baul Mela : 2 days. Rs.150/- per head.
* Operators/Reservations :
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation.
RESTAURANT
Tourist
Lodge (on order); Chhuti Restuarent; Kalor Dokan; Nabadwiper Dokan;
Samrat; Paushali; Rly Refreshment Room-Bolpur. PROHIBITION
Not in force. ENTERTAINMENT
Festivals accompanied by
songs, dance and dramas are held here throughout the year. SHOPPING Grameen (Bolpur), Sarvodaya Ashram (Bolpur), (Handicrafts & handlooms) Vishwa Bharati Shilpa Sadan (Shantiniketan), Shantiniketan Co-operative Stores (Shantiniketan).
Maghotsava (February)
Vasanta Utsava (March)
Varsha Mangagal (Jul-Aug)
The Calendar year comes to
a close with a colourful fair marking the foundation day. Tribal
dances (Santhali) & Baul singers are a part of the fair. Tribal crafts
in silver and Dhokra metalware are popular with visitors. MISCELLANEOUS Tourist Information :
Tour Operator :
Uttarayan Travels (Approved by Department of Tourism, Govt. of West
Bengal) Ram Krishna Mandir Road, Bolpur 731 204, Tel : 430, 330.
Calcutta Address: 29/2-B Northern Avenue, Tel : 52-2610. Railway Booking : Shantiniketan Chowrastha. Banks
Hospital : Pearson Memorial Hospital, Shantiniketan. Chemists
Photographers : Studio Vichitra, Chitrangan, Bolpur.
Post & Telegraph
: Post & telegraph Office, Chowrastha, Shantiniketan. Important Tel. Nos.
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Information
provided by
Department of Tourism. Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Government of India. |
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