West Bengal – The Curious Blend

A land abounding in natural beauty, intellectual people and literature, West Bengal offers a curious blend of past and present. Hooghly, the Bengal version of Ganges flows through Kolkata the capital of West Bengal founded 300 years ago whence the monumental British Raj emanated as first headquarters of British East India Company. Fish, crowds, politics, potholes, monuments, art and cinema, cricket and soccer- all are inseparable in the life of Bengalis. Darjeeling, its north end, touches the magnificent Himalayas and the Dooars in the foothills are rich in forest. However, the city has, within its 300 years’ history, hosted other communities both from other parts of India as well as abroad - Chinese, Armenians, and Jews - all of whom have left their imprint in pockets of Calcutta. Wild life in Sunderbans offers a fascinating diversity of terrain, flora and fauna. Another wild life paradise Dooars offers a plethora of Wildlife. A quiet township between Siliguri and Darjeeling at an altitude of 1458m (4860 ft.) where the sceptre of Indra is believed to have fallen at a place where now stands the Observatory Hill. It is also noted for its secluded charm and Eagle’s Crag that offers a commanding view of the undulating plains below.