WEST BENGAL 532 Exploring Theirownfascinatinganddiverse Region
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© Lonely Planet Publications 532 West Bengal Stretching from the jagged northern hills down to the paddy fields of the Gangetic plains and into the sultry mangrove delta of the Bay of Bengal, few states offer such a rich range of destinations and experiences as West Bengal. The ‘toy train’ of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway chugs up the hills through British-era hill stations, looping its way to Darjeeling, still a summer retreat and a quintessential remnant of the Raj. Here, amid Himalayan giants and renowned tea estates, lies a network of mountain treks and gushing rivers ripe for white-water rafting. These mountain retreats offer a glimpse into the Himalayan peoples and cultures of Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. As you head to the plains, brilliant green fields of rice surround bustling trading towns, mud-and-thatch villages, and vestiges of Bengal’s glorious history: ornate, terracotta-tiled Hindu temples and monumental ruins of the Muslim nawabs (ruling princes). Further south, the delta rivers of the Sunderbans run through the world’s most extensive mangrove forest; inside are darting kingfishers, spotted deer and the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. West Bengal was the cradle of the Indian Renaissance and national freedom movement, and has long been considered the country’s cultural heartland, famous for its eminent writers, artists, spiritualists and revolutionaries. Overshadowed perhaps by the reputation of its capital Kolkata (Calcutta), the rest of West Bengal sees surprisingly few foreign tourists. Perhaps visitors should learn from the Bengalis themselves, enthusiastic travellers who never tire of exploring their own fascinating and diverse region. HIGHLIGHTS Teesta Singalila Bazaar Enjoy 360-degree views over Nepal, Sikkim and National Park Darjeeling West Bengal from mountaintop ridges on the Kurseong WEST BENGAL Singalila Ridge Trek ( p559 ) Ride (or walk alongside) the toy train ( p552 ) between the tea towns of Kurseong and Darjeeling Meander up the wide Hooghly River ( p537 ) to uncover colonial and Mughal relics in Serampore, Chandarnagar and Hooghly Ride the rapids in a white-water rafting trip Chandarnagar down the Teesta River from Teesta Bazaar Bishnupur Hooghly ( p565 ) Serampore Admire intricate scenes from the Hindu epics carved on the medieval terracotta temples of Bishnupur ( p537 ) lonelyplanet.com WEST BENGAL 533 0 100 km WEST BENGAL 0 50 miles To Thimphu Gangtok S I K K I M (93km) Singalila National B H U T A N Park Kalimpong To Kathmandu N E P A L Darjeeling Teesta Bazaar (497km) Kurseong Phuentsholing Buxa Duar Mirik Jaigon Bagdogra Siliguri Kakarbhitta Jaldhapara New Jalpaiguri Wildlife Jalpaiguri Panitanki Sanctuary 31 Chengrabandha Haldibari ASSAM Cooch Behar The external boundaries of India Teesta on this map have not been authenticated and may not be correct. River Purnia 31 Raiganj MEGHALAYA Ganges 34 River To Patna Pandua (63km) Malda Gaur Jamuna River B I H A R B A N G L A D E S H 31 Godagari Lalgola Ganges To Dhaka To Varanasi Nalhati (78km) (344km) Bhagirathi Murshidabad River Berhampore River J H A R K H A N D Sainthia Suri 2 Palashi Asansol Shantiniketan/ 33 Bolpur Katwa Hooghly Kenduli Durgapur Nabadwip Krishnanagar WEST BENGAL Shantipur Ranaghat Jessore Purulia Bankura Burwan River Bishnupur Bangoan Kalyani Benapole Bansberia 33 Chandarnagar 34 Tarakeswar Hooghly Radhanagar Mahesh Barrackpore Serampore Basirhat Howrah KOLKATA (CALCUTTA) Kolaghat Midnapore Canning Diamond Sonakhali Kharagpur Harbour Pakhirala Tamluk Grand Trunk Rd Gosaba Bangriposhi Sajnekhali Haldia Jatar Hardwood Point Daul Sunderbans Lulung Baripada Kakdwip Tiger Reserve Namkhana Contai O R I S S A Digha Bakkali Sagar Island Mo ges Baleshwar uths of the Gan (Balasore) Chandipur B A Y O F B E N G A L Bhadrakh.