Tourism in West Bengal
West Bengal has a very important geo-strategic location. Advancement and richness of any civilised society in terms of its natural and environmental awareness, art, cultural content, ethnicity, spirituality and lifestyle is represented best by the kind of tourism that society promotes, encourages and practices. The state capital, Kolkata, is the administrative, commercial, art and cultural hub of the entire region.
The state shares its borders with three major SAARC member countries namely Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Tourism has always played a pivotal role in West Bengal. From the days of pilgrimage and leisure tourism to today's business, pleasure and eco centric tourism, West Bengal has experienced it all in different degrees and dimensions at different time periods. Today the concept of tourism has undergone a sea change and there is a complete paradigm shift. Tourism is no longer a mere visit to a place and stay for a few days. An entire gamut of activities comes into play where tourism flourishes. Tourism industry is directly or indirectly intertwined with almost all facets of economy. Today it enjoys an industry status.
EXISTING RESOURCES, HERITAGE AND SOCIO CULTURAL ASSETS OF WEST BENGAL
West Bengal reflects a complete representation of the Indian sub-continent in its physical form. The state is protected by the mighty Himalayas with its snow-capped peaks in the north and the Bay of Bengal with its vast water bodies in the south. The State has enormous potential to emerge as a Complete Destination' for tourists of all segments, interests and financial capability, both domestic and global. The inventory of assets of the state has been broadly grouped under the following heads.
CULTURE THAT EXCITES
The rich topography of Bengali literature is filled with greats such as Rabindra Nath Tagore, Raja Rammohan Roy, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bankim Chandra and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and contemporaries like Sunil Gangopadhyaya, Buddhadev Guha, Mahashweta Devi, Samaresh Maj umdar, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Sankha Ghosh. Bengali literature is such that it has cultivated itself carefully, keeping itself trimmed neither ostentatiously nor in an unstylish manner, walking neither too near to the past nor too far from it, neither too quickly nor too slowly from progress.
Its cinema is distinct in as much as it has taught itself to pay more attention to the broader picture than to the centre of its vision, thus building itself and expanding into the complete experience for everyone. Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Pramathesh Banta, Hiralal Sen and many more have added to the spice that is Bengali Cinema. The long-standing tradition of drama, theatre and Jatra finds an audience equal to its cinematic culture with its many theatres like Academy of Fine Arts, Sisir Mancha, Rabindra Sadan etc. Music flows through the very veins of this state. The Rabindrasangeet, is the most famous form of music. The mysterious Baul, a group of minstrels, identified by their distinct clothes and musical instruments, are another integral part of the proverbial musical pie of Bengal. Other notable musical forms include Nazrulgeeti, Adhunik, Shyama sangeet, Jhumur Song of Bankura and Purulia. From the dynamic Rabindra Nitya to the classical Gaudiya Nitya, the vivacious Chhau Dance, the lively Jhumur Dance to the rich and versatile Nepali Folk Da nce and the festive Sa n thal i Tribal Dance, one either thrives on its surreal energy or finds it otherworldly; one either warms to its coziness or wonders from where it all came.
CUISINES OF BENGAL
Food is an inseparable part of the State of West Bengal.
The range of cuisine is quite varied. Sukto, Ghonto, Jhal, Macher Jhol, Ambol, Pavesh and Pitha are some of the delicacies that define the Bengal cuisine. Popularly known as the land of maach (Fish) and bhat (Rice), the essence of West Bengal lies in its wide range of delectable food. The subtle flavor of the food comes from the delicate balance between the main ingredients and seasoning. The common seasonings used are cumin, nigella, fenugreek and aniseed, while mustard seeds and poppyseeds are the most popular ones. Mustard oil is commonly used for cooking. The Nawab, British & Other European influences play an important role in the cuisine of the State.
IMPORTANT DESTINATIONS
Kolkata: The commercial capital of East India, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. While it was the capital of India during the British Raj, its history goes back to 1690 and is truly the birthplace of modern India. It has rightly been dubbed the cultural capital of India with its many festivals, its varied culture, its versatile fairs and its colourful nightlife.
The city of joy is like a gateway; a cusp of modernity and old world charm. Darjeeling: Cloaked by snowy peaks, rolling greens and memories to last a lifetime, it is truly the Queen of Hill Stations. One of the most breathtaking hill resorts in the world, the nearest airport is Bagdora, about 96 kms away. There are also direct flight connections from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati and then a taxi or bus takes you to Darjeeling. The UNESCO heritage railway - the Darjeeling Himalayan Rail way attracts tourists both foreign and domestic. Darjeeling is also connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and its surrounding hills. Sunderbans: The world's largest estuarine forest and delta is covered by mangrove forests and vast saline mud flats. A world heritage site, it is a place populated by 54 tiny islands and is situated on the lower end of Gangetic West Bengal. The sundari trees that give the place its name are also the anchor that hold together the islands of mud with their roots. The ecosystem is unique and dynamic and has earned it many a recognition nationally and internationally. It is also the only mangrove forest in the world, which is the home of Tigers and the Sunderban Tiger Reserve has the highest tiger population in the world. September to February is the right time to visit but many seeking an adrenaline rush visit here during April-May. The best path to extensive exploration here is by its intense network of riverine waterways. Canning is the nearest railhead and Kolkata airport is 112 km away. Shantiniketan: Teeming with history, Shantiniketan, a University Town, draws thousands of visitors every year. The school started here by Rabindranath Tagore, envisioned by him as a confluence of East and West learning in a natural environment, expanded into the Visya-Bharati University and is defined by Tagore as the place 'where the world makes a home in a nest'.
Kolkata Airport is 212 kms away, Bolpur, its closest railhead is 2 kms away and motorable roads connect Shantiniketan with other parts of West Bengal. Digha: In the sea resort town that is Digha, you can stand by the shore and let the waves have a crush on you, you watch them rise and fall and chant your name a million times, see the waves turn away, pause and rush back to you again. Gentle undulating waters, and a low gradient with a shallow sand beach. A five-hour bus journey from Kolkata and well connected by rail, Digha is every travellers delight. Gangasagar: A gorgeous island on the Sunderbans, it is a destination that calls out to pilgrims as well as adventure lovers. Steeped in history, a part of Hindu mythology, picturesque, and peaceful; visitors come here to celebrate the occasion of Makar Sankranti through the Gangasagar Mela. While it is 135 kills from Kolkata, one travels via different means of transport. But the journey to this unspoiled island is worth every minute.
West Bengal has a very important geo-strategic location. Advancement and richness of any civilised society in terms of its natural and environmental awareness, art, cultural content, ethnicity, spirituality and lifestyle is represented best by the kind of tourism that society promotes, encourages and practices. The state capital, Kolkata, is the administrative, commercial, art and cultural hub of the entire region.
The state shares its borders with three major SAARC member countries namely Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Tourism has always played a pivotal role in West Bengal. From the days of pilgrimage and leisure tourism to today's business, pleasure and eco centric tourism, West Bengal has experienced it all in different degrees and dimensions at different time periods. Today the concept of tourism has undergone a sea change and there is a complete paradigm shift. Tourism is no longer a mere visit to a place and stay for a few days. An entire gamut of activities comes into play where tourism flourishes. Tourism industry is directly or indirectly intertwined with almost all facets of economy. Today it enjoys an industry status.
EXISTING RESOURCES, HERITAGE AND SOCIO CULTURAL ASSETS OF WEST BENGAL
West Bengal reflects a complete representation of the Indian sub-continent in its physical form. The state is protected by the mighty Himalayas with its snow-capped peaks in the north and the Bay of Bengal with its vast water bodies in the south. The State has enormous potential to emerge as a Complete Destination' for tourists of all segments, interests and financial capability, both domestic and global. The inventory of assets of the state has been broadly grouped under the following heads.- Mountains and Hills - Himalayan range in the north and Ayodhya and Susunia Hills in the western parts of the state.
- Forests - unending stretch of virgin forests at the foothills of Himalayas, called Dooars Valley, and at the largest delta in the world, called Sundarbans, famous for its Wild Life Sanctuaries (W LS), National Parks (NP) and Tiger Reserve (TR), besides Jaldapara WLS, Buxa TR, Garumara Chapramari WLS, Salboni reserve forests are scattered over central, southern and western parts of the state.
- Tea Gardens - lush green undulating tea gardens shaded by flowering trees in North Bengal touch the horizon and have coverage of about 170,000 hectares.
- Sea, River, Canal System and water bodies - State offers unique coastal-marine eco system along the districts of South 24-Parganas and Purba Medinipur. The indomitable river Ganges flows through the state's rich alluvial plains to reach the Bay of Bengal in the south. Teesta is another perennial river in North Bengal. The State is endowed with natural canal system, which flows through Kolkata and connects major rivers. A fact worth noting that the stretch of canal, which passes through Kolkata, has a thick natural Green Belt on both the canal banks comprising huge beautiful evergreen plants.
- Spiritual Assets-The State can boast of philosophy, vision, and teachings of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Teresa and many others.
- Sports and Games - The State is considered the Mecca of Football. The Club Football took off from the state and has houses some of the oldest clubs of the country, like CC & PC. Also, the state has true passion for Cricket at the majestic Eden Gardens. The other Heritage clubs are the Race Course, the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Hindusthan Club, Tollygunge Club, Bengal Club, Calcutta Club, O tram Club, Cossiopore Club.
CULTURE THAT EXCITES
The rich topography of Bengali literature is filled with greats such as Rabindra Nath Tagore, Raja Rammohan Roy, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bankim Chandra and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and contemporaries like Sunil Gangopadhyaya, Buddhadev Guha, Mahashweta Devi, Samaresh Maj umdar, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Sankha Ghosh. Bengali literature is such that it has cultivated itself carefully, keeping itself trimmed neither ostentatiously nor in an unstylish manner, walking neither too near to the past nor too far from it, neither too quickly nor too slowly from progress.
Its cinema is distinct in as much as it has taught itself to pay more attention to the broader picture than to the centre of its vision, thus building itself and expanding into the complete experience for everyone. Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Pramathesh Banta, Hiralal Sen and many more have added to the spice that is Bengali Cinema. The long-standing tradition of drama, theatre and Jatra finds an audience equal to its cinematic culture with its many theatres like Academy of Fine Arts, Sisir Mancha, Rabindra Sadan etc. Music flows through the very veins of this state. The Rabindrasangeet, is the most famous form of music. The mysterious Baul, a group of minstrels, identified by their distinct clothes and musical instruments, are another integral part of the proverbial musical pie of Bengal. Other notable musical forms include Nazrulgeeti, Adhunik, Shyama sangeet, Jhumur Song of Bankura and Purulia. From the dynamic Rabindra Nitya to the classical Gaudiya Nitya, the vivacious Chhau Dance, the lively Jhumur Dance to the rich and versatile Nepali Folk Da nce and the festive Sa n thal i Tribal Dance, one either thrives on its surreal energy or finds it otherworldly; one either warms to its coziness or wonders from where it all came.CUISINES OF BENGAL
Food is an inseparable part of the State of West Bengal.
The range of cuisine is quite varied. Sukto, Ghonto, Jhal, Macher Jhol, Ambol, Pavesh and Pitha are some of the delicacies that define the Bengal cuisine. Popularly known as the land of maach (Fish) and bhat (Rice), the essence of West Bengal lies in its wide range of delectable food. The subtle flavor of the food comes from the delicate balance between the main ingredients and seasoning. The common seasonings used are cumin, nigella, fenugreek and aniseed, while mustard seeds and poppyseeds are the most popular ones. Mustard oil is commonly used for cooking. The Nawab, British & Other European influences play an important role in the cuisine of the State.
IMPORTANT DESTINATIONS
Kolkata: The commercial capital of East India, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. While it was the capital of India during the British Raj, its history goes back to 1690 and is truly the birthplace of modern India. It has rightly been dubbed the cultural capital of India with its many festivals, its varied culture, its versatile fairs and its colourful nightlife.
The city of joy is like a gateway; a cusp of modernity and old world charm. Darjeeling: Cloaked by snowy peaks, rolling greens and memories to last a lifetime, it is truly the Queen of Hill Stations. One of the most breathtaking hill resorts in the world, the nearest airport is Bagdora, about 96 kms away. There are also direct flight connections from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati and then a taxi or bus takes you to Darjeeling. The UNESCO heritage railway - the Darjeeling Himalayan Rail way attracts tourists both foreign and domestic. Darjeeling is also connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and its surrounding hills. Sunderbans: The world's largest estuarine forest and delta is covered by mangrove forests and vast saline mud flats. A world heritage site, it is a place populated by 54 tiny islands and is situated on the lower end of Gangetic West Bengal. The sundari trees that give the place its name are also the anchor that hold together the islands of mud with their roots. The ecosystem is unique and dynamic and has earned it many a recognition nationally and internationally. It is also the only mangrove forest in the world, which is the home of Tigers and the Sunderban Tiger Reserve has the highest tiger population in the world. September to February is the right time to visit but many seeking an adrenaline rush visit here during April-May. The best path to extensive exploration here is by its intense network of riverine waterways. Canning is the nearest railhead and Kolkata airport is 112 km away. Shantiniketan: Teeming with history, Shantiniketan, a University Town, draws thousands of visitors every year. The school started here by Rabindranath Tagore, envisioned by him as a confluence of East and West learning in a natural environment, expanded into the Visya-Bharati University and is defined by Tagore as the place 'where the world makes a home in a nest'.Kolkata Airport is 212 kms away, Bolpur, its closest railhead is 2 kms away and motorable roads connect Shantiniketan with other parts of West Bengal. Digha: In the sea resort town that is Digha, you can stand by the shore and let the waves have a crush on you, you watch them rise and fall and chant your name a million times, see the waves turn away, pause and rush back to you again. Gentle undulating waters, and a low gradient with a shallow sand beach. A five-hour bus journey from Kolkata and well connected by rail, Digha is every travellers delight. Gangasagar: A gorgeous island on the Sunderbans, it is a destination that calls out to pilgrims as well as adventure lovers. Steeped in history, a part of Hindu mythology, picturesque, and peaceful; visitors come here to celebrate the occasion of Makar Sankranti through the Gangasagar Mela. While it is 135 kills from Kolkata, one travels via different means of transport. But the journey to this unspoiled island is worth every minute.
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