West Bengal
Culture, colonial heritage and the Sundarbans
West Bengal, on India's eastern border with Bangladesh, is anchored by Kolkata, the former capital of British India until 1911 and a city that retains colonial-era architecture, tram lines and a literary and artistic heritage tied to figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Asia's first Nobel laureate. The state's Durga Puja festival, celebrated with elaborate week-long pandal installations across Kolkata, has been recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Sundarbans, shared with Bangladesh, is the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to a significant wild Bengal tiger population uniquely adapted to a tidal, brackish-water habitat. Darjeeling's hill-station tea estates, connected by the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, produce some of the world's most prized tea, giving West Bengal a range from tropical delta to Himalayan foothill unmatched by most Indian states.
Curated Experiences
Our journeys in India.
Popular Attractions
3 places
Attraction
Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial is a white marble museum and monument in Kolkata, built 1906 to 1921 in memory of Queen Victoria.
Attraction
Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a hill town at about 2,050 m in West Bengal, famous for its tea, its toy train and views of Kangchenjunga.
Attraction
Sundarbans
The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest, spanning West Bengal and Bangladesh and home to swimming Bengal tigers.
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
October–March
Other Districts in India
Stories from West Bengal
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