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West Bengal is the only state thatcombines the triple travel thrills of themountains, the plains and thecoastline. Darjeeling, where the mist islike a tantalizing curtain to the beautyof the Kanchendzonga; ShantiNiketan, the home of the 'poet'R a b i n d r a N a t h Ta g o r e ; t h eSunderbans, the largest estuarineforest in the world; and Digha,promising sun, sea, sand, surfing andseafood! Calcutta, now renamedKolkata – the 'city of joy', hasovertones of fish, Marx and literaturein equal measures. This first city builtby the British was the earlier capital ofIndia, before shifting base to Delhi.

British architectural visages minglewith landmark institutional and

KOLKATA

commercial complexes that arecoming up; the gradual pace of thetram sits well with the starched dhoti-clad Bengali babu; the sweet-toothfood culture gels well with thepulsating bars and pubs like JJ's.Kolkata today has emerged as a fast-growing city that yet retains themosaic created by cultural eveningsand the running waters and moods ofthe Hooghly. The erstwhile capital ofBritish India, Kolkata reigns as amajor cultural centre.

History is etched everywhere in thecity. heads the listof monuments that have becomesymbolic of Kolkata. Built as amemorial for Queen Victoria, this purewhite marble museum recalls India'scolonial past. Sound and light showsare held every day except Monday, theday the memorial is closed. The

Victoria Memorial

City Lights

Victoria Memorial

Dalhousie Square, renamed Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh, afterthe three martyrs of Bengal, is locatedin the heart of the city. It has a smallartificial lake, fed by natural springs. Itis surrounded on all sides by historical

BBD Bagh,

Jalpaiguri

Darjeeling

Cooch-Bihar

Uttar Dinajpur

Dakshin Dinajpur

Maldah

Murshidabad

Birbhum

Nadia

Barddhaman

Bankura

Puruliya

Hugli

Howrah

Medinipur

North Twenty

Four Parganaa

Kolkata

South Twenty

Four Parganaa

WEST BENGAL

BIHAR

ORISSA

BANGLADESH

BHUTAN

Map not to Scale

buildings like the Writers' Building,Raj Bhavan, State LegislativeAssembly, Kolkata High Court,

visit the the greenlung of the Western bank, home to a200-year-old banyan tree with itsenormous canopy, covering some 400metres in circumference.If you want some religious fervour,head for the

where Sri Ramakrishna was

Botanical Gardens,

Dakshineswar KaliTemple

Kolkata High Court

St John's Cathedral, GPOReserve Bank of India BirlaPlanetarium

Science City

and the.The

here is one of the largestof its kind in the world. isthe first institution of its kind in India.

The pioneering effort of NCSM, theopen air Science Parks have broughtscience out of doors and alive.

built between1839 and 1847, houses interestingmemorials and stained glass, includingthe west window by Sir EdwardBurne-Jones. is hometo Kolkata's cricket activity. One canstroll along the banks of the Hooghlyaround here. You can also take a shortcruise down the Hooghly with theVidyasagar Setu Bridge etched in thebackground. While in Kolkata, you

St Paul's Cathedral

Eden Gardens

Birla Planetarium

the priest. This is a living temple insidea complex of some 12 subsidiarytemples. Kolkata takes its name from

, where another Kali templeis located. isdedicated to Sheetalnathji, the 10th ofthe 24 Jain tirthankars.the headquarters of the RamakrishnaMission, was founded by SwamiVivekananda in 1899. From differentangles, this unique building resemblesa church, a masjid and a temple.

KalighatParesnath Jain Temple

Belur Math,

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Temple of Sri Ramakrishnaat Belur Math

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West Bengal

China Town at Tangra

Durga Puja, BijoyaDashmi,

is the place forauthentic Chinese food in India,thanks to the large Chinese populationthat has made Kolkata their homesince the 19th century.

To see the best of Kolkata, be thereduring or

when images of the ten-armed goddess and her four offspring,are worshipped in every street, and atevery corner. Creatively designed

are erected, each competingwith the other for awards. After thefour-day ceremony, the images areimmersed in the river. There is music,rhythm, lights, movement and the citywears an air of festive gaiety. Duringthese nine days before Dussehra, inautumn, every Bengali tries to be in hisnative homeland!

pandals

City Culture

Island, off Diamond Harbour inJanuary. The beginning of the year alsokicks off the thatdraws large crowds who come to seeand admire the cars of yesteryears.

Kolkata is the city of artists.

(24666802),(22260775),(22290449), (22293886).Bengali theatre rules even thoughHindi and English theatre shows arestaged from time to time. These couldbe at (25558413),

(22234302),(24759717),(22239917).

Pink Elephant at initiatedKolkatans into the night culture ofdiscos and pubs, and how! You nowhave many hip, hop and happeningdiscos-cum-pubs in Kolkata.

(22499000),(22883939),

(22280301), (22233939),(22823404).

(23454545)

Old and new, clubs of all hues aboundin Kolkata. (22266954),

(22233209) andare prominent.

Megabowl :22881311, Flight 10: 22472084,Sparks: 24481774.

Kolkata offers a true gourmetexperience. Beginning with the

at or the

Vintage Car Rally

Artscape:Birla Academy of Art & Culture

Alternative Art GalleryMurarka's Art GalleryGenesis

Bijon TheatreAcademy of Fine Arts Auditorium

GD Birla Sabha GharRabindra Sadan

The Oberoi

Tantra,Someplace Else LondonPub Down Inn Street

IncognitoThe Big Ben Dublin

Bengal ClubThe Calcutta ClubThe Saturday ClubBowl ing Al l eys :

Dhabamutton chaap

Night Out

Clubs

Gourmet's Delights

Saraswati Puja

Bengali NewYear Poila Baisakh

Dover Lane Festival

The Sagar Mela

is another importantcelebration of the state, held aroundFebruary, to honour the goddess oflearning and music. The

or is celebrated on14th April when Lord Ganesh isworshipped. Another significantfestival is thewhen strains of Indian classical music,vocal and instrumental, rent the air.

is held at Sagar

Goddess Durga immersed in the river

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aromatic from , or theimpromptu corner at

, there are surprises in everynook and corner of the city. Try the

forthe best burp! Mughlai food lovers canhead for the old favourites —and .Chinese food is at its best atand . Outer city limits offerthe famous Tangra eateries of

and . At Taj Bengal,there is for good Chinesefood, at is greatfor Thai food while at

offersthe whole gamut of Far East cuisine.For typical Bengali fare, at the

anddish out ladlefuls of

and , to name a few.at

(23454545on Park Street, on

Waterloo Street or at, score a hit if looking for Indian

and Mughlai cuisine onFree School Street serves excellentCont inenta l fare , onLansdowne has Italian and Mexicancuisine. on Ballygunge CircularRoad has Indian and Mediterraneancuisine. Visit for SouthIndian fare. For vegetarians too, thereis a choice of eateries:

,, ,

, and

Bengali sweets are a must if inKolkata. is not the end, it isneither the beginning. There are

, and somany more. is a must on

biryani

double egg double mutton combo

aloo-posto, shorshemaach shukto

ShirazKarnani

Mansions

TandoorAmber

ChungwaWaldorf

ChinaHaus Kafulok

ChinoiserieBan Thai The Oberoi

Pan-Asian ITCHotel Sonar Bangla Sheraton

AaheliPeerless Inn Kewpie's Kitchen

Peshawari ITC Hotel SonarBangla Sheraton ),Tandoor Amber

Saffron ThePark

Mocambo

Sherif f

Taaja

Jyothi Vihar

BadshaR e s t a u r a n t B o w e r B a r &Restaurant Drive Inn RestaurantElfin Gangaur Snacks Girnar.

K.C. Das

.

Rosogulla

sandesh, cham cham, rajbhog

Must Try

every itinerary while others likeor

should also be tried. Thefreaks can head for ; for thebest stop over at

. Kolkata's hallmarkare great for a snack. This

Bong variation of the is bestat and

The , which was foundedin 1874, is the oldest shoppingestablishment in the city. It is alsoknown as the 'Hogg Market'. You canpurchase everything from sarees andjewellery to vegetables and poultryunder the same roof. Other marketssuch as theand have lots ofshops where you can buy clothes,shoes and sundry. Kolkata is famousfor its Tangail sarees and these can befound in abundance at , 10,Sarat Banerjee Road and ,Russell Street. For handicrafts andtextiles visit whichhouses several emporia such as Gurjarior the offLord Sinha Road. Some morerecommendations: forfurnishings, ceramics, boutiques, andbranded wear; forclothes and other goods.

andare the new and upmarket

shopping havens of Kolkata withshopping malls, bookstores, jewellerystores, electronic goods, music stores,and branded wear shops. Among theold and traditional markets,

is the headquarters ofthe jewellery shops in Kolkata. Book-lovers can head for the .

Ganguram, Mithai Mouchak

BhimnagSen

Mohashoi's

Metro Goli Dhakuria Lake.

New Market

Air-Conditioned MarketVardaan Market

KundaharAnanda

Dakshinapan,

Bengal Home Industries,

Park Street,

Treasure Island,Lindsay

Street, Elgin Road, Chowranghee,Mirza Ghalib Street CamacStreet

B.B.Ganguli Street

College Street

sandesh

mishti doi,

phuchkasgolgappa

Shopper's Paradise

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Gariaghat

Charnock City,

Digha:

Diamond Harbour:

Mayapur:

is the nerve centre of theold market. Salt Lake too, offers greatshopping opportunit ies at i tsairconditioned shopping complex,

next to the hugestadium.

185 km away, a popular beachon the east coast.

48 km away, it'sa scenic spot by the side of theHooghly. You can go by train fromSealdah, or a bus from Esplanade.

134 km away, theheadquarters of ISKCON is located

Excursions

Bishnupur: Exquisite 17th and 18thcentury terracotta temples are to befound here. The seat of Dhrupad styleof classical music, this is where the'Bankura horse', an icon of ruralhandicrafts, originated.

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Diamond Harbour

here, and an impressive templecomplex is the centre of attraction.Boarding and lodging available at thesame. For an ISKCON tour, call22473757.

Mayapur ISKCON Temple

Terracotta Temples of Bishnupur

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary:

Sunderbans Tiger Resort:

Malda:

Ganga Sagar:

Krishna Nagar:

Access: By Air:

Spread over 100 km, it lies in the northof the state.

166 kmaway, besides the tiger, the estuariesare rich in marine life. You can stay atthe Forest Lodge at Sajankhali. For atourism department-conducted cruise,call 22485917.

365 km north of Kolkata, andthe former English Bazaar, Malda isthe base for visiting Gaur and Pandua,sites of archaeological finds.

Is an island in theSunderbans, it's a completely unspoiltbeach on the estuary of the Ganges.Buses are available from Kolkata.

100 km away, thetown is famous for its toys and claymodels. A palace and the RomanCatholic Church are other attractions.

Kolkata is animportant air link to North-East India.Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, JetAirways and Air Sahara all fly toKolkata. There are many international

Facts at a Glance

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flights too, from countries like Nepal,Bhutan, Bangladesh, Singapore,Thailand, Myanmar and destinationsin East, SoutheastAsia and Europe.

The Headquarters of EasternRailways and South eastern Railwaysare in Kolkata. Some importantconnections are the Poorva Express,Kalka Mail and Rajdhani Expressfrom Delhi, the Madras Mail andCoromandel Express from Chennaiand the Gitanjali Express and MumbaiMail from Mumbai. Additionally, theDarjeeling Mail plies to NewJalpaiguri from the Sealdah RailwayStation. Two railway stations Howrahand Sealdah serve different parts of themetro. KSTC (KolkataState Transport Corporation –22481916), NBSTC (North BengalState Transport Corporation –22371806) and SBSTC (South BengalState Transport Corporation –25645360) run buses connectingKolkata to various destinations inWest Bengal and other states. There isalso a bus to Phuntshiling (Bhutan) viaSiliguri. The StateTransport Bus Stand is in Esplanade.

Local trains can betaken to go to places like Barrackpore,Serampore, etc. But it is the first placeto have got the runningbetween Tollygunge and Dum Dum,touching most of the important partsen route. Visitors could take themetered yellow-top taxis too. Man-pulled rickshaws are unique toKolkata, and so are , whichmove a bit slowly, but yet can give ajoyride too. Summer:

March-October; Min 24 C, Max 38 C;

Winter: November-February; Min 12 C,

Max 27 C. 160 cms.August to February.

By Rail:

By Road:

Bus Terminus:

Getting Around:

Metro Rail

trams

Temperatures:

Annual rainfall:Best time to visit:

o o

o

o

Durga Puja (October) and Christmas(December) are ideal.

03325119633/8564

22292227/2511989425118442

22884910, 22886683(For

Port Blair): 22482354,26602581,

23503535One will find branches of all

major banks in Kolkata since it is ametro. Be it a nationalised bank likethe State Bank of India or a privatebank like the American Express orABN Amro, you will find theirbranches in different parts of Kolkata.

New Market Post Officeat New Market and General PostOffice at BBD Bagh.

22821402, 2282147522488271

26602518

25118299, 25116026Woodlands

Nursing Home in Alipore, theBellevue Nursing Home on LondonStreet, Kolkata Hospital, near theKidderpore Tram Line, SSKMHospital: 22239692/6180 orMedical College Hospital: 22413992Dey's Medical Stores: 22499810

ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla Sheraton &Towers: 23454545, Hyatt RegencyKolkata: 23351234, Oberoi Grand:22492323, Taj Bengal: 22233939,The Park: 22493121, HotelHindustan International: 22472394,MBD Airport Hotel: 25119111, The

City Code:

Indian Airlines:

Jet Airways:Air Sahara:

Travel House:

Shipping Corporation of India

Howrah Railway Station:Sealdah Station:

Banks:

Post Office:

India Tourism:

West Bengal Tourism:

Howrah Station TouristInformation:

Dum Dum Airport DomesticLounge:

Hospital/Chemist:

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Kennilworth: 22823939, PeerlessInn: 033-22280301 upto 07 (FHRAI),Lytton Hotel: 22491872, Radisson:22800044, 22800046, The FortRadisson Resort: (03174)-275444.

This is the seat of the InternationalUniversity founded by Nobel LaureateRabindranath Tagore. Vishwa Bharati– where the cultures of the East and theWest meet and mingle. The universityshowcases the best of Indian traditionsand integrates the cherished values ofother cultures in its core.An interesting feature of ShantiNiketan are the splendid sculptures,frescoes, murals and paintings ofRabindranath , Nandla l Bose ,R a m k i n k a r , B i n d o b e h a r iMukhopadhyaya and others that adornthe campus.The small town has nothing much else,save the in theUttarayan Complex where the poetused to live. It has several buildings,like Udayan, Konark, Shyamali,Punascha and Udichi. This town has amuseum and art galleries too, in theKala Bhavan, Bichitra, and RabindraBhavan. Nearly 3 km from ShantiNiketan is the deer park, a largewooded area with herds of deer and anatural bird sanctuary.

Uttarayan Gardens,

SHANTI NIKETAN

Gourmet's Delights

Excursions

Facts at a Glance

You could opt for the simple faredished out at many of its localor eat at the hotel or lodge where youchoose to stay. If on a day-trip toShanti Niketan, carry your lunch andeat under the shade of one of the manytrees lining the roads.

(78 km),(42 km), (23 km) – thebirthplace of the Vaisnava poet,Chandidas and (80 km).

The nearest airport isKolkata, 213 km. The nearestrailhead is Bolpur, 3 km from the towncentre. Shanti Niketan Express orVishwa Bharati fast passenger train aresome of the options, taking about threeto four hours. You coulddrive down, though not duringmonsoons. The journey may takebetween three-and-a half to four hours.The route is Burdwan-Panagad-Illambazaar-Bolpur. Buses fromKolkata take you till the city-centrebus stop. Summer:Around 34.3°C and 39.4°C indaytime; Winter: Around 15.7°C and12.1°C. 125 cms.

Throughout theyear; but better to visit during the

, between December 22and 25 or in March for the

, two festivals celebrated here.

03463Allahabad Bank: 252853,

UBI: 252657, United Bank: 252726,SBI: 252253

Vishwa Bharati

dhabas,

Poush MelaBasant

Utsab

Massanjore Kendubilwa

Nanoor

Tarapith

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

Temperatures:

Annual Rainfall:

Best time to visit:

City Code:Banks:

Hospitals/Chemists:Shanti Niketan

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Hospital: 252751. There are over 15chemist shops lining the StationRoad. Mukherjee Medical Store:253031, Janata Pharmacy: 252321,Mahamaya Medical.

There are many budget hotels in ShantiNiketan, like Chhuti Holiday Resort,Hotel Camellia, Mark & Meadows,Bonpulok.

The gateways to Darjeel ing,Kalimpong, Sikkim and the North-Eastern states, Siliguri is the majortrade centre for the northeast andeastern Nepal and New Jalpaiguri(known as NJP), the main railwayjunction. Though eight km separatesthe two towns, there is no effectivebreak in the urban sprawl touchingthem.

The best buy is loose tea, availablealmost everywhere. With the Nepaland Bhutan borders being near,smuggled goods too abound.

or are the mainmarkets. Another great buy could beCane furniture.

124 km away, savour thewildlife sanctuary experience. Thereare rhinos, bisons, barking deer andwild elephants.

87 km away, by the side ofJaldhaka river and on the Bhutanborder, is a scenic picnic spot.

87 km away, is a wildlifesanctuary. One can stay at the ForestRest House here.

Hill CartRoad Sevoke Road

Jaldapara,

Jaldhaka:

Gourmara:

Home Away From Home

SILIGURI & NEW JALPAIGURI

Shopping

Excursions

Cooch-Bihar:

Mahananda Weir:

Kalijhora:

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

Distances:

City Code:West Bengal Tourist Office:

104 km away, is thecapital of the erstwhile state of thesame name. There are parks, templesand a newly-restored palace.

18 km away, is apicnic spot inside the MahanandaWildlife Sanctuary.

27 km away, is a picnicspot by the side of the Teesta river.ideal for fishing.

Bagdogra airport isthe nearest airport, 12 km west ofSiliguri. The Darjeeling Mailis available from Sealdah (Kolkata)and the North East Express fromDelhi. To reach Bangladesh, you cantake a train from New Jalpaiguri toHaldibari. Shared jeeps arethe most convenient mode. Taxi standson Sevoke Road and outside TenzingNorgay Terminal .Darjeeling (80 km), Gangtok (110km), Pelling (133 km), Kalimpong (70km), Mirik (52 km).

03532511974

Cindrella, Sinclairs, Mainak TouristLodge (WBTDC), Vinayak, VirammaResorts, Skylark.

The only description of Darjeelingcould be as one of the best hill stationsof India. Also known as the Queen ofthe Hills, its popularity has remainedhigh since the time of the Raj. Thewonderfully cool climate, clear briskair and the breathtaking views of thesnow-clad peaks of the Himalayas

Facts at a Glance

Home Away From Home

DARJEELING

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History Museum and theand its

, displayingmemorabilia of the 1953 Everestexpedition.

The is held on the banks ofthe river Teesta in January, also thetime when the Bhutias and Lepchascelebrate their New Year. In Februaryfalls the , which ismarked by great festivities, religiousceremonies and colourful folk dancesin monasteries. iscelebrated in a big way in October. The

isanother important winter festival thatis held at Darjeeling, Sikkim andDooars.

Take the Toy Train from Siliguri toDarjeeling. The trip takes about 8hours, but the experience on theDarjeeling Himalayan Railways isworth the extra time you spend on it.This is also one of the two trains to behonoured with the UNESCO WorldHeritage status, given its legacy ofmaking journeys for over a centurynow!

HimalayanMountaineering InstituteEverest Museum

Beni Mela

Tibetan New Year

Durga Puja

Teesta Tea & Tourism Festival

Fairs & Festivals

Must Do

City Lights

Tiger Hill,

Ghoom Monastery

Senchal Lake,

HappyValley

Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley passenger ropeway,

Lloyds BotanicalGardens, Bhutia Busty Gompa,Dhirdham Temple,

Lebong Race Course,

at 2,555 m, is the highestpoint in this area, and about 14 kmaway from Darjeeling, near the

. Witness thesunrise over the Kanchendzonga fromhere and the memory is sure to staywith you. On a clear day, even MountEverest is visible. About 13 km fromthe town, near TigerHill is full of scenic splendour. There isa 9-hole golf course with a clubhouseand a tourist lodge. Tea plantations areall around Darjeeling, but the

tea estate is the closest, only 2km from the town. The

3 km from the town, is 8 km long andoffers scenic views.

resembling thefamous Pashupatinath temple ofKathmandu,are some of the sights worth seeing inDarjeeling. Then there is the Natural

Darjeeling

Bhutia Busty Gompa

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drew the British here to escape thestifling heat of Kolkata. Thesespectacular views and the climate haves t a y e d t h e s a m e , d r a w i n ghoneymooners, trekkers and othersseeking to escape the heat andhumidity of the plains, more so insummer.

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Gourmet's Delights

Shopper's Paradise

Though a wide array of Chinese,Continental, Bengali, Nepali andTibetan cuisines exists here, one itemyou must try is the . and

serve a veritablevariety, including many vegetarian.Otherwise, go straight tofamous for bacon sandwiches. Toastedsandwiches and samosas, sausages,cheese, ham and other delicious foodsare highly rated. Chinese,Continental and Tandoori food too isworth the price they charge.(Chinese) , (purevegetarian) Park (for good food andview of Darjeeling),

(1920'sambience), (vegetarian

and Indian snacks) are otherreliable options. at Planter'sClub also for excellent Continentaland Indian cuisine.

Tea should head your list, as shouldlocal handicrafts, bronze statues,woodcarvings and carpets. Souvenirsof your train ride, models of theDarjeeling Himalayan Railwayengines. Among tea varieties,

is recommended.Tibetan handicrafts can be brought at

momo

thalis

FlushSuper Fine Tippy Golden FloweryOrange Pekoe One

KungaNimto Snacks

Keventer's

Glenary's

New DishJain Jaika

Golden DragonRestaurant and Bar

Hasty Tasty

Taaja

Chowrasta

the Tibetan refugee self-help centreand at shops in Darjeeling. Most curioshops are on the Forcarpets, look out for the Women's co-operative at , and the

, an all-women enterprisethat also sells handicrafts.

Bagdogra is thenearest airport , 90 km fromDarjeeling. Jet and IA flights fromKolkata and Delhi are daily.Nearest railhead at New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri junction, connected withKolkata , Mumbai , Guwahat i ,Dibrugarh, Lucknow, Chennai andDelhi. From Bagdogra orN e w J a l p a i g u r i : T a k e ataxi/scooter/rickshaw to Siliguri, 10and 5 km respectively. From Siliguri:State-run buses and coaches, taxis andcars for hire are available from theSiliguri Bus Terminal to cover the 80km journey to Darjeeling.

Walking is the best way.Cars, taxis and ponie are other modesof transport within the city, dependingupon where you want to go.

Summer: 8.5°C to15°C; Winter: 1°C to 6°C.

Mid-March to mid-June andmid-September to mid-December.

03542254230

2254050SBI: 2256318, BOB:

2254644, ANZ Grindlays: 2254681,Central Bank of India: 2256410

Planters 'Hospital: 2254327, Sub-DivisionalHospital: 2254218, Frank Ross & Co:2254029, Puri & Co: 2254182,Darjeeling Pharmacy: 2254146

Chowrasta.

Hayden RoadThird Eye

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

GettingAround:

Temperatures:Best time to

visit:

City Code:IndianAirlines:West Bengal Tourist Office:Banks:

Hospitals/Chemists:

Facts at a Glance

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HomeAway From Home

KALIMPONG

City Lights

Fortune Resorts Central: 2258721;WelcomHer i t age Windamere :2254041; New Elgin: 2254114;Sinclairs Darjeeling: 2256431; CedarInn: 254446; North Star: 2253938;Mayfair Hill Resort: 2256476,Dakeling, Fairmount, Shangrila,Valentino, Bellevue, Paguda, Prestigeand Shamrock.

Nestling in Himalayan West Bengal,Kalimpong is a gracious hill stationsans hustle-bustle. Raft down theTeesta river or bird-watch all day long,in the land of the Lepcha and theBhutia tribes; of orchids and gladioli;of the meandering river valleys of Git,Rishi, Rilli and the mighty Teesta.Time your visit with Kalimpong'sannual flower festival.

Kalimpong is the land of monasteries:or the Bhutanese

Monastery, is the oldest one here. The

stands near the old Bhutanesewhere ceremonial

dances are held every February. Theis situated at

, the highest point inKalimpong.

belongs to the Gelugpa(Yellow Hat) sect of TibetanBuddhism, the one the Dalai Lamaalso belongs to.Kalimpong also provides the mostpanoramic snow views of the peaks ofMt Kanchendzonga, Siniolchu,Paunhari, Lama Anden, Chola, NathuLa, Jalep La and Gymochen peaks.These can be viewed from

Thongsa Gompa,

Pedong Bhutanese Monastery

Damsang Fort

Brang MonasteryDurpin Dara

Tharpa ChoelingMonastery

Durpin

Dara Deolo HillLava,

National Park

Samco Ropeway,

MandarinKalsang AnnapurnaGompu'sKohinoor

Main Road 10th MileMarket Raja Dorje Market

Dambar Chowk

Bhutia ShopKalimpong Arts

& Crafts Centre

and . Besides uniquenurseries, you can also go to 34km from Kalimpong, that has amonastery of Bhutanese origin andlots of treks and trails. It is also thestarting point for trekking to the Neora

.

20 km fromKalimpong, on the highway toSiliguri, is another delightful detour.Spanning the Teesta and Relli riversover 1½ km, the chair lift offers agripping ride, with the rivers gurglinga 100 feet below. It also connects theSamthar Plateau.

Sikkimese and Tibetan cuisine,particularly momos are most popularthough Western, Indian and Mughlaicuisine is also available. Try

(fish and chicken dishes),(Tibetan), ,(bar cum restaurant),

(snacks).

The , theand the

are good places to shop. The must-buys of Kalimpong include freshginger and honey, Tibetan noodles,jewellery, artefacts, seeds and flowerbulbs. Along , youcan shop for Lepcha daggers, masks,Buddhist thangkas, hand beaten silver,Bhutanese weaves, Chinese lanternsand hand-stitched clothing. The

has woodcarvings andpastel paintings. The

is the best place forauthentic Lepcha, Bhutanese and

Must Do

Gourmet's Delights

Shopper's Paradise

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Sikkimese embroidered work onpurses and dresses. Also try its famouscheese.

The nearest airport isBagdogra (80 km), 3 hours drive fromKalimpong. Indian Airlines and JetAirways connect Bagdogra to NewDelhi, Guwahati and Kolkata.

The two closest railheads areSiliguri (66 km, metre gauge) and NewJalpaiguri (80 km, broad gauge).

Kalimpong can be reachedby bus/ taxi/ jeep from New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri in approximately three hours.

Gangtok (77 km),Darjeeling (52 km).All buses leave from the Motor Standin the Cent ra l Bazaar a rea .

Summer: 17.2°C to27°C; Winter: 7.2°C to 15°C.

March to mid-June andSeptember to December.

03552(local agent):

255697257992

SBI: 255310, UBI: 255246,Central Bank: 255256

Sub-DivisionalHospital: 255245, Jethmuli BhojrajAgencies: 255308, Medicos: 256164,Tibet Stores: 255459

Himalayan Hotel: 255248, Silver Oak:255296, Kalimpong Park: 255304,Kalimpong Tourist Lodge (WBTDC):255384.

The charm of Mirik lies in the lush teaand cardamom plantations, topped

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Facts at a Glance

Home Away From Home

MIRIK

with orange orchards, with the mightyKanchendzonga providing thebackdrop.The ideal activity is to trek or walkthrough surrounding areas. Thesecould be around the 1.25 km long

. There is apromenade around the lake with an 80-feet-long arched overbridge. There aregood picnic spots in the forest on thewestern bank. Fishing and boating areallowed. For the spiritually inclined,there is the Buddhist monastery, seat ofthe venerable . Thereare eight tea estates surroundingMirik. 2 km away, is thebest known. One can also buy tea frommany of the gardens.

The nearest airport isBagdogra, 55 km away. Thebroad-gauge railhead is NewJalpaiguri (60 km), Siliguri (metergauge, 52 km). The toy-train stationsnearest to Mirik are Ghoom (41 km),Kurseong (46 km) and Darjeeling (49km). Connected by roadwi th Si l igur i , Kurseong andDarjeeling. Many tea estates lie onthese routes. Government and privatebus services link Mirik with Siliguriand Darjeeling.

0354

Summand Lake

Bokar Rinpoche

Thurbo T.E.,

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Mirik

156

West Bengal

HomeAway From Home

SUNDERBANS

Lodge Ashirvad: 243272, LodgePanchashil: 243284, Hotel Mhelung:243300, Samendu Complex, Jagdeet:243359, Mirik Tourist Lodge: 242237.

Sunderbans is a vast unbroken swamp,crisscrossed by many rivers, channelsand creeks at the mouth of the Gangaand the Brahmaputra r ivers .Sunderbans derives its name from thegracefultrees that grow here. Its yellow-greenleaves are the perfect camouflage forthe Royal Bengal Tiger that has madeSunderbans its home. This protectedreserve of 2,525 sq km area boasts 35species of mammals, 250-odd tigersand the freshwater fish that breed andspawn in the estuaries. Crustaceanslike shrimps, prawns, and crabs. Hilsa,pomfret, pama and polyhemus are themarine species of fish that navigate theestuary to reach their spawning areasupstream. The Hooghly-Matla estuaryharbours a profusion of mollusks, even

sundari (Heriteora fomes)

157

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve

as nearly 260 different species of birdsmake it a bird-watcher's paradise.

Kolkata (131 km) isthe ideal base. Port Canningis the nearest station, 48 km southeastof Kolkata. The nearesttown is Goshaba (50 km). FromKolkata, take a bus or car to Basunti orSonakhali or Port Canning. Entrypoints are from Port Canning,Thosiave, Namkhana, Sonakhali,Raidighi, Basanti, Dhamakali andNajat. From here motor launches canenter the park.Summer: 37°C to 42°C; very sultry.Winter: 9°C minimum.

June to December; extend tillApril if you intend to plunge into theheart of the Sunderbans.

Either aboard MV Chitrarekha/ MVMadhukar launch, or SajnekhaliLodge. Jungle lodges at Bakkhali andPiyali.

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Home Away From Home

West Bengal

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