West Bengal, capital city Kolkatta
Area: 88,752 sq kms
Population: 68077965
Introduction
It is bounded on the north by Bhutan and the state of Sikkim, on the east by Bangladesh and the state of Assam, on the south by the Bay of Bengal, on the southwest by the state of Orissa, and on the west by Nepal and the state of Bihar.
History
The Mauryas the Guptas, the Palas, the Senas and the Muslim Sultanate have reigned over the state of Bengal and every entry has tried to give a distinct identity to Bengal.
At the time of Indian independence in 1947, the region of Bengal was divided along religious lines. The Muslim portion became part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and the Hindu portion became the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
Physiographically, West Bengal may be broadly divided into two natural regions—the Gangetic Plain in the south and the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan area in the north. The Gangetic Plain in West Bengal consists of the westernmost part of the great Ganges River delta, most of which lies in Bangladesh.
Places of interest
Dargeeling
Gifted to the British East India Company in 1817, Darjeeling is now a famous hill resort offering a breathtaking sight of the numerous peaks of the majestic Himalayas. The views of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest are particularly unparallel.
Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial is probably the most well-known tourist spot in Calcutta. A tribute to the late Queen Empress, it was conceived by the Viceroy, Lord Curzon, in 1905, four years after the Queen's death. The Prince of Wales (later King George V) laid the foundation stone on 4th January 1906. It took 15 years before the Duke of Windsor officially inaugurated it on 21st December 1921.
Kalimpong
Kalimpong – a relatively small and bustling bazaar town – is set among the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalayas. The town’s attractions include its peaceful ambience, three monasteries, a couple of charming old churches, a private library, a sericulture centre, orchid nurseries and amazing views over the countryside.
The Sunderbans
Covering nearly 10,000 sq.km of mangrove forest and water (40% of which lies in West Bengal and the rest in Bangladesh), the Sunderbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The entire mangrove forest extends over an area of 4,262 sq.km of which forests cover 2,320 sq. km. The name Sunderban comes from the predominance of the tree species Heritiera fomes, locally known as 'sundari' because of its elegant look.
Apart from being the only mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbans contains a rich and unique biota - tigers, fishing cats, wild boar, spotted deer, rhesus macaque a variety of dolphins (including the Ganges dolphin), crocodiles, estuarine terrapins, monitor lizards, water monitors and a wealth of birds, fish and crustaceans.
Digha Beach
Digha is a romantic beach on the Bay of Bengal. It is about 185 kms from Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal. Fringed by graceful casuarina trees, Digha provides an excellent view of sunrise and sunset. Just a few kilometers from Digha lies Shankarpur, which is an ideal place for people who wants to stay away from crowds.
Flora and Fauna
A large floral population like Genwa, Dhundal, Passur, Garjan and Kankra. Apart from these trees, impenetrable Goran trees between 1.8 mtr. & 3.6 mtr. high covers almost the entire region. One of the most remarkable features of this place is the bayonet like roots of mangrove forests that stick out above the water level. Royal Bengals, jungle cats, fishing cats, Axis deer, wild boar, Rhesus monkeys, mongooses and the largest estuarine crocodiles in the world can be found here. Immense variety of birds like Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Fishing Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Seagul, Tern, Kingfisher as well as migratory birds like Whimprel, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Eastern Knot, Curlew, Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Pintail, White-eyed Pochard and also Whistling teal.
Major Crops
About 80 percent of the cultivated land is planted with rice. Other crops include jute, maize (corn), oilseeds, potatoes, and tobacco. Tea is the major crop near the town of Darjeeling.
Weather and Climate
Temperatures around Kolkata, the state capital formerly known as Calcutta, average 19°C in January and 31°C in May. The average annual rainfall is 1,650 mm (65 in), mostly falling during the monsoon season.
People
The majority of people in Bangla are Bengalis. Other groups include Mundas, Lepchas, and Bhutias.
Religion
More than three-fourths of the population is Hindu, and a significant minority is Muslim. There are also Buddhists, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs in Bangla.
Festivals
Durga Puja
The most important and the most popular of all Bengali festivals is the Durgapuja. It is celebrated throughout the state, but with great grandeur in Calcutta. During Durgapuja, every locality in Calcutta has one or more puja. For the four or five festive days, pandals are erected, decorated and illuminated with great care and imagination.
Naba Barsho
The Bengali year starts from the first Baisakh (mid-April). It is an occasion for celebration to the Bengalees in general and tradesmen in particular. New clothes, fresh flowers, offerings at temples, people visiting decorated shops mark the day.
Gangasagar Mela
The largest fair of the State, Gangasagar Mela is a three-day event held in mid-January, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, at Sagar Dwip. Lakhs of pilgrims come for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
Jhapan
All over the Western part of the state, a festival is held in the honour of the serpent-deity Manasa on the last day of the Bengali month Sravana (mid-August). But the most spectacular is the one held at Vishnupur in the district of Bankura, with its shows of live snakes on open platforms.
Language
Bengali is the official language; Hindi and Urdu are also spoken
Food
Rice, Fish and delicious sweet dishes characterise Bengali food.
Handicrafts
Traditional handicrafts, including the weaving of silk cloth, which has been practiced in the region for more than 3,500 years is what West Bengal can be proud of. Terracota horses, conch shells, clay models, leather, batik and woodwork; these are the various aspects in which Bengali craftsmen excel.
Metal work
From domestic utensils for everyday use to vessels for observance of rituals, the emphasis is always on strength of form. Copper, one of the earliest known metals was transformed into alloys like bronze, brass and bell metal by Indian metallurgists of Harappan times.
Clay dolls
The dolls and figurines of Krishnanagar in Bengal are unique in their realism and the quality of their finish.
