West Bengal
Photos: Antony aarthi (CC BY-SA 3.0)
State stretching from the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal: Kolkata, Darjeeling tea hills, the Dooars forests, Sundarbans mangroves and heritage towns.
Split the state into north (hills and Dooars via Siliguri) and south (Kolkata, Sundarbans, heritage towns and beaches).
Highlights: Kolkata and Durga Puja · Darjeeling and the toy train · Kalimpong · Sundarbans boat safaris · Shantiniketan · Dooars national parks · Bishnupur terracotta temples · Murshidabad · Digha beaches
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Kolkata
Capital of West Bengal and the main departure hub for the state: colonial landmarks, Durga Puja, food and culture.
Darjeeling
Tea-country hill station with Kanchenjunga views and the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
Bishnupur
Temple town famous for terracotta temples, Baluchari sarees and the Bishnupur gharana of music.
Kalimpong
Quieter hill town known for monasteries, flower nurseries and views over the Teesta valley.
Digha
Kolkata's nearest popular beach town, with Mandarmani, Tajpur and Shankarpur nearby.
Shantiniketan
Rabindranath Tagore's university town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023.
Mirik
Small lake town between Siliguri and Darjeeling, with tea gardens and orange orchards.
Murshidabad
Last capital of the independent Nawabs of Bengal, on the Bhagirathi river.
Top sights
Centre for International Modern Art
Victoria Memorial
memorial dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria in Kolkata
Birla Industrial & Technological Museum
Industrial & Technological Museum in Kolkata
Eastern Railway Museum
Ahuja Museum for Arts
Durga Museum (Maa Phire Elo)
Town Hall Museum
Ramakrishna Museum
Nature and outdoors
Things to do
Cooch Behar Stadium
Multi-purpose stadium in Cooch Behar, West Bengal
Sailen Manna Stadium
stadium in India
Netaji Indoor Stadium
event venue in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
stadium of West Bengal
Eden Gardens
cricket ground in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Kishore Bharati Krirangan
stadium in Kolkata, India
Kalyani Stadium
Sports stadium of West Bengal, India
Where to eat
Shopping
Food to try
- Macher jhol: Light Bengali fish curry, usually with rohu or katla
- Shorshe ilish: Hilsa cooked in mustard paste, a monsoon favourite
- Kosha mangsho: Slow-cooked spicy mutton
- Rosogolla and mishti doi: Syrup-soaked chhena balls and sweet set yoghurt
- Kathi roll and phuchka: Kolkata street food staples
- Momos and thukpa: Tibetan-Nepali dumplings and noodle soup, everywhere in the hills
- Darjeeling tea: Famous GI-tagged tea from the hill estates
Festivals
- Durga Puja: Months: 9 · 10; Description: Bengal's biggest festival, with themed pandals across Kolkata; on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2021
- Poush Mela: Months: 12; Description: Shantiniketan winter fair
- Kali Puja: Months: 10 · 11; Description: Kali worship and lights
- Rath Yatra: Months: 6 · 7; Description: Chariot festivals
- Poila Baishakh: Months: 4; Description: Bengali New Year