Chandannagar (at Hooghly) in West Bengal

Around Kolkata (39 kms from Kolkata)

Chandannagar (Chandernagore) : This former French colony on the banks of the river Hooghly is dotted with churches, convents and other relics of colonial past. A picturesque promenade beside the river hooghly is ideal for strolls; it is also called “Strand”. The city is also known for the Jagaddhatri Puja.

Jagaddhatri Puja: this is, the most important festival of Chandannagar, held in the month of November. Images of the four-armed Goddess are worshipped in houses and at Pandals erected specially for the Puja. After the four-day ceremony, these images are immersed in the river. Also lighting of this festival is very colorful & attractive. If you want to come in Chandannagar, this time of Jagaddhatri Puja i.e. Oct-Nov is the best season for coming.

Visiting places: Chandannagar Museum, Strand (alongside of the river), Sacred Heart Church, Library, Clock tower & Rabindra Vaban at strand, Jora Ghat (Twin quay/ bathing place), Nandadulal Temple, Temple of Maa Borai Chandi, Probartak Ashram, Bhasa Sahid Minar, Patal Bari (Underground home), KMDA & Chhuti park etc. Chandannagar is also called as “Jagaddhatri Nagar” for the famous festival of Jagaddhatri Puja. If you visit the West Bengal, you must visit this charming city for the one time and you will get plethora memorable experiences for lifetime.

Reaching there:
By Train
The city has a small railway station that is well connected to Howrah. Regular trains are available and this is a good option. Few express trains also halt at the station. Autos and taxis can be hired from the station to the city.
By Air
The nearest Airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport ( Dum Dum Airport). Distance of Airport to Chandannagar is about 40 kms. You can easily travel from airport to this city by taxi or Bus.
By Road
Chandannagar has good road connectivity and one can reach the place using buses or taxis. The city of Kolkata is situated at a distance of around 39 kilometers from the place.
By River
The city has a small quay (Rani Ghat) of ferry service which is well connected with Kolkata / Howrah by the river ‘Ganga’( Hooghly river). When you travel using the waterway for reaching Chandannagar, you can feel pleasant and see the scenic beauty alongside the ‘Ganga’ river which will be superb experience to you forever.

Darjeeling in West Bengal

Delightful Darjeeling, the ‘Queen of Himalayas’ perched at an altitude of 2,135 metres is said to be named after a Tibetan word, ‘Dorje ling’ or ‘Place of the Thunderbolt’. It is endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and offers a magnificent view of the grandeur and beauty of the mighty Himalayas. The beautiful town is indeed a paradise for holiday and adventure seekers as well as botanists, ornithologists, photographers and artists. The lovely lush woods around Darjeeling are full of conifers like fir, pine and birch and are known for exotic orchids and are home to rich animal and bird-life. The name Darjeeling is also synonymous with the most exquisite tea of the world. There has many attractable tourist spot; these are Batasia Loop(5kms.), Bhutia Basti Monastery, Dhirdham Temple, Chowrasta or Crossroad, Natural History Museum, Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Institute, Observatory Hill, Lloyd Botanical Garden, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Garden, Japanese Peace Pagoda etc.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)
The famous Toy Train of Darjeeling is listed among the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO and is a living reminder of the 19th century Darjeeling. It runs between Shiliguri and Darjeeling, covering a distance of 82 kms. on a 610 mm gauge. The mini train is a marvel of rail engineering and weaves a magical spell as it passes through the beautiful landscape teeming with tea gardens, serpentine streams and excellent view points. The Ghoom railway station on this track is located at the highest altitude in the country. One should at least take a joy ride on this magnificent train from Darjeeling to Ghoom.

Darjeeling Ropeway
There are two ropeway systems at Darjeeling. The first one is 1,410 m long, connecting Darjeeling with Bijanbari at the little Rangeet Valley. While the second one is a bi-cable passenger ropeway that connects Darjeeling’s North Point and Singla, covering an aerial distance of 8 kms. It is the first bi-cable passenger-carrying ropeway in India and the longest of its kind in Asia.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is at a distance of 92 km from Darjeeling. This airport is connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. International travelers can get connecting flights from Kolkata or Delhi. Both are well connected with many cities in India and abroad.
By Train
The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. This is well connected to most of the major cities in India. The town of Darjeeling is approachable from Siliguri, nearly 80 km away, by Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also known as Toy Train.
By Road
Regular bus services connect Darjeeling with many cities in and around Darjeeling. Siliguri, Kurseong, Gangtok and Kalimpong are well connected by private vehicles also.

Howrah-Belur Math in West Bengal

Howrah-Belur Math: It is the international headquarters of the Ramkrishna Mission. Swami Vivekananda established the shrine in 1899, by placing the ashes of Sri Ramkrishna at this spot. The unique architecture of the shrine reflects the message of religious fraternity, as it represents a church, a temple and a mosque, when viewed from different angles. The Sri Ramkrishna museum was set up with the assistance of the National Council of Science Museum. It houses articles associated with Sri Ramdrishna, Ma Sarada and Swami Vivekananda.
Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest Airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport ( Dum Dum Airport). Distance of Airport to Belur Math is about 10 kms. You can easily travel from airport to Math by taxi or Bus.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Belur Math station. Local train departures from Howrah station to Belur Math station everyday.
By Road
Belur Math, Northern part of Howrah, is about 4 km from Howrah railway station. You can travel there by bus, auto or taxi. It takes 20-25 mins to get there and around 40 mins to return. All modes of transportation are easily accessible from adjacent to the Howrah railway station area/Howrah bus stand.

Kolkata-Victoria Memorial in West Bengal

This white marble marvel is Kolkata’s most distinguished landmark. In 1905, Lord Curzon conceived the idea of its construction and the foundation stone was laid by Prince of Wales (King George V) on 4th Jan, 1906. It was inaugurated by the Duke of Windsor on 21st dec. 1921 and is now the most prolific reminder of the British rule in India. The majestic 61 m. high white edifice with its formal gardens and water courses sprawls across an area of 26 hectares and is located at the southern end of ‘The Maidan’. It was designed by Sir William Emerson blending British and Mughal architecture styles. A 4.9 metres black bronze statue of an angel known as Victory, holding a bugle in her hand was placed at the apex of the dome above the memorial. The 4.5 tonnes statue is fixed to its pedestal with ball bearings and rotates colonial days and over 3,500 exhibits are displayed in its galleries. The evening Sound and Light show is worth seeing.

Howrah Bridge or Rabindra Setu in West Bengal

It is the major landmark and the gateway to the city of Kolkata. The 98m. high and 705m. long bridge built over river Hooghly is the world’s busiest bridge.