WEST BENGAL: PLACES TO VISIT

West Bengal is a small state sandwiched between Bangladesh in the East, Bihar in the Northwest and Odisha in the Southwest. The southern end of the state borders the Bay of Bengal. This state is renowned for being the birthplace of both Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. It also houses the world-renowned Darjeeling of its name-sake tea.

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WEST BENGAL LOCATOR MAP

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WEST BENGAL STATS:

Total Area: 88,752 Sq. Km (34,267 Sq. Mi) Rank: 14th
Population (2011): 91,347,736 Rank: 4th
Capital City: Kolkata  
Literacy Rate: 77.08%  
HDI: 0.492 Rank: 13th
Official Languages: Bengali, English, Nepali  
Official Website: www.westbengal.gov.in  

 

Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court

Dakshineswar  Kali  Temple
Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Indian Institute of Technology,  Kharagpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Indian Institute of Management Auditorium
Indian Institute of Management Auditorium

Kolkata  Metro  Railway
Kolkata Metro Railway

RAJ BHAVAN, KOLKATA
RAJ BHAVAN, KOLKATA

POET  LAUREATE  RABINDRANATH  TAGORE
POET LAUREATE RABINDRANATH TAGORE

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

 

KOLKATA

   

 

FESTIVALS

Pahela Baishakh:

(April 14 or 15)

Also known as Pohela Boishakh, this is the first day of the Bengali calendar which is the official calendar of Bangladesh. This festival is celebrated on 14th April in Bangladesh and 15th April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam (Barak Valley) by Bengalis regardless of their religious faith.

Pahela Baishakh traces its roots back to Mughal rule in this region and also the proclamation of tax collection reforms of Akbar. The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs, and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is "Shubho Noboborsho" which is literally "Happy New Year". The festive Mangal Shobhajatra is organized in Bangladesh. In 2016, UNESCO declared this festivity organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts Under the diversity of Dhaka, as a cultural heritage of humanity.

 

Vishwakarma Jayanti:

(September 16 or 19)

This is a day of celebration for Vishwakarma, a Hindu god, the divine architect. He is considered the creator of the world. He constructed the holy city of Dwarka where Krishna ruled, the Maya Sabha of the Pandavas, and was the creator of many fabulous weapons for the gods. He is also called the divine carpenter, is mentioned in the Rig Veda, and is credited with Sthapatya Veda, the science of mechanics and architecture. It is generally celebrated every year on September 16 or 19, which is on the last day of the Indian Bhado month, in the Solar calendar. The festival is observed primarily in factories and industrial areas, often on the shop floor. As a mark of reverence, the day of worship is marked by the engineering and architectural community, by the artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers, factory workers and others. They pray for a better future, safe working conditions and, above all, success in their respective fields. Workers also pray for the smooth functioning of various machines.


 

 

STATE SYMBOLS: (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)

State animal Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) fishing cat
State bird White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) White-throated kingfisher
State flower Night-flowering Jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) Night flowering jasmine
State tree Devil Tree Devil Tree
State seal   State symbol

 

TOURIST INFORMATION:

West Bengal Tourism Centre:
3/2, B.B.D. Bag (East), Lal Bazaar
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Phone: +91-33-2248-8271

WEBSITES: www.wbtourism.gov.in/welcome.php
www.tripadvisor.com>Asia>India

 

 

WEST BENGAL CUISINE

                                                                            SIGNATURE DISHES OF WEST BENGAL

                                                                   

 

                                                                   

                                                                                                      WEST BENGAL THALI I

 

                                                                                     

                                                                                             WEST BENGALI THALI II

 

                                                 

                                                                                                    WEST BENGALI THALI III

 

 
                                            

                                                                                                                                KHATI ROLL

 

                                                                                                

                                                                                                               SHORSHE ILISH

 

                                                                                      

                                                                                                        BENGALI PULAO

 

                                                                                       

                                                                                      DEEP FRIED CAPSICUM AND CHICKEN

 

                                                                        

                                                                                                                   SHUKTO

 

                                                                        

                                                                                                   BENGAL MANGO CHUTNEY

 

                                                                             

                                                                                                                   LAMB BIRIYANI


                                                                       

                                                                                                                          RASGULLA