West Bengal has a layered history dating back to the third century BCE when it was part of the great Mauryan kingdom under Ashoka. It then become part of the Gupta empire, then the Pala kings took over, and then came the Muslim rulers. Fertile lands and robust trade made Bengal one of the richest regions of the world and soon the Europeans arrived. In the 1750s, the British defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Dwalah in the Battle of Plassey, thus heralding the British colonization of India. But Britain was not the only foreign power in the state. The French had a trading outpost in Chandernagore, the Danes in Serampore, the Portuguese in Hugli, and the Dutch in Chinsurah. Then in 1947, Bengal was partitioned to create East Pakistan.
Poets have sung paeans to the beauty of Bengal. Miles and miles of fertile land crisscrossed by rivers and rivulets stretch under open skies. The land is flat as a flan but it ascends, ever to gently, to the west where the hills of Purulia mark the eastern edge of the Chhotanagpur plateau. And then, tea gardens in arms, it climbs to the icy peaks of the Darjeeling Himalayas in the north. In the south is the estuary of the Ganges, a marshy area called the Sundarbans, home to the great Bengal tiger.
This is our home state and it’s a pity that we have hardly explored it, so we have made a bucket-list of all that we want to see and do in West Bengal.
– Explore the Sundarbans
– Spend more days, many more days in Kolkata. Walking and eating. Eating and walking.
– See Durga Puja in Kolkata
– Visit Purulia
– Visit the terracotta temples of Bishnupur
– Stay at the old mansions of Bengal like Itachuna and Barikothi
– Explore the history and heritage of Murshidabad
– Cruise on the Ganges
– Explore Malda
– Travel slowly in Dooars
– Explore the hills of West Bengal
– Eat regional Bengali food and write about it
Find out about the top things to do and the best places to eat in Darjeeling.
First, cha. Then kochuri with chholar dal or a full English spread. Or, luchi and alu’r dom. Or, Chinese pork buns or a plate of humble…
Enjoy a weekend at the beautiful Bara Mangwa Farmhouse. Excellent service, mesmerizing views, and mouth-watering food sets it a class apart.
Nestled in the wooded mountains of West Bengal is Chhota Mangwa where life is laidback, food comes fresh from organic farms, and puppies and goats run…
Spend a weekend in the lap of nature at Chhota Mangwa where the woods are full of flowers and fireflies. Feast on organic produce, go on…
Housed in a restored 1926 townhouse in Shyambazar, Calcutta Bungalow is a city lover’s ode to the city. It is a BnB for those who want…
At Pappadam, you can taste some of the best South Indian delicacies in Kolkata. Take your pick from an extensive menu featuring Chicken Chettinad, Crab Mangalorean…
In our foodie’s guide to Kolkata, we take you to our favourite joints and share a tip or two about the city’s gastronomy.
On a day trip from Kolkata, explore Serampore’s heritage structures dating back to the Danish era.
Things to do, places to eat, what to buy, where to shop, and where to stay in one of Kolkata’s oldest neighbourhoods, Shyambazar.
Make the most of your Durga Puja pandal hopping experience in Kolkata with our tips! From what to wear and what to pack, we have you…
If all you know about Nepali cuisine is momo and thukpa, order a traditional Nepali– Thakali style thali. The curries and pickles are seriously good!
At Reevu Wangdi’s Momo I Am, expect to be treated to comfort foods of the Darjeeling Hill but with added twists. The graffiti art on the…
Food can foster brotherhood and harmony. Join us as we jostle through the crowds on Zakaria Street to partake of the Iftar Feast and learn lessons…
Not so much a review as a warm recollection of why I return to the Revolver, a Beatles-themed hotel hidden in the hills of Darjeeling.
Darjeeling evokes expressions of nostalgia and a hunger for momos. On this trip, we reminisce about our old trips and learn new secrets about this perpetually…
The lack of awareness about responsible tourism in the Darjeeling Himalayas is leading to a loss of cultural identity in hamlets like Lepchajagat. How can we…
কুয়াশা ঘেরা দার্জিলিঙের গল্প, কথায় আর ছবিতে।
Your complete guide to navigating Kolkata’s delicious repertoire of chops, cutlets, and all types of telebhaja aka fried food.
At Siddheswari Ashram, a 93-yr-old eatery serving Bengali cuisine, in North Kolkata, patrons share tables and enjoy the day’s fresh catch. Eating here is an experience!