West Bengal

West Bengal 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. Its capital, Calcutta, is one of the largest cities in India. In Calcutta, visit the Victoria Memorial and drive past Fort Williams. 51 kms from the city, the Hoogli turns towards the Bay of Bengal -- beyond is the beautiful Bakkhali beach. Darjeeling, the Queen of the Hills has the highest racecourse in the World. In Darjeeling trek to Tiger Hill and Ghoom monastery. Visit its neighbours Mirik and Kalimpong, reached by a fascinating journey through tea estates, winding roads and several viewpoints from where the Himalayan range can be viewed.

West Bengal was created as a constituent state of the Indian union on 15th August 1947 as the result of partition of the undivided British Indian province of Bengal into West Bengal. West Bengal covers the bottleneck of India in the east, stretching from Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. It is bounded on the north by Sikkim and Bhutan, on the east by Assam and Bangladesh. On the south by the Bay of Bengal and on the west by Orissa, Bihar and Nepal. It has therefore, three international frontiers-to the north, east and west. The state lies between 27o13'15" and 21o25'24" north latitudes and 85o48'20" and 89o53'04" east longitudes.

West Bengal is India's 12th largest state. The state stretches from the foot hills of Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south.

Bengal, indeed , a proud land of no less than four Nobel Laureates (Tagore, Raman, Ronald Ross, Mother Teressa) is also known for its sweet Bengali language, appreciative audiences, connoisseurs of art and culture and for a highly cultured people who are ready to standup for a cause and take problems in their stride as they step towards a future. With no illusions, no false expections but a deep conviction that life is truth and truth will triumph.