Welcome to West Bengal! a state that is famous for its many historical tourist sites, diverse ethnic culture and fine arts! Do you feel like treating your tastebuds with awesome food, planning extreme sports or watching some incredible cultural manifestations? There is something for everyone in West Bengal.
West Bengal is famous for its cultural heritage, history and tradition. Well, go through this list involved with top tourist attractions in west Bengal. There are enough places to be explored for every type of traveler in this range. Here is a complete inventory of all the places you need to go to! To help you out, we have compiled a list of the notable tourist spots in West Bengal. Sit, choose, and get those travel plans rolling.
Table of Contents
Famous tourist places in West Bengal
- Kolkata
Kolkata, which is a city in West Bengal, is one of the must-visit tourist attractions of the state as it embodies the essence of West Bengal. First-up in the top 10 famous tourist attractions in West Bengal, it is a must have in your list if you want to experience all your kind of the activities. Do you want to indulge in art, culture, and modern culture? Look no further than Kolkata. Get engrossed in history with a visit to landmarks like the Victoria Memorial, Fort Williams, St. Paul Cathedrals and the National Museum.
No matter what type of food you love, Kolkata is a vibrant hub of all types of food that will tickle your taste buds from delicious Bengali-style biryani to amazing rosogollas. Be sure to visit the famous Dakshineswar Temple for prayer and watch the mischievous monkeys living there. So come board a boat, a picturesque ride over the peaceful Ganges witnessing the majestic Hooghly Bridge, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic vistas of the City of Joy for a perfect date night!
2. Darjeeling
Darjeeling is the answer for the tourists who wish to explore the magnificent snow peaks of Kanchenjunga, the gorgeous tea gardens, aromatic orchids, porous pinewoods as well as the charming Himalayan toy train that moves by the lively mountains. It is home to a perfect blend of old-world charm with modern amenities.
It is a perfect getaway from the sweltering summers of India and one of the most tourist places in West Bengal. The city also has beautiful mountain views, beautiful waterfalls, sightseeing tours, Buddhist monasteries, museums, shopping, and Tibetan food. Darjeeling is undoubtedly one of the best tourist places in West Bengal in June, with its green surrounding and captivating hills.
3. Siliguri
Siliguri is the gateway to the north-east in West Bengal. When it comes to mega attractions inside town, the Science City and Mahananda Weir Wildlife Sanctuary top the list. Distance between Kolkata to Siliguri:- Siliguri is about 460 kilometers from Kolkata. You can also travel via road or the connected railway system of the state. You might also want to check out Dudhia or Salugara Monastery.
4. The Victoria Memorial
The Memorial is a must-see for tourists visiting the capital city of Calcutta, located in West Bengal. Built in the heyday of British rule in India, it is an emblem of the majesty of the Victorian Empire in England. As a current museum and idyllic tourist landmarks to visit, visitors certainly would not leave without seeing its beauty. Located in the heart of the city, the fairy statue sits in the middle of a white, domed building design.
This also allows you to easily explore this monument by utilizing rental car services. They host regular seminars and events, inviting guests to purchase entry tickets to experience all the different arts featured inside. With its fountains, the Victoria Memorial has extensive gardens and has become the perfect place to visit in the evening for tourists. In fact, travelers would certainly find it captivating to take a horse carriage ride near the monument with the magnificent structure being beautifully illuminated by the sparkling lights.
5. Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan, which is an area near Bolpur in the Birbhum district, is often called the Treasure Trove of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. This charming town has Visva-Bharati, the university town. Tagore founded an Ashram here in 1863, which later evolved into the university.
Shantiniketan campus has numerous beautiful sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings of great artists like Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar and Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay. Known for its Baul Singers and fairs and festivals such as Poush Mela (December) and Basanta Utsav (Holi) (in March) in West Bengal are the few most common activities.
6. Kalimpong
Kalimpong offers exciting activities as well as unique fauna and flora for adventure lovers. The hill station is defined by some of the most incredible tourist attractions in West Bengal including, Morgan House, Deolo Hill, Neora Valley National Park, Pratima Tagore House, etc. Hope to see a leopard in the wild?
Book a jungle safari at Neora National Park and it will make your wish come true! With luck, you might even spot endangered species like the Asiatic black bear and Asian golden cat. For an adrenaline rush, go white-water rafting on the Teesta River or trekking amid snowy peaks in Kalimpong.
7. Hooghly
Being a cultural mix of Portuguese, Dutch and French, it draws a huge number of tourists for varying reasons. It is also a holy place as was the dwelling station of Devi Sarada and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This tourist attractions in West Bengal is surrounded by several fascinating places like the Deer Park, Shri Ramakrishna Math, Hooghly Imambara, Bhadreswar, Hangseshwari Temple, and Serampore.
8. Sundarbans
You can do a boat safari to visit dense mangrove forests and find the Royal Bengal Tigers and breathtaking flora and fauna of the Sundarbans, a site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.
9. Mandarmani
Located in the East Medinipur locale, the seaside village of Mandarmani is situated at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. As one of West Bengal’s largest and rapidly developing resort villages, it boasts a distance of 180 km from Kolkata. Considered to be India’s longest drive-in seashore, this majestic location offers an escape where visitors can relax, swim, and enjoy every moment. And when exhaustion sets in, refreshing coconut water is readily available. The uncrowded surroundings further enhance its charm, allowing for peaceful moments basking in the sun while observing the birds and waves.
10. Mirik
Mirik is a quaint little town on the head of a freshwater lake between the mountains. The town is known for its orange orchids, in addition to its lake and the Bokar monastery. The distance from Kolkata to Mirik is usually around 481 kilometers, where you can use a bus or taxi.
11. The St John’s Church
One such church is St John’s Church in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal that should not be missed for its stunning architecture and historical significance. This ramshackle building is also the final resting place of Job Charnock, the man credited with discovering the city. The church in the Old Calcutta, can best be reached through hiring a taxi. Inside, visitors can admire master paintings, including a renovated Last Supper.
From 10 in the morning until 5 in the evening, the church is open. Definitely stop by on a Sunday for the best experience. Alongside the church, one can also explore the surrounding area to find the tombstones of British soldiers who fell during intervals of WWI and WWII. Entry to the church and tombstone area is ten INR, so it’s inexpensive too. But for photography, there is an additional charge. When touring Calcutta, keep an eye out for St John’s Church, which is located along the main road.
12. Gaur-Pandua
As the medieval capital of West Bengal, Gaur-Pandua is home to breathtaking ruins that reflect the architecture of the Muslim Sultans. Many of the ruins are mosques and tombs, including the Baro Sona Masjid, Fateh Khan Tomb, Adina Masjid and Eklakhi Mausoleum.
These twin towns are located in the district of Malda, also known as the Mango City. It is a great place to pick up some delicious mangoes and Murshidabad silk.
