Best Places to Visit in West Bengal

West Bengal is one of the most fabulous places to visit in the country of India. Located in the coastal region, this Indian state receives travelers at all times of the year particularly the capital city of Calcutta. West Bengal in India is favored by a pleasant climate. The summers at the place are not too warm, and the winters are not too cold. As a result sightseeing and other activities can be engaged in on the part of tourists without experiencing any discomfort whatsoever. There are excellent facilities for public transport in this Indian state. The city of Calcutta for instance is serviced by buses trams and metro stations that operate at regular intervals. There are also very good taxi services in the city which tourists can utilize to get from one tourist attraction in the city to another. West Bengal has a rich history and culture as a result of which there is much for travelers to see in this beautiful destination.

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Apart from Calcutta which itself is home to more than twenty well known historical attraction, the neighboring districts of Murshidabad and Santiniketan and the hill station of Darjeeling are places where tourists can enjoy an enriching holiday experience. The city of Calcutta in West Bengal contains wonderful shopping destinations for travelers of all possible budgets. There are also very good accommodation options for tourists in the state of West Bengal and mostly in the city of Calcutta. The accommodation destinations in the state also cater to travelers from diverse economic backgrounds. There is something for everybody in this wonderful destination. The ideal time that travelers should consider with regard to paying a visit to the state of West Bengal is in the summer season. The winters are also very pleasant in this part of India with the average temperature being about twenty degrees centigrade.

Best Time to Visit West Bengal

West Bengal in the country of India can be visited during the season of winter, as well as the summer season. The winter season is better for sightseeing activities as there is minimum humidity during this time. The average temperature prevailing in the city of Calcutta in the winter season is between twenty and twenty five centigrade. Such a temperature is ideal for moving about in the city without feeling uncomfortable and ill. The winter season is also the time when travelers can engage in gastronomic delights which they cannot do in the summer time. The temperature in the season of summer is as high as forty five degrees Celsius. Consequently consuming food items and being able to digest them is something that becomes rather difficult for the vast majority of tourists visiting the city.

The monsoon season is the time when the city of Calcutta and the state of West Bengal in general should be completely avoided. The state of West Bengal is prone to very heavy showers. The roads are often water logged as a result of these heavy showers and navigation is most difficult. The monsoon months are those between July and September. The summer months last between March and June. The winter season lasts between the months of November and February. Some destinations in West Bengal such as the hill station of Darjeeling for example is best visited in the summer time. During the winter season this place is absolutely freezing with the temperature sinking to as low as minus ten degree centigrade.

Attractions in West Bengal

The Indian Museum

The Indian Museum is a large museum in the city of Kolkata. It was previously known as the British Indian museum and was constructed in the period of colonial rule in Kolkata. The Indian Museum is situated in the central part of the city and can be accessed using the bus taxi and rental car services in the city. The Indian Museum is a white colored building and is a structure that can be easily identified from the road. In order to access the Indian Museum one has to pay a fee of about fifty to sixty INR. One cannot take pictures inside the Indian Museum. This is something that is strictly prohibited. If one does happen to take pictures then one can be made to pay a very severe fine which is completely uncalled for.

The Indian Museum is characterized by different exhibits. Each of these exhibits is devoted to a specific aspect of Indian history. There are well informed guides at the Indian Museum who can help interests tourists gain a good understanding of what they witness in the museum. The best time to visit the Indian Museum is of course on a Sunday. One can also visit this place in the weekdays. During the weekdays the Museum remains quite vacant and can be explored in a smooth manner. The museum opens at about ten in the morning and closes at seven in the evening. People are requested not to use their phones, when inside the museum.

The Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is one of the biggest structures in the capital city of Calcutta in West Bengal. It is definitely a place that is worth visiting on the part of tourists. The Victoria Memorial was built during the period of British rule in India. It was built to symbolize the greatness of the Victorian Empire in England. The Victoria Memorial is presently a museum and is a very scenic destination. Those who visit this destination will be completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. The Victoria Memorial is white and color and looks like a Dome. There is a statue of a fairy positioned right in the middle of it. The Victoria Memorial is also a monument that is situated in the central part of the city.

As a result visiting this monument is something that can be easily done if one makes use of the rental car services in the city. The Victoria Memorial today hosts seminars and other events on a regular basis. One can access the interiors of this monument and witness the various art works that are present over here upon purchasing an entry ticket. The Victoria Memorial has sprawling gardens some of which have fountains. Visiting the monument in the evening would be particularly splendid for tourists. The structure looks absolutely magnificent with the evening lights making it seem so resplendent. One can also go ahead and take a horse carriage ride near the Victoria Memorial. This is something that will be sure to be a fun experience for travelers.

The St John’s Church

The St John’s Church is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Indian city of Calcutta in West Bengal. It is an old dilapidated church and serves as the resting place of Job Charnock is credited with the discovery of the city of Calcutta. The St John’s Church is located in the old part of the city of Calcutta. The ideal way to get to this church is to opt for a taxi ride in the city. The St John’s Church houses some fabulous paintings that are certainly worth taking a look at. For instance a restored version of the Last Supper is something that can be witnessed over here. The painting is splendid and can be viewed from very close quarters. The St John’s church opens from ten in the morning, and is closed at five in the evening.

Visiting this church on a Sunday is something that would indeed be pleasant for travelers. Apart from the church itself, the surrounding areas contain the tombstones of several British personnel that died in the course of the First and the Second World War. These tombstones are absolutely quiet and can be viewed by travelers from close angles. Entry to the church and the tombstone costs about ten INR which is quite a cheap figure. If one intends to take photographs then one will have to pay more in order to be able to do so. The St John’s Church can be spotted right from the main road itself.

The Church of St Thomas

The Church of St Thomas is one of the largest churches in the city of Calcutta in West Bengal. This too is an old church and dates back to the early eighteenth century. The St Thomas Church is located in Middleton Row in Kolkata. It opens at nine in the morning and remains open until eight in the evening. This church was the place where Mother Teresa’s body was kept after her demise. The Church of St Thomas is also home to a large number of fabulous paintings all of which are definitely worth witnessing. The church is known to hold mass every Friday and sermons are held on the Sundays. Photography is permitted inside this church. One does not have to buy any ticket in order to go and explore this church.

Entry to the church is entirely free. It is on Christmas Day that this church looks particularly resplendent. Given that the St Thomas Church is housed in a central location reaching this destination is something that can be quite easily done. The St Thomas Church can be reached if you hire a car in the city. You can also travel by bus or by metro to this place. The steeple of the St Thomas Church is particularly outstanding making it one of the premier landmarks in the city of Calcutta. The ideal time to visit this place is during weekday morning, when it is not too crowded. The weekends are time when this church can be dreadfully crowded and uncomfortable to visit.

The St Paul’s Cathedral

This is another massive church located in the heart of Kolkata city in West Bengal. It is a Roman Catholic Church and is one of the oldest churches in the whole eastern region of India. The St Paul’s Cathedral is a white colored church that is characterized by lavish interiors. The interiors within the church mainly comprises of paintings that have been imported from the foreign destinations. The St Paul’s Cathedral is a church which can be accessed quite easily by the masses. The Church is located in a place which can be accessed using the rental car services in the city. You can also take a bus in order to reach the St Paul’s Cathedral in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal.

The church opens at ten in the morning and remains open till about seven or eight in the evening. Entry is free and one does not have to pay to enter the cathedral. The ideal time as to when one should visit the St Paul’s Cathedral in Kolkata, West Bengal is the Christmas time. This is the time when the church is very brightly lit up and when the music over here is really wonderful. One can witness numerous musical performances at the St Paul’s Cathedral in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. The musical performances are generally carried out by the most well known musicians in the city. One has to buy tickets in order to be able to witness the musical performances.

College Street

The area of College Street is an important tourist attraction at Kolkata city in West Bengal. College Street is a destination which is several centuries old. It is home to different academic institutions, and is also a place where one can come across books of all kinds being sold. College Street is located in the northern part of the city of Calcutta. It can be reached quite conveniently using a bus or a tram. The best way to reach College Street in Calcutta is of course to take a cab. If you opt for rental car then you can reach this destination in a matter of a few minutes only depending on where you are putting up at in the city. When you arrive in College Street one of the most important and interesting activities which you can engage in over here is book browsing.

Book browsing is indeed a very interesting activity and travelers from different corners of the world are known to visit this destination in order to look through books. College Street is quite a crowded destination and one has to move about the city with a considerable amount of care. Crossing the street should be done very carefully. There are also many premier shopping destinations in College Street that are worth exploring. Textiles and books are the popular products that are up for grabs among travelers in this destination. College Street is best visited in the season of winter as in the summer time this place is just too hot for words.

Digha

Digha is a remarkable beach side location situated in the state of West Bengal in India. It lies a few kilometers away from the city of Kolkata and can be reached using the rental car services at the airport. Digha is favored by a beautiful climate as a result of which tourists from all corners of the world love to visit this destination. It is an important part of tourism West Bengal. There are wonderful hotels and resorts in this beachside town which travelers can choose from in order to have a comfortable accommodation experience. The tide at the beaches in Digha is quite low. Swimming is safe but has to be done with a certain amount of caution. The ideal time as to when one should engage in swimming at the beaches of Digha is in the morning hours.

This is the time when the weather at the place is really beautiful and swimming can bring a lot of pleasure. Digha is a place where one can also engage in a large number of beachside activities. Sightseeing is also a popular activity and there are numerous churches temples and monuments that can be witnessed over here. The churches in this region were constructed several years back and are now heritage destinations. The churches and temples in the beach side town of Digha can be entered without paying any money. One does not have to buy any ticket to enter these destinations. The temples remain open from the early morning hours until late in the evening and are thronged by travelers at all points of time.

Murshidabad Fort

If you are looking to visit tourist places in West Bengal and then the Fort of Murshidabad in the town of Murshidabad is a destination that you should certainly consider visiting. This place was once occupied by Islamic rulers. A well known Kali temple is located over here. This temple was constructed during the early fifteenth century by the Bengal rulers. The temple remains open from six in the morning to nine in the evening. Prayers and offerings to the gods can be offered here between ten and twelve in the morning, and between 5:00 and 7:00 in the evening. The entry to this temple is not something that is difficult. People of all castes and creeds are allowed entry inside this massive temple.

Photography is also something which is permitted inside the temple and tourists can take videos and pictures as much as they like. The Murshidabad Fort is indeed a massive structure and is made up of material that cannot be penetrated. It withstood a good amount of violence in the medieval period when hostile forces attacked it. The Fort is characterized by a scenic entrance. The Fort is constructed in an architectural style whose identity is not yet known. Making your way to this amazing fort will not be hard if you make use of the rental car services available in the city. The Fort is situated on the outskirts of the city of Murshidabad and can be accessed by any means of transport available particularly the rental cars.

Botanical Gardens in Shibpur

This is one of the most places to visit in West Bengal and is situated in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. It is a place from where one can view flowers of various kinds. The Botanical Garden was set up primarily to preserve a wide variety of flowers and plants unique to this region as a whole. The Botanical Garden is situated in the main city area and can be reached quite conveniently using the public transportation services that are available in the city. The Botanical Garden is a scenic destination and is a place that is exceptionally well maintained. The government authorities in the state of West Bengal have taken it upon themselves to make this place look as beautiful as ever.

It is the prime center for activity in the Indian city of Kolkata In addition to flower items one can also purchase wooden products from here. When you buy your products from the Botanical Garden in Shibpur you can get to procure the items for prices that are far less than the prices that are charged in the high end shopping malls. The high end malls in Kolkata are known to charge a lot of tax for the wooden products which they sell that the Botanical Garden does not. The Gardens also serve as a destination where one can unwind and relax amidst natural beauty. The gardens are particularly good to visit in the weekend mornings when they are absolutely empty. This is when one can explore this destination at one’s own pace.

Zoological Gardens

Visiting the zoo is something that most people like to do when they visit any new destination. The city of Kolkata in the east part of India is no exception. Visitors to this destination are known to visit the zoological gardens on a regular basis. The zoological gardens in the city of Kolkata are quite massive in their size and are very well maintained. The Zoo in the city is home to some species of the most stunning birds, plants and animals that one can ever come across. While most of these are unique to the southern part of the country of India there are quite a few animals in the zoo that have been imported from the foreign countries.

For instance one can come across bears at the zoo, which is an animal found only in the region of South America. Entry to the zoo is not complicated at all. Tickets have to be purchased for a price of fifty INR. If photographs are what tourists wish to take when they enter the zoo then they need to pay extra. Taking a video camera inside the zoo is not really advisable as this can turn out to be quite expensive. The zoological gardens in Kolkata are situated in the central part of the city. This means that one has to make use of taxi services in order to get there in a hassle free manner. Rental cars also exist for the purpose of travelling to the zoo and other important destinations in the city.

Accommodation Options

The Samilton

The Samilton Hotel is one of the largest hotels in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. This is a budget hotel and caters only to the budget travelers in the city. The rates per night at this hotel are those that make it quite an affordable one. The rooms in the hotel are small. Each room in the hotel has its own attached private bathroom. Launderette services are available in this hotel as are in room dining facilities. There are also good leisure options in this hotel. For instance there is a swimming pool that the guests could use. There is also a fitness room in the hotel that guests can access in order to keep themselves in shape. The Samilton Hotel is located right in the heart of the city and can be accessed using the rental car services that are accessible in the city. The hotel lies close to the premier shopping destinations in the city of Kolkata.

Orchid Hotel

The Orchid hotel is a large business hotel situated in the city centre at the city of Kolkata. This is one of the most favored hotels among tourists as far as accommodation is concerned. The hotel has three dining rooms each serving a different kind of cuisine. The different kinds of cuisine which guests can get to enjoy at this hotel include Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Indian. The hotel is also one that features laundry services and wireless internet access facilities for its residents. What is remarkable about all these features is the fact that such services do not have to be paid for by the residents. They are all inclusive of the rate which tourists pay for nightly accommodation at this hotel. The hotel lies far away from the airport but there are good rental car facilities which one can use, to get to the airport from this hotel.

The Pearl

The Pearl hotel in the city of Pearl is a fabulous hotel where travelers can consider putting up at. The Pearl hotel is a mid range hotel and is perfect for those who are looking to spend a considerable amount of money on their residences in the city of Kolkata. This hotel lies in close proximity to the airport and can be reached using the taxi services available in the city. The hotel features excellent amenities and services. A good example of the kind of services which you can get to enjoy over here include free wireless internet access and free laundry services. You can also enjoy access to a bar when you stay at this hotel. Happy hours transpire between 6:00 and 7:00 in the evening. The Pearl Hotel in the city of Kolkata has its very own swimming pool for the leisure of residents. Lifeguards are present to avert accidents.

Sojourn

The Sojourn hotel in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal is a budget hotel that travelers can consider staying at when they arrive in the city of Kolkata. This hotel is located in the area of Salt Lake and provides decent yet affordable accommodation to travelers. The hotel is a three star hotel and features its own swimming pool and gymnasium. The hotel also has a bar of its own where tourists can enjoy a wide range of alcoholic beverages. The Sojourn Hotel is famous as it is located in proximity to banks and shopping malls and is situated in a thriving part of the city. People who stay at this hotel normally have excellent feedback to provide with regard to the kind of food available over here. The food here is well cooked and is not something that is likely to give the residents of the hotel poisoning upon being consumed.

Youth Hostels

There are numerous youth hostels in Kolkata West Bengal that tourists can choose from in order to enjoy affordable accommodation in this big city. The youth hostels are mostly situated in the outskirts of the city and can be reached using the rental car facilities in the city. The youth hostels provide travelers with the most basic bedding. Each room in the hostel has an attached bathroom. The youth hostels charge about two thousand INR a night which is much cheaper in comparison to what one has to pay at a hotel. Facilities like free wireless internet access can be used in the youth hostels in Kolkata city. A youth hostel in Kolkata serves as an ideal accommodation destination for backpacker travelers. It is also a good option for those who are looking to have only an overnight stay in the city. Meals are never provided to the residents of the youth hostels in Kolkata.

Tourist Lodges

The tourist lodges in the city of Kolkata are highly popular among tourists but are located on the outskirts of the city. This means that it can take a while to get to these accommodation destinations. However staying in a tourist lodge would be something really worth while. The tourist lodges in the city of Kolkata offer travelers with a glimpse of the city life that prevails from their windows. The tourist lodges have rooms which are very well furnished. Food is served in the tourist lodges only during the night. Meals during the morning time have to be procured outside. The tourist lodges in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal also provide travelers with a number of facilities. For instance you can avail of services like a launderette when you stay a tourist lodge in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. Free wireless internet access is also available.

High Range Hotels

The high range hotels in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal are those that are exclusively meant for luxury travelers. These are situated in the main market area and cater to tourists of a high end budget. The high range hotels in the Indian city of Kolkata feature rooms that have space as well as intricate artwork. In room dining options are available in each and every room of these hotels. Some of the high range hotels in the city also have their very own restaurants where travelers can procure meals. Free continental breakfast is generally provided in the morning for those undertaking a package tour. The high range hotels in Kolkata are also known to provide facilities to guests like free internet access, access to a business complex, a fitness gym, and a swimming pool. One might also come across a bar in some of the high range hotels in the city.

Resorts

Resorts are an ideal place for travelers to stay at when visiting the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. The resorts feature very comfortable rooms that have facilities like hot water, access to a television and free wireless internet access. One can also come across facilities like laundry services at the resorts in Kolkata. The resorts in the city of Kolkata are generally those which are situated in scenic locations. They are therefore a popular accommodation choice among tourists to the city as they serve as a perfect getaway from the main city life. The resorts generally charge between four to five thousand INR a night. The price charged is definitely worth the facilities that are provided to the tourists. The resorts in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal also offer residents with rental car facilities. These can be used for navigation purposes within the city and that too at an affordable rate.

The Guest Houses

The guest houses are an exciting accommodation option which you can explore when living in the Indian city of Kolkata. The guest houses in the city are available for customers of all budgets. Living in the guest houses in the city of Kolkata has a charm of its own. You can get to enjoy home cooked meals over here and personalized services. For example, you can get to have your very own cook and your very own butler. The guest houses in the city of Kolkata are situated in the main shopping district. Therefore finding one in accordance with your tastes and budget will not be something that is too difficult. The guest houses in Kolkata are done up quite well. The rooms are large and comfortable and can house more than one individual. If you are travelling in a group then residing in such a place would be quite ideal for you.

The Park Hotel

Park Hotel is also a very well known hotel that tourists can put up at when they visit the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. This is a hotel that is located in the street of Park Street itself. The Park Hotel is a budget hotel and provides comfortable accommodation for travelers. It is mostly the high end travelers who are known to visit this hotel in Kolkata. Accommodation is available for about five thousand rupees a night. There are quite a number of facilities which one can enjoy when staying at this hotel in Kolkata. Examples include free wireless internet access and access to a swimming pool and a business center. Laundry services and concierge services are also available for interested tourists at the Park Hotel in Kolkata.

West Bengal Tourist Attractions 6.8 out of 10 8 user reviews. West Bengal is one of the most fabulous places to visit in the country

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