Located towards the eastern part of India, this is one of the vibrant states in the country. This place is a blend of fascinating culture and rich history with modernization and tech savvy society. Apart from the British people, this region has got the footprints and tradition of many civilizations, which has led to the emergence of varied culture, ethnicity, languages and religion. Starting from the majestic Himalayas to the vast Bay of Bengal, the state has got diverse physical features.

Demographics of West Bengal

The state is the 4th most populous state of the country and the 7th most populous state in the world. Let us have a quick look at some of the demographic details of this east Indian state:

Total population: 91, 347, 736 (According to Census 2011)
Male population: 46, 927, 389
Female population: 44, 420, 347
Density of population: 1, 029.2 per sq. km. (2, 665.7 per sq. mi.)
Decennial population growth: 11, 171, 539
Decennial growth rate: 13.93 %
Sex ratio: 946.57 females per 1, 000 males
Total population (In the age group of 0 year to 6 years): 10, 112, 599 (11.07 %)
Male population (In the age group of 0 year to 6 years): 5, 187, 264 (11.05 %)
Female population (In the age group of 0 year to 6 years): 4, 925, 335 (11.09 %)
Total literacy: 62, 614, 556 (77.1 %)
Male literacy: 34, 508, 159 (82.67 %)
Female literacy: 28, 106, 397 (71.16 %)
Official languages: Bengali and English
Main religion: Hindu (Around 72.5 %), Muslim (About 25.2 %) and others (2.3 % approximately)

Tourist Spots in West Bengal

This state of east India attracts tourists from all over the country. The diversified physical features of the place make West Bengal a favorable tourist destination. Be it mountains or lush green forests, sea beaches or places of worship, the state has all. Some of the major places of visit in the state are as follows:

Bankura

This district is said to be decorated by nature's own hands. The brown hills and gleaming rivers makes the place a famous tourist destination. The age old temples are the specialty of the place. Names of some of the famous places of visit in this district are given below:

Biharinath Hill
Jhilimili
Kalachand Temple
Rasmanch
Shyam Roy Mandir
Madanmohan Mandir
Chhinnamasta Mandir
Malleshwar Temple
Susunia Hill

Darjeeling

Known for its tea gardens, this district of the state is a place of natural beauty. Crowned by the great Himalayas, this is among the world's magnificent hill stations and is called the "Queen of Hill Stations". Apart from trekking, one can even enjoy the toy train meandering through the lush green hills.

Kolkata

Being the capital city of the state, this place has got many tourist attractions. Following are some of the tourist attractions located in the "City of Lights":

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple
Hoogly Bridge
Indian Museum
Nakhoda Mosque
Nehru Children's Museum
Nicco Park
Princep Ghat
Science City
Victoria Memorial Hall
Zoological Garden

Jalpaiguri

This narrow land lying in between Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas as well as the Gangetic plains of Bengal is a land of nature and forests. This place is known for being the location of a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Following are some of the famous tourist spots in the district of Jalpaiguri:

Buxa National Park
Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary
Dooars
Gorumara National Park
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary
Mahananda Sanctuary

Murshidabad

This is a place of historical importance. This area used to govern all the proceedings of the eastern India during the 18th Century. To name a few of the places to see there are:

Hazarduari Palace
Nizamat Imambara
Katra Mosque

Other tourist attractions

To name a few other places those are worth visiting in this state are:

Ayodhya Hill
Bandel Church
Cooch Behar Palace
Curzon Gate
Digha Beach
Gandhi Ghat
Indian Botanical Garden
I. S. K. C. O. N. (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temple at Mayapur
Kantanagar Temple
Raiganj Bird Sanctuary
Santiniketan
Sunderbans National Park

How to Reach West Bengal

This state, being one of the major states of India, can be reached from both national and international destinations by the following modes of transport:

By Rail: The city of Kolkata is the head quarter of the eastern as well as the south eastern divisions of the Indian Railways. Howrah Railway Station, Sealdah Railway Station and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station are some of the major railway stations in the state, which connects the place to the other parts of the country. Following are some of the trains serving this state of India:

Coromandel Express
Duronto Express
Gitanjali Express
Howrah Mail
Kolkata Rajdhani Express
Sealdah Duronto Express
Sealdah Rajdhani Express

By Air: The state has got 2 airports, one domestic and one international, which are located at Bagdogra and Kolkata respectively. Names of those airports are Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Bagdogra Airport. Flights operated by some of the key players like Air India, Druk Air, Biman Bangladesh, Emirates, Silk Air, Air Asia etc. serve the international customers whereas those flied by Air India, Indian Airlines, Indigo, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Spicejet serve the domestic travelers.

By Road: The state of West Bengal has got an extensive network of State Highways as well as National Highways that link the place to the neighboring and distant states of India. The highways passing through the state are:

State Highways: S. H. - 1 to S. H. - 12, S. H. - 10 A and S. H. - 12 A National Highways: N. H. - 2, N. H. - 6, N. H. - 31 A, N. H. - 31 C, N. H. - 31 D, N. H. - 32, N. H. - 35, N. H. - 41, N. H. - 55, N. H. - 60, N. H. - 80 and N. H. - 81

Regular luxury and normal bus services are available from some of the major areas of the state. Those buses are run by the following:

C. S. T. C. (Calcutta State Transport Corporation)
N. B. S. T. C. (North Bengal State Transport Corporation)
S. B. S. T. C. (South Bengal State Transport Corporation)

Apart from that, one can even avail the rented taxis or tourist cars to travel within the state.

Last Updated on 01 February 2012

West Bengal