Top 2 places to visit in West Bengal
West Bengal is one of the largest states in India often recognized by its cultural value. Known for its rich artistic background; it is the state of famous poet Rabindranath Tagore, the first Noble prize winner of the Asian Continent. It is the state of famous musicians like Salil Chowdhury. Often this cultural value of Kolkata stays in our mind and we overlooked its tourism prospects. But the fact is that West Bengal is equally rich in terms of tourism. There are many tourist spots that you may consider for short or long trips. Here is the description of two such places.
Sundarbans
The name means “Beautiful Forest”. Stretching around 10,000 square kilometers at the mouth of Ganges and Brahmaputra River, it is the largest Delta of the world. Famous for its Royal Bengal Tiger and Mangrove forest Sundarban National Park is one of its kinds in the whole world. It is also a place of immense tourist attraction. A boat ride through the water ways of Sundarban is really enjoyable.
Fees
The entry fee of this national park is Rupees 15 for Indians and Rupees 150 for the foreigners. Also, the foreigners have to provide their passport for identification. The other fees include 300 rupees for video camera, 100 rupees for a boat on per day basis and 200 rupees for a guide.
Accommodation
You can have a private boat cruise around the Mangrove forest or can stay in the Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, operated by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation.
There are also many private hotels and resorts that can be considered as good options.
Kolkata
The capital of West Bengal and also the cultural hub of the state have some places of great tourist attraction. Here, in this city you can find tram car network, only one in whole India and it adds a special value to this city. Not only for visiting; the place is also famous for its mouth-watering Bengali Cuisine. Who can avoid the well-known Bengali fish curry and misti Doi (sweet curd) here in Kolkata! If you are an avid shopper then Kolkata have some fine options for you. In that case, a day tour to New Market and Park Street area would be great for you. If you love to visit educational places then there are Indian Museum, Botanical Garden, Birla Planetarium for you. The tourists with a special attraction for history and culture can count on Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Victoria Memorial, National Museum, Academy of Fine Arts and Nandan.
The best way to roaming around Kolkata is by a private cab. There are also numerous private and government organized bus service to travel around the city.