East India - West Bengal
West Bengal covers the bottleneck of India in the east, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. It shares international boundaries with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, and national borders with Sikkim, Assam, Orissa and Bihar. The alluvial plain in the south is watered by the legendary River Hooghly and its tributaries, while the Himalayan north is watered by the swift flowing Tista, Torsa, Jaldhaka and Ranjit rivers. The terrain varies from the northern highlands at the feet of the Himalayas to the tropical forests of Sunderbans.
Bengal has a long history, that dates back to before the Aryan invasion of India. Known as 'Gauda' or 'Vanga' in ancient Sanskrit literature, Bengal had a well-settled civilization and culture when the Aryans came. It was an integral part of successive empires of the Mauryas and Guptas. It also had its own dynasty of independent rulers, the Palas, who extended the state boundaries considerably. The Senas and the Muslim Sultanate, who occupied Bengal, shaped its' distinct identity. Modern Bengal's history began with the advent of European and English trading companies. The end of British imperialism saw a divided Bengal in 1947, with East Bengal (now the sovereign state of Bangladesh) becoming a part of Pakistan.
The cradle of Indian renaissance and the national freedom movement, West Bengal has long been considered by many as the cultural centre of India. Its' artistic genius is reflected in numerous ways, in its theatre, folk music, literature, films and paintings. A land of aesthetes and political activists, West Bengal is famous for its many eminent writers, poets, artists, spiritualists, social reformers, freedom fighters and revolutionaries.
Cities
Kolkata
Kolkata, three hundred years old, traces its history to the landing of Robert Clive on the banks of the Hooghly beside three villages. Kolkata was the first headquarters of the East India Company, and it was from here that the British Raj was launched in India. However, the city's 300 years' of history has seen it host other communities - Chinese, Armenians, Jews - all of whom have left their imprint in pockets of Kolkata. If Delhi is the political capital of the nation, and Mumbai its financial capital, then Kolkata has long been acknowledged as its' intellectual capital. Poets, thinkers, writers and film directors of international renown hail from this city where avant garde plays and art exhibitions go on show practically every day of the year. Kolkata is a city with a soul and its' residents are passionately fond of it. Visit:
| • | Raj Bhawan, the residence of the Governor |
| • | Victoria Memorial, the city's landmark |
| • | Botanical Gardens, notable for the oldest banyan tree in the world |
| • | Armenian Church |
| • | Marble Palace, one family's collection of memorabilia |
| • | Birla Planetarium |
| • | Howrah Bridge, spanning the Hooghly River |
| • | Belur Math, headquarters of the twin organizations, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission |
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