Calcutta isn't an ancient city, infact, its largely a British creation which dates back only some 300 years and was the capital of British India until the beginning of this century.

Don't let the squalor of first impressions put you off this   city.   There   are   a lot of   jewels   to be discovered and

they're not far from the surface. However, Calcutta is not a good introduction to India is best visited after you've had chance to get used to some of the country's extremes.

The city is a hub of fervent activity in the realms of music, theatre, arts, and sports. Calcutta has always prided itself on the many luminaries it has sent forth. It is the commercial nerve -centre of the east, with major industrial plants, textile mills and corporate units. Regal edifices, grubby allays, bustling bazaars, elegant hotels, people from all Walks of life - Calcutta has it all.

Raj Bhawan, now the residence of the governor of West Bengal, is a splendid building. Birla Planetarium, one of the largest in the world. Botanical garden, a rare collection of plants and is famous for 200 years old banyan tree. Eden gardens with a tiny Burmese Pagoda on a picturesque lake. Chimsung; Bandel, a town inhabited by the portuguese. The Chandernagore city still retains the old world charm. It also has an interesting waterfront. Hooghly the first English settlement in south Bengal. It boasts of a splendid Imambara; Serampore and Kamarpuker.Belur Math, a Rama Krishna Mission headquarters. And the close-by temples on the river bank can be

visited. Kali Temple Rebuilt in 1809 on the site of a much older temple, Kalighat (as it is also known) is the actual temple from which Kalikata(anglicised to Calcutta) takes its name. Accoridng to legend, when Siva's wife's corpse was cut up, one of her fingers fell here. Since then it has been an important pilgrimage site. Mother Teresa's Hospital for the Dying Destitute is right next door to the temple and you are welcome to visit.

The temple is about two km directly south of St Paul's Cathedral and is easily accessible by metro (Kalighat station).

A bridge that crosses the river in a single 450m span-there are no pylons at all within the river.

The cantilevered bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu, is similar in size to the Sydney Harbour Bridge but carries a flow of traffic which Sydney could never dream of with a daily stream of nearly 60,000 vehicles, and pedestrians too numerous to count, it is the busiest bridge in the world.

Centre of India's most celebrated tea growing district, Darjeeling is nestled in a setting of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, Tibetan Monasteries, Himalayan Tribal life, Pine trees etc which maker her qualify as the queen of the hill stations.

Beach on the Bay of West Bengal.

This river-rain forest sanctuary is mostly covered with tall grasses. The wild life, in addition to the famous single horned rhinos, consists of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, deers, swamp deers, hog deers, wild pigs, bisons and a number of birds, pea-fowl etc.

Just 51.5 kms. east of Darjeeling, Kalimpong is an ideal place for a quiet holiday amidst gently rolling hills and deep valleys at the foot of the mighty Himalayas.

Siliguriis the entry point to reach to all of the tourist places in north and north-east India and out of india.

This mostly estuarine mangrove forest is the habitat of nearly 200 Royal Bengal Tigers.

Gangasagar for a holy dip on makar Sankranti.

An International University representing Indian traditions while incorporating the best of other cultures.

Terracotta, metalware and temples characterise Bishnupur.