Birthday party on a boat or a heritage cruise, we offer the ultimate Hooghly experience

Welcome aboard for WBTDCL’s Experience Ganges package

Its rivers have always been Bengal’s lifeline, particularly the Ganges or Bhagirathi-Hooghly, as it is known in this part of the world. Both native and colonial settlements have dotted its banks since time immemorial, their fortunes rising and falling like the ebb and flow of the river itself. Thanks to the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited (WBTDCL) and its Experience Ganges package, you can witness some of this for yourself, from the comfort of your cruise boat.

WBTDCL offers this majestic experience, with three package options, on its very own vessel M.V. Sumangal, a double-decker (open upper, air-conditioned lower decks) with a maximum capacity of 80 guests, also perfect for small gatherings such as birthday parties, wedding parties for close friends and family, corporate meetings, conferences, dealers’ meets, etc, thanks to the great food and excellent ambience. So whether you go on a cruise or simply want an evening party, MV Sumangal is an ideal choice either way.

As most of us know, the early growth of European enclaves in Bengal began with the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century. Once the Portuguese had shown the way, other European powers made a beeline for this prosperous region, and the British eventually outlasted them all. Even today, up the river from Kolkata, you will find remnants of four major European settlements – Serampore (Danish), Chandannagar (French, who called it Chandernagore), Chinsurah (Dutch), and Bandel (Portuguese).  These, apart from the British cantonment of Barrackpore, which predated Kolkata.

Moreover, the banks of the Hooghly are also home to some of the most prominent religious institutions of Bengal, notably Dakshineswar Temple and Belur Math. And all of this is covered by the Experience Ganges tour, thanks to a combination of bus and ferry. Briefly, the package options are as below:

Three days, two nights

Day One

Tourism Centre Kolkata – by AC bus – Mangaldhara Tourism Property (Barrackpore) – by AC bus – Belur Math – by vessel – Dakshineswar Temple – by AC bus – Mangaldhara Tourism Property (night stay)

Day Two

Mangaldhara Tourism Property – by vessel – Chandannagar – by AC bus – Bandel – by AC bus – Chandannagar – by vessel – Mangaldhara Tourism Property (night stay)

Day Three Mangaldhara Tourism Property – by AC bus – Tourism Centre Kolkata

Two days, one night

Day One

 Mangaldhara Tourism Property (Barrackpore) – by AC bus – Belur Math – by vessel – Dakshineswar Temple – by AC bus – Mangaldhara Tourism  Property

Day Two  Mangaldhara Tourism Property – by vessel – Chandannagar – by AC bus – Bandel – by AC bus – Chandannagar – by vessel – Mangaldhara Tourism Property

Day trip

Barrackpore – Dakshineswar – Belur Math – Barrackpore (AC bus and vessel)

For cruise package details as well as bookings for MV Sumangal, do get in touch with

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd

DG Block, Sector-II, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091

Kolkata’s Durga Puja, a festival like no other

How important is Durga Puja to Bengal? Let us begin the answer with a bit of history. Nearly 280 years ago, Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar or Bhaskar Pandit, the dreaded chief of the Bargi (Maratha) invaders, began a Durga Puja in Katwa in Bardhaman district, about 140 km from Kolkata, where the Bargis had set up a strong encampment. Here was a man whose stated intention was to plunder and loot Bengal, and yet he was actually organising a quintessentially Bengali festival in what had become ‘his’ area.

That is how important Durga Puja always has been in Bengal, since time immemorial. Incidentally, ‘Bhaskar Panditer Pujo’ continues to be performed in Katwa today, in front of the ruins of the temple in which the Bargi commander had begun his puja.

No surprises then, that on December 15, 2021, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) accorded ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH) status to Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal’s capital city Kolkata. As the ICH website’s homepage puts it, “Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers. The festival is characterized by large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the goddess. During the event, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators walk around to admire the installations.”

On a social, cultural, and artistic level, Durga Puja is perhaps unlike any other religious festival in India. The underlying idea is to celebrate the homecoming of the goddess Durga as she makes her annual visit to her parents’ home with her four children Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Kartik, but in practice, it is the biggest socio-cultural festival of Bengal, cutting across all barriers. It is indeed a cultural heritage that has only grown stronger with every passing year.

According to most scholars, Durga Puja in Bengal dates back to the medieval era (at least 11th century AD), though Bengal broke with tradition by performing the ritual in Autumn, whereas it was originally meant for Spring. Apparently, the unseasonable ritual was begun by Lord Rama, hero of the Ramayana, when he performed the puja in Autumn as part of his war against the demon king Ravana. Initially the preserve of rich aristocratic families, Durga Puja in its present form probably began in Bengal in the 16th century, when renowned zamindar Raja Kangsanarayan organised a lavish festival at a cost of nearly Rs 8 lakh at Taherpur in Nadia district towards the end of the century.

Other landed aristocrats followed in his footsteps. In 1606, a Puja was organised by Bhabananda Majumdar of Nadia, an ancestor of the celebrated Raja Krishnachandra Roy. Kolkata probably got its first Durga Puja in 1610, courtesy Laxmikanta Majumdar, the founder of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family. This family is inextricably linked to the founding of Kolkata, since it was from them that the British East India Company acquired the rights to three villages – Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata – which went on to become the city of Calcutta, later Kolkata.

In 1790, Guptipara in Hooghly district saw the first barowari (community) Durga Puja as opposed to a private residential puja. The community puja arrived in Kolkata in the early 20th century, and in the 1920s and 30s, became a highly visible platform for demonstrations of nationalism and patriotism, led by such iconic freedom fighters as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Gradually, Kolkata as the state capital began to overtake the districts as far as grandeur and lavishness goes.

Today, Durga Puja in Kolkata involves spectacular displays of creative fervour, thanks to the rise of ‘theme pujas’, where everything from the temporary pandal housing the goddess to the idols themselves adhere to a specific theme. Celebrated art designers, lighting experts and sculptors are often roped in to create the pandals, illuminations, and idols, with several organisations handing out awards for all aspects of the festival, from idol to environment-friendliness. For five days beginning with Sasthi and ending with Dashami, Kolkata comes to a standstill as millions of people throng the pandals in their colourful festive finery. The streets are crowded at all hours, and the city takes on the air of a joyful carnival, thanks to the hypnotic rhythms of the ‘dhaak’, a traditional Bengali drum.

To someone who has not witnessed Durga Puja in Kolkata, the sheer frenzy is hard to put into words. We invite you to come and see for yourself!

This Puja, rediscover Bengal

The ‘travel-crazy Bengali’ has long been a well established identity. So much so that tour guides in many parts of the country actually speak quite decent Bengali, simply because they cater to such a large number of tourists from our state. And at no time of the year is this travel frenzy more pro-nounced than during the Puja vacations. Not only does Mahalaya signal the beginning of the countdown to Durga Puja, it also sets us on our marks for that family trip to wherever we plan to go.

Under normal circumstances, that is. This year, of course, is not normal. But instead of sitting at home lamenting the vacation that will not be, here’s a thought: why not explore your own state in-stead of sighing over distant lands? Think about it, no air or rail travel, no big budget to be set aside, a fun road trip from start to finish, and incredibly beautiful destinations rich in both natural and architectural heritage waiting for you. So why not rediscover Bengal this Puja?

With the gradual opening up of the travel and tourism sector, the West Bengal government has re-opened the doors to 21 of its tourism properties across the state. Before we proceed, here they are:

 Aranya Tourism Property, earlier Jaldapara Tourist Lodge

Dighali Tourism Property, earlier Digha Tourist Lodge

• Shoilpik Tourism Property, Durgapur, earlier Pathik Motel

• Teesta Sundori Tourism Property, Jalpaiguri, earlier Teesta Paryatak Abaas

• Balutot Tourism Property, earlier Bakkhali Tourist Lodge

• Bishnupur Tourism Property, earlier Bishnupur Tourist Lodge

• Dinantey Tourism Property, earlier Raiganj Tourist Lodge

• Meghbalika Tourism Property, earlier Darjeeling Tourist Lodge

• Moorti Tourism Property, earlier Moorti Tourist Lodge

• Mrittika Tourism Property, Medinipur (West), earlier Rani Shiromoni Paryatak Abaas

Bohor Tourism Property, earlier Baharampur Tourist Lodge

• Sagorika Tourism Property, earlier Diamond Harbour Tourist Centre

• Jhargram Rajbari Tourism Project

• Mangaldhara Tourism Property, Barrackpore, earlier Malancha Tourist Lodge

Also read : Majestic Himalayan villages of North Bengal open to tourists

• Muktadhara Tourism Property, earlier Maithon Tourist Lodge  

• Rangabitan Tourism Property, Sriniketan, earlier Rangabitan Tourist Complex

Tilottama Tourism Property, earlier Tilabari Tourist Complex

• Shantobitan Tourism Property, earlier Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

• Batabari Tourism Property, earlier Batabari Tourist Complex

Morgan House Tourism Property, Kalimpong, earlier Morgan House Tourist Lodge

• Kalighat Pilgrimage Facilitation Centre, Kolkata

As the list makes clear, from the Himalayas to the Dooars, from sea beaches to temples, from rhi-no reserve to bird sanctuary, you can take your pick. All destinations are well connected by road, and for those unable to use private transport, there are plenty of buses leaving Kolkata at regular intervals. For longer trips, you have the additional advantage of stopping midway and taking in a bonus destination.

For bookings and details on individual locations, either visit the government’s tourism department website, or contact:

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
DG Block, Sector-II, Salt Lake
Kolkata 700091
Phone: (033) 2358 5189, Fax: 2359 8292
Email: visitwestbengal@yahoo.co.in, mdwbtdc@gmail.com, dgmrwbtdc@gmail.com

Read more: https://www.getbengal.com/details/this-puja-rediscover-bengal