Dighali Tourism Property I is a mere five-minute walk from the beach
One of West Bengal’s most popular tourist destinations, Digha in Purba Medinipur is indeed the Brighton of the east, for those who have heard of the famed English beach resort. There are several reasons behind the enduring popularity of Digha, but the principal factor is probably its accessibility from Kolkata, mostly by road, but also by rail.
The invigorating sea breeze, a walk along the beach at New Digha, browsing around the shops at old Digha, and snacking on fried fish on the promenade… all of it while staying at Dighali Tourism Property I (formerly Digha Tourist Lodge) run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, along with its sister property, Dighali Tourism Property II.
Those with first hand experience will know that the seaside is particularly beautiful in the monsoons, and Dighali Tourism Property I is a mere five-minute walk from the beach. So, provided it isn’t raining too hard, you can slip out for a walk any time.
Originally known as Beerkul during the time of Governor-General Warren Hastings (1772-85), Digha was ‘discovered’ by the British in the late 18th century, and Hastings himself described it as the ‘Brighton of the East’ in one of his letters to his wife.
English businessman John Frank Smith reportedly began living here in 1923, and his writings provided further exposure to what was originally a seaside village. In the 1950s, Smith convinced West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy to develop Digha as a beach resort. Today, an old church can still be seen near the Old Digha Main gate.
Dighali Tourism Property I is located close to most of Digha’s other principal attractions too, and offers 28 AC rooms, ranging from standard double rooms to second-floor suites. These suites offer a fantastic view of the sea, though the ground-floor rooms look out onto the casuarina plantations which line the beach, impeding a direct view of the sea. All rooms have private balconies, as well as all modern amenities. There is also an expansive green lawn decorated with lovely flowers and seasonal plants, with a play area for children. The property’s multi-cuisine restaurant looks out onto the beachfront.
Take in the beach at New Digha (2 km), and its Science Centre set up by the National Council of Science Museums. Also nearby is the fascinating Marine Aquarium and Research Centre, established in 1989 with the objective of displaying the marine biodiversity of the region and making people aware of its importance, as well as conducting research activities.
Yet another popular destination is the Chandaneswar Shiva Temple about 8 km away, close to the border with Odisha, and the Jagannath Deul at Dihibahiri about an hour and 15 minutes by road, where you can see the beautiful 16th-century shrine to the deity built by king Bhimsen Mahapatra of Odisha.
Digha can also be your base for day trips to nearby seaside locations like Shankarpur (15 km), Tajpur (19 km), and Mandarmani (30 km).
Dighali Tourism Property I is 182 km southwest of Kolkata by road, with the journey taking about five hours. There are government and private buses leaving at frequent intervals from various points in Kolkata, including the Dharmatala bus terminus. You may also drive down in your own or a hired vehicle.
For those wishing to make a train journey, there are a number of options from Howrah, including the Digha Duronto Express. The journey takes about three hours, and Dighali Tourism Property I is literally just 15 minutes from Digha railway station.
Kurseong is one of the oldest municipalities in West Bengal
Kurseong, whether in the sun or in the rains, is an experience worth writing a book about, as anyone who has been there will tell you. And your visit will only be made more memorable by a stay at the poetically named Roudra Chhaya Tourism Property (formerly Kurseong Tourist Lodge), run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDCL). The already beautiful property is made even more attractive by its restaurant, which offers a clear view of the world’s third highest peak, Mount Kanchenjunga. As a bonus, the restaurant serves the gorgeously flavoured and world renowned Makaibari tea along with another of its specialties, mouthwatering momos.
Not many perhaps know this, but Kurseong is one of the oldest municipalities in West Bengal. It became an independent municipality in 1879, and did not become a subdivision until 1890, when Darjeeling was formed as a separate district. Today, Kurseong town and municipality remain part of Darjeeling district, and the town also functions as the headquarters of Kurseong subdivision.
Blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year, Kurseong is 34 km from Siliguri, connected both by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or the famous toy train. The nearest airport is Bagdogra and the nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri. Nestled among the lower Himalayas and famed for schools such as Goethals, Kurseong offers plenty of natural beauty, particularly its waterfalls or ‘kholas’. That apart, it is close to such world renowned tea gardens as Makaibari and Castleton, which are important names on West Bengal’s tea tourism trail.
For Bengalis, Kurseong is also memorable as the town where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was interned by the British in the late 1930s. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and NSC Bose Institute of Asiatic Studies were later set up in a house belonging to Netaji’s elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose in the Giddhapahar area. The museum displays priceless artefacts related to Netaji’s life, including photocopies of letters between Netaji and his future wife, Emilie Schenkel, rare photographs of the Indian National Army (INA), and other memorabilia.
In order to truly enjoy all of this, you must stay at Roudra Chhaya Tourism Property for a few days, if only to enhance your Kurseong experience with the Makaibari tea and momos. In fact, so popular has the wooden-floored restaurant become that its 40 seats are quite often occupied by guests not even staying at the property. With a floor area of 57 sq m, it is open for service from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, and at a per head cost of only Rs 300, offers delicious fare at extremely reasonable rates.
Kurseong is 53 km from New Jalpaiguri junction, from where plenty of cars/jeeps are available. You can also travel from Darjeeling on the toy train, available twice a day. For those wishing to fly, the nearest airport to Kurseong is Bagdogra, about 40 km away.
For bookings and more details, do contact:
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. Udayachal Tourist Lodge DG Block (1st floor), Sec II, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700091 Phone: 033 2358 5189 Email: visitwestbengal@yahoo.co.in, mdwbtdc@gmail.com, dgmrwbtdc@gmail.com
What exactly does one do in Diamond Harbour? You may well ask if you have never been there. As is fairly common with people in general, we often end up ignoring attractions to which we have easy access. And since Diamond Harbour is a mere 50 km from Kolkata, many of us have probably never taken it seriously as a destination. However, take our advice and spend a weekend at this old riverside town. You will come away refreshed and charmed.
Located on the eastern bank of the River Hooghly at the confluence of the river and the Bay of Bengal, Diamond Harbour is a popular weekend destination, and the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation’s Sagarika Tourism Property boasts of the best location of all the accommodation options in the area, with all 36 of its rooms offering a panoramic view of the river.
If you choose to stay at Sagarika, you will have the luxury of lazing around in the spacious balcony attached to your room and gazing at the ships, trawlers and boats entering Kolkata and Haldia ports. The sunset too is spectacular from the rooms.
Located close to the Gangasagar delta, Diamond Harbour was formerly known as Hajipur, and given its present name by the British. It is here that the River Hooghly bends southward on its way to the sea. On the other side of the river is Haldia, to which you can take a ferry, and the road along the huge expanse of sparkling water is worth driving down any day.
Diamond Harbour was an important area for 16th and 17th-century Portuguese river pirates, the ‘harmad’ as they were called in Bengal. Even today, the ruins of Chingrikhali Fort, reportedly built in the 16th century by said pirates, are a must visit whenever you are in the area. Tourists also visit the Sarisha Ramakrishna Mission Ashram. Not to be missed is an old lighthouse, which offers a panoramic view of the entire area. Or you could simply sit on the riverbank and watch the boats. Or have a picnic if you wish, because a more ideal spot for a picnic would be hard to find.
The fully air-conditioned Sagarika has standard and deluxe rooms as well as suites, and the rooms provide absolute calmness and tranquillity, though they are equipped with all modern amenities including free wifi, intercom, TV, electric kettles, and geysers. Sagarika also has a wonderful tavern and an AC restaurant, which serves delicious meals, especially fish.
If you are there for the weekend, you could take in the township of Joynagar, about 15 km away. Joynagar is primarily famous for housing ancient manuscripts and stone idols linked to Lord Mahavira, Lord Buddha and Lord Vishnu. You may also make trips to nearby destinations such as Bakkhali, Raidighi, Gangasagar and Kakdwip.
How to get there
Sagarika Tourism Property is 46 km from Kolkata by road, and about 1.5 hours from Sealdah station by train. Once you get off at Diamond Harbour station, the property is just a three-minute drive away.
Known for its panoramic beauty and lush green tea gardens, North Bengal’s mystical ‘Chamurchi’, located on the Indo-Bhutan border, is every nature lover’s paradise. Situated 60 km from Jalpaiguri, this quaint little hamlet is a relatively less frequented tourist destination, perfect for those wanting to enjoy some quality time surrounded by hills, rivers, charming tropical forests, and pleasantly chilly weather.
Often described as the Gateway to Bhutan, Chamurchi is filled with awe-inspiring biodiversity, picturesque sites, and easy trekking trails. The ‘Musical Stone Cave’, located 3 km from Chamurchi along the banks of the river Diana, is one of the prime attractions of the area. As the name suggests, the cave generates musical tunes when a stone is tossed on the ground.
Bound by dense forests like Garuchira, Kalapani and Rohiti, Chamurchi is teeming with rich flora and fauna, and the fortunate tourist can sometimes stumble upon animals like leopards, elephants and gaur (Indian bison). The lush green sprawling tea gardens of Chamurchi are not only picture perfect but also enlightens one about the environment and conservation of nature. Tourists can make a day trip to the Bhutan gate which is one of the eighteen gates that mark the end of the Indian border and the beginning of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Those wishing to stay in Chamurchi can opt for the lovely eco-houses and camps that provide a breathtaking view of the serene and pristine beauty all around. Although there are multiple options to choose from, the Jalpaiguri Eco Resort is the most sought after for its stunning view of the hills and surrounding forests.
At around 650 km from Kolkata, Chamurchi can be visited during any time of the year but the best time is November to January, when the skies are clear and offer a stunning view of the spectacular Mt. Kanchenjunga.
For most of its lifetime, Gorumara National Park was actually called Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary. Properly speaking, it ought to have celebrated 70 years as a wildlife sanctuary, and 25 years as a national park, in 2020. Owing to the Covid pandemic, of course, any celebration that may have been planned has obviously been kept on hold.
The entrance of the Gorumara National Park
But this provides an excellent excuse to the ordinary tourist to visit this most interesting national park, which began life as a reserve forest in 1895. And which was granted the status of a wildlife sanctuary in 1949, owing to its breeding population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. By the mid-1990s, it had become a full-fledged national park, though its area was a mere seven sq km. Since then, it has grown to 80 sq km, which makes it a modest sized national park at best, compared to some others in India.
And yet, within this medium-sized radius, Gorumara is home to some of the richest and most di-verse forms of animal and plant life in the country. The park is the habitat of at least 50 species of mammals, more than 190 species of birds, more than 20 species of reptiles, seven species of turtles, more than 25 species of fish, and several other fauna. The only thing lacking, perhaps, are large carnivores, since the only big cat in the park is the leopard. However, the occasional Royal Bengal tiger has been known to stray into its radius.
Other than the rhinoceros which has given the park its fame, the other large herbivores at Gorumara are the gaur (the magnificent Indian bison), Asian elephant, sloth bear, chital (spotted deer), and sambar deer, the last being among the largest of the world’s deer species. That apart, there are smaller herbivores such as the barking deer (Muntjac), hog deer and wild boar. And among the smaller carnivores are various species of civets (called ‘bhaam’ in Bengali), mongooses and small cats. Among reptiles, two of the world’s largest non-venomous and venomous snakes – the Indian python and the King Cobra respectively – are to be found in Gorumara.
Gorumara jeep safari
Yet another unique feature of Gorumara is its status as a home to rare species, such as the critically endangered pygmy hog and the rare hispid hare. Moreover, there are numerous bird species to brighten up your trip, such as the scarlet minivet, sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher, spangled drongo, and Indian hornbill, not to mention numerous woodpeckers and pheasants. And living up to its reputation as a sanctuary for rarely seen creatures, Gorumara is on the flight path of the rare brahminy duck, along with other migratory bird species.
One other remarkable aspect of Gorumara is that it has been largely successful so far in enabling humans and wildlife to cohabit peacefully, without encroaching on each other’s territories. More than 10,000 resident forest villagers belonging mostly to North Bengal’s various ethnic communities earn a livelihood from assisting the Forest Department in its activities, and ecotourism.
The roadway to the forest
Geographically speaking, the park is located on the floodplains of the Moorti and Raidak rivers, though the major river running through the park is the Jaldhaka, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river system. This makes Gorumara a significant watershed area between the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems.
How to get there
The nearest airport is Bagdogra in Darjeeling district, about 80 km away. The nearest broad gauge train stations are New Maynaguri, New Mal and Chalsa, all in Jalpaiguri. The most Important nearby railway station is New Jalpaiguri, about 42 km to the south of the park. Driving or bussing it all the way from Kolkata is also an option, though the journey will take you nearly 16 hours if not a little more.
Moorti Tourism Property, Murti
Where to stay
The beautiful Moorti Tourism Property, run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, is just 11 km from Gorumara, offering fully air-conditioned accommodation. You may either contact the property directly at (+91) 9874053292 or murtitouristresort2015@gmail.com or contact
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd DG Block, Sector-II, Salt Lake Kolkata 700091 Phone: (033) 2358 5189, Fax: 2359 8292 Website: https://www.wbtdcl.com/ Email: visitwestbengal@yahoo.co.in, mdwbtdc@gmail.com, dgmrwbtdc@gmail.com
Bishnupur is the hub of terracotta or burnt clay architecture
Bishnupur, the temple town of Bengal, is all about an incredibly rich heritage, brilliant terracotta architecture, Bengal’s only Indian classical music gharana, and fabulous crafts such as the ‘baluchari’ sari, ‘Heemputul’ clay dolls, and the highly unique ‘Dashavatar Tash’, or playing cards made of clay.
Once the capital of the Malla dynasty beginning with Jagat Malla, the 10th king, Bishnupur became the hub of terracotta or burnt clay architecture owing to the lack of stones, the commonest construction material in ancient and medieval times. The quality of this architecture reached its peak in the 17th century, as Raja Jagat Malla and his descendants commissioned numerous temples and other buildings.
Experience all that and more on your trip to Bishnupur, and enhance your tourism experience by staying at West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation’s beautiful and comfortable Bishnupur Tourism Property (earlier Bishnupur Tourist Lodge), where tradition seamlessly meets modernity.
Apart from 24-hour generator facility, AC, attached bathroom, car parking, television, running hot water, intercom, laundry, restaurant, room service, and wifi services, you also get dedicated service with a smile, and sightseeing advice and help.
With or without help, you must not miss Rasmancha, the oldest brick temple in Bishnupur, established by King Hambir in 1600. The majestic temple is architecturally one of its kind in the country.
As for the oldest temple in Bishnupur, that would be the Mrinmoyee temple, established by King Jagat Malla in 997 AD, home to possibly the oldest organised Durga Puja in Bengal, dating back 1021 years. One of its unique rituals is the firing of a cannon at the sacred moment of ‘Maha Ashtami-Sandhi Puja’.
Yet another famed tourist destination is the Jorbangla Temple, commissioned by Malla king Raghunath Singh in 1655. An exceptional example of terracotta art, the temple is named ‘Jorbangla’ (literally twin Bangla) owing to its special ‘dochala’ (twin-spire) style. The stunningly detailed terracotta friezes portray scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Lord Krishna’s childhood.
The Shyam Rai temple was built by King Raghunath Singh in 1643, and is popularly known as ‘Panch-chura’ temple owing to its five pinnacles. It is one of the most popular attractions of Bishnupur owing to its breathtaking terracotta art on both interior and exterior panels.
Religious buildings aside, there is the massive ‘Gar Darja’, a gigantic gate that once supposedly formed the entrance to the royal kingdom of Bishnupur. Gar Darja was possibly part of a larger fortified structure, and still retains a huge terrace and secret chambers.
For history aficionados, a bonus attraction is the Acharya Yogesh Chandra Purakirti Bhawan, the local museum, which houses priceless and irreplaceable examples of the region’s archaeology, art and history.
For booking details and more relevant information, contact:
Its colonial past is certainly not the only heritage that Bengal boasts of
Heritage is about a sense of pride in one’s past, heritage is about aesthetics, heritage is about linking past to present. However, heritage can also be a prime revenue earner, thanks to heritage tourism. Indeed, there are states in India, and countries around the world, for whom heritage tourism is among the top revenue earners. And West Bengal’s diverse heritage makes it a prime candidate for this brand of tourism, both domestic and international.
To begin with, while the colonial heritage of Kolkata is frequently in focus, this is among the most recent chapters in the state’s history. The ancient and medieval heritage of Bengal lies in its districts, predating the British and other Europeans by centuries. In many areas of Bankura, for instance, evidence has been found of human habitation dating back to the Chalcolithic (Copper) and Mesolithic (Middle Stone) ages. Taken together, this means approximately between 8,000 and 3,000 years before Christ. That apart, there are at least three former capital cities of Bengal in three districts outside Kolkata – Murshidabad, Malda, and Nadia, ruled over by Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim monarchs during various eras.
Given this long and varied history, it would be a pity if you were to confine your travels to only a few areas. We thought of picking out some of the state’s top heritage destinations from the pre-colonial era and compiling a list to start you off:
MALDA
Renowned for its mangos, Malda was once known as Gour, the capital of Bengal, founded by King Shashanka in the 7th century AD. Today, the ruins of Gour are still seen in Malda district. Gour became known as Lakhnauti during the Sena dynasty, and gradually became synonymous with Bengal and Bengalis, until it was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate in 1204. In fact, ancient Gour and Pandua (Pundravardhana) are the two cities which formed the capital of Bengal in ancient and medieval ages and today they are equidistant, north and south, from modern day English Bazar.
You will also see remnants of Islamic architecture, dating between the 14th and 17th centuries, in Gour and neighbouring Adina. That apart, Pandua boasts the third largest concentration of ancient Muslim monuments in Bengal. Its landmarks include the Jami Masjid (1566) and the magnificent Nimasari tower across the river. The Malda Museum has a great collection of the region’s architectural and anthropological specimens. And then you have Baroduari or Boro Sona Mosque, Dakhil Darwaza, the 26-metre high Firoze Minar, Lukochuri Gate, Chika Mosque, and Kadam Rasul Mosque. In Pandua you will find the Kutubshahi Mosque and Eklakhi Mausoleum. And at Jagjibanpur (36 km from Malda town) are more ancient ruins, including that of a Buddhist monastery. Easily accessible from Kolkata by road and rail, Malda also offers excellent accommodation in the form of Amrapali Tourism Property (formerly Malda Tourist Lodge). For bookings, contact +91 97330 08792 or tourismmalda@kcbetasite
MURSHIDABAD
If you were to draw up a list of the architectural wonders of Bengal, Murshidabad district would probably top it. Remember, we are talking about a former capital of Bengal, before the British founded Calcutta and made it the capital. The story goes that Robert Clive, the man behind the East India Company’s takeover of India, was wonderstruck by the sheer richness of Murshidabad city, and exclaimed that he had never seen any city as grand, even in Europe.
There is so much to see that one trip may not be enough. Among the most notable attractions are Hazarduari (literally, thousand doors) Palace, built in 1837 by British architect Duncan McLeod for Najib Humayun Jah, a descendant of Mir Jafar. Also on your must visit list should be Katra Mosque, the final resting place of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan.
Be sure to drop in at Kathgola Palace, the ancestral home of the enormously wealthy Jagat Seth family, once known as ‘bankers to the world’. Neither can you miss Moti Jheel palace (where Siraj imprisoned his aunt Mehrunnisa for her links to the British), Nasipur Palace (built by Raja Kirtichand Bahadur, a businessman from Panipat who earned notoriety as a tax collector for the British), and Khosh Bagh (containing the graves of Nawab Alivardi Khan, his mother, Siraj-ud-Daulah, and his wife Lutfannessa). And your trip would be incomplete without a visit to Kashimbazar, and the royal palace of Maharaja Manindra Chandra Nandy. Further north is Kashimbazar Chhoto Rajbari, and ten Shiva temples near Katiganga. There are several other attractions such as Medina Masjid, Nizamat Imambara (possibly India’s largest), and Jafraganj Cemetery. Visitors to Murshidabad can use Bohor Tourism Property in Baharampur as their base to get around.
BANKURA
Most people tend to equate Bishnupur with Bankura, perhaps with good reason, but there is just so much more to see across this large and fascinating district. On the one hand, of course, there are the terracotta temples of Bishnupur, instantly recognisable for their distinctive and completely unique architectural style. Then there is the Bishnupur Museum, the repository of many of the district’s most interesting historical artefacts, with an entire gallery dedicated to the Bishnupur gharana, the only Indian classical music tradition born in Bengal.
But Bankura is also perhaps the most ancient part of Bengal, thanks to such locations as Susunia Hill, an ancient geographical formation located between Bankura and Purulia. Part of the Eastern Ghats, the hill is 10 km north-east of Chhatna, which is 13 km from Bankura town. Set amidst a spectacular landscape of lavish greenery and red soil, Susunia Hill rises to a height of approximately 1200 feet. It is popular for its archaeological artefacts, such as the mysterious plant and animal fossils scattered here and there, or the occasional discovery of ancient tools, and the ‘oldest’ rock inscription of West Bengal.
Bankura is once again easy to access by road and rail from Kolkata, and Bishnupur Tourism Property (earlier Bishnupur Tourist Lodge) is an excellent place to stay.
Since we don’t wish to spoil all the surprises for you, we have offered mere glimpses into the wondrous heritage of Bengal. The rest, you will see for yourself. For bookings and all relevant information, do contact
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
DG Block, Sector-II, Salt Lake Kolkata 700091 Phone: (033) 2358 5189, Fax: 2359 8292
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
In ancient times, the region that constitutes Birbhum now, was part of Rarh region (land of red and laterite soil) and a fringe area was in Vajrabhoomi (land of the thunderbolt), which was the eastern part of Chhotanagpur Plateau. It was in 1798 when the British formally set up Birbhum (‘Bir’ meaning brave and ‘Bhum’ which means land), the land of the brave. ‘Bir’ in Santhali means forest, so this could have been derived from Santhali language as well since the Santhal tribes have been living in this tract since pre-historic times.
About 25 km from Siuri, is a small hamlet Kochuighata, home to Mahali tribe. Locals identify the village as Mouli Para. The Mahalis originally hailed from Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh but relocated to Bengal and since then, have been living there for generations. The word ‘Mahali’ is derived from the Santhali word, ‘Maad’ (bamboo). In India, basket weaving is an ancient art. Indigenous communities developed special shapes and patterns of baskets based on their local traditions, needs and techniques.
The Mahalis are artisans and craftsmen who have been excelling in bamboo craft. They have been weaving bamboo baskets and other household items including items like mats, kulo, Jhanpi etc. Their conical baskets are used for carrying and square or round bottomed ones for storage. The jhanpi is a traditional sun-shade that continues to be the most well-known of bamboo items. Kulo is a bamboo tray used for separating chaff from grain and also used in almost all traditional Bengali festivals and occasions from wedding to pujo, from rice ceremony to Jamai sasthi. The Mahalis are equally adept at making stunning and innovative bamboo craft items.
There are sub-classes among the Mahalis based on their area of specialization and include Banshpada Mahali, Patar Mahali, Ghashi Mahali, Salyunki Mahali, Tanti Mahali, Munda Mahali, Oraon Mahali and Kol Mahali. Although their mother tongue is Mahali, which is very similar to Santhali, they are apt at adapting the local language and speak fluently in Sadri, Mundari and Bengali. Although the Mahalis celebrate their specific tribal rituals and festivals that include offering prayers to Borpahari and Manasa Devi, they are Hindus. Through generations, the Mahalis have relocated to different parts of the country over generations and have been flexible to changes, blending with the local culture, rituals and language.
As you enter the Mouli Para locality in Kochuighata, you will see both males and females are preoccupied dabbling with bamboo. The production of cane and bamboo articles involves the cutting of whole stems with a hack saw and slicing them into splits of various sizes using a bill hook or dao. Men usually handle this. The bamboo is then sliced longitudinally along the length of the densely packed fibres. Some are seen heating the cane on a slow fire for flexibility.
The craftsmen make objects in two different forms: some coil bamboo and cane for baskets and some weave painstakingly for mats. In coiled basketry, the foundation of the basket is built first by coiling a cane round a central core. It is built up spirally and gradually the width is increased until the desired height is attained. The coils are joined together by sewing strips which can be attached in two ways: each stitch passed over the new portion of the foundation coil. Thus coil material is sewn with the strips and a basket is made. Even the kids hover around their parents and playfully get their early training from the experts.
There are about 10 to 15 families, engaged in this craft. The Mahalis work in the agricultural sector for sustenance and hold on to their traditional craft. Phoolrani Mahali, an expert bamboo craftsperson says, “People admire and praise the bamboo products made by us. People from the cities also appreciate our craftsmanship. We make bamboo items not just as a means of livelihood but also because we love the craft. It gives us a feeling of fulfilment because we are keeping alive an ancient indigenous craft form through our work.”
Leading artisans are making diversified products which are marked by finesse and have good market. The craft has huge potential as it is eco-friendly, presentable, relatively cheap and light weight. However, due to lack of supply of raw material and easy availability of substitutes like plastic, the demand for bamboo products in the national and international market is quite low.
In a tropical country like ours, summer really isn’t the season for travel, or so says conventional wisdom. However, the advantage of living in a state like West Bengal is that you really need not travel very far away from home to find a destination of your choice – whether it is the seaside, or mountains, or forests, or places of archaeological and historical interest, or even places of religious interest.
With summer almost upon us, we thought it would be a good idea to present you with 10 of the state’s topmost summer destinations, in no particular order, but split up into two articles. So here are the first five:
Kurseong
Not many perhaps know this, but Kurseong is one of the oldest municipalities in West Bengal. It became an independent municipality in 1879, and did not become a subdivision until 1890, when Darjeeling was formed as a separate district. Today, Kurseong town and municipality remain part of Darjeeling district, and the town also functions as the headquarters of Kurseong subdivision.
Blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year, Kurseong is 34 km from Siliguri, connected both by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The nearest airport is Bagdogra and the nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri, about 45 km away. Nestled among the lower Himalayas and famed for schools such as Goethals, Kurseong offers plenty by way of natural beauty, particularly its waterfalls or ‘kholas’. That apart, it is close to such world renowned tea gardens as Makaibari and Castleton, which are important names on West Bengal’s tea tourism trail.
For Bengalis, Kurseong is also memorable as the town where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was interned by the British in the late 1930s. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and NSC Bose Institute of Asiatic Studies were later set up in a house belonging to Netaji’s elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose in the Giddhapahar area. The museum displays priceless artifacts related to Netaji’s life, including photocopies of letters between Netaji and his future wife, Emilie Schenkel, rare photographs of the Indian National Army (INA), and other memorabilia.
Set amidst the blue hills, Roudra Chhaya Tourism Property (earlier Kurseong Tourist Lodge) operated by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (WBTDCL) is an excellent accommodation option when you visit.
Mirik
Way back in 1969, the state tourism department began the process of acquiring 335 acres of land from Thurbo tea estate, adjacent to Mirik. In 1974, when Siddhartha Shankar Ray was chief minister of West Bengal, work began on developing this land into a tourist spot, to include Mirik’s famous lake, which is its principal tourist attraction. The complex around the lake was inaugurated by Ray’s successor as chief minister, Jyoti Basu, in April 1979. Tourism in the area has flourished ever since, thanks in large measure to Mirik’s lovely climate, natural beauty, and easy accessibility.
The centre of attraction as we said, is Sumendu Lake, surrounded by a garden named Savitri Pushpaudyan (named after Savitri Thapa, an INA martyr) on one side and pine trees on the other, linked together by a footbridge called Indreni Pool (named after Indreni Thapa, another INA). The nearly 3.5 km-long road which encircles the lake and is perfect for long walks, and offers a view of Mt Kanchenjunga on the horizon. Also on offer are boating and horse riding.
The highest point in Mirik is Boker Monastery, at an altitude of about 5,800 ft. The lake is Mirik’s lowest point, at about 4,900 ft. Mirik is 52 km from Siliguri city and about an equal distance from Darjeeling town. Bagdogra airport is also about 52 km away, and New Jalpaiguri adjacent to Siliguri is the nearest major railway station. A rudimentary bus service also operates from Mirik to Siliguri and Darjeeling, or there are plenty of shared cabs available for those so inclined.
Darjeeling
Not much can be said about Darjeeling that has not been said already. Suffice it to say that it has remained an eternal favourite with every category of tourist as both a summer and winter destination. Not for nothing has it earned the sobriquet, ‘Queen of the Hills’, and not for nothing are tourism and tea the two economic pillars of the area. The name ‘Darjeeling’ comes from the Tibetan words ‘dorje’ (thunderbolt) and ‘ling’ (place or land), meaning ‘land of the thunderbolt’, and Darjeeling’s long and chequered history is linked to that of Sikkim, the British East India Company, Nepal, and Bhutan.
As early as 1860, Darjeeling had already become an important tourist destination, and remains among the few locations in eastern India to draw large numbers of foreign tourists. In fact, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has long been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, only the second railway in the world to be thus honoured, and has been the subject of an award-winning BBC documentary.
In the 1980s and 2000s, the tourism industry was rocked by political instability in the region, but matters have improved since 2012. According to a survey published in December 2015, Darjeeling is the third most Googled travel destination in India.
It has also long been a popular filming destination for Bollywood and Bengali cinema. Satyajit Ray shot his film Kanchenjunga (1962) here, and his Feluda story Darjeeling Jomjomat was also set in the town. Big-budget Bollywood movies such as Aradhana (1969), Main Hoon Na (2004), Parineeta (2005) and Barfi! (2012) have also been filmed here.
The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation runs the beautiful Meghbalika Tourism Property (formerly Darjeeling Tourist Lodge) which offers excellent accommodation at extremely reasonable rates.
Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a town, municipality, and the headquarters of Kalimpong district. The district region falls under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and has become a popular tourist destination owing to its temperate climate, beautiful environment, and proximity to other popular tourist destinations in the region.
One of Kalimpong’s claims to fame is horticulture, which produces a wide array of absolutely stunning orchids. Its nurseries export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, all of which contribute to Kalimpong’s economy. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, another tourist attraction, houses a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.
Kalimpong’s town centre sits on a ridge connecting two hills, Deolo Hill and Durpin Hill, at an altitude of about 4,000 ft. Deolo or Delo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of about 5,591 ft, and is worthy of a trip in itself. Mt Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak at 28,169 ft, is clearly visible from Kalimpong, provided the clouds aren’t in the way.
Pedong
Pedong lies 20 km east of Kalimpong on the way to Lava at an altitude of roughly 4,0oo ft. The town, which is located on a ridge, commands a spectacular view of Mt Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan mountains. Pedong is also historically important as it lies on the ancient Silk Road, which connects India to Lhasa via the Jelepla Pass.
Near Pedong are the ruins of Damsang Gadi, a historical fort built in 1690 by the Lepchas. After the Anglo-Bhutan War of 1864, the fort fell into disuse and decay. Damsang fort is the only fort in the entire district of Darjeeling, and was home to Gyabo Achuk, the last Lepcha king.
Another attraction here is Cross Hill, featuring a cross erected by Fr. Augustine Desgodins in memory of evangelists who had gone missing in Tibet, in the hope that someday they may return. Cross Hill offers a superb view of the mountains facing it, as well as the borders of Tibet and China.
Also of interest is the Sangchen Dorjee Monastery, one of the oldest in the Pedong-Kalimpong region, built during Bhutanese rule in the early 1700s. It has now become the centre of Shabdrung Rimpoche (known as the ‘Dharma Raja’ of Bhutan). The monastery is an important pilgrimage for the Bhutanese and other followers of the Drukpa Khargu Buddhist tradition.
Villages near Pedong include Sakyong, Kasyong, Dalep, Kagey, Upper Menchu and Lower Menchu.
For visitors to both Pedong and Kalimpong, the WBTDCL’s Hilltop Tourism Property (earlier Hill Top Tourist Lodge) offers excellent accommodation.
For booking and other details of all the above locations, do contact
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. Udayachal Tourist Lodge DG Block (1st floor), Sec II, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700091 Phone: 033 2358 5189 Email: visitwestbengal@yahoo.co.in, mdwbtdc@gmail.com, dgmrwbtdc@gmail.com Website: https://www.wbtdcl.com/
Bengal Beckons 