West Bengal
The cradle of Indian renaissance, Bengal has long been considered the cultural centre of India. Running from the Ganges Delta in the south to the Himalayas in the north, it is a land of aesthetes and political activists. Calcutta (now called Kolkata), the state capital, is a city of contrasts. Expensive residential blocks border tenements and slums, and moss and mildew grow on the walls of Imperial colonial buildings in this cosmopolitan centre of creativity, art and literature.
South of Calcutta on the Bay of Bengal is Sunderbans, one of the largest deltas in the world and home to the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. To the north are flourishing mango plantations and jute fields, leading into the beautiful Himalayan foothills with tea plantations and hill stations, like Darjeeling, stretching as far as the eye can see.
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West Bengal
On the border between West Bengal and Sikkim, Kalimpong is a tranquil hill station at an altitude of 1250m, located on top of a ridge east of the River Tista. It has stunning mountain scenery surrounded by oak forests and an abundance of orchids, roses and dahlias. Kalimpong was once a stopping point on the trade route through the ‘three closed lands’ of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. The Buddhist monasteries in Kalimpong are bright and intriguing, housing a number of Tibetan manuscripts
Contact UsGangtok is the capital city of the Himalayan state of Sikkim, known for its flowers, particularly orchids, and its preservation of Tibetan culture through the many refugees who have been settled there for years. Located at an altitude of 1,547 metres, Gangtok has stunning views of the Himalayas, and is home to a number of important Tibetan monasteries and Buddhist sites. Once a sleepy little town that was considered very remote, it is now fast expanding into a bustling city, with busy markets and thoroughfares. Just minutes away from the vibrant centre of Gangtok are serene and beautiful spots overlooking the Kanchenjunga Range.
Contact UsSet against the stunning backdrop of the snow-clad Himalayan mountains, Darjeeling is the most important hill resort in Eastern India. It exudes old world colonial charm, and has a reputation for producing the ‘champagne of the west’, better known as Darjeeling tea. The pedestrianized town centre is dominated by the Mall, where you can stroll around and play with your own ideas of the ideal Victorian holiday resort. Nearby Tiger Hill offers a breathtaking view of the Himalayas which are particularly spectacular at sunrise.
Calcutta is a city of glaring contrasts, a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization. It represents a mix of East and West; a graft of a European city imposed on an Asian landscape that gives Calcutta its bewildering charm, confusion and excitement. Founded 300 years ago by the East India Company, this was the British capital until 1911. It is still the creative capital of India, promoting art, music and drama and drawing the best from performers and their fans. While here you must visit the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta's most imposing monument, opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj Mahal" of the British Raj. Other fascinating sights include St. Paul's Cathedral and the Indian Museum, with one of the best collections of Indian art in the whole of the subcontinent.
