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West Bengal
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The mighty Ganges (called the Hooghly in Kolkata)
flows through Kolkata is a source of inspiration
to many poets still, as it was to Josb Charnok,
East India Company agent, who reached the shores
in August 1690 finally, to settle here.
Formed out of the integration of three villages
i.e. Sutanati, Gobindpur and Kolikata, Kolkata
has aged to approximately around 300 years. It
was aptly the capital of undivided Bengal in the
olden days and also the main capital during the
times of the British Raj. Kolkata, on the east
bank of river Hooghly, still retains its old world
charm along with moving ahead with technology.
The lingering nostalgia of olden days, the present
interweaving with the past making it an unforgettable
experience.
Kolkata is world renowned for its culture, adherence
to tradition and maintenance of its rich heritage.
The Durga Puja festival is celebrated with such
fan-fare in each and every by-lane Kolkata celebrating
triumph of Good over Evil. Kolkata can also be
stated as the gateway to Eastern India providing
an eye opening experience to all who visit it.
Also Kolkata can boast of five Nobel laureates
- Ronald Ross, Sir C.V. Raman, Rabindranath Tagore,
Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen emerging from its
rich culture to make their mark on the world map.
Kolkata played an important role in the freedom
struggle of India giving birth to valiant freedom
fighters and has been the nerve centre for social
reforms.
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West Bengal Coastline
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Experience
tranquility and serenity on the exotic beach resorts
developed along the rich Coastal strip of West Bengal,
extending from the Gangetic delta land to the border
with Orissa. Long unending beaches with gentle rolling
sea lined with Casuarina forests will make it an
unforgettable experience for you.
A number of sea resorts viz Digha, Shankarpur, Junput,
Bakkhali, Sagardwip have sprung up on the East coast
of Bengal. |
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Wildlife of Bengal
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World heritage
site - Sunderbans located in West Bengal offer sanctuary
to many a exotic flora, fauna and migratory birds.
Rich mangroves are an open invitation to the inquisitive
nature lover with the myriad possibilities of wild
life that it breeds. It is also home to the world
famous Royal Bengal Tiger.
The world's largest delta is situated on the lower
end of the Gangetic West Bengal, 22.00° N -
89.00° E, is covered by mangrove forest and
vast saline mud flats. A land of 54 tiny islands,
crisscrossed by innumerable tributaries of Ganga,
that was once infested by Arakanese and Portuguese
pirates is now the abode of varied flora & fauna
population. 70 percent is under saline water makes
the life of commoners, mostly honey-catchers, prawn-catchers
and fishermen, very difficult. This is Sunderbans,
the world's largest estuarine forest with an area
of 9630 sq km.. |
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The undiscovered greenery
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Sunderbans, the
place that owes its name to Sundari trees, consist
of a large flora population like Genwa, Dhundal,
Passur, Garjan and Kankra. Apart from these trees,
impenetrable Goran trees between 1.8 mtr. &
3.6 mtr. high covers almost the entire region.
One of the most remarkable feature of this place
is the bayonet like roots of mangrove forests
that stick out above the water level.
You can explore unknown wildlife of Sunderbans
that harbour jungle cats, fishing cats, Axis deer,
wild boar, Rhesus monkeys, mongooses and the largest
estuarine crocodiles in the world along with the
majestic Royal Bengal Tiger.
Sunderbans is the breeding ground of immense variety
of birds like Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Fishing
Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Seagul, Tern,
Kingfisher as well as migratory birds like Whimprel,
Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Eastern Knot,
Curlew, Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Pintail, White-eyed
Pochard and also Whistling teal. Come and discover
wide variety of aquatic and reptile life forms
that include Olive Ridley sea turtle, hardshelled
Batgur Terrapin, Pythons, King cobra, Chequered
killback, Monitor and lizards including the Salvator
lizards.
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Best Season
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September-March,
provides the best period to be in the wildlife belt
of the region . Although the luxury tours to the
Sunderbans carry on the year round, and the monsoon
holds its own magic over tourists on the expanse
of the Sunderbans, September-March is the most likely
time for tiger-sighting.
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