5 Tourist Destinations In Bengal(India)

Well, the summers are here and we absolutely can't wait for our vacations to begin and start planning for tours! However, very often, due to board exams and other serious matters, it becomes a problem to go to far off places for long tours. So instead of dying out of boredom, you can have a look at the following places in Bengal to retreat for just a couple of days :

Darjeeling

A most scenic hill station in north Bengal located in the Lesser Himalayas. The Siliguri-Darjeeling toy train ride provides a fantastic view of the mountains. Trek up to the Tiger Hill from here to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises. The local momos and thukpa are some of the lip smacking dishes that you would not wish to miss. The Darjeeling tea is one of the most famous in the world.

Shantiniketan (English - the abode of peace)

It is a small town located in the Birbhum district. The Bengalis refer to the place as 'Lal Matir Desh' ( the land of red soil) for it's striking reddish terrain. The Kopai river which flows almost through the middle of the town provides a mesmerising view as various wild flowers grow along the banks and birds come to drink tje river water. The Shona Jhuri Haat, which is a weekly market, is something shopaholics won't like to miss as you can choose from innumerable traditional handicrafts, clothes(kurtis, wrappers, shawls etc.), portrait painters. The Visva Bharati University which attracts students fron across the globe was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagor, and later expanded by Rabindranath Tagor. The adjacent museum houses some of the used articles, gifts of the Tagor family. The local Rabri and Misti Dahi tastes delicious after a tiresome shopping experience.

Digha

A coastal town along the coast of Bay of Bengal located in the Midnapur district. You can avail some water sports like speed-boat rides and and parasailing, though it's not always available. You can also pay a visit to the local site scenes like the Amarabati Park and the Wonderland Kajal Dighi and enjoy a boat ride, and the Marine Aquarium and Research Centre. Not to miss the delicious sea fishes.

Sundar Bans (English : beautiful forests)

It is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Megna. It is the largest delta in the world occupying parts of both west Bengal and east Bengal (Bangladesh). The Royal Bengal Tiger is the exclusive tiger species found here along with other innumerable fauna including spotted deer, crocodile, birds etc. The place derives it's name from the Sundari tree found in the swamps. It is a perfect spot for nature and wildlife photographers.

Murshidabad

It is a historical city of great significance as it, once upon a time, was the Mughal capital of the Bengal region. The architectural beauty of the palaces ( Hazarduari Palace, Nizamat Kila), mosques (Katra Masjid) is of great prominence along with the glittering Moti Jhil.