Popular places of kolkata

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and the second largest city in India (after Mumbai). If Bangalore is the Seattle of India, then Kolkata is the sub-contintent's London. It is an 'in your face' city that shocks and charms the unsuspecting visitor. Abject poverty mixes inexplicably with crumbling British Raj-era gems, sprawling gardens and historical colleges. Long known as the cultural capital of India, Kolkata continues to spawn generations of poets, writers, film producers and Nobel Prize winners. If your trip only allows for a visit of one or two of India's metropolitan cities, then definitely consider placing Kolkata on your itinerary. Love it or hate it, you definitely won't forget the city on the Hooghly.

The city sprawls along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, a tributary of the Ganges, which divides it from Howrah on the western bank. For travelers, the most relevant parts of Kolkata are south of the Howrah Bridge in the areas around BBD Bagh and Chowringhee.

South of BBD Bagh is the huge, lush, green, open parkland known as Maidan, it is Central Kolkata. Continuing south from here you will find - Eden Gardens, Akashwani Bhavan, Indoor Stadium, Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Calcutta Racecourse, Chowringee.

The Northern part of Kolkata houses the old buildings belonging to the Zamindars (Landlords) and 'Babus'(other rich Bengalis) who used to trade with the British. It preserves the cultural heritage of Kolkata. North Kolkata gives the unique character and charm to the city of Kolkata. The building structures, a beautiful fusion of Victorian and Bengali Architecture give an impression of the royal people who stayed there. River Ganga is the hot spot for the development of the North along with Kolkata. It is generally crowded and has some interesting markets including the famous Posta, Burrabazar whole sale markets, College Street Book market where you can trace many out of print books with a little patience. While in College Street a visit to the College St Coffee House is a must. Also around the area are the Calcutta Medical College, the Presidency college and Calcutta University. Other view points are Nakhoda Mosque, Shobhabajar Rajbari, Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Parashnath Jain Temple, Parashnath Jain Temple, Marble Palace, The Howrah Bridge, Kali temple of Dakshineswar.

Southern Kolkata is less congested and more modern. You will find more apartment blocks, more green spaces and more affluent homes. The Tollygunge Club, Rabindra Sarovar, Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Maulana Azad Museum, Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Tollygunge, The Birla Temple, National Library of India, The Kalighat Kali Temple.

Popular places of Santiniketan

Santiniketan (Santiniketôn) is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 km north of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). It was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, and later expanded by his son Rabindranath Tagore whose vision became what is now a university town, Visva-Bharati University. The town is home to Visva Bharati founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921. It was declared a central university in 1951. It has produced such diverse personalities as Indira Gandhi and Amartya Sen. It has been home to great artists and musicians.

Tagore's ashrama, Closed on Wednesdays. One has to walk through the area. Guides are generally available outside Uttarayan Complex/Rabindra Bhaban, otherwise one has to follow the crowd. The first building in the area was a guest house built in 1863 by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore. It was named Santiniketan and thereafter the entire place acquired that name. Hermitage created with a Trust Deed in 1888 by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore. The area has several buildings associated with the Tagores - Santiniketan building, Nutan Bari, Dehali etc. School classes and major functions are held in the Amra Kunja (mango grove). Some of the Visva Bharati institutions are also located here. Tourists are not allowed to stray into areas where outdoor classes are held as they disturb studies. Some distance away on the eastern side is a small hillock with a large banyan tree. It was a favourite of Maharshi Devendranath Tagore. Chhatimtala, Brahma Mandir, Upasana Griha, constructed in 1891. Look out for sculptures and frescoes of Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij and Binode Bihari Mukherjee, particularly around Kala Bhavana. Kalo Bari beside Sangeet Bhavana is interesting.

Uttarayan complex, Closed on Wednesdays. The complex has several buildings associated with Tagore's memory - Udayan, Konark, Shyamali (mud hut), Punascha and Udichi. The complex has well-laid out gardens.

Rabindra Bhaban Museum, Open on working days from 10:30-16:30. Open on Sundays. Closed on Wednesadys. The house is called Bichitra. Constructed in Tagore's birth centenary year 1961. There are original manuscripts, letters, documents, medals (including Nobel Prize medallion), plaques, certificates, paintings, photographs etc. During Poush Mela the place is over-crowded and queues for entry are long.

Khoai Mela, Amar Kutir, Kopai river, Shilpa Gram. Shilpa Gram is close to the Ballavpur deer sanctuary. It is designed very nicely and showcases tranditional handicrafts of eastern region (including Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Manipur, Andaman, Jharkhand etc). Each state is represented by a traditional house which has collection of paintings, articrafts etc.

Visiting points of Visva Bharati - Cheena Bhavana, Hindi Bhavana, Nippon Bhavana, Kala Bhavana, Patha Bhavana, Sangeet Bhavana, Vidya Bhavana, Siksha Bhavana, College of science, Vinaya Bhavana, Siksha Satra, Sriniketan Campus, This campus has two Bhabans. When Rabindranath started this Univertsity,he had two visions in his mind - one is spread of education and another is rural reconstruction. Sriniketan is campus for Rural Reconstruction. It offers B.Sc., M.Sc in Agriculture, BSW and MSW, masters degree in rural development, anthropology and CIT.

Popular places of sundarban

The Sundarbans is a vast forest in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal and considered one of the natural wonders of the world.The picturesque beauty of deltic land of an enigmatic beauty remains to be captured by the perennial arrival of tourist from different part of India and abroad. To be absorbed in the ecstasy of tidal ray of tourism. The Sundarbans etymologically named arrived form "beautiful forest” has been proposed that the name form primitive tribes of region ‘Chandra-bandhe’.Geographically situated in the gangetic delta formed with confluence of three rivers Meghana,Brahmaputra and Ganga. The Sundarbans is full of network of rivers, canals and islands. The beauty of hide-and-seek of tidal waves in rivers during the high tide disappears 1/3 of land and visibility of again soaked land once mold during low tide. This remains a routine practice almost every day. The Sundarbans area is widely spread with mangroves trees 10,000 km2 get to be observed else were in the world. In India’s jurisdictions, the Sundarbans comes in the state of West Bengal, the vast mangrove forest is a unique natural wonders of world and forms instruments of research like UNESCO World Heritage List. The land of flora and fauna of vast land also attracts characterised by the abundance availability of Sundari, Gewa, Goran and keora.

The region is also known to contain numerous wildlife species, birds and reptiles, including world famous big cat ‘Royal Bengal Tiger’ with Chital, Deer, Fishing Cats and Crocodile etc. The marine life with important fishes, crabs, amphibians, reptiles and all this mixed the land a wonder of tourist to satisfy their appetite and thrust of observation in the vast wild landscape and river belts. The mammals like Cheetal, deers, monkey, fisheagle and colourful migratory birds attracts the mind of tourists. The tiger of Sundarban definitely snatches the attention of viewers by having occasional glimpse of king of forest at the high tide during dusk when the great cat comes to drink the sweet water of rivers. The crocodile, the great amphibian remains mixed a part of delta, puzzles viewers attention as if a statue of alligator sleeping in the delta of river belts. Last but not the least the popular culture of Sundarbans with many Bengali folks and local dances, based on ideals, heroes, Gods and Goddess of areas like Bonbibi and Dakshinroy ,Manasa and Chandsadagar based of popular epics Manasamongala brings colour in the mindset of viewers with wonders and querry and enjoyment during lazy period at night and get a glimpse of history of Sundarbans with the tribal folk songs and folk dances.