Best Places to visit in West Bengal during Spring!
Spring has arrived!
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The time of the year when God decides to bring out the painter inside her. Using nature as her canvas, she paints it with the most magnificent hues lending it a charm that enchants the eyes of the beholder. Life seems enriched by the magic of her brush. Happiness spreads its fragrance all around. Plants grow new leaves, flowers blossom, birds start singing and even the most melancholic of poets weave joyful verses by the flow of their ink. There is something special about this season that makes it a favourite for everyone. Tagging along with the joy of spring is the desire to travel and explore new places. The soul yearns to experience nature in its most exotic form.
The land of Bengal has all the nutrients required to nourish the soul and satiate its urge of exploration. The whole spectrum of the beauty of nature manifests itself in utmost grandeur during the months of spring. A visit to these places is a must if you are looking to enliven your spirit
Without further ado, let’s take a look at them.
1. Darjeeling
Originally set up as a sanatorium by the British in the 19th century, this beautiful town in the lap of the Kanchenjunga has metamorphosed into one of the most picturesque tourist destinations in Bengal. Snow-covered peaks, tea gardens, bird watching, etc make for an exciting trip. The mall in Darjeeling is a haven for shoppers and is a hub of activity viz. music and dance performances representative of the local culture and traditions. In addition to the local places, there are some great places on its outskirts like Ghum, Kurseong, Mirik, etc which are equally scenic in their own right and deserve a visit. Last but not the least, the toy train ride from Siliguri to Darjeeling is a memorable experience in itself that should not be missed.
2. Kalimpong
A small hill town that seems to jump right out of the pages of a novel, Kalimpong is famous for its panoramic valley views, Buddhist monasteries, churches, and Tibetian handicrafts. According to the Lepchas, the original settlers in this area, Kalimpong means “the ridge where we play”. The name comes from the time when the local tribesman organized games and sports when they were not engaged in agriculture. A discussion on Kalimpong is incomplete without delving into the availability of local Tibetan cuisine. Momos, Thukpas, soups, noodles, etc. prepared with authentic traditional methods not only whets your appetite but also nourishes your soul making for a wholesome meal indeed.
3. Cooch Behar
Once a princely State, Cooch Behar is known for its fine climate, natural freshness, and beauty. The architecture of this place is reminiscent of the craftsmanship of the sculptors during the glory days of the ancient kingdom of Kamprup. The main attraction in Cooch Behar is the palace of the Koch king Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Designed to resemble the classical European style of the Italian Renaissance, this magnificent palace was built by the Maharaja in the late 19th century. Cooch Behar also houses a significant population of migratory birds that assemble in Rasik Bill, a famous water body in the area, every year. Bird watching and Nature Walk have become associated with Cooch Behar that making it really attractive for the tourists.
4. Murshidabad
The former capital of West Bengal, this unique city owes its nomenclature to the last nawab of Bengal, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula, who named it so, to honour the memory of his grandfather Nawab Murshid Quli Khan. Murshidabad is an important place in the history of Bengal and the city has preserved its heritage to a large extent making its past a very important part of their living present. The architecture of the palaces and tombs, the Nawabi touch in them make for a time-travelling experience. Situated on the banks of Ganga, this city has fairly pleasant weather in spring with a beautiful breeze from the river to keep you company at all times. The places of importance are Hazar Duari palace, Nizamat Imambara, Jahan Koshka canon, etc.
5. Sunderbans
The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gets its name from one of the mangrove plants known as Sundari. Located on the outskirts of Kolkata, It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise. Apart from being the unique largest mangrove ecosystem of the world, the Sundarbans has the world’s largest deltaic mangrove forests and is also home to one of India’s most iconic wildlife species — the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is also the world’s largest estuarine forest crisscrossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries, intersected by a network of tidal waterways, small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and mudflats. Sundarbans have also been enlisted amongst the finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
6. Digha
Digha is the most popular sea beach in West Bengal. Digha has a low gradient with a shallow sand beach that extends up to 7 km in length and has gentle rolling waves. The scenic beauty of this place is charming and alluring. The beach is girdled with casuarinas plantations along the coast which enhances its beauty. Apart from beautification these trees also help in reducing erosion of the dunes. One can enjoy both the sunrise and sunset at the Digha sea beach. The sunset and sunrise reflecting the salty waters of the Bay of Bengal is something straight off an artist’s canvas. The sea at Digha is calm and shallow for about a mile from the beach making it quite safe for swimming.
7. Shantiniketan
A haven of intellectual freedom in Bengal, Shantiniketan, meaning abode of peace, was set up by Rabindranath Tagore to actualize his idea of having a schooling system on the lines of the Gurukul model of education. Consequently, every street of this beautiful city emanates an aroma of artistic creativity. A strong sense of Bengali culture reverberates in this town which can be felt once you set foot. Shantiniketan is adorned with some enchanting places like Visva Bharati, Kopai River, Deer Park, etc. Lastly, Basanta Utsav or Dol is celebrated with great fervour here. People from all sections of society irrespective of their socio-economic standing congregate to celebrate the festival of colours, making a sight to behold for the onlooker.
The rich variety of natural beauty that this land possesses creates a unique flavour within itself which provides for an enchanting experience. So pack your bags, wear your travel shoes and get ready to visit Bengal.
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