MOST VISITED AND POPULAR TOURIST PLACES OF WEST BENGAL

 In this blog, I write about the most visited and best tourist places to travel to in West Bengal. Travelers have explored these tourist attractions in Bengal for millennia. They loved the mountains of the north of Bengal, the beaches beyond Digha, the overwhelming cultural presence in the city of Kolkata.

1. Mandarmani

While we discuss places to visit in West Bengal, it will just not be fair to not mention Mandarmani. It is a tranquil place with serene beaches. You can even spot red crabs on the beaches.

Best time to visit: October to May

2. Digha

Beach lovers in the state can never skip visiting Digha. The beaches in this town witness many tourists. You can even enjoy some of the exciting water sports here.

Best time to visit: October to March

3. Sunderbans

Sunderbans is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in West Bengal. Spread across 10,000 square kilometers, some of the areas of Sunderbans are in India, while some parts are in Bangladesh. This is the only mangrove forest in the world, where tigers can be spotted. A road trip to Sunderbans is a lifetime experience.

Best time to visit: September to March

4. Bankura

Bankura is known for its historical significance. The artistic face of this place is another thing that will make your trip to Bankura a memorable one. There are also some hills here where you can go for trekking and hiking. Some of the attractions here include Mukutmonipur Dam, Garh Darwaja, Ganesh and Nandi Statue, etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

5. Murshidabad

Located on the banks of River Bhagirathi, Murshidabad is known for its history. It is a great place for a road trip. The tourist attractions that you can take a tour of here are Hazarduari Palace Museum, Wasef Mazit, Jahankosha Canon, Nasipur Palace, Katgola Bagan, Matizil, etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

6. Hooghly

Hooghly is one of the places in West Bengal where you can still find the reminiscence of French, Dutch, and Portuguese. There are many places which you can explore in this beautiful city. Some of them are Chandan Nagar Museum, Hooghly Imambara, Garh Mandarin, Deer park, Sri Ram Krishna Math, Tarakeshwar Temple, etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

7. Kamarpukur

Kamarpukur is one of the famous tourist attractions in West Bengal. This is the birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. You can still find many pieces of evidence which will take you to the glorious past. While you are here, you can visit Jairambati Math, Gopeshwar temple, and Matri Mandir, to name a few.

Best time to visit: October to March

8. Malda

Previously called English Bazaar, Malda is the place you should visit if you are interested in history. The architectures of the monuments here are unique. Some tourist attractions are Dakhil Darwaza, Malda Museum, Firoz Minar Tomb, etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

9. Birbhum

Birbhum was ruled by many famous and brave kings. This is also called the land of red soil houses. When you are in Birbhum, you can take quick tours of Shantiniketan, Hetampur, Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Kankali Pith, and Dubrajpur, amongst others.

Best time to visit: October to March

10. Siliguri

Also called ‘Chicken’s Neck’ for connecting West Bengal to the North-eastern States, Siliguri is one of the most popular destinations for a road trip in the state. This town will offer you various attractions like Salugara Monastery, Coronation Bridge, Chilapata Forests, etc. While you are here, you can plan your trip further to the North Bengal hills and admire the beauty of nature. Do not forget to try mouthwatering street food here.

Best time to visit: September to April

11. Kurseong

Kurseong is one of the most beautiful hill stations in West Bengal. It has some of the best boarding schools and you can cover the town in just a day. The misty weather at this hill station will keep you pepped up. You can do a lot of shopping here and also try various Nepali cuisines. Tourist attractions that you can visit here are Eagle’s Crag, Ambotia Shiv Mandir, Deer Park, Churches, Forest Museum, etc.

Best time to visit: March to mid-June, October to December

12. Kalimpong

Fulfill your wish for a long drive route in West Bengal by visiting Kalimpong. The hill town is filled with good vibes. While you can try paragliding and explore flora and fauna here, you can also take a tour of Tharpa Choeling Gompa, Tongsa Gompa, Zong Dog Parli Fo-Brang Gompa, Dr. Graham’s Home, and Deolo Hill, etc.

Best time to visit: March to mid-June, October to December

13. Darjeeling

Perched at a height of 6,700 feet, Darjeeling is one of the most sought-after hill stations in the state as well as in the country. You can spend several days here and each day will mesmerize you. There are various tourist attractions in the hill station such as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Tiger Hill, Japanese Peace Pagoda, and Observatory Hill, to name a few. If you are staying back in Darjeeling, do not miss out on witnessing the splendid sunrise from Tiger Hill.

Best time to visit: March to mid-June, October to December

14. Dooars

Dooars region in West Bengal is the area where you will find the maximum number of tea estates. Some of the places that you can visit here are Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Teesta Barrage, Buxa Fort, etc.

Best time to visit: April to June, October to December

15. Santiniketan 

Santiniketan is also known as Rabindranath Tagore’s home. It is a university situated in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. This University is famous for art and literature. And, it is among the best visiting places in Kolkata. The peaceful and artistic environment of this place would make you feel delighted.