West Bengal is a state in eastern India. With Bangladesh, which lies on its eastern border the state forms the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal. To its northeast lie the states of Assam and Sikkim, and to its southeast lies the state of Orissa. To the west it borders the state of Jharkhand, and to the northwest it borders Nepal. The region that is now West Bengal was ruled by small kingdoms as well as the Maurya empire and the Gupta empire. Between the 7th century and 12th century CE, the region was ruled by the Pala dynasty and the Sena dynasty, which were later overthrown by the Turkish and Afghan chiefs of the Delhi Sultanate. Under Jahangir, the reign of the Mughal empire was established in the area. The British East India Company captured the region following the Battle of Plassey in 1757 CE, and the city of Kolkata (then Calcutta) would serve for many years as the capital of British India. A hotbed for the Indian independence movement through the early 20th century, Bengal was divided in 1947 into two separate entities — West Bengal belonging to India, and East Bengal belonging to the new nation of Pakistan.
Ladies picking tea leaves at west bengal
Geography and climate :- West Bengal is on the eastern bottle-neck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the North to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The state has a total area of 88,853 km². The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region to the northern extreme of the state belongs to the eastern Himalaya. This region contains Sandakfu (3,630 m)—the highest peak of the state. After a brief Terai region starts the plains. The plains continues into the Ganges delta towards the south. The rarh region intervenes between the Ganges delta in the east and the western plateau and high lands. A small coastal region is on the extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangrove forests form the most remarkable geographical landmark of the Ganges delta.
You will never find a place like this anywhere else, lest one finds with a burning lamp. Coming to West Bengal, truly feels like a return to one's own home. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, the Bengali air will embrace you wholeheartedly, as soon as you will step down on the land of Rabindranath Tagore. It is easy to blend with Bengal's present save you keep your ropes tight. For this eastern state, moistened by river Ganges will take you swiftly to its colonial past - through the portcullis of Dutch and English fortifications, seeped in the glory of old Nawabs into an era that still basks in the ecstasy of Sri Chaitanya.
Once known as 'Calcutta', the riverine city of Kolkata has earned many sobriquets, including 'The City of Palaces' and the 'City of Joy'. This city definitely shows enthusiasm, gives its denizens a reason to live. Offering an easy blend of past, present and future, Kolkata grew up on the banks of the River Hoogly in the great Gangetic Delta, from three sleepy villages - Sutanati, Gobindapur and Kolikata - known for their artisans, into the nerve centre of the British Empire. The Colonial Raj aroma is strong here, and you can't miss the English fragrance still floating in the air. Start your Kolkata itinerary under the humoungus Howrah Bridge, the venerable cantilevered miracle of the 19th century. Go for a memorable boat cruise and you will be overwhelmed to see the brilliantly lit Vidyasagar Setu (the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world) dazzling like a beautifully dressed bride.
