Calcutta is a good
starting point for your travels in eastern India.
The capital of the state
of West Bengal, Calcutta has a charm all its own. Imperial edifices, teeming
bazaars, clubs and golf courses, museums and elegant hotels and the River
Hooghly winding through the city are all part of its fascination. A good
time to visit Calcutta is during the Durga Puja in October/ November when
Calcutta is decked and decorated and is alive with good cheer and celebration.
Many of Calcutta's imperial
buildings are located around the maidan, a large expanse of lawns that
forms the heart of the city. They include the Victoria Memorial, an imposing
structure in white marble that has a collection of paintings, manuscripts
and memorabilia, the Fort William, the Raj Bhawan, the St. Paul's Cathedral
and the Town Hall built in the Doric style. Calcutta has a lively cultural
life and fine clubs. So see an art exhibition or two or go to the theatre.
Take a toy train to the magnificent
hill station of Darjeeling for an unusual travel experience. Admire
a panorama of some of the highest peaks in the Himalayan ranges. Go onwards
to Gangtok, the attractive capital of Sikkim.
Travel further north to the
lush Brahmaputra Valley to Assam. Explore the verdant unspoilt beauty of
the hill states of the north east Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur. There are exciting trekking trails
and colourful cultures to encounter and enjoy. Guwahati, set along the banks of the Brahmaputra, Shillong, a pretty
hill station in Meghalaya with its grassy downs and lakes are special destinations.
From Calcutta you can wander
off in the south eastern direction for a fantastic break to the spectacular
Andaman Islands - 300 odd islands in the Bay of Bengal with their
lush rain forests and sparkling beaches. You could go by air or take a
slow boat to the islands!
Along the coastline, south
of Calcutta is the magical state of Orissa. Splendid temples in the Nagara
style with tall shikaras or temple towers embellished with exquisite carving
are the main attractions of this state. The temple towns of Bhubaneswar
and Puri with Konark noted for its unusual Sun Temple, make
a marvellous circuit close to Calcutta.
Go west to the state of Bihar
for a gentle trail in the path of the Buddha. Ancient settlements- Bodhgaya,
the remains of the university town of Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali and
Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh evoke the life of the Enlightened One.
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