CALCUTTA - Gateway to the East
State
Capital of West Bengal. At the beginning of this century, Calcutta was
the capital of British India. The city is famous for its culture; films,
poetry, art and dance. The Victoria Memorial is a splendid architectural
monument in, white marble, modeled after the Taj Mahal, was built in the
memory of Queen Victoria. Victoria Memorial houses a fantastic collection
of rare memorabilia from colonial days. Brass cannons, wrought
iron street lamps and imposing statues recreate history.
With an overwhelming 10 million people, Calcutta is busy and bustling. Something is always happening - whether it is soccer, religious celebrations, concerts, theatre or a political demonstration, Calcutta is always on the move.
HOW TO GET THERE :
By Air : The city is serviced by 11 international
airlines from both the east and the west, apart from Air India and the
country's domestic airlines.
By Rail : Calcutta is a major railhead and is linked to all parts
of the country by an extensive network of trains. The two important stations
are Howrah and Sealdah. Local trains are best for connecting to
nearby places
By Road : Calcutta is well connected by road.
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EXCURSIONS :
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| Shantiniketan
: The Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore's vision of an academic
institution, both universal and in harmony with nature, began here
in 1901. Open-air classes, sculptures, frescoes and murals - Shantiniketan
has emerged as a unique university town. There's a museum and an art
gallery within the Uttarayan Complex where Tagore lived. Four km from
Shantiniketan is Sriniketan, started as a project to revitalise traditional
crafts, suchras kantha embroidery, weaving, batik and pottery.
HOW TO GET THERE : 210 km from Calcutta. Connected by rail and road to Calcutta.
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| Capital
of the Malla kings, from the 8th to the 18thcentury,
Vishnupur is an important
cultural centre. It has a distinct style of temple architecture, with
ornate facades covered with terracotta tiles depicting lively scenes
from Hindu mythology.
HOW TO GET THERE : 152 km from Calcutta. Connected by rail and road to Calcutta.
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One of the important peaks, Susunia hills (a little away from Vishnupur), rising to a height of 440 metres, is a challenge to trekkers and rock-climbers. The rock inscriptions of Chandra Varma dating to the 4th century A.D. is an interesting feature of Susunia. |
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Easily accessible from Vishnupur is Purulia. The land of Santhal tribes, unique for its Tusur song festival and masked Chhau dance. In August, the Jhapan Festival, held in these parts, draws snake charmers to honour the goddess Manasa who is central to the cult of snake worship. |
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Last modified: 26/02/2004