NDTV had unveiled 7 wonders of West Bengal in 2009 based on the user polls. Here's the list of these wonders:
1. The Sundarbans
The world’s largest coastal mangrove forest of the Sunderbans is well-known for its ferociously beautiful Royal Bengal tigers, also famous as the “Man-eaters of the Sunderbans.” The Sunderbans spans large parts of the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh along the Bay of Bengal. The forests cover an area of about 4000 square km in West Bengal and another 6,000 square km in Bangladesh. Besides tigers, the Sundarbans also hosts a great diversity of birds and reptiles including crocodiles. Due to its ecological significance, the Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Ramsar Site of ecological importance.
2. The Victoria Memorial
Built between 1906 and 1921, the Victoria Memorial is one of the most notable symbols of the British colonial rule in India and one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal. The white marble building is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria and is currently a museum and tourist hotspot in the city of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The building of the Victoria Memorial was first proposed by the Viceroy of India, George Curzon in 1901. The foundation stone was laid by King George V (the then Prince of Wales) on January 4, 1906. The architecture of the building features different styles. The memorial is 338 ft long, 228 ft wide, and 184 ft high. It now hosts 25 galleries displaying artworks, sculptures, rare books, arms, and ammunition, etc., from different periods of Indian history. Well-maintained, beautiful gardens surround the memorial.
3. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Or ‘Toy Train'
Built between 1879 and 1881, the ‘Toy Train’ runs between New Jalpaiguri and the hill station of Darjeeling in north West Bengal. The 2 ft narrow-gauge line with 6 zig-zags and 5 loops run for about 88 km with elevation varying between 328 ft and 7,218 ft. Four modern diesel locomotives and vintage tourist trains run on the different routes in the DHR system including the most famous one that runs between the highest railway station in India, Ghum and Darjeeling. The headquarters of the DHR is located in Kurseong. The DHR is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Mountain railways of India.
4. Bishnupur Terracotta Temples
A town located in West Bengal’s Bankura district is famous for its beautiful terracotta temples. Bishnupur’s temples were built during the 17th and 18th century by the Malla rulers of Bengal who were Vaishnavites by religion. The temples are built of laterite stones that are locally available. Some of the famous temples in the town include the Rasmancha, Jor-Bangla Temple, Pancha Ratna Temple, Madanmohan Temple, and others. These temples of Bishnupur are also regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal.
5. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden with the Great Banyan Tree
The botanical garden in Shibpur, Howrah, was established in 1786 by Colonel Robert Kyd of British East India Company. More than 12,000 specimens of flora are spread across an area of 109 hectares. The botanical gardens are famous for The Great Banyan, a massive banyan tree which is believed to be the largest tree in the world and has a circumference of over 330 m. The area also hosts several types of orchids, palms, bamboos, and more. Animals like the Indian fox, India mongoose, jackal, etc., are often spotted in the botanical gardens.
6. Howrah Bridge
The icon of Kolkata, the Howrah Bridge is also one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal. The construction of the bridge was commissioned in 1943 and it links the two cities of Kolkata and Howrah. Although still popularly referred to as the Howrah Bridge, it is also known as the Rabindra Setu. It is one of the four main bridges on the Hooghly River, and the oldest among them. The Howrah Bridge remains ever busy with about 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians passing through it each day.
7. B.B.D. Bagh
Formerly known as the Dalhousie Square, and still popularly referred to by the same name, B.B.D. Bagh or Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh is Kolkata’s central business district and the state government’s seat of power. The area is named after three Indian freedom fighters. The B.B.D. Bagh is built around the old Lal Dighi tank. The B.B.D. Bagh houses many colonial-era buildings which now serve as the offices of many important public and private sector companies and departments. Some of the famous offices and buildings here are the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kolkata Town Hall, Great Eastern Hotel.
1. The Sundarbans
The world’s largest coastal mangrove forest of the Sunderbans is well-known for its ferociously beautiful Royal Bengal tigers, also famous as the “Man-eaters of the Sunderbans.” The Sunderbans spans large parts of the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh along the Bay of Bengal. The forests cover an area of about 4000 square km in West Bengal and another 6,000 square km in Bangladesh. Besides tigers, the Sundarbans also hosts a great diversity of birds and reptiles including crocodiles. Due to its ecological significance, the Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Ramsar Site of ecological importance.
2. The Victoria Memorial
Built between 1906 and 1921, the Victoria Memorial is one of the most notable symbols of the British colonial rule in India and one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal. The white marble building is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria and is currently a museum and tourist hotspot in the city of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The building of the Victoria Memorial was first proposed by the Viceroy of India, George Curzon in 1901. The foundation stone was laid by King George V (the then Prince of Wales) on January 4, 1906. The architecture of the building features different styles. The memorial is 338 ft long, 228 ft wide, and 184 ft high. It now hosts 25 galleries displaying artworks, sculptures, rare books, arms, and ammunition, etc., from different periods of Indian history. Well-maintained, beautiful gardens surround the memorial.
3. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Or ‘Toy Train'
Built between 1879 and 1881, the ‘Toy Train’ runs between New Jalpaiguri and the hill station of Darjeeling in north West Bengal. The 2 ft narrow-gauge line with 6 zig-zags and 5 loops run for about 88 km with elevation varying between 328 ft and 7,218 ft. Four modern diesel locomotives and vintage tourist trains run on the different routes in the DHR system including the most famous one that runs between the highest railway station in India, Ghum and Darjeeling. The headquarters of the DHR is located in Kurseong. The DHR is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Mountain railways of India.
4. Bishnupur Terracotta Temples
A town located in West Bengal’s Bankura district is famous for its beautiful terracotta temples. Bishnupur’s temples were built during the 17th and 18th century by the Malla rulers of Bengal who were Vaishnavites by religion. The temples are built of laterite stones that are locally available. Some of the famous temples in the town include the Rasmancha, Jor-Bangla Temple, Pancha Ratna Temple, Madanmohan Temple, and others. These temples of Bishnupur are also regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal.
5. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden with the Great Banyan Tree
The botanical garden in Shibpur, Howrah, was established in 1786 by Colonel Robert Kyd of British East India Company. More than 12,000 specimens of flora are spread across an area of 109 hectares. The botanical gardens are famous for The Great Banyan, a massive banyan tree which is believed to be the largest tree in the world and has a circumference of over 330 m. The area also hosts several types of orchids, palms, bamboos, and more. Animals like the Indian fox, India mongoose, jackal, etc., are often spotted in the botanical gardens.
6. Howrah Bridge
The icon of Kolkata, the Howrah Bridge is also one of the Seven Wonders of West Bengal. The construction of the bridge was commissioned in 1943 and it links the two cities of Kolkata and Howrah. Although still popularly referred to as the Howrah Bridge, it is also known as the Rabindra Setu. It is one of the four main bridges on the Hooghly River, and the oldest among them. The Howrah Bridge remains ever busy with about 100,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians passing through it each day.
7. B.B.D. Bagh
Formerly known as the Dalhousie Square, and still popularly referred to by the same name, B.B.D. Bagh or Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh is Kolkata’s central business district and the state government’s seat of power. The area is named after three Indian freedom fighters. The B.B.D. Bagh is built around the old Lal Dighi tank. The B.B.D. Bagh houses many colonial-era buildings which now serve as the offices of many important public and private sector companies and departments. Some of the famous offices and buildings here are the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kolkata Town Hall, Great Eastern Hotel.
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