West Bengal is a state showered with the blessings of Nature. Throughout its stretch from north to south, the state's geography varies widely, from the gorgeous Eastern Himalayan peaks in the north to the spectacular Bay of Bengal coastline in the south. In between, you will find dense, lush forests and extensive grasslands of the Dooars teeming with wildlife, scenic rivers crisscrossing the state, sparkling lakes, mangrove forests with wild tigers, and much more. Here are five geographical regions you must explore when you visit this nature-gifted state in eastern India.
Himalayas
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| The spectacular landscape of Darjeeling, West Bengal. Image credit: Daniel Peckham via Flickr.com. |
West Bengal is blessed with the magnificent Eastern Himalayan ranges in its northernmost part. The state's highest peak is Sandakphu (3,636 m) in the Singalila Range. It is no surprise that this region is generously sprinkled with highly popular hill stations, perfect for relaxing getaways in the heart of nature. These include Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Lamhatta, Lava, and many more. Many viewpoints along this region offer stunning views of some of the world's tallest peaks, like Mount Kangchenjunga (8,586 m). For wildlife lovers, there is good news. The Singalila National Park, located in this region, offers great hiking and trekking opportunities. The park is also home to some rare and threatened fauna, like red pandas and clouded leopards, which attract many shutterbugs from across the world.
Dooars
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| The Dooars is home to large population of wild Asiatic elephants. Image credit: Jonoikobangali via Wikimedia Commons. |
Meaning "doors" in the local language, Dooars in West Bengal truly lives up to its name. It is the gateway to breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity. The Dooars region, including vast alluvial plains, stretches from below the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas to the Brahmaputra River Basin in West Bengal. Within this region are some of West Bengal's most precious forests, including the famed Jaldapara and Gorumara National Parks, the Buxa Tiger Reserve, and the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. The picturesque landscapes of the Dooars, encompassing gorgeous rivers, dense forests full of wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, and lush hills in the north, all make the region a tourist magnet. Of course, one must mention the many tea gardens that also carpet the landscape and provide a relaxing getaway to those looking to spend some cosy but less wild time in the heart of the Dooars.
Ganges Delta
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| A beautiful scene from rural West Bengal in the Ganges delta region. Image credit: Pritam by PixaHive. |
West Bengal is gifted with fertile lands, and the massive Ganges delta in the state's south (that also extends into neighbouring Bangladesh) constitutes the gift. The river deposits sediments as it flows downstream towards the Bay of Bengal, branching off into its many distributaries, forming a fan-shaped delta at its mouth and a labyrinth of wetlands, lakes, river channels, and floodplain areas. It is here that some of the state's largest and most thriving cities, including its capital, Kolkata, are based. There are also many quaint towns and villages along these rivers that can be visited for their rich history, vibrant cultures, and, of course, scenic river views. While the Sundarbans mangroves can also be considered part of this delta, it deserves special mention.
Sundarbans
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| A Bengal Tiger checks out the conditions before getting into the canal at Sundarban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India. Image credit: Soumyajit Nandy via Wikimedia Commons. |
The Sundarbans region of West Bengal is truly one-of-a-kind in the world. While mangroves occur in many parts of the world, this is the largest cover of mangrove forests, stretching into the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. What makes it truly stand out is the fact that this area is home to swamp tigers, the only mangrove forest with wild tigers living in it. What more? Sundarbans is where the primitive fear of people comes alive. The tigers of the Sundarbans are known to prey on people. Here, in almost every village, you will hear stories of tigers attacking villagers when they enter tiger territory to collect honey, crabs, or fish. To the people of these villages, however, tigers are much above them, and they prey to their Goddess Bon Bibi to protect them from the wrath of Dakkhin Rai, a tiger-like mythical figure. West Bengal is indeed blessed to have such a unique ecosystem in the Sundarbans. A large section of this mangrove forest has thus been declared a national park. The Sundarbans National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bay Of Bengal Coastline
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| The beautiful beach at Mandarmani, West Bengal. Image credit: Mum321 via Wikimedia Commons |
Now, we arrive to southernmost West Bengal, where we have a series of simply gorgeous sea beaches for visitors to have a memorable beach vacation. Many beach towns like Digha, Mandarmoni, Tajpur, Shankarpur, Bakkhali, and Udaipur dot this coastline, allowing visitors to relax on their sunny beaches and enjoy water activities like swimming, boating, water sports, and more.
With so much more, West Bengal is sure to give visitors memorable vacations while exploring its many stunning landscapes. Each of these regions has inspired its own distinct culture, which enhances the lure of these destinations for visitors. So, why wait? Come and explore beautiful West Bengal.
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