SILIGURI-

This crowded, sprawling, noisy place is the departure point for visits to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim and the North-East states. Siliguri is the major trade centre for the north-east and eastern Nepal; a real boom town, it's packed with trucks and buses and not a pleasant place to stay for a moment more than necessary. New Jalpaiguri (known as NJP), the main railway junction, is eight km south of Silliguri, though there's effectively no break in the urban sprawl between the two places.

Orientation & Information
The towns of Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri comprise essentially just one north-south main road - Tenzing Norgay Rd. It's about four km from New Jalpaiguri railway station to Siliguri Town railway station, and a further four km from there on to Siliguri Junction railway station, behind the Tenzing Norgay Central bus terminal. You can catch the toy train (if it's running ) from any of these railway stations. Bagdogra, 12km west of Siliguri is the airport serving this northern region.

The West Bengal Tourist Office is up a flight of stairs on Tenzing Norgay Rd, on the south side of the river. Here, it's possible to book accommodation in the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. There are tourist counters at the airport and railway stations.

Shopping
The best buy in Siliguri is loose tea, available almost everywhere. With the Nepal and Bhutan borders being near, a certain amount of smuggled goods are also available. All the better markets/shops are located on either Hill Cart Road or Sevoke Road. Excellent cane furniture is available.
With rising demand from locals and visitors, all the upmarket goods with international labels are now available in Siliguri.

Where to stay
Cindrella :3rd Mile, Sevoke Road; 8 km from NJP railway station, 16 km from airport.
Sinclairs : P.O.Pradhan Nagar; 5 km from railway station, 12 km from airport.
Mainak Tourist Lodge (West Bengal Tourism ): P. O. Pradhan Nagar; 4 km from railway station , 10 km from airport.
Vinayak : P .O .Pradhan Nagar; 3 km from railway station, 11 km from airport.
Viramma Resorts : Hill Cart Road; 10 km from railway station, 10 km from airport.
Skylark : 1 Tilak Road; 1 km from airport, 3 km from railway station.

Travel Information

Air:
Bagdogra airport is 12 km west of Siliguri. Jet Airways and Indian Airlines have five flights a week between Bagdogra and Kolkata or New Delhi, and four a week to Guwahati.

Train
Lots of train runs from different part of country. The Darjeeling mail is available from Sealdah(Kolkata). The North East Express is the latest train to Delhi.
To reach Bangladesh you can take a train from New Jalpaiguri to Haldibari.

Taxi and Jeep
The fastest and most comfortable way of getting around the hills is by share jeep. There are a number of taxi stands where you can get share jeeps to the hills, and to Sikkim, including one on Sevoke Rd, and one outside Tenzing Norgay Terminal.

MUKUTMANIPUR

Mukutmanipur is located around a dam in the district of Bankura. The dam harnesses the waters of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers.

Attractions

The dam itself is worth visiting. It is 10,098 m. long and 38 m. high. The gently lapping lake, covering an area of 86 sq. km., offers a grand view of the sunset. The lake nestles amidst the surrounding greenery and provides boating facilities to the visitors.

A walk from Mukutmanipur leads one to the confluence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers. Nearby is the Pareshnath Hill. A number of stone images are to be found on top of the hill. Among these is the Jain God, Parswanath Swami, made of chlorite stone, and the Hindu God, Shiva. The green island of Banpukuria Mrigadab is a must for tourists. The island is full of mahua, kendu and palash trees. A boat trip to and from Mukutmanipur takes around four hours.
Another important landmark near Mukutmanipur is Ambikanagar, an ancient centre of Jain culture.

Transport and Communication

ROAD Direct buses to Mukutmanipur are available from the Shahid Minar bus terminus at Calcutta. Buses also leave the Machantola bus stand at Bankura for Mukutmanipur. Bankura town is only 56 km. from Mukutmanipur.

RAIL Train services to Bankura are also available from Howrah Station.

Accommodation

Lodging facilities are available at the Tourist Lodge, the 32-bed Youth Hostel and the eight-room Irrigation Bungalow. The 12-room Peerless Resort offers the best facilities.

BISHNUPUR -

This town of Bankura district was founded by King Ragunath I of the Malla dynasty and is characterized by Terracotta art, metal ware and temples. The temples are mostly built of brick and laterite clay and are modeled in pattern of Bengali huts built of mud and bamboo with thatched roof. Bishnupur is also famous for its Baluchari sarees made from Tusser silks. Beautiful Conch-shell Jewellery, and Pottery are available here.
Another unique and famous aspect of this place is it’s musical legacy, the world renowned Bishnpur Gharana. The great Jadu Bhatt, teacher of Rabindra Nath Tagore belonged to this school of music.

Places of Interest – Ras Mancha, Dalmadal, jor Bangla Temple, Madan Mohan temple, Malleshwar temple.

Susunia Hills- An ideal place for trekking and rock climbing, this hill is home to 4th Century AD caves where lies famous rock inscription of Chandavarma.

Transportation and Communication

AIR Nearest airport is 201kms away in Kolkata.

RAIL Daily trains available from Howrah

ROAD It is 151kms from Kolkata and 34kms from Bankura and well and also well connected from Durgapur (81kms).

SHANTINIKETAN

Santiniketan, 212 Km. away from Kolkata is famous due to Visva Bharti Unviersity, a centre of international studies and culture. Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore founded it, a school in the traditional gurukul system in 1901 at Santiniketan

There are several institutions managed by Visva Bharti as - Partha Bhavan, Uttar Siksha Sadan, Siksha Bhavan, Vidya Bhavans, Vinay Bhavana, Rabindra Bhavan, China Bhavans, Hindi Bhavan etc. There is also a Museum - Nandan. The splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings of Rabindra Nath, Nandlal Bose, Ramkinkar, Bindod Behari Mukhopadhyaya and others in the art galleries are worth while to see.

FAMOUS FAIRS AND FESTIVALS CELEBRATED AT SHANTINIKETAN :

Rabindra Janmotsab on May 8-9 on the occassion of Rabindra Nath Tagore's birth day and Bengali New Year.
Poush Utsav is held on December 22-25 observe the foundation day of Vishva Bharti
Meghotsav is celebrated on 11th January to mark the anniversary of Brahmo Samaj.
Vasanta Utsav is celebrated to mark Holi festival.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Deer park Located 4 Km. from Santiniketan is a large wooded area with herds of deer and natural bird sanctuary.
Kanakalitala Located 9 Km. from Santiniketan, on the bank of river Kopai is a scared Satipithas.
Bakranath Located 58 Km. from Shantiniketan is famous for Bakranath Siva Temple and its hot springs.

Other Places Joydev-Kenduli, Nanoor, Tarapith (famous for Tara Devi Temple), Sainthia- Nandeswari etc.

AIR Nearest airport is Calcutta 213 Km.
RAIL Nearest rail station is Bolpur, 2 Km. from Santiniketan
ROAD Connected by road with Calcutta, Durgapur, Burdwan

Accomodation

There are Tourist lodges and Tourist cottages by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. A Guest House is also managed by Vishwa Bharti. There are several private hotels at Bolpur.

MURSHIDABAD :-

 Murshidabad , once the capital of Bengal during the reign of Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daula, is situated on the bank of the Bhagirathi river, 221 Km. north from Kolkata. Named after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan.

Murshidabad is so steeply entrenched into history that you will find a ruined palace or remnant of a canon at every nook and corner of this district.

The Mursidabad Town resonates history as it is on the edge of the battleground of Plassey where the cornerstone of the British Empire was established and the history of India changed it’s course.
Dynasties came and went, what remain are palaces and mausoleums enduring the wrath of time and nature. The magnificent Hazar Dwari (house with thousand doors) a Gothic style palace ,built by Nawab Humayun Jah, is now a museum with a overwhelming collection of paintings, curios, china and weapons. Parallel to this palace lies the Great Nizamat Imambara rebuilt in 1847 after it was destroyed by fire .The skill of gifted craftsmen is still on display at the Khagra Bazaar, but ivory carving has given way to sandalwood etching. Nemak Haram Deorhi or the traitors gate is the place where Suraj-Ud-Daula was assassinated after the battle of Plassey. Khusbagh is the royal resting palace across the river near the town where Siraj-Ud-Daula along with his wife Lutfinnisa was buried. Parswanath Temple is situated at Kathgola. On the left bank is Motijheel, little remains of the once beautiful palace of Ghusiti Begam but the mosque and a mysterious bricked chamber with no doors, windows or entrances still stand intact.
The best time to visit to Murshidabad is winter, from October to April.

Transportation and Communication:

You can get to Murshidabad from Kolkata by train(5-6 hours),bus or car. It is also well connected from Behrampur and cities of the state of Orissa.

Accomodation

There are many hotels, lodges and guesthouses in Murshidabad and Behrampur with low budget accommodation options.