| Calcutta,
three hundred years old, traces its history
to the landing of Robert Clive on the banks
of the Hooghly beside three villages. It
was from here the monumental British
Raj was launched in India. The
capital of West Bengal, Calcutta
is the major entry point.
If Delhi is the elegant capital of
the nation, and Bombay its major
industrial city, then Calcutta
ranks as the intellectual capital.
Poets, thinkers and film directors of international
renown hail from this city where avant garde
plays and art exhibitions go on show practically
every day of the year. Calcutta was
the first headquarters of the East India
Company, and some of its best known
monuments were built by this British
trading house. However, the city has,
within its 300 years history, hosted other
communities both from other parts of India
as well as abroad - Chinese,
Armenians, Jews – all of whom
have left their imprint in pockets of Calcutta.
Sightseeing in this fascinating city includes
Raj Bhawan, the residence of the
Governor of Bengal; Victoria Memorial,
the city’s landmark; Botanical Gardens,
which are notable for the oldest banyan
tree, and orchid house; Armenian
Church; Marble Palace, one family’s
collection of memorabilia; and the Birla
Planetarium. Darjeeling, the
state’s most popular hill resort,
is a slice of England 2,134 metres
above sea level. Surrounded by tea gardens
growing the prized leaf known as Darjeeling,
the little town faces some of the Himalaya’s
highest peaks. Darjeeling is an abrupt
variation from the lowlands of West Bengal.
Buddhism, being a major faith here,
Darjeeling and the nearby town of Kalimpong
have, between them, several Buddhist
monasteries, chiefly of the Yellow Hat
sect. |
