Travel Bucket List: India – West Bengal Part 3

Posted on May 28, 2021 by memoriesandsuch

Shantiniketan
Known as Rabindranath Tagore’s home and now a university, Santiniketan is a small town which comprises mainly of the Visva Bharati University. Set up by Rabindranath Tagore’s father and later popularised by Tagore to radically change the concept of education in India, today, this small and beautifully laid out university town is a unique destination. Santiniketan comprises many academic blocks, each dedicated to a separate branch of study. The China Bhavan, as per its name, focuses on studying of Chinese Culture, traditions and language. As it’s name suggests, Kala Bhavan promotes art among the students and focuses on developing the artistic bent among its patrons and very aptly also has the most beautifully done block. The Sangeet Bhavan is the block that fosters music and dance with regular practices held here. The Nippon Bhavan, just like the China Bhavan, aims to foster Japanese- India relations. The centre, though located in the main campus is an autonomous body and not controlled by the university. It also conducts many exchange programs to and from Japan. Chattimtala was the meditation spot of Tagore’s father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore. A scholar himself, he advocated meditation and introspection as the keys to success and world progress. Every student is very deeply connected to this place as graduates are honored with a branch of Saptaparni tree seen in Chhatimtala.The prayer hall, one of the prettiest places in Santiniketan is located in close vicinity. The site is considered to be very sacred and highly revered. The Uttrayan complex takes you down Tagore’s memory lane and particularly worth seeing is Udayan, where Tagore lived. The beautiful heritage building is very well maintained. Other places to see are Konark, Shyamali, which is a mud hut, Punascha and Udichi. The complex has beautiful gardens and the Rabindra Bhaban Museum in close vicinity. Combined entry fee for the two is Rs 5. Cameras and hand bags not allowed. The complex remains shut on Wednesdays. Located in close vicinity of the university, Amar Kutir showcases a number of locally made handicrafts, including leather printed bags, printed cloth etc. The Rabindra Bhaban Museum is perhaps the most satisfying place for historical inquisitiveness. Built in 1961, it houses some of Tagore’s original manuscripts, letters, documents, paintings, certificates and photographs. It also includes the Nobel Prize Medallion he received and is a must-visit for everyone who comes to Santiniketan. The small rural town of Kankalitala is located about 7 km from Santiniketan and the drive, or the walk, if one prefers, takes one through the beautiful landscape of semi urban India. There is also a small temple that is considered to be highly sacred.

Durgapur
Known as the Steel Capital of West Bengal and the fourth largest urban agglomeration after Kolkata, Asansol and Siliguri, Durgapur is the only city in eastern India to have an operational dry dock. Durgapur was planned by two American architects, Joseph Allen Stein and Benjamin Polk in 1955 on the bank of the Damodar river. The Durgapur Steel Plant comes under the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) with the massive complex an engineer’s delight. A number of large-scale operations and equipment are housed in the premises and is a great learning experience, but the plant is not open to the general public and one needs connections to be able to make a visit to the plant. The Durgapur Barrage which was built to control the overflowing Damodar river in the monsoons and also connects Durgapur with Bankura and is one the prime attractions of the town. This structure keeps the flow of Damodar river, notorious as the Sorrow of Bengal in check with the structure and the adjoining bridge offering a breathtaking view. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his novels, Devi Chaudhurani and Durgesh Nandini mentions the maze of tunnels of Bhabani Pathak’s Tilla. Today a protected monument, it opens in the city center and goes up to the Damodar river. This well preserved place is must visit but one should not venture into uncertain places as they may get lost. The Troinka Park offers a complete leisure time for the entire family with rides, water sports and boating. A charming little hamlet in Durgapur’s suburbs beside the river Ajay, Deul Park is was formerly a lightly wooded forest area rich with the legacies and legends of Ichai Ghosh and is now a popular tourist spot. Deul is as rich in nature as it is in historical significance.

Jhargram
A small town with a rich historical and cultural past, Jhargram is surrounded by dense forests and is the perfect place to spend time mesmerised by its picturesque beauty. Founded by Sarveshwar Singh of the Chauhan clan of Rajputs from Fatehpur Sikri in Rajputana, Jhargram, which means a forest village surrounded by by canals and walls with the locals calling it Ugal. Jhargram is filled with beautiful and thick trees and medicinal plants and a number of birds including rare and migratory birds. The Chilkigarh Kanak Durga temple lies 15 km from Jhargram and is an ancient temple believed to be built in 1348 and later reconstructed. The Sabitri Mandir is at a distance of 3 km from Jhargram and was built around 350 year ago with intricate carvings and beautiful architecture. Kendua which is 10 km from Jhargram is a quaint village and famous for bird watching. The village is replete with lush green trees amongst which birds live as well as many migratory birds. The Medicinal Plant Garden also known as Amlachoti Medicinal Plant Garden by locals is filled with a number of plants used as medicines. Ketki Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is full of water. The Tribal Museum in Jhargram is a must visit place to learn about the tribals with the rich history and culture of the area that can be seen through artefacts. Jhargram Palace used to be the home of the king of Jhargram and is grand palace with 10 rooms and 3 dormitories. The Jhargram Mini Zoo is spread over a vast area with an entire section dedicated to deers calling it Deer Park. The Chilkigarh Raj Palace lies in ruins today but was an affluent palace once upon a time and houses two temples. The Dulung river flows through Jhargram and is sacred to the tribals. The beauty of Jhargram is at its peak during the winter season with the weather is pleasant and windy.

Asansol
Known as the Land of Black Diamond and the City of Brotherhood, Asansol is the second largest and most populated city of West Bengal and the 39th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of the Damodar river, Asansol’s economy is primarily dependent on its steel and coal industries, railways, and its trade and commerce. It’s name is derived from a combination of Asan which is a species of tree which generally grows thirty meters tall and is found on the banks of the Damodar river and sol which refers to land. Historically the city was anglicised as Assensole during the British colonial era but the name everted to Asansol after independence. The region is believed to have been a part of the kingdom of Vishnupur where the Malla dynasty ruled for approximately thousand years till the British came into the picture. Dravidian people constituted the initial settlement in this area and the prevalent Jain temples serve as proof of Jain activities that happened over two thousand five hundred years back. It is believed that the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira Vardhamana, used to live here. Popular places of attraction include the Rabindra Bhawan, Nazrul Academy, the Kalyaneshwari Temple, Burnpur Riverside and the Jagannath temple. The Kalyaneshwari Temple is situated on the boundary that divides West Bengal and Jharkhand and easily accessible while the Ghagar Buri Chandi Temple is built in beautiful shades of orange and white and is surrounded by water bodies. Nehru Park’s beautiful greenery and picturesque locale alongside the Damodar river makes it a must-visit spot. Satabdi Park is a famous recreational zone frequently visited by locals and has plenty of entertainment facilities and amusement park rides that are a hit.

Murshidabad
Located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, Murshidabad was the capital of the Bengal Subah of the Mughal empire in the 18th century and the seat of the hereditary Nawab of Bengal and the richest Mughal province. Silk was a major product of Murshidabad and the city was also a centre of art and culture, including the Murshidabad style of Mughal painting. The city’s decline began with the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Murshidabad was named after its founder, Nawab Murshid Quli Khan and was part of the Gauda and Vanga Kingdoms in ancient Bengal. During the 17th century, the area was well known for sericulture.

The Wasif Manzil is a palace built by Nawab Wasif Ali Mirza Khan the then Nawab of Murshidabad. Located at the south end of Hazarduari Palace, it is touted as the new palace because it was built much later. It houses numerous marble statues and used to have an artificial hill and landscape on its side which got destroyed along with most of the palace in the earthquakes of 1867 after which the palace was restored, but the hill was never reconstructed. Located a few kilometers off Murshidabad, the Kath Gola palace complex, built originally to entertain European and Muslim guests during trade visits is a must-visit. The name Kala Gola, which means wood warehouse is from the lumberyard that used to be functional in the area before the palace was built. The palace, endless gardens, ponds, a temple devoted to Adinath and a statue of michealangelo are few of the distinctive features of the palace. Spread over an area of 41 acres, the Hazarduari Palace is second to none with a stunning structure on the Kila Nizamat campus. Located on the eastern banks of the river Bhagirathi within an enclosure known as Kila Nizamat, the palace’s name roughly translates to a thousand doors as this palace is embellished with a thousand ornamental gateways. Out of these, 900 doors are real, and the rest are fake doors built to confuse intruders. The construction style is an amalgam of Italian and Greek architectural styles. The perimeter of the palace also houses the Nizamat Imambara, Wasif Manzil, Bacchawali Tope and the Murshidabad Clock Tower. A museum today, the palace has many antiques which range from Siraj-ud-Daula’s prized swords to the vintage cars owned by the Nawabs. The palace is closed on Fridays and on other days is open from 9 am to 5 pm and has an entry fee of INR 5 for Indians and INR 100 for foreigners. Built by the descendants of Debi Singh, a tax collector in the early days of East India Company, the Nasirpur Palace has a Ramachandra Temple, one of the biggest temples of the district and The Lakshmi-Narayana Temple, famous for its Jhulanjatra celebrations. The Jahan Kosha Cannon is one km off Katra and was built by Janardan Karmakar of Dhaka, a small craftsman at the time. The 7 ton cannon means the destroyer of the world. In addition to the 18 feet tall cannon, close by is the beautiful Kadam Sharif Mosque which contains the replica of the footprint of the prophet Hazrat Mohammad. On the northern side of the palace lies the Nizamat Imambara, built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, son of Humayun Jah. The stunning mosque was built after the Imambara built by Siraj-ud-Doula that burnt down in a fire. The mosque complex is known to be the biggest in Bengal, and maybe even India. Construction of the Footi Mosque was begun by Nawab Sarfaraz Khan and is located towards the east of the Hazarduari Palace, at Kumrapore. The mosque could not be completed and is often rumored to have been built in one night. Madina is a small mosque between the Palace and the Imambara and made to replicate Hazrat Muhammad’s tomb at Madina. The original mosque’s foundation had soil from Mecca, before it got destroyed in a fire and the one constructed later was built with soil from Karbala. The rooms of the mosque can house 700 Quran readers and has two minarets at the two ends of the mosque measuring 70 feet high. The architectural layout of this mosque is rectangular and has been divided into five inlets, each with a curved entrance and the central one is the most noticeable one as it has a lean steeple. The mosque has five domes, each of them used by a solo Namaz reader.

Mukutmanipur
A popular weekend getaway for Kolkata locals, Mukutmanipur is a serene town located at the confluence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers close to the Jharkhand border. With lush green forests, clear blue water and green hills in the backdrop, Mukutmanipur is a Jain pilgrim town, especially Ambikanagar which is just 3 km from the town. The Mukutmanipur Dam is said to be the second largest dam in the country while the man-made barrage here which canalises the river water of the Kumari and Kangsabati rivers for irrigation purposes during summers is also the second largest of its kind. Built in 1956 on the Kangsabati river, the Kangsabati Dam is a huge damn with the view in the evening close to sunset, merged with the entire backdrop absolutely breathtaking. The road by the damn can be driven on and is a smooth ride, a very romantic one at that. Named after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Parasnath Hills which falls across the border in Jharkhand is a popular Jain pilgrimage centre. It is believed that 20 out of 24 Teerthankars have attained their deliverance here on the highest peak in this range, Sammet Sikhar. There are as many as 20 temples here, some of which were built more than 2000 years ago. Ambikanagar is famous as a Jain pilgrimage and an ancient city situated by the river. It is also known for its tribal population and culture with handicrafts made from bamboo and grass a local speciality.

Malda
Malda or English Bazar is the sixth largest city in the state on the banks of the Mahananda river. The name English Bazar is derived from Angrezabad or English town, which came about in the 17th century because of the English factory nearby. Located at the confluence of the rivers Mahanadi and Kalindi, about 350 km from Kolkata, the town is popular not only for its mango orchards but also for its rich history and heritage. The folk culture comprising of Gombhira and Kaviyal is another major attraction. Sultan Yusuf Shah built the Chamkati Masjid Chika Mosque in 1475 and the name has a very unique origin. It is called the Chika Mosque because it sheltered a number of Chikas or bats. In addition to beautiful Arabic carvings, which are still partly visible, the mosque also bears Hindu temple architecture, adding to its uniqueness. The Adina Mosque bears a strong resemblance to the Great Mosque of Damascus as it consists of bricks designed with stones. Built by Sikandar Shah in the 14th century, the second sultan of the Ilyas dynasty, the Adina Mosque was the largest mosque in India at the time. It has been damaged by natural calamities over the years, but still stands. It is often said that the mosque was built by the king to commemorate his victory over the then king of Delhi, Firoz Shah Tughluq. The Baroduari Mosque is the largest mosque in Malda and its name means 12 doors, though it has only eleven. The mosque was started by Allauddin Hussein Shah, but he died before its completion and then was completed by his son, Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah. The mosque was the first of its kind, built in Arabic style architecture. The Kadam Rasool Mosque derives its name from the stone tablet, which bears the footprints of Prophet Muhammad and is kept in the mosque. The mosque was built in 1530 by Sultan Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah. A unique element of the mosque are the four black marble towers on its four corners. Opposite the mosque is Fateh Khan’s tomb, who was a commander under Emperor Aurangzeb, though the tomb is made in the Hindu Chala style. Many tales surround the construction of the Lattan Mosque. However, historians believe it was built by Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah in 1475. The structure was originally built with intricate work of precious stones and colors. It was popularly called the Painted Mosque because of its colourful exterior and has an arched roof, supported by octagonal pillars. The Temple of Jauhra Kali is a famous and beautiful Hindu temple made on a raised platform and surrounded by trees. Devotees believe to have had miraculous results from praying in the temple. The Luko Churi Gate or the Lakhchhipi Darwaza is built on the Southeast corner of the Kadam Rasool Mosque and is believed to have been built by Shah Shuja in 1655 in the Mughal architectural style. The name is derived from the game of hide & seek that the king used to play with his wives or begums. However, who built this structure is unclear with another school of historians claiming that it was built by Allauddin Hussein Shah in 1522 and this double-storeyed Darwaza operated as the main gateway to the palace. The Eklakhi Mausoleum in Pandua, about 18 km from Malda is a tomb that is truly one of a kind. It has an inscription of Lord Ganesh and a converted son of a Hindu Emperor is believed to have been buried here. Located along the banks of the holy river Ganges, Gour is one of the oldest residential colonies existing in the state. In ruins today, it was the capital of ancient Bengal and was believed to have been discovered by Lord Lakshman and was called Lakshmanavati. When muslims conquered the state, its name was changed to Lakhnauti. Dakhil Darwaza is a surviving ruin of an old castle from the 15th century and is a gateway to a fort. In the south-east corner of the fort, a high wall encloses the ruins of an old palace. The gate is also popularly known as Salaami Darwaza as cannons used to be fired from it. The Firoz Minar is located a km from the Dakhil Darwaza. Built during Sultan Saifuddin Feroze Shah’s rule, this five-storey tower is often touted as Malda’s Qutab Minar. The first three storeys of the tower have twelve adjacent faces each, and the uppermost two storeys are circular in shape. It is built in the Tughlaqi style of architecture and is also known as the Pir-Asha-Minar or the Chiragdani. Situated about 35 km from Malda, Jagjivanpur, which is now an important archeological site was long forgotten until the discovery of a copper-plate inscription of the Pala emperor Mahendrapaladeva and the structural remains of a 9th century Buddhist Vihara, Nandadirghika-Udranga Mahavihara. Excavation work have been carried out and old remains of an entire ruined city have been found. About 20 km off Malda is the Adina Deer Park which is governed by the forest department. The most famous deer found here are the Cheetals or Spotted Deer and Nilgai and is also home to numerous migratory birds

Siliguri
Known as the Gateway of Northeast India, Siliguri is the twin city to Jalpaiguri and is popular for three Ts – tea, timber and tourism. Located on the banks of the Mahananda river at the foothills of the Himalayas, Siliguri is the third largest urban agglomeration in West Bengal, after Kolkata and Asansol. Siliguri has great strategic importance in West Bengal as it is located conveniently, connecting four international borders, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. It also connects the North-East with the Indian mainland. Siliguri has its own international airport which serves mainly as a base for tourists to explore the northeast. Siliguri means a stack of pebbles or stones and until the 19th century this region was called as Shilchaguri when there was dense Dolka forest covering the area. Because of its appeal as an agricultural village, the Kingdom of Sikkim captured Siliguri making it the southernmost part of their kingdom until the Kingdom of Nepal interfered and so Kirati and Nepalis came to settle in the region. The Siliguri Corridor was formed when Bengal was divided into West Bengal and East Pakistan which later became Bangladesh in 1947, with Sikkim later merging with India in 1975.

Founded by the Indian Army, the Madhuban Park is located in the outskirts of Siliguri and serves as an ideal picnic spot. The lush green surroundings of Sukna Forest offers cool climate and serene ambiance. When in Siliguri, one should definitely take a walk down the resplendent tea gardens where one can watch the workers at work, at sowing, reaping or harvesting, depending on the season and also taste the tea at the estate and also purchase some. Situated in Mahakal Pally, Suryasen Park is an urban green park the highlight of which is the bust of the great freedom fighter Surya Sen installed in the heart of the park. The park also holds an exhibition on alternative energy and has the Mahanandi river flowing through it.

Also known as Sri Sri Radha Madhav Sundar Mandir, this temple was built by ISKCON, which stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness. With a grand temple, beautiful campus and soothing ambience, this temple is a must visit for everyone. The Sevoke Kali Mandir is an ancient temple on the banks of the Teesta river, close to the Coronation Bridge and is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The Lokenath Baba Mandir is an architectural wonder showcasing artwork in the form of the idols of different deities. The most loved idol here is the split idol of Lokenath Baba and Lord Shiva. Established by Tibetan Buddhist Monks and the followers of Dalai Lama, the Salugara Monastery is famous for the 100 feet stupa founded by the Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. This monastery also known as The Great International Tashi Gomang Stupa and is situated just 6 km away from the main town and contains five kinds of Buddhist relics. The Sed-Gyued Monastery is a breathtaking monument which was destroyed by the Chinese army, and then rebuilt. The monastery is home to more than 90 monks of the Gelukpa divison, and is presently used as a research centre. Photographers and experience seekers love to visit this place and meditate there.

Jalpaiguri
Located on the banks of the Teesta river, the second largest river in West Bengal, Jalpaiguri which is on the foothills of the Himalayas, lies 35 km east of its twin city, Siliguri with the merging of the two cities making it the largest metropolis of the region and is bordered by Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh to the south. The name Jalpaiguri comes from the word Jalpai meaning olive and Guri meaning a place. Jalpaiguri’s history goes back to the 1900s due to the rich plantations of olive there. Dotted with tiny rivulets and small hilltops, Jalpaiguri is a tiny tourist town with endless vistas of tea plantations, gushing streams and elaborate rice farms, and is known for its heavy downpour. Primarily a rural district with 80% rural population mostly inhabited in forest villages, the town is popular for its untouched beauty and natural landscapes. Located on the bank of the river Baniya, Mendabari fort, also known as Nalrajagarh is an ancient fort dating to the 5th century. 9 km away from the main town of Jalpaiguri, the Murti river is near the hamlet of Murti in the middle of thick forest where one can often spot wild animals like elephants, rhinos, deer who can often be seen at the riverbank.

Cooch Behar
At the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, Cooch Behar is the only planned city in the North Bengal region with the remnants of a royal heritage. The name Cooch Behar is derived from the name of the Koch or Rajbongshi tribes.The word Behar is derived from Sanskrit word Vihara which means a dwelling. During the British Raj, Cooch Behar was the seat of the princely state of Koch Bihar, ruled by the Koch Kingdom often described as the Shiva Vansha, tracing their origin from the Koch tribe of North-eastern India. Cooch Behar formed part of the Kamarupa kingdom of Assam from the 4th to the 12th centuries and became became a part of the Kamata Kingdom. The Khens were an indigenous tribe, and they ruled till about 1498, when they fell to Alauddin Hussain Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of Gour. During this time, the Koch tribe became very powerful and proclaimed itself Kamateshwar or Lord of Kamata and established the Koch dynasty. As the early capital of the Koch Kingdom, Koch Behar’s location was not static and became stable only when shifted to Cooch Behar town. In 1661, Mir Jumla, the subedar of Bengal under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, attacked Cooch Behar and conquered the territory, meeting almost no resistance and the town of Cooch Behar was named Alamgirnagar, but was reclaimed by the maharaja within a few days. In 1772–1773, the king of Bhutan attacked and captured Cooch Behar and to get rid of the king of Bhutan, the kingdom of Cooch Behar signed a defense treaty with the British East India Company on 5 April 1773 and after expelling the Bhutanese, Cooch Behar again became a princely kingdom under the protection of the British East India company. After India’s independence, Cooch Behar became part of the state of West Bengal. As a geopolitical curiosity, there were 92 Bangladeshi enclaves, with a total area of 47.7 sq km in Cooch-Behar with a similar 106 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh, with a total area of 69.5 sq km, part of the high stake card or chess games centuries ago between two regional kings, the Raja of Cooch Behar and the Maharaja of Rangpur. Twenty-one of the Bangladeshi enclaves were within Indian enclaves, and three of the Indian enclaves were within Bangladeshi enclaves. The largest Indian enclave was Balapara Khagrabari which surrounded a Bangladeshi enclave, Upanchowki Bhajni, which itself surrounded an Indian enclave called Dahala Khagrabari, of less than one hectare. But all this has ended in the historic India-Bangladesh land agreement in 2015.

The Rajbari or the Cooch Behar Palace is also known as rthe Victor Jubilee Palace and is built after the Indo-Saracenic architecture style. The Rajbari was constructed under the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in 1887, and the design was inspired by the Buckingham Palace in London. The main entrance resembles St. Peter’s Church in Rome and the rooms have beautiful paintings on the walls and the ceilings. The complex is spread over an area of 51,000 sq ft and is a brick-built structure. The palace has a projected porch that leads to the Durbar Hall with the first floor having a series of beautiful arcaded verandas with alternately arranged piers in double and single rows. The palace houses over 50 rooms including bedrooms, dressing rooms, billiard room, kitchen, dining hall, dancing hall, library, tosha khana and the ladies gallery. The Durbar Hall has a beautiful metal dome with a cylindrical louvre on the top that also acts as a ventilator. The dome is at 124 feet high from the ground level and is built in the traditional Italian Renaissance architecture. The dome also is beautifully carved in step pattern and rests on four arches supported by huge Corinthian columns adorned with a lantern on the top. Several small yet elegant balconies also surround the dome of the Durbar Hall. The palace and the museum are open daily between 10 am and 5 pm, though the museum is closed on Fridays. The is also a Sound and Light Show that takes place between 6 to 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The palace has an entry fee of INR 10 with children below 14 entering free. Sagardihi is a huge tank situated in the heart of the city, excavated by Maharaja Hitendra Narayan. The tank has heritage hotels, Victor House and a War Memorial around it. Built during 1885-1887 by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, the Madan Mohan temple is a beautifully designed temple and enshrines deities like Madan Mohan, Tara Ma, Kali Ma and Ma Bhawani. On the occasion of Rash Purnima, the temple celebrates the Rash mela and Rash Yatra. Located 10 km from the centre of the city, the Baneswar Siva temple homes a Shivalinga which is 10ft below the plinth level and also has a statue of Lord Arthanarishwar. On the occasion of Madan Chaturdashi and Dol Purnima, the deities are carried to the Madan Mohan Temple in a celebrated procession. The temple premises also has a huge pond which house a large number of tortoises, very old in age and form.

Bagdogra
Part of the greater Siliguri metropolitan area, Bagdogra is a small hill station at the foothills of the Himalayas, famous for its tea estates and an abundance of greenery. During the monsoons, when the clouds hover around the peaks of the mountains, it’s simply mesmerising. The river Teesta flows through the town, making it an excellent spot for river rafting. Bagdogra gained importance for being the entry base for tourists travelling to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Siliguri and neighbouring Bhutan. The best time to visit Bagdogra is from July to February. July to October constitute the monsoon season with the summer season starting in March and going on till the end of May with summer being the peak tourist season. The Himalaya World Museum which was inaugurated recently aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region.

In part 4, we continue to explore the mountains in West Bengal

Travel Bucket List: India – West Bengal Part 2

Posted on May 26, 2021 by memoriesandsuch

Our next destination is Kolkata’s twin city, Howrah.

Located on the western bank of the Hoogly and known as the doorway to Kolkata and also its twin city, Howrah is a part of the greater Kolkata area and an important transportation hub. The word Howrah comes from the Bengali word, Hoar which means a fluvial swampy lake, a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate. Howrah’s history dates back to over 500 years historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank and by 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur. On 11 October 1760, as a result of the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty with Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district.

The Santragachi Jheel, is a lake which attracts different migratory birds over the winter months and is a perfect day-trip destination for birdwatching. The lake is situated right next to the Santragachi railway station and covers an area of 32 acres. Most of the lake is fenced, barring one or two spots, but the lake is not well maintained leading to contamination of the water body causing a steady fall in the number of birds flocking to this area.

The Hooghly river, also known as the Bhagirathi-Hoogly and Kati-Ganga river is a stunning waterbody and an important source of water, seafood and the lifeline of Howrah. 260 km long with the channel flowing through the city and finally merging with the Bay of Bengal. It’s a local picnic hotspot where they spend time taking in the morning sun or a ferry ride across the river. The river also known as Bhagirathi Hooghly which means created by Bhagiratha, the prince of the Sagar dynasty who was destined to bring the sacred Ganges from heaven to earth which is why the the waters of the Hooghly river is considered as holy as the Ganges.

The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, better known as the Botanical Garden, is a sprawling garden spanning an area of 273 acres located in Shibpur, Howrah, near Kolkata. Established in 1787, it used to be known as the Company Garden at that time and today is under the Botanical Survey of India, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Considered to be one of the most stunning landscaped gardens in the country with undulating land topography and astonishing artificial lakes, the garden is home to 12,000 living perennial plants as well as thousands of dried out plants that have been collected from across the globe. The major attraction of the garden, however, is the vast and widespread banyan tree, which is popularly known as the Great Banyan tree reputed for forming the second most extensive canopy in the world. A fun fact is that the tea that now grows in Assam and Darjeeling was first developed in these gardens. The flora is nurtured in 25 divisions, glasshouses, greenhouses and conservatories with rare species of trees that have been specially brought in from Nepal, Malaysia, Java, Brazil, Sumatra and Sicily among other places. The Botanical Gardens also has a serpentine lake where visitors can enjoy boating and the library in the Botanical Garden also boasts of an extensive and impressive collection of books. The gardens are open from 8 am to 5 pm and Indians need to pay INR 10, foreigners INR 100 and to take photos, a camera fee of INR 20 is charged. An annual membership fee for daily walkers is INR 200.

The Great Banyan tree which is about 250 years old is located in the botanical gardens and is popular due to the gigantic size, expanding to about 4.67 acres. The tree continues to grow beyond the 330-metre long road that was built around it circumference and has been mentioned in many travel books since the 19th century. More than an individual tree, it appears like a dense forest with the highest branch rising to 24.5 metres, and the crown of the tree having a circumference of 486 metres. There are 3772 aerial roots that connect to the ground. It is unknown when the tree started growing, but references of it can be found in travel books dating back to the 19th century.

The Rail Museum is considered as the second rail museum to be constructed after the National Rail Museum in Delhi. It has a wonderful collection of preserved old and rare steam engines, electric locomotives, tracks and signals. Located very close to the Howrah railway station, the museum consists of handmade replicas of various trains, locomotives and engines as well as a miniature of the Howrah Railway Station. An open-air establishment, the Hall of fame inside gives insights into the history, the engineering and the evolution of trains from steam engines to diesel to electric. Entry fee is INR 10 per person and children below three enter free. The museum is open from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm and is closed on Mondays.

Gadiara is a quaint little hamlet located south-west of Howrah and is where the three rivers, Hooghly, Roopnarayan and Damodar converge. Fort Mornington which is the ruins of an English fort is a must visit place here and the village is a magnificent spot for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. One must make sure to take the river cruise during sunset to take in spectacular views.

Barrackpore
Barrackpore was where the the British first set up their cantonment in India. Here, one can find some of the best green parks and temples. The name comes from the English word Barracks and this is due to the first British East India Company cantonment. Another reason given for the name is that it comes from the word Barbakpur penned by Bipradas Piplani in his famous work Manasa Vijaya. In the 19th century two major revolts took place in Barrackpore in the war for independence including the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The Mangal Pandey Park is built in honour of Mangal Pandey the first nationalist to rise against the British who was hanged on 8 April, 1857 in Barrackpore. There is a splendid statue of him situated in the park. The Gandhi Museum is a grand museum with five galleries, a study centre and a huge library filled with some rare books. The museum is open between 11 am and 5pm every day except Wednesday and does not have an entry fee. Built in the 18th century, the Tarakeswar temple houses a lingam in the inner sanctum while the open veranda is used to hold congregations and is built of white marble. Also known as the Garrison Church, the Bartholomew Cathedral was built in 1847 in the gothic style. Believed to be over seven centuries old, the Kali temple was built to honour Goddess Kali and was also where nationalist leaders gathered to hold meetings. The Jawaharkunja Garden is situated near the Gandhi Ghat and is popular as a picnic spot. The Gandhi Ghat was built as a memorial to honour Mahatma Gandhi and comprises of many murals depicting Gandhi’s life, including some of his ashes which were spread here. The Nishan Ghat was built by the British for the Governer General and the East India Company and is close to the river Hooghly. The ghat is surrounded by verdant trees. If possible try to witness either a sunrise or a sunset from here as the scenic beauty during this time is splendid. Built near the homes of the washermen, the Dhobi Ghat is also located on the banks of the Hooghly, though today this ghat is only used to take people to Serampore by boat. The Flag Staff House was constructed by the British in 1863 and used by the secretary as his home and came to be known as Flag Staff because of the flagstaff built near it. After Independence the house was transformed into a weekend retreat. Barrackpore is the oldest cantonment in India and has a lot of warehouses surrounded by rich green trees and creepers.

Chandan Nagar
A former French colony on the western bank of the Hoogly river, Chandan Nagar, also known by its former name Chandernagore and French name Chandernagor would have been where Kolkata is today has history gone in its favour. First ruled by the Nawabs, then the French and finally the British, the town has a a unique Bengali-French culture. The name Chandernagor is possibly derived from the shape of the bank of the river Hooghly which is bent like a half-moon, so originally it was Chander Nagar as from the river bank, it looked like a crescent moon-shaped necklace. Local tradition holds that the city was once the major hub in the trade of sandalwood or Chandan in Bengali which could also account for its name. One more possibility for the name is a temple of the Goddess Chandi. The city was also known as Farasdanga or France dongi as it was a French colony and this appears in Bengali literature. The town, which started as a French colony went into the hands of the British in 1757 after a war between the British and the French and Chandan Nagar’s importance was soon eclipsed by Calcutta situated down river. Chandernagore was restored to the French in 1763, but retaken by the British in 1794 during the Napoleonic Wars. The city was returned to France in 1816, along with a 7.8 sq km enclave of the surrounding territory and was governed as part of French India until 1950 under the political control of the governor-general in Pondicherry. After India’s independence, the French government held a plebiscite in June 1948 which found that 97% of Chandannagar’s residents wished to become part of India and so in May 1950, the French allowed the Indian government to assume de facto control over Chandannagar, officially ceding the city to India on 2 February 1951 and de jure transfer took place on 9 June 1952. The inhabitants were not given the option to retain French nationality, unlike their counterparts in Pondicherry. On 2 October 1954 Chandannagar was integrated into the state of West Bengal. Today Chandan Nagar is seen more or less as an extended suburb of the greater Kolkata region.

The tree-shaded Chandan Nagar Strand is a promenade along the river about 700 m in length and 7 metres in width, lined with trees and lights with many buildings of historical importance along the way. The most important pathway in the town, it is also the most popular spot to to stroll. Along the Strand one can find the Vivekananda Mandir, a meditation centre which protrudes into the river. The Chandan Nagar Museum was established in 1961 and boasts of a collection of French antiques such as cannons used in Anglo-French war, wooden furniture of the 18th century, among other things which are difficult to find anywhere else in the world. The institute still teaches French through regular classes. The Museum is closed on Thursday and Saturday. The Nandadulal Temple was built in 1740 by Indranarayan Roychoudhury in the Do Chalha style. One of the few temples in the area, the walls are covered with idols and carvings. The temple’s old idol of lord Krishna was thrown away into the pond behind the temple by a general and later the pieces of the idols were fished out and submerged in Varanasi. The Bishalakshmi temple is situated near Brahmin para, in the western part of railway station and is an ancient temple with an obscured history. The deity is worshiped regularly by the local people. A temple of Lord Jaggannath, Sabinara Thakurbari is situated on Rather Sadak or the road of Lord Jaggannath’s chariot. Mahaprabhu Chaitanya is said to have visited this place in his time and currently this temple is maintained by the Chattopadhyay family. The Sacred Heart Church of Chandannagar is situated near the Strand and was designed by French architect Jacques Duchatz. Over 200 years old, the church is a beautiful example of French architecture. The white stone church looks even more stunning at sunset. The French Cemetery contains 150 tombs and is located on Grand Trunk Road opposite Lal Dighi, a large lake. Constructed in 1937, to mark the Fall of Bastille, the Chandan Nagar Gate has the slogan of the French Revolution, Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality Fraternity) etched on it.

Patal-Bari or the Underground House has its lower floor submerged during monsoon when the level of the river rises. Rabindranath Tagore frequently visited the place and appreciated the building and felt it influenced him to a large extent and broadened his intellectual capabilities and mentioned Patal-Bari in many of his works. Built by Harihar Sett and donated to the people of Chandan Nagar, the Nritya Gopal Smriti Mandir still serves as a theatre hall and a library. It was first of its kind in the entire locality and has one of the largest collections of books in French, English and Bengali in the district.

The KMDA Park is a popular park and picnic spot which was opened in 2002. Also known as Wonderland Park, the park is spread across 44 acres and is well-maintained, with manicured and lush green gardens, a variety of shrubs and herbs and a plethora of various flowers adorning the each part of the park. The park has many sections such as a children’s park, a boating complex, a games section, a restaurant and a guest house for those wishing to spend a night. The best time to visit the park is during the Jagdharti Puja when the park is lined with lights. The park is open from 8 am to 7 pm and has an entry fee of INR 10 per person and INR 200 for a group of maximum 40 people in a group. The Mango Gardens are now privately owned and maintained and are a popular picnic spot situated west of the railway station near Mankundu. The gardens have been operational since 2009.

Chinsurah
Chinsurah or Chuchura, as it is called is situated on the bank of the Hooghly river, 35 km north of Kolkata. Chinsurah is also the home of the oldest Armenian church in India and old Hindu Temples. The state highway 6 or the Grand Trunk Road passes through the town. The Portuguese founded the town in 1579, but was part of the kingdom of Bhurshut and flourished as a trading port. In the 17th century the Mughal governor of Bengal expelled the Portuguese who lost the statue of Mary in the river which was found by the local. The Portuguese was awarded the death sentence after being taken to Delhi but was granted amnesty by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and granted a piece of land on the bank of the river Hooghly, where the statue of Mary was reestablished. There the Portuguese constructed a church to house the statue, which still receives pilgrims today. The church was renovated in the 1980s and has been declared as a Basilica. In 1656 the Dutch erected a factory here and at this point, it was Calcutta which was the principal settlement in Dutch Bengal. In 1759 the Dutch garrison of Chinsura, on its march to Chandernagore, attacked a British force in a battle that lasted less than half an hour and ended with the rout of the Dutch attackers. In 1825, the Dutch ceded many of their possessions in India to the British, in exchange for the British-occupied possessions in Sumatra. India’s national song, Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in Chinsurah.

Also known as Ghorir More, the Edwardian Clock Tower is a piece of British architectural marvel. Located at the centre of the town, this clock tower was built around 1914, in honour of Edward VII and serves as the town’s prime attraction. Located on the riverfront, the Sandeshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the temple complex also houses numerous small temples. A ritual held here on the last day of the Bengali calendar which involves taking out the brass Shiva Linga and two brass drums belonging to the temple for public display. The second oldest Christian church in Bengal and the oldest Armenian Church in India, the St. John the Baptist church was built by the Armenians around 1699. The annual feast of John the Baptist is celebrated with great enthusiasm between 13 to 14 January. Founded in 1599, Bandel Church, also known as The Basilica of the Holy Rosary is one of the oldest and most prominent churches. Dedicated to Mother Mary, this church has three altars, an organ, numerous tombstones and a shrine to Mother Mary. One will find a mast right in front of the Church, which is said to have been presented by the Captain of a ship that came across a storm in the Bay of Bengal. The Captain remained unharmed, who then credited his rescue to Mother Mary and presented the mast as a token of gratefulness. The Dutch Cemetery of Chinsurah, a site protected by the Archeological Survey of India has numerous graves from as early as 1743. Built in 1861, the Hoogly Imambara serves as a congregation hall as well as a mosque for the Shia muslims. The walls of the mosque are engraved with intricate designs and texts from the Holy Quran and a striking feature of the monument is a giant clock on the main entrance, right between the twin towers. The clock has two dials and three bells with the smaller bells ringing at an interval of 15 minutes while the bigger ones ring at an interval of one hour. Two people wind the clock for half an hour each week. The twin towers are approximately 150 ft. in height and have about 150 steps. Bankim Bhavan at Joger Ghat is where the iconic poet wrote the soul stirring song, Vande Mataram. But the house is in ruins today. The best time to visit Chinsurah is between October to March when the pleasant weather and a plethora of festivals in Bengal make it unforgettable.

Bardhaman
Bardhaman or Burdwan has a history from about 5000 BC or the Mesolithic or the late Stone Age. The origin of this name dates back to the 6th century and is attributed to Vardhaman Swami or Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, who spent some time in Astikagrama, according to the Jain scripture of Kalpasutra. This place was renamed as Vardhamana in his honour. During Jahangir’s rule, it was named Badh-e-dewan or the district capital. It was the headquarters of the Maharajas of Burdwan. The most unique structure in the town is the 108 Shiv Mandir because there are 108 smaller temples lying side by side in a beautiful vertical pattern. The best time to visit the temple complex is during Shivratri when the entire place is lit up with lights and decorations. The Kankeleshwari Kalibari is an intricate structure of Goddess Kali is located in Brishnu Mandir where Goddess Chamunda is depicted through this sculpture. Made from precious stones and black rocks, the structure is so finely detailed that even the veins running through her many hands look real. The sculpture is also believed to be a symbol of the continuity of life as its made from the stones found on Damoder riverbed after the devastating floods of 1923. The Sarbamangala Temple, which is highly revered is believed to fulfil all wishes and is believed that Sarbamangala is actually Goddess Durga in a different form. Another very interesting feature of the temple is that the statue of the goddess and the surrounding temple were built a few decades apart. The goddess was established in 1740 A.D. by the king Kirti Chand while the temple structure was built by king Mahatab Chand. Located on the Grand Trunk road, the Kalyaneshwari Temple is a beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Kali which has a unique story. Built around many decades back, the temple is believed to have been a haven for dacoits, where they stayed and also offered prayers. The temple has been preserved in its simple original form with minimal renovation and is believed to fulfill wishes for offsprings of childless women. The red brick Christ Church was built back in 1816 and is still very well maintained, set in the midst of a well trimmed courtyard.

Gopal Bagh which means the garden of roses is the most beautiful place in Bardhaman and is the Botanical and Zoological garden established by King Bijoy Chand Mahatab in 1884. The garden is believed to have nearly 150 different types of trees including mango, casuarina, eucalyptus, jaam and shimul and is full of structures, statues and beautifully landscaped areas. In 1691, the then king of Bhardam constructed a huge artificial lake, Krishnasayar on nearly 33 acres of land and later a park was built around it by the Krishasayar trustee board. Visitors can enjoy rowing in the lake or enjoy the various flowers and art exhibitions as well as the aquarium within the park. The Deer Park has numerous animals including deer, leopards and tigers as well as a guest house for overnight stay. Bardhaman is located on the banks of the Damoder river and visitors can enjoy evenings on the riverside and enjoy the cool breeze or hire a boat and enjoy the gentle waves, especially on a pleasant day. The Rajbati or Mahatabmanjil was built by Mahatab Chand Bahadur, in 1851.The imposing building houses the administrative office of the Bardhaman University. The Maharajdhiraj Uday Chand Women’s College and the settlement office lie on the sides. Rajbati. The majestic Curzon Gate was erected in 1903, by the king of Burdwan Maharaja Bijoy Chand Mahatab to celebrate Lord Curzon’s visit. Though just an archway towering over the road, the majestic structure easily grabs attention, especially at night and the Royal Palace is situated one km from the gate. Numerous tales surround Sher Afghan Khan, the tuyuldar of Bardhaman during Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s rule and who was accused of having conspired with the Afghans against the Emperor. He was eventually killed in this confrontation and his wife, Mehrunissa, famously known as Nur Jahan, who was believed to have been extremely beautiful eventually married the Emperor Jahangir. His tomb is a popular ssite with the tomb of Qutbuddin adjacent to that of Sher Afghan. The Science Centre has numerous displays along with interesting classes and seminars and is open daily between 11:30 am to 7 pm. The Meghna Saha Planetarium, innagurated in 1994, was built by a Japanese optical company with assistance from the Japanese and Indian governments.

Haldia
Often considered as a river port assisting Kolkata, Haldia is an industrial port city. A major river port and industrial belt located approximately 124 kilometres southwest of Kolkata near the mouth of the Hooghly river, Haldia Township is bordered by the Haldi River, an offshoot of the Ganges and is a centre for many petrochemical businesses and is being developed as a major trade port for Kolkata.

The Mahishadal Rajbari or Palace was originally built to house Janardan Upadhyay of Uttar Pradesh, who often came to the region for business. The famous Krishna Temple, Gopaljee Temple, is situated in the courtyard of this palace. Built under the rule of Rani Janki Devi, the temple also has idols of Lord Shiva. A Jagannath Temple and Natmandir are positioned on either side of the entrance. The complex comprises two palaces, an old one and a new one with the new one inhabited by the successors of the royal family. The ground floor rooms have a good collection of paintings and furniture which can be viewed on request. The Muktidham Temple is made of white carved marble and idols of Goddess Kali, RadhaKrishna and Hanuman are worshipped in the temple. The temple has its private courtyard and the famous Shiva Temple is situated next to it. Maynagarh is unique in the sense it has a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple and a Muslim mosque in close vicinity. The best time to be there is during the evening when the sounds of prayers from all the three holy shrines can be heard all at once. The Ramjew Temple is a 90 feet tall temple that is dedicated to Lord Ram and houses idols of Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. The temple was established way back by Rani Janki Devi and has the huge Dubey Palace behind it. Another unique place in Haldia is Sataku which is a mini Japan due to having many employees of the Mitsubishi Chemicals plant who are Japanese living here. With many Japanese eating joints, cinema halls and a news station, Japanese culture lovers will enjoy a visit here. The Haldia dock was originally built to take some load off the overflowing Kolkata Port. The growth of the Haldia Dock Complex that started functioning in 1968 increased in momentum with the commissioning of the Haldia Port in 1977, when it started it’s international operations. The dock is the commercial epicenter of Haldia and a trip to Haldia, without seeing the dock, is incomplete. Matagini Hazra was a freedom fighter during India’s independence movement and during the movement, she, along with others marched towards Tamluk prison to protest and faced police firing and Matangi died on the spot with India’s flag still in her hand. The stone statue in her likeness was constructed on that very spot in her memory. The Haldia Marine drive is a beautiful 6 km road stretch from Coast Guard Jetty to the 3rd oil jetty point. The road is lined with palm trees and every now an then a ship can be seen anchored on shore. Perhaps one of the most beautiful sights in Haldia, it’s a beautiful contrast from crowded city roads.

Midnapore
Located on the banks of the Kangsabati river, Midnapore or Medinipur is a small town in interior Bengal where one visits to have a holiday of a different kind. There are conflicting accounts of how the name Medinipur came to be with one account claiming that Medinipur was named after a local deity Medinimata which means Mother of the World, a Shakti incarnation. The Kali Temple is very popular with evening prayer held at the temple especially crowded with devotees even coming from nearby towns. The temple construction is done in old Indian Panchratana style. The Chilkigarh Kanak Durga Mandir & Forest Area premises has a main building and a small tract of forest in the same vicinity. The forest has numerous bushes of rare herbs, some whose medicinal properties aren’t even fully known. There are many butterflies, swans, peacocks etc which run free in the temple and the forest. The Jagannath, Shyamaleswar and the Chandaneswar Temples are all situated in close proximity to one another and made from the same kind of rock with each housing a different idol. The temples are surrounded by trees and each have a shaded area for devotees to sit in peace. The Jora Masjid, which means twin mosques, are two mosques built side by side in white marble in the ancient Islamic architectural styles. Around Eid, the mosque is lit up and very beautiful. Close to Midnapore, Chandrakona’s must visit sites include the Fort of Ramgarh and Lalgarh, built by the Chauhan kings. The Palace of King Chandraketu is also worth visiting as is the ancient Mahadev Temple which has a long history of destruction and was later rebuilt by a Burdwan King. The Khirpai Temple, the Lal Ji Temple and ruins of Sobha Singha’s Fort are also worth paying a visit to. Tamluk city is situated on the bank of the Rupnarayan river east of Midnapore. Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the south and the Subarnarekha river to the West, it was historically known as Tamralipti or Tamralipta and has been a witness to the various invasions and migrations from the east, west and northern India. The history of Tamluk says that while Sanjay was describing the names of holy rivers and places to Dhritarashtra, he mentioned Tamralipta and that it was the capital of Venga kingdom and a well-recognised port. The Bargabheema Temple in Tamluk is dedicated to Devi Bargabheema, a form of Goddess Kali. Believed to be nearly 1200 years old, the temple is believed to fulfill all wishes of devotees of the goddess. It is also believed that the sculpture of the Goddess was crafted by Lord Viswakarma himself. This temple is considered as 51 shakti peth of mother Durga and it is believed that Sati’s left ankle fell here.

In the next part, let’s see more of the state of West Bengal.

Travel Bucket List: India – West Bengal Part 1

Posted on May 24, 2021 by memoriesandsuch

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From the hills of Himachal Pradesh, the next state we will explore is where the river Ganges meets the sea, West Bengal. One of India’s eastern states, West Bengal lies along the Bay of Bengal, is the fourth-most populous state and fourteenth-largest state by area. Part of the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, it borders Bangladesh in the east, and Nepal and Bhutan in the north as well as the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Assam. India’s third-largest metropolis Kolkata is the capital which is also the seventh-largest city by population in India. The state has a varied topography which includes the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, the Ganges delta, the Rarh region and the coastal Sundarbans.

The area’s early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Ancient Bengal was the site of several major Janapadas, while the earliest cities date back to the Vedic period. The region was part of several ancient pan−Indian empires, including the Vangas, Mauryans, and the Guptas. The citadel of Gauḍa served as the capital of the Gauḍa Kingdom, the Pala Empire, and the Sena Empire. Islam was introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate, but following the Ghurid conquests led by Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, Islam spread across the entire Bengal region. During the Bengal Sultanate, the territory was a major trading nation in the world and was often referred to by the Europeans as the richest country to trade with. It was absorbed into the Mughal Empire in 1576 and simultaneously, some parts of the region were ruled by several Hindu states, and Baro-Bhuyan landlords and part of it was briefly overrun by the Suri Empire. Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in the early 1700s, the proto-industrialised Mughal Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal and showed signs of the first Industrial revolution. The region was later conquered by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and became part of the Bengal Presidency.

Bengal was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India’s great artistic and intellectual centres. Following widespread religious violence, the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal in 1947 along religious lines into two independent dominions: West Bengal, a Hindu-majority Indian state, and East Bengal, a Muslim-majority province of Pakistan which later became independent Bangladesh.

Post-Indian independence, West Bengal’s economy is based on agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprises. For many decades the state underwent political violence and economic stagnation. Today, the economy of West Bengal is the sixth-largest state economy and has the 28th-highest ranking among Indian states in the human development index.

The origin of the name Bengal or Bangla and Bongo in Bengali is unknown. One theory suggests the word derives from “Bang”, the name of a Dravidian tribe that settled the region around 1000 BC. The Bengali word Bongo might have been derived from the ancient kingdom of Vanga or Banga. Although some early Sanskrit literature mentions the name Vanga, the region’s early history is obscure.

Kolkata
The capital of West Bengal and also known as Calcutta which was its official name until 2001, Kolkata is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, approximately 80 km west of the border with Bangladesh. The primary business, commercial, and financial hub of eastern India and the main port of communication for North-East India, Kolkata has the third-largest urban economy of India and is the seventh-most populous city and the third-most populous metropolitan area. The Port of Kolkata is India’s oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port and Kolkata is known as the cultural capital of India for the city’s historical and architectural significance. A demographically diverse city, the culture of Kolkata features idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close-knit neighbourhoods or paras and freestyle conversations known as addas. Though home to major cricketing venues and franchises, Kolkata differs from other Indian cities by focusing on association football and other sports.

In the late 17th century, the three villages that predated Kolkata were ruled by the Nawab of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. After the Nawab granted the East India Company a trading licence in 1690, the area was developed by the Company into an increasingly fortified trading post. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah occupied Calcutta in 1756, and the East India Company retook it the following year. In 1793 the East India Company assumed full sovereignty of the region and under the company rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of British-held territories in India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. During the Indian independence movement, Calcutta was at the centre of the movement and following independence in 1947, Kolkata, which was once the centre of Indian commerce, culture, and politics, suffered many decades of political violence and economic stagnation.

The word Kolkata is derived from Kolikata, the Bengali name of one of three villages that predated the arrival of the British, in the area where the city was eventually established; the other two villages being Sutanuti and Govindapur. There are several explanations for the name, one being that Kolikata is thought to be a variation of Kalikkhetro, which means a field of the goddess Kali and it can also be a variation of Kalikshetra, a Sanskrit name that means the area of Goddess Kali. Another theory is that the name derives from Kalighat or the Bengali term kilkila or flat area or the words khal meaning canal, and kaṭa meaning dug. According to another theory, the area specialised in the production of quicklime or koli chun and coir or kata and hence, it was called Kolikata. Although the city’s name has always been pronounced Kolkata or Kolikata in Bengali, the anglicised form Calcutta was the official name until 2001, when it was changed to Kolkata to match Bengali pronunciation.

There’s so much to see in Kolkata, so let’s dive right in.

Located in the heart of the city, the Victoria Memorial is a white marbled opulent structure built-in memory of Queen Victoria to celebrate 25 years of rule over India and is almost a replica of the Victoria Memorial in London. Synonymous with the city, the memorial is surrounded by lush green and well-maintained garden, which spreads over 64 acres and has numerous statues and sculptures in it including a 16-foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted on ball bearings at the top of the memorial. The complex is breathtaking, especially at night, when it is illuminated. The sound and light shows that take place in the evening are a must-watch. The memorial was the brainchild of Lord Curzon who wanted the monument that would be dedicated to Queen Victoria to be stately, spacious and large, with a beautiful garden. The funds for the construction of the memorial were raised from the people of India with a sum of 5 lakh rupees raised. The foundation was laid down by King George V and the Prince of Wales in 1906, and the memorial finally opened to the general public in 1921. The chief architect of the Victoria Memorial was William Emerson, who lent an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture to the monument, while drawing inspiration from Egyptian, Venetian, Mughal and other Islamic styles at the same time. The 184 feet high building is constructed with Makrana marble of white colour brought from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The vast gardens spread over a sprawling 64 acres, were designed by the botanist Sir David Prain and Lord Redesdale. The gardens have a bronze statue of Queen Victoria on a bronze throne which welcomes visitors at the entrance, while a walk around the garden reveals other statues like those of Edward VII, Curzon, Hastings and Dalhousie. Allegorical sculptures like motherhood, architecture, learning and justice can also be found here. The gardens are open on all days from 5:30 am to 6:15 pm and the entry fee per person is INR 10 while an annual membership costs INR 1,000 for those above 60 and INR 2,000 for others. The garden ticket does not entitle entry into the museum. The Victoria Memorial Gallery is open between 10 am and 5 pm from Tuesdays to Sundays and the entry fee for Indians is INR 20, while that for foreigners is INR 200. The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays and national holidays. There is a light and sound show known as Son-et-Lumiere from October to June and is closed on Mondays and public holidays as well between July to September. Tickets are priced at INR 10 for the Bengali show and INR 20 for the English show. Between October and February, the Bengali show runs from 6:15 to 7 pm and the English show from 7:15 to 8 pm and between March to June the Bengali show runs from 6:45 to 7:30 pm and the English show runs from 7:45 to 8:30 pm.

Located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, Fort William was built in 1696 and is named after King William III and was the first stronghold of the British in the country. Spread over 70.9 acres and embellished with hundreds of arched windows that overlook lush green gardens, the fort has stonework that adorns the surface of the building which took 10 years to complete. In 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah, attacked Fort William and temporarily conquered the city. He renamed the region Alinagar and assumed control of the fort. This led the British to build a new fort in the Maidan under Robert Clive and construction of the new fort began in 1758 after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The new Willliam Fort is octagonal and has an imposing structure made out of brick and mortar. Three of its sides faced the River Ganges while the remaining five had a beautiful maidan full of greenery in front of it. The design follows the pattern of a star and was constructed such that it was impregnable against cannon firing shots. A moat was included in the design as well which protected fire and fighters trying to penetrate the wall. Six gates provide access to the fort. Fort William has served several purposes. Initially, it comprised of wings and an inner bastion where prisoners were kept which is why it was known as the black hole of Calcutta. Today, Fort William belongs to the Indian Army and has the capacity of accommodating up to 10,000 army personnel and also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. Because of this, access is limited. Areas that are accessible are open between 10 am and 5:30 pm.

Kolkata’s iconic landmark, the Howrah Bridge is a massive steel bridge constructed over the Hooghly river and is considered to be among the longest cantilever bridges in the world. Also known as Rabindra Setu, it connects Howrah and Kolkata and carries a daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles. It is at night that the opulence of the bridge comes alive when the bridge is lit up. The view of the city and the bridge from the ferry ride between Kolkata and Howrah, especially at the night, is beautiful. Spread over 1500 feet over the Hoogly river and 71 feet wide, the bridge has eight lanes and is built without the use of any nuts or bolts and is held together by rivets. The Howrah end of the bridge has the Howrah Junction Railway Station, India’s oldest railway station and so the bridge is also known as the Gateway to Kolkata.

The Marble palace near the Chorbagan in North Kolkata was built in 1835 by Rajendra Mallick and is famed for its art collection of masterpieces by Reuben and paintings by renowned artists like Reynolds, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. It also boasts of a Zoo with rare birds and animals.

The Bengali name for the House of the Thakurs, the Jorasanko Thakur Bari is the ancestral home of the Tagore family located in Jorasanko, in north Kolkata. The 700 paintings that are exhibited in this ancestral home as well as the self-composed invite of Rabindranath Tagore’s wedding enthrals visitors. The museum here also houses three different galleries, manuscripts, books and other antiques. The museum comprises three galleries, the first one showcases the life of Tagore and his works, while the other two are about his family and other stalwarts of Bengal. More than 700 paintings can be found here, along with manuscripts, books and other antique items. This house was where Rabindranath Tagore was born and where he spent most of his life was built in 1784, and now houses the Rabindra Bharati Museum, commonly known as Jorasankho Thakurbari in Bengali. The Rabindra Bharti University is also located nearby. An interesting light and sound show takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The timings for the shows are from 6 to 6:40 pm in Bengali and 7 to 7:40 pm in English between November and January and 7 to 7:40 pm in Bengali and 8 to 8:40 pm in English between February to June. The Jorasanko Thakur Bari is closed on Mondays and other days is open between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm. Entry fees are INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for students who are Indian and foreigners pay INR 50. The light and sound show costs INR 10 to view and photographs can be taken after paying a fee of INR 50.

The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Belur Math sprawls over forty acres on the west bank of the Hooghly river. Founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the temple is at the heart of the Ramakrishna Movement. The temple is known for its distinctive architecture, which fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity and also houses a museum and several other affiliated educational institutions. The evening aarti takes place at 5:30 pm, after which an evening bell is rung to indicate that visitors are not allowed to loiter on the Math grounds and are also not allowed to visit any temple other than the Sri Ramakrishna temple. The aarti here is different from those at other temples since one is expected just to sit and meditate with no religious offering made. The complex houses temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Sarada Devi. It also boasts of a well-maintained museum, which contains the history of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. A life-size statue of Sri Ramakrishna seated on a hundred petalled lotus over a two-headed drum-shaped pedestal made of marble is found here with the sacred relics of Sri Ramakrishna preserved within the pedestal. The main entrance of the temple is heavily influenced by the Buddhist styles of the Sanchi Stupa and the entry of the Ajanta Caves. The windows and the balconies draw from the Rajput and Mughal styles of architectural designs, while the central dome is derived from European architecture. Also, the ground plan is in the shape of a Christian cross. Mainly built out of chunar or a kind of hard sandstone, the 112.5 feet high temple has images of Lord Ganesha and Hanuman, who represent success and power respectively, carved above the pillars of the entrance doors. The math is open on all days and between April and September, it is open between 6 to 11:30 am and then again between 4 to 7 pm. In the winter months between October to March, the Math is open between 6:30 to 11:30 am and again between 3:30 to 6:00 pm. The Ramakrishna Museum is closed on Mondays and open Tuesdays to Sundays from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and then after lunch between 4 to 6 pm in summer from 01 April to 30 September and the same time in the mornings, but from 3:30 to 5:30 pm during the winter months of October to March.

A stunning temple in Ballygunge, the Birla Mandir is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Merging the traditional and modern styles of architecture, the construction of the temple began in 1970 and was completed in 1996. Towering domes covered in intricate stonework and design adorn the main facade of the temple, while the complex itself is pearl white marble. Also, some artefacts in the temple are made up of silver and Belgian glass. As dusk approaches, the temple is a sight to behold adorned with electric diyas and gleaming chandeliers. The exterior of the complex is made of sandstone, while the interior is ornamented from white marble. Designed by the architect Nomi Bose, the structure is 160 feet tall with its inspiration said to have been drawn from the Lingaraj Temple and the Laxmi Narayan temple of Bhubaneshwar. Its walls depict the pictorial presentation of shlokas and scenes from Bhagavad Geeta engraved on the stone along with intricate Rajasthani style designs. The temple is open from 5:30 to 11 am and then from 4:30 to 9 pm on all days.

One of the 51 Shakti Peeths, the 200-year old Kalighat Temple is one of the most visited Kali temples and the spot where the toes of Sati’s right foot fell during Lord Shiva’s Tandava dance. It is said that Kalighat was where Chowranga Giri, a Dasanami monk, worshipped Ma Kali with great austerity and has thus been known as a religious centre for Ma Kali worship for centuries. A 3ft high altar referred to as Shoshti Tala or Monosha Tala is placed in the temple complex. Three stones representing goddesses Shashthi or Shoshti, Shitala and Mangal Chandi are found here along with a large rectangular platform called Natmandir that was erected near the temple by Zamindar Kasinath Roy in 1835. A verandah called Jor Bangla stands between the Natmandir and sanctum sanctorum and there are two sacrificial altars for animal sacrifices, known as Hari-Kath. There is another Radha-Krishna Temple here known as Shyama-Raya temple. A separate kitchen here is used to make a vegetarian offering for Radha-Krishna and a sacred tank known as Kundupurkar or Kalighat Temple Tank in which the Sati-Anga or the right toe of Sati was originally discovered. Bathing in this sacred water is known to bestow the gift of pregnancy. Unlike most temples, there is no daily worship or food offering in the temple where all the priests are women as the temple commemorates Kali and femininity.

Flanked by Hoogly river Hooghly on its eastern bank, the Dakshineswar Kali is a Navratna temple presided by Bhavatarini, a form of Goddess Kali. Built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855, a devotee of Goddess Kali, the Bhavatarini form means she, who liberates her devotees from the ocean of existence. Aside from the main shrine, there are also several rooms built along the complex surrounding the boundary walls. In these rooms, there are shrines dedicated to several Gods. 12 of these are dedicated to Lord Shiva, 1 to Radha Krishna, and 1 to Rani Rashmoni. Besides, there is also a bathing ghat on the river. The temple is also known for its famous association with Sri Ramakrishna. The temple’s history dates back to 1847. Rani Rashmoni was a wealthy widow who planned to pay her respect and express her devotion to the Goddess by visiting Benaras. But before she could leave with her convoy of 24 ships and a large party, she was visited by the Divine Mother or Goddess Kali in her dreams who told her to install her idol on the banks of the Ganges in Kolkata itself and she would manifest herself in the image and accept worship. In accordance, Rani Rashmoni purchased a 20-acre plot from an Englishman and constructed the temple which took eight years and a sum of nine lakh rupees. The temple is built in the traditional Bengal style of architecture with a nine spired style, also known as the Navratna style. The three-storeyed temple faces the south and the nine spires are distributed in the upper two storeys that can be reached with a flight of stairs. Rising to a height of 100 ft., the inner sanctum sanctorum houses the idol of Goddess Kali who stands on the chest of Lord Shiva. Both these idols are placed in the heart of a gigantic lotus flower that is made in silver. There are 12 shrines alongside the boundary of the temple complex that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. These idols are placed on a thousand leaf lotus which is made of silver. These shrines are constructed in the aat – chala style of Bengali architecture with shrines to Lord Vishnu and Radha Kanta to the north east. There are a flight of stairs that lead to the verandah and the garba griha or the sanctam sanctorum. The temple is open between 6 am and 12:30 pm and again between 3 and 9 pm.

The Pareshnath Jain Temple also known as the Calcutta Jain Temple is a temple complex dedicated to four Jain Tirthankaras. The complex is a beautiful arrangement of these shrines with the temple architecture consisting of intricately carved marbles and glass work and also houses extremely well-maintained gardens and fountains as well as a shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs and gifts. The temple was built in 1867 by Rai Badridas Bahadur Mukeem. After the temple was built, a Jain saint, Kalyansuriji, instructed him to install an idol of Bhagwan Shitalnath. Rai Badridas searched for a perfect image of Bhagwan Shitalnath for a few years and found one in a Jain Temple buried near Agra and then brought the image to Kolkata and installed it in the temple. The opulent complex has four different temples dedicated to Shitalnath Ji, Mahavir Swami Ji, Dadawadi and Kushal Ji and Chandraprabhu Ji with each temple having stunning architecture with mirrors, stained glass and intricate designs. The complex is made in marble with floral designs and has meticulously decorated gateways, walls, pillars and floors with beautiful chandeliers and paintings in the interior. The temple is open from 6 to 10 am and then from 5 to 8 pm.

Mother House or the Missionaries of Charity was established by Mother Teresa in 1950 and provides free services to the ones stricken by poverty. The house has about 4,500 members known as sisters. An area of the house is reserved for followers to pay their respect to Mother Teresa and here one can find Mother Teresa’s tomb and an exhibition that displays her work through photographs, awards and articles along with some of her belongings like her sarees, sandals and her bag. A daily mass is held at Mother House with the sisters and volunteers celebrating mass every day at 6 am in the main chapel. Every week on Fridays at 4:30 pm, a special mass is offered at Mother’s Tomb for the intentions placed at the tomb which is followed by a special blessing with Mother Teresa’s relic. Mother House is open from 8 am to 12 noon and between 3 to 6 pm. It is closed on Thursdays, 22 August, Easter Monday and 26 December.

Located in the heart of Kolkata, the St Paul’s Church is an Anglican cathedral that is a must-visit. Primarily built to accommodate the ever-increasing Christian community in Calcutta, it is the first Episcopalian church in Asia. The building follows Indo-Gothic style and its structure is complete with a cascading white edifice, towering spire and colourful tinted windows. Inside, it has a huge nave, majestic altar and chancel, along with carvings and paintings depicting great moments and events of Christian history. The cathedral complex also houses several memorabilia of past congregants and a library where books as old as the church’s foundation time still exist donated by founding member Bishop Wilson. After Calcutta suffered an earthquake in 1934, the church was revamped for the second time, the first one being after the 1897 earthquake. The church’s tower was rebuilt and modelled on the central Bell Harry Tower of Canterbury Cathedral. The cathedral has a chancel and a sanctuary and above that a 200 feet tall spire rising into the sky. At the far south of the altar, there is a reredos that can be traced back to 1879 which bears carvings that depict the life of St Paul, the Annunciation, the Flight into Egypt and the Adoration of the Magi, all by Sir Arthur Blomfield. The cathedral is open between 9 am to 12 noon and between 3 to 6 pm on Mondays to Saturdays and from 7:30 am to 6 pm on Sundays.

The St John’s Church is one of Kolkata’s oldest churches built when the city was the capital of British India. The church served as Anglican Cathedral till St. Paul’s Cathedral was made the Anglican cathedral in 1847. It is a splendidly well-maintained structure and the unique tall features of St John’s Church is a characteristic part of its neoclassical architecture. The construction of St John’s Church began in 1784 and a public lottery system helped raise money to build the church. The church is designed as per the neoclassical style with the stones used in the structure that belonged to the ruins of Gour and was shipped down the river Hooghly. The church is also known as the Stone Church or Pathure Girja with the basic structure square-shaped. The tallest part of the church is the 174-foot tall spire with a massive clock. A portico lined with columns leads to the entrance of the church. The church is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily with prayers between 8 and 9 am.

The ninth oldest museum in the world and the largest in India, the Indian Museum’s foundation stone was laid down in 1814 and it has been a centre of multidisciplinary activities ever since. Popularly known as Jadughar, it has the finest collection of contemporary paintings, sacred relics of Buddha, Egyptian mummies and ancient sculptures. In addition to these, the Indian Museum boasts of some of the most exquisite collections of ornaments, fossils, skeletons, antiques, armours, and stunning Mughal paintings. Today the museum has 60 galleries which have been divided into six categories, Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Economic Botany. There is also a library and bookshop present within the museum premises. The museum recently celebrated its bicentennial anniversary in February 2014. The museum’s structure was designed by Walter B Grawille in the Italian style and comprises three floors, each spanning across an area of about 930 sq meters. The museum is open all days except Mondays and from 10 am to 5 pm, March to November and from 10 am to 5:30 pm, December to February. The museum is closed on public holidays and some festivals and ticket prices are INR 20 for Indian adults and INR 150 for foreigners.

One of its kind, Science City is one of the finest and the largest science museums in the world. There is a special section dedicated to the aquatic world where one can learn details about various fishes and insects. The ground floor comprises optical illusions with mirrors which are very interesting to look at. The Time Machine is a favourite and allows one to travel to outer space from where one can travel back in time and enter the age of dinosaurs by being a part of the artificial Jurassic Park. There is also a ropeway which gives a bird’s eye view of the city. Science City is open from 9 am to 9 pm on all days except some public holidays. The entry fee per person is INR 50 and fees for the various exhibits per person are Space theatre INR 60, Evolution Park INR 10, 3D theatre INR 30, Time Machine INR 20, Road Train INR 15, Cable Car INR 30, Mono Cycle INR 15, Caterpillar INR 10 and Gravity Coaster INR 30.

Situated near the Victoria Memorial and St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Birla Planetarium is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. It is one of the three planetariums in India and is also known as Taramandal and was founded in September 1962. Shows such as Zodiac signs and stars on the various constellations in the sky, Journey to the Antarctic, and the New View of the Solar System are held here at regular intervals. One of the interesting aspects of the planetarium is its architecture. The style has been adopted from the Sanchi Stupa and is quite prominent even from a distance with a splendid white dome with a diameter of 23 metres. The English show takes place at 1:30 and 6:30 pm while the Hindi show timings are 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 pm. The Bengali shows take place at 3:30 and 5:30 pm. Also, extra shows are organised on Sundays and other holidays at 10:30 am in Hindi and 11:30 am in Bengali. There is an entry fee of INR 40 per person.

The Birla Industrial & Technological Museum was the first scientific and industrial museum in India and was up on 2nd May 1959. The fascinating physics gallery has 28 exhibits on mechanics, light, electromagnetic waves and gravitation in the classical physics section of the gallery while the transport gallery comprises more than 50 exhibits and is spread over 500 sq km. The motive power gallery shows how man was forced to use animal power, wind power and water power to increase his physical strength while the life science gallery tries to bring out the science of life via exhibits that are both living and non-living. The children’s gallery has many sections spread over 4000 sq ft where children can play around and experiment with the objects present there. The museum which is closed on the last two days of Navratri is open between 10 am and 5:30 pm daily. Entry fees are INR 30 for the general public, while school students on an excursion have special rates.

Home to cricket, Eden Gardens is a beautiful, well-maintained cricket stadium established in 1864. With an area of over 50 acres, this stadium can seat about 66,349 people and is the second-largest stadium in the world. The pathways of the stadium are shaded by huge mahogany, mango and banyan trees with a three-storeyed Burmese pagoda in red and golden yellow brought here by Lord Dalhousie.

The Eco-Tourism Park is an expansive urban park designed to promote eco-tourism and is the biggest urban park in India occupying an area of over 475 acres. A water body surrounds the park and forms an island in the middle. The beautiful and well-maintained park is the perfect retreat for nature lovers. The park has three major parts, the ecological zones, the gardens and the recreational zones with activities that visitors can choose from to suit their requirement. The Butterfly Garden has different species of butterflies with the speciality of the park being the dome that houses plants that help the butterflies thrive. The Mask Garden displays various types of masks found not just in Bengal but also in various parts of the world. The Tea Garden is a model tea garden while the Formal Garden is based on the concept of vertical gardening surrounded by a flat landscape. The Bamboo Garden has a variety of bamboo plants and the Fruit Garden showcases fruit-bearing trees found mostly in Bengal. The Meadow Garden has a variety of wild flowering plants and overlooks the lakefront promenade and the Rose Garden has a long walkway lined with rose shrubs. The Sculpture Garden is where one can find sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Rabi Aranya features plants and trees mentioned in the literary works of Rabindranath Tagore. And the Urban Museum or Sangraha displays a beautiful collection of stunning artwork, mostly used to decorate Durga Puja Pandals. The Biswa Bangla Haat or market showcases the traditional handicrafts of Bengal and has a shopping arcade as well as fresh produce which is sold here. A Graffiti Wall runs along with the south parking and both sides of the wall bear stunning artwork created by two renowned artists, Subha Prasanna and Jogen Chowdhury. The Children’s Park has play areas, sculptures, fountains and lush gardens and the park has replicas of the seven wonders of the world situated across the park. The park is open between Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2:30 to 8:30 pm during the summer season which runs from 01 March to 31 October and from 12 noon to 7:30 pm during the winter season from 01 November to 28 February and on Sundays and public holidays from 11 am to 7:30 pm. The park is closed on Mondays. Entry fees at INR 30 per person and children above three have to buy a ticket from the ticket counter which closes at 7:30 pm.

The erstwhile Dhakuria Lake is an artificial tank in South Kolkata, spread over 75 acres and home to a variety of migratory birds from Siberia and Russia. Surrounded by gardens, a children’s park and an auditorium, the lake has been developed over the years to encourage community and welfare and is a popular recreational spot for picnics.

The very picturesque Hooghly Riverfront is situated along the two banks of the river Hooghly: Kolkata in the east and Howrah in the west. Sunrise and sunset views are magnificent from here and should not be missed. After the beautification of the east promenade in 2011, it has become a major tourist attraction.

Alipore Zoo, also known as the Calcutta Zoo or the Zoological Garden of Alipore, is the oldest zoological park established in India. Most known for being the home of the Aldabra giant tortoise Adwaita, a tortoise who had lived for over 250 years before he died in the year 2006, the zoo is spread over 46.5 acres and has been operating since 1876. The zoo becomes especially crowded during the winter seasons with tourists and is home to a variety of exotic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Indian Elephant, the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, the White Tiger, Grant’s Zebra, Antelopes, Deer and more and various birds like macaws and lorikeet, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant and Golden Pheasant, Ostrich, Emu and Hornbills. During the winter season, the zoo also attracts migratory birds like the Sarus Crane. The Zoo is open between 9 am and 5 pm while the aquarium is open between 10:30 am and 5 pm and the ticket counter between 9 am and 4:30 pm. The zoo is closed on Thursdays, though if that happens on a public holiday, the zoo stays open for that day and is closed on the next working day. Between 15 December to 31 January, the zoo is open on all seven days. For visitors above five, on days other than Saturdays, Sundays and government holidays, the entry fee is INR 25, on Saturdays, Sundays and government holidays, it is INR 30. The aquarium charges INR 5 while there are no camera charges and video charges are INR 250 per hour.

An ancient ghat, Ramkrishnapur Ghat is built along the banks of the Ganga. The beautiful and enchanting ghat is surrounded by a series of beautifully constructed ancient temples and staircases running towards the banks where the Ganga Aarti takes place. While Varanasi and Haridwar are famous for their grand Ganga Aartis, Ramkrishnapur Ghat offers its spin on it. It is highly recommended to take a boat ride and watch the aarti from the middle of the river, a surreal experience. The boat ride can be hired from Babughat.

The Prinsep Ghat, located on the banks of River Hooghly, is a majestic structure famous for its Greek and Gothic inlays. With the magnificent Howrah Bridge in the background, watching the sunrise or sunset and taking a long walk in the cool air on the banks of the river is bliss. During British rule, it was used by them as a jetty for loading and unloading passengers and essential items. The ghat is located between Fort William and the Water Gate and is one of the few locations that has been restored to maintain the pre-independence aura. Boating is a favourite activity at the ghat with the river cruises lasting for a few minutes to an hour. Early mornings between 6 to 9 am and evenings from 5 to 7 pm are the best times boating in the river with some boatmen extending the evening boat ride on request for another hour or so at additional charges.

A heritage site today maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, South Park Street Cemetery is an 18th-century non-church cemetery, one of the oldest in the world. Most of the tombs in the cemetery are aesthetically beautiful and very attractive with a unique charm. The oldest tomb is grave number 363 which belongs to a woman who never wished to have her name revealed. The tomb architecture is mostly a mix of Gothic and Indo-Saracenic with miniature replicas on stone. The cemetery is open from 9 am to 5 pm and has no entry fees.

Babur Haat is the perfect weekend destination if one wishes to take a break. Dominated by natural fishing lakes or bheris, responsible for producing some of the tastiest fish in West Bengal, Babur Haat has long stretches of rice farmlands, vegetable orchards, mango groves, palm groves and rural homes and temples. Malancha village, famous for its fish markets is only 15 km from Babur Haat and one can also opt for country boating, by crossing the river to visit Chaital Village.

In the next part, we will see more of West Bengal’s beauty.

Travel Bucket List: India – Himachal Pradesh Part 6

Posted on April 26, 2021 by memoriesandsuch

Keylong
Nestled between the Lahaul and Spiti district, Keylong is perfect for a getaway away from the tourists towns of the state. Due to the dry cold weather, Keylong does not have a lot of greenery, but the snow-covered mountains covered with mist are picturesque. Situated at an altitude of 3080 meters, the tiny hamlet is generally a stop-over for visitors travelling in the region. The small town is cut off from the outside world from November to mid-May due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang Pass. It is mandatory to get a permit from the Tourist Development Council Manali to travel to Keylong mostly because travel to Rohtang pass is restricted and to get to Keylong, one needs to cross the pass. Located 8 km from Keylong, the Kardhang Monastery is situated amidst mountains with a stunning architecture. The monastery houses a library with ancient Buddhist texts and weapons dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The Barachaa La Pass where Barachaa translates to pass with crossroads on summit in English offers spectacular views of the mountains and is also where three rivers namely; Chandra, Bhaga and Yunam originate. The Shashur monastery which is located at an elevation of 600 meters, sits atop a hill 3 km away from Keylong. The walls of this monastery are embellished with beautiful paintings of the 84 siddhas of Buddhism and the best time to visit is during the months of June and July because of the annual festival celebrated. The Tayul Monastery is located 6 km from Keylong. Tayul which translates to the chosen place is home to a grand library that houses thousands of ancient texts as well as a huge statue of Guru Padmasambhava. Believed to be the lake of the Sun God, Suraj Tal is situated amidst snow-covered mountains at an elevation of 4960 meters. At a distance of 24 km from Keylong, Darcha is the place to go if you plan to camp. Located at an elevation of 3360 meters, Darcha is a huge camping site. The ancient fort at Gondla was built in the 18th century and is situated 18 km from Keylong. The fort is eight stories high with intricate architecture and is located the Chandra River. The Lahaul and Spiti Tribal Museum is rich in artefacts relating to the culture of this area with many beautifully woven clothes, old masks, utensils, handmade carpets, treasures and archaeological artefacts. A tranquil lake, Deepak Tal provides scenic beauty with fresh, cold and clear water.

Pin Valley National Park
Set amidst semi-frozen rivers in the Pin Valley, the Pin Valley National Park is situated in the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in the Lahaul and Spiti district. The park was established in 1987 as a part of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area. The elevation of the park ranges from about 3,500 metres near Ka Dogri to more than 6,000 metres at its pinnacle. Steeped in historical and present day Buddhist Tibetan culture, the area has many Tibetan Buddhist influences, evident architecturally in monasteries and stupas, and in the daily living of its residents.

One of of its kind, the Pin Valley National Park is home to rare species of the Himalayan snow leopard and their prey, the Ibex. The National Park is famous for its incredible trek which require special inner line permits which is required for any travel within 40 km of the Tibetan border and foreign nationals are not allowed inside the park. The park’s core zone is sprawled across an area of 675 sq km while its buffer zone is extended over almost 1150 sq km. Due to the park’s high altitude and extreme temperatures, vegetation density is sparse, comprising mainly of alpine trees and groves of Himalayan cedar or deodars. In summer, rare birds like the Himalayan snowcock, the chukar partridge, the snow partridge and the snow finch. Because of its snow-laden unexplored higher spots and slopes, the park forms a natural habitat for a number of endangered animals including the snow leopard and the Siberian ibex. Twenty-two rare and endangered medicinal plant species have been discovered in and around the National Park, distributed over 10 different habitat types.

The Pin Valley National Park is the place for those who like trekking in rough terrains. There are two routes with the first one called the Summer Route which is open from July to October, and the second one called the Winter Route, open from March to December. Mid- May to September is considered to be the best time to visit Pin Valley National Park, since the region around the park receives heavy snowfall in winter.

Spiti valley
A cold desert mountain valley located high in the Himalayas in the north-eastern part of the state, Spiti Valley’s name comes from the fact it lies between India and Tibet with Spiti meaning the middle land. Scantily populated, Spiti is an adventure lover’s paradise, with a number of trekking trails that tourists can choose from. Bordered on all sides by the Himalayas, Spiti Valley, is at an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level, and gets just about 250 days of sunshine in the year, making it one of the coldest places in the country. With the thick Himalayan snow cutting Spiti off from the rest of the country for around 6 months a year, the summer months are the only time Spiti is directly accessible via motorway. All treks in the valley begin from Kaza, Spiti’s capital, which is a tranquil getaway on the plains of the Spiti river and is bound by mountains covered in snow, rivers and streams and picturesque barren landscape with scattered patches of green. Kaza is divided in to two parts, old and new Kaza, accommodating government offices and the king’s palace respectively. Locals follow the Vajrayana Buddhism similar to that found in the Tibet and Ladakh regions. The valley and surrounding region is one of the least populated regions in India and is the gateway to the northernmost reaches of the country.

Chandratal Lake is often referred to as one of the most beautiful lakes and is located at an altitude of about 4300 on the Samudra Tapu plateau which overlooks the Chandra River. The name Chandra Taal which means lake of the moon comes from its crescent shape. This lake is also one of two high-altitude wetlands that have been designated as Ramsar sites. Legend has that the Chandratal Lake lies in the vicinity of the place from where Lotf Indra’s chariot picked up Yudhishthira, the oldest of Pandava brothers. The colour of this lake keeps changing from red in the morning to orange and blue to to emerald green as the day ends. Vast stretches of green meadows house the best camping sites with an array of wildflowers during spring. The trek from Batal to Chandratal can be quite a tedious trail, but the views make the trek worth it. The Chandratal Lake trek goes through a scenic route with a panoramic view of the Lahaul range with snow clad peaks of Minar, Talagiri, Tara Pahar and Mulkila, all of which are over 6000 meters.

Five km from the Dhankar monastery lies the Dhankar lake on the other side of the mountain which can be reached in about an hour after following a well marked trail from the monastery. When the sky changes colour, it reflects the colours on the crystal clear lake making it the perfect place to contemplate on life.

The Kunzum Pass or Kunzum La, as it is called by locals, is one of the highest motorable mountain passes in India, located at an altitude of 4,551m above mean sea level and serves as a gateway to Spiti valley. It lies on the eastern Kunzum Range and offers an incredible 360-degree view of the Bara – Shigri Glacier, the second longest glacier in the world, a jaw-dropping vista of Chandrabhaga Range and a spectacular views of the Spiti valley. A 15 km trek to Chandrataal lake starts from the pass and it is believed that visitors have to stop at the temple of Goddess Kunzum Devi, on their way to the pass, to pay their respects and seek blessing to travel safely. The tradition is to take a complete circle of the temple in one’s vehicle.

Located at an altitude of 4,166 m, the Key Monastery is very close to the Spiti river and is also known as the Kye or Ki Monastery, it is believed to have been founded by Dromton, a student of Atisha in the 11th century. Over a thousand years old, the monastery is the largest in Spiti Valley and doubles up as a religious training centre with about 300 lamas receiving their education here. As a result of the repeated attacks on the monastery, it was rebuilt multiple times making the monastery look more like a fort. The walls of the monastery are adorned with beautiful murals and paintings and marked by narrow corridors that lead to low rooms. The monastery has three floors with the first floor is used for storage and is mostly underground. The ground floor of the monastery houses the assembly hall and has cells for the monks. A richly painted room, Tangyur never fails to capture one’s attention. Thangkas, manuscripts, stucco images and wind instruments can be found within the monastery as well as an extensive collection of weapons on display.

Also refered to as Dankhar, Drangkhar or Dhangkar Gompa, the Dhankar Monastery is situated at an altitude of 12,774 feet and is perched unbelievably on the edge of a cliff and offers a panoramic view of the Spiti valley. Built one thousand years ago on a 1000 feet high mountain and overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin rivers, Dhankar Monastery is listed as one of the world’s 100 most endangered monuments. Besides enchanting views, the gompa has the statue of Vairochana or Dhayan Buddha which consists of four figures seated back to back and a small museum with scriptures and murals. Below the monastery is the village of Shichilling where there is a new monastery which houses about 150 monks belonging to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Dhankar was the traditional capital of the Spiti Valley kingdom during the 17th century and has some features from the 12th century.

Standing tall at a height of 10,000 feet, the Tabo Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley and is the oldest monastery in India that has been functioning continuously since its inception. It is second only to the Tholing Gompa in Tiber and was built by the Buddhist king, Yeshe-O. It is known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas, because of the walls of the monastery which are decorated with fascinating murals and ancient paintings, much like the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra. Today it has been taken over by the Archeological Survey of India. The walls of the monastery are 3 feet wide and encompass 9 temples, 4 stupas, 23 chortens, a monk’s chamber and an extension which contains the nun’s chamber. The temples house a priceless collection of manuscripts, thangkas, stuccos and frescoes with the walls decorated with murals that depict the ancient tales of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon. A four-fold figure of Vairocana, one of the five spiritual sons of Abibuddha rests in the Initiation Temple with many other life-sized statues of gods and demons and holy scriptures.

The Shashur Monastery is a three-storied monastery of the Drugpa sect, located about 40 km from Manali. The literal meaning of Shashur in the local language is blue pines, as blue pine trees can be found around the monastery. Since the monastery is perched at an elevation of 600 m above the valley, the views of the river, mountains and Keylong town are amazing. Built in the 17th century, following the Mandala concept of a square having four gates with a circle in the centre, the prayer rooms of the monastery are bedecked with large thangkas and wall paintings.

Also known as the Guru Ghantal Gompa, the Gandhola Monastery, is located around 20 kms from Keylong. Perched on the Tupchiling village hilltop, at the confluence of the Chandra and Bagha rivers, the monastery is the oldest monastery in the Lahaul region, founded by Padma Sambhava around 800 years back. It is famous for its wooden idols, which stand out from the clay idols found in all other monasteries.

Located in the Bhaga Valley of Spiti, the Tayul Monastery houses the biggest statue of Padma Sambhava which is 12 ft. tall, in his two manifestations of Singhmukha and Vajravarahi. Situated around 6 kms from Keylong, the Tayul Gompa also has a hundred million mani wheels, which are supposed to open the minds of visitors to the compassion of Lord and are said to turn themselves on auspicious occasions.

The Tangyud Monastery is located in the Komic village of Spiti Valley at 4520 metres and is one of the highest altitude gompas in India. Also known as Sakya Tangyud Monastery, it is situated on the periphery of the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Sitting on the edge of a deep canyon, the monastery is built in the form of a fortified castle. Adorned with red ochre and white vertical stripes, with a slanting mud wall, it gives the appearance of being taller than it actually is and is one of the only two monasteries belonging to the Sakya sect left in Spiti Valley.

The Kardang Monastery is located in Kardang village on the banks of Bhaga river at an altitude of 3500 metres and is situated on a ridge below Rangcha Peak, facing the town of Keylong. Said to be more than 900 years old, the monastery is famous for its alluring architecture, religious significance and phenomenal collection of murals, thangkas, paintings and instruments. There are about thirty monks and nuns at Kardang Monastery who have equal rights and permission to marry. They spend the summer with their families and return to the monastery in winter. Every year in the months of June and July, an annual Chaam dance is also organised where monks are dressed in dramatic masks and headgears. The architectural style of Kardang Monastery is typical of the Lahaul and Spiti district. The highlights of the monastery include a large golden Buddha statue, ancient colourful frescoes and murals and a library of Buddhist literature including the Kagyu and Tangyur scriptures in the Bhotia or Sherpa language. There are strips of paper on which the sacred mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ is written one million times. 103 volumes of the Kangyur are kept in the library with 64 tantra books on various subjects. The monastery also houses a 4-foot high silver chorten or shrine in the first room which has the skull and ashes of Lama Norbu. To the right of it are statues of Padmasambhava and Tara Devi, and in the back, one of Tagden Shakyashree, a guru of Lama Kunga. The second room is the main Prayer Hall with an eleven-headed statue of Avalokitesvara. On a high pedestal at the right are some of Lama Norbu’s castoff garments and with a skull in front. In the third room is a six-foot wooden prayer wheel with a brass bell on it.

Located in the Pin Valley, around 10 km from Attargo and 3 km from Gulling, the Kungri Monastery is the second oldest monastery in Spiti valley and the only one following the Nyingmapa Buddhism tradition, the oldest order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kungri Monastery has gorgeous silk paintings of Buddhist deities adorning the inner walls and during June-July, one can witness the performance of the Devil Dance or Chham.

The Trilokinath Temple, also known as Sri Trilokinathji Temple, is located in Trilokinath village. The temple is the only place in the world where both Hindus and Buddhists worship together. The diety is considered as Lord Shiva by Hindus while the Buddhists see it as Arya Avalokiteshwar. Trilokinath, another name for Lord Shiva, means the Lord of three worlds. It is believed that the Trilokinath Temple was originally a Buddhist monastery. Located at an altitude of 2760 metres, the white-painted temple used to be called Tunda Vihar, which is is the ancient name of the temple. The temple has a curvilinear stone tower or shikhara which has a distinctive amlka on its top and is made in a traditional wooden pagoda style and decorated with Tibetan prayer flags. As one enter the temple, there is a courtyard with a small white shrine with a granite lingam and a Nandi bull in the middle and a large Buddhist prayer wheel. Past the courtyard, in a room around the original shrine, a Hindu priest and a lama sit.

Komic Village, situated at a height of 4275m is a location where fossils are found, but one should not be tempted to to that as the buying and transporting of fossils is not legal. The village also owns a small monastery where women are not allowed during prayers.

Situated in the Sutlej river valley near the India- Tibet border, Tashigang is a quaint little village which is also the highest point in the Spiti Valley. Perched at an altitude of 4650 m, the village has just over four homes with a meagre population of 6 families and around 40 people in all. Tashigang’s claim to fame is that it has the highest polling booth in the world as well as a beautiful lake.

Kibber, also known as Kyibar, is a small village located at an altitude of 4270 metres and is surrounded by picturesque mountains and barren landscapes, Kibber boasts of being the highest inhabited village with a motorable road and is famous for the local monastery and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Established in 1992, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 1400 sq k and harbours rare species of flora and fauna. Around forty snow leopards have been discovered here. The area is rich in rare and endangered medicinal plant species used in the production of traditional medicines and cosmetics. Local operators and homestays organize excursions and treks to the sanctuary.

Also known as Mummy Village, Gue is a small village which has the mummy of a monk placed inside a tomb. As per carbon dating, the mummy is 500 to 600 years old and is dressed in silk robes and placed in a squatting position. It was discovered in 1975.

Sarchu, which lies in the border of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh is usually chosen as an overnight stop for people who travel along the Leh-Manali Highway. Located at an altitude of 4,290 metres, A majour trading point on the Silk Route, Sarchu is also called as Sir Bhum Chun and lies between the Baralacha La mountains in the south and Lachulung La in the north. The camping site on the Himalayan mountain range has many semi-permanent camps which are run between May and October.

Narkanda
Surrounded by forests and woodlands, Narkanda is a quaint little town popular for skiing in winters. Situated at a height of 9000 feet, this town is known for its natural beauty and beautiful apple orchards and is surrounded by tropical forests and majestic hills. Narkanda also has various trekking routes and a beautiful hill, Hatu Nag can be trekked and from where one gets a panoramic view of the town below. Soaring at a height of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, the Hatu Peak is the highest peak in the Shimla district, which is surrounded by mountains and covered in a dense green forest comprising a varied population of deodar, fir, spruce, cedar and blue pine. The Hatu Mata Temple rests atop the hill on Hatu Peak and is dedicated to Mandodari, the wife of King Ravana. There is a small stove like formation that sits right next to the temple, believed to have been used by the Pandava brothers to cook their food during their exile. The trek to the peak is not very rigorous and is a one-way hike of 7 km. The Tannu Jubbar Lake is encircled with trees all around and is an ideal picnic spot. Located 7 km form Narkanda is the Mahamaya Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali which is set amidst beautiful surroundings. Many years back, Satyanand Stokes started cultivating apples in Narkanda and kickstarted the town’s economy. This because the Stokes Farm and today the area is known for these apple orchards and.

Mashroba
Connected to the state capital of Shimla by the historic Hindustan-Tibet Road built by Lord Dalhousie in 1850, Mashobra is notable for housing one of the two Presidential retreats in India, with the other being the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad. The President of India visits Mashobra at least once every year, and during this time their core office shifts to the retreat at Chharabra, in Mashobra. The building housing the retreat is a completely wooden structure originally constructed in 1850. Also known as the quieter Shimla, Mashobra stands at a height of about 7700 feet and is the perfect alternative for those looking for a peaceful little hill-station. Asia’s largest watersheds supplying water to Shimla, the Reserve Forest Sanctuary is a must visit not just for this reason, but also for the lush coniferous cover surrounding it and also because it is a birdwatcher’s delight. Prior permission to visit the sanctuary is needed as it is a reserved area. A spectacular picnic spot which was previously a villa of an Italian photographer Chevalier who named it after his hometown, Craignano is located at a height of about 7700 feet and flanked by streams as well as pines and oaks on all sides and is constructed out of wood. The Shali Tibba hill at an altitude of 2873 m is located in Khatnol village, 35 km from Shimla and is also known as 360 because of the 360 view from the peak of Kufri, Fagu, Shimla and Narkanda Hills. The mountain peak has a temple dedicated to Goddess Bhimakali. Originally built as a residence of Lord Kitchener of, the Wildflowers is said to have been a favourite retreat of Lord Ripon. However, it burned down in 1993 and a new Wildflower building was built as a hotel there in a joint venture between the Himachal Pradesh government and the Oberoi group of hotels. If one is a big fan of exploring little known traditions and festivals, then visiting the Mahasu Peak in the month of May should be on the list. The festival, known as Mahasu Jatara, falls on the third Tuesday of May and celebrates the shifting of the idol of the chief deity Lord Mahasu.

Kinnaur
Located on the Indo-Tibet border, Kinnaur is situated at a distance of 235 km from Shimla and hosts views of the Zanskar Valley and the snow-draped Dhauladar range. Also known as the land of God, Kinnaur’s claim to fame is the Kinnaur Kailash with the shivaling, the representation of Lord Shiva and the mesmerising rock formations which change colours several times a day. Opened to outsiders in 1989, there are old Buddhist monasteries and temples here and the district is well known for its delicious apples, Chilgoza, handlooms and handicrafts materials. Kinnaur lies on the northeast corner of the state bordering Tibet to the east and has three high mountains ranges, Zanskar and Himalayas that enclose valleys of Satluj, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. The slopes are covered with thick wood, orchards, fields and hamlets. At the peak of the Kinnaur Kailash mountain is a natural rock Shivling. The old Hindustan-Tibet Road passes through the valley along the banks of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La pass. Kinnaur also has historical cultural links with Ngari Prefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

A favourite for Buddhist pilgrims because of the three temples of Galdang Chhodkar, Dunguir and Kangyur and an old monastery dedicated to local deity Tangtashu, Lippa has the Taiti stream flowing by. Reckong Peo also known as Peo lies in the middle of the Himalayas at a height of 2,300 metres. Also known as Rirang, Ribba gets its name by adding ri, meaning chilgoza, which Kinnaur is known for and rang, meaning mountain peak. The area is famous for its grape orchards and grape distilled alcohols and the innumerable trees with edible pines. Moorang is known for its apricot orchards and the fort built by the Pandavas on the banks of the Sutlej river.

Sarahan
A small hamlet, Sarahan is known as the gateway to Kinnaur and is located near the Sutlej River Valley and the Indo Tibetan road, at an altitude of 2165 m below sea level. Famous for the never-ending apple orchards, dense emerald pine and deodar forests, gushing streams, wildflower fields rustic settings, terraced farms and slate-roofed houses, the village is a sight to behold. The village is famous for the Bhimadevi Temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, who was the presiding deity of the rulers of the former Bushahr State. One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, it is believed the temple is built at the place where Sati’s ears fell. The temple is built in the traditional Kinnauri manner with a touch of a unique Tibetan architecture and has three complexes, the first two which were built in the 12th century and the third in 1920. The three complexes are dedicated to Lord Raghunathji, Patal Bhairva Ji and Narsinghji, though Devi Kali is the principle deity and has a separate shrine. The exterior boost of wood works and the interior is full of intricate carvings. During Dussehra, grand prayers and animal sacrifices are offered to the Goddess. The Sarahan Bird Park
is located close to the Bhimkali Temple and houses the famous state bird Jujurana as well as other local birds and is closed during the summer as it is the breeding season. Located 50 km from Sarahan, Bhabha Valley is a beautiful valley running along the Bhaba river with an amazing landscape filled with the lake and alpine meadows and also is the starting point for the trek route to Pin Valley in Spiti. The Shrikhand Peak has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva near the peak which, according to legend is where the Lord meditated. Hawa Ghar is a quaint little sitting area built below the canopy of tall trees and offers a phenomenal view of the high peaks and deep valleys. Sarahan was the summer capital of the Bushahr kings and the Bushahr Palace is situated adjacent to the Bhimkali temple. It is generally not open for public visits, though the garden and some parts may be accessible at times. The royal family does not live here now and only visits during Durga puja.

Sangla Valley
Named after a beautilful village of the same name, the Sangla Valley is bound by mountain slopes, sprawling evergreen forests, snow covered peaks, red apples orchard and cherry trees. The Baspa river also makes its way through the place and is famous for trout fishing. The Sangla Meadow is a lush green meadow spotted with mud patches and a magnificent backdrop of the snow covered Himalayas. Also referred to as Sangla Kanda, this is a must-see place when in the valley. The Baspa river, a photographer’s delight is an ideal place to fish rainbow and brown trout, camp and trek. Dedicated to Lord Jagas, the Bering Nag temple is another must-vissit and not just for its The Brelengi Gompa was established in 1992 to perform the Kalachakra ceremony by the Mahabodhi Society. Chitkul is said to be the last inhabited village within the Indian on the old Indo-Tibetan road. Situated at the height of 3450 meters, the village is located at a distance of 28 km from Sangla and has an exquisite landscape of breathtaking beauty with orchids, mountains, meadows, huge rocks, river, jungle, and grasslands. The village is sparsely populated. On the way to , about 22 km from Chitkul, one will also pass through the Rakcham village, commonly known as the model village in the region. A quaint village Rakcham is located in the Baspa Valley by the Baspa river, an important tributary of the Sutlej. Sangla is also famous for Tibetan proucts made of wood which can be found at the Tibetan Wood Carving Centre. Situated almost 8 km from Sangla, the Basteri village is where one can shop some interesting local handicrafts like handmade shawls and the Kinnauri caps.

Kalpa
A small village, Kalpa is known for its apple orchards. Local Kinnauris follow a syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses. The village is known for its ancient temples and the Sutlej river flows below through deep gorges and bordered by chilgoza pine forests. An inner line permit is needed to continue upwards to the Spiti Valley. Also visible from here is the shivling rock on the Kailash mountain that changes its color at different points in the day. A perfect example of Kinnauri craftsmanship, the Narayan-Nagini temple is constructed in the traditional Tibetan pagoda style and situated on the top of a hill at Chini village. The Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar monastery was founded by Rinchensang-po who lived between 950 and 1055. Also known as Koshtampi, Kothi is important as a religious place due to the temple of the Hindu God Bhairon Baba and that of Goddess Chandika who is believed to slash the head of a demon who helped the takur of Chini in ruling Sairag and brought bliss to the town. She is believed to bestow magical boons to her devotees. The Kinnar Kailasha which is locally known as Kinner Kailash is a mountain at a height of 4800 meters and is considered sacred by both Hindu and Buddhist Kinnauris and is sometimes confused with the Mount Kailash in Tibet. There is a monolithic pillar or Shivling at an altitude of around 4800 meters which is supposed to change colour at different times of the day. As the name suggest, Suicide Point has a dangerous trench and vertical slopes with the walk to this point taking one through apple orchards. The Sapni Fort is near the Sapni village and is seven stories high. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali on the fifth floor. Two buildings of this fort were constructed by King Padam Singh of Rampur, one of them being his queen’s tower. The fort also displays impressive woodwork and carvings on window frames and doors. Converted into a temple today, the Kamru Fort is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya Devi. The fort comprises of a wooden balcony with a large idol of the goddess is placed on the third floor and a huge image of Lord Buddha in the main gate. The Roghi village is a small village about six to seven km Kalpa, famous for its simple lifestyle and customs of the region.

Pangi Valley
Pangi valley is a serene, quiet area inhabited by tribal people at 7,000 ft to 11,000 ft above sea level and is underdeveloped and hidden away with uneven roads and scanty resources. The valley is surrounded by white peaked mountain tops and rugged roads. The Saach Pass, a mountain pass of 14500 ft, is open during the months of June and October as it snows heavily during other months. The shrine of Det Nag in Killar is a popular tourist destination. Others include Killar, a hamlet located in a narrow gorge of the Chenab river, which is the headquarters of the Pangi subdivision; Dharwas which is the largest village in the valley; Shour, a bridge that swings over an icy cold river; Mindhal Basan Devi temple, a beautiful temple dedicated to the deity Mindhal Devi, among many others. The valley is closed for tourists for most of the year due to heavy snowfall and avalanches. The uniqueness and remoteness of the valley makes for a culture that is unique and not found anywhere else. Killar is the administrative headquarters of sorts of the valley located deep in a narrow gauge of the Chenab river. Killar also acts as an appropriate base for those trekking to Kishtwar through the Zanskar Valley. The main attraction is the Det Nag temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Mindhal Devi temple located about 12 km away from Killar in the Mindhal village is famous for its wood carvings. Dharwas is the largest village found in the valley, located very close to Killar and falls on a trekking trail. It is known for its beautiful natural water spring, Tilmili that provides water rich in minerals and it is said that the King of Chamba would drink from this spring. Situated on the right bank of the Chenab river and the Chandrabhaga, Cherry Bungalow is a rest house which makes for a brilliant checkpoint while travelling in the valley. The Saichu nallah one of the major tributaries of the Chandrabhaga meets the river here with a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Parmar valley is located at an altitude of about 3,000 ft above sea level and comprises of a cluster of three villages namely Kumar, Parmar and Parmar Bhatori. The village of Parmar Bhatori has a Buddhist Gompa, and above the village are beautiful and lush expanses of green pastures. Despite the valley being secluded and still relatively underdeveloped, it is a beautiful place for a short trip of a few days.

Nako
Located 3,600 metres above sea level, Nako is the most significant village in the district on the eastern end. Also known as the land of the Fairytales because it is surrounded by the greenery home to many rare species, the village is home to the Nako Lake, Buddhist temples and Rakham. Near the lake, one can also find the footprints of Lord Padmasambhava, who is believed to have meditated at the spot for many years. Because it is close to the Tibetan border, travellers need inner line permits to travel to the region and foreigners need permissions to stay overnight in any part of the village. When viewed from afar, the village seems as if it is submerged in a lake. What is unusual about the lake is the waterfall in which the water that flows appears as a milky liquid which is because the water is full of snow, and according to legends, it is the realm of fairies. The footprints of these fairies and other demigods can still be found in one of the caves near the lake. The Nako Monastery dates back to the 11th century and comprises of four large and spacious halls, the oldest known as Dukhong. The monastery complex also houses a shrine which is dedicated to Purgyal, a local deity attributed to be the spirit of the mountain. The Lipa- Asrang Sanctuary, renowned for its diverse plants is spread over an area of about 30.89 sq km. The variety of flora found in protection here includes dry coniferous forest, dry alpine scrub, dwarf juniper scrub and others. Visitors need permission to enter the sanctuary. The Chango gompa, located just a few kilometres away from the Nako monastery, is famous for its prayer wheel which is more than 500 years old and is made up of yak skin. To enter the village, one has to pay INR 150 per person for the entry permit.

And with this we come to the end of our series on the beautiful and bewitching state of Himachal Pradesh. With so much beauty waiting to be discovered, I can’t wait for things to get back to normal so that I can make a trip there, preferably during winter!

Travel Bucket List: India – Himachal Pradesh Part 5

Posted on April 19, 2021 by memoriesandsuch

In today’s part we will explore three of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular hill stations.

Kullu
A popular tourist destination , Kullu located on the banks of the Beas river and is generally coupled with its sister town of Manali which is on much higher altitude and provides more scenic views. Situated at an altitude of 1230 m between the Pir Pranjal, Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan Ranges, Kullu is abundant with apple orchards, pristine river streams and a wonderful climate. The Kullu Valley is a broad open valley between Manali and Largi. Historical references about the Kullu valley dates back to ancient Hindu literary works like the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. During the Vedic period several small republics known as Janapada existed which were later conquered by the Nanda, Mauryan, Gupta and Karkota empires and the Pala dynasty. After a brief period of supremacy by King Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities, which were later conquered by the Maratha and Sikh empires. The name Kullu is derives from the word Kulant Peeth, meaning the end of the habitable world. According to legends, during the Great Flood, Manu visited this valley but was unable to cross the Rohtang pass and so named the last settlement he found as Kulant Peeth and chose to settle and meditate in what has now become the town of Manali or Manu’s Place. The name further devolved into Kulut, as the kingdom was known for a long time; before finally being known by the current name of Kullu. Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence and so long centuries of seclusion have allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm.

Established in 2010, the Khirganga National Park is known to be one of the most beautiful national parks in the country and is blessed with a scintillating landscape, glossy green hills, dense green shrubberies, tall towering trees and rusty old rest houses. Visitors can walk the trail leading from the centre of the park from where it is easier to spot the exotic and rich flora and fauna. The village neighbouring the national park is called Khirganga, known for a hot water spring as well as a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvat.

Also established in 2010, the Inderkilla National Park sprawls over an area of 104 sq. km and is home to several species of domestic and foreign flora and fauna. Considered to be one of the least explored national parks in India, the park also has a narrow trail passing through the heart of it, on which one can spot animals and plants in their natural habitat. Covered in dense woods and a hilly terrain ideal for a trek or a hike, the park is loved by adventure enthusiasts. Many of the plants here are said to hold significant medicinal properties.

The Raghunath Temple finds connections to Lord Rama, and the idol of Lord Raghunath placed here, is said to be the same as the one used by him. The temple borrows its design and architecture from the Pahari and Pyramidal styles and is the oldest temple in the valley. The Hanogi Mata Temple is a tiny little temple perched on top of a small hill. Watching over valleys, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Mata Hanogi and has a stream running down below, The temple is also best known for its views of the sunset. The Shringi Rishi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shringa who is the ruling deity of the Banjar valley and houses an idol of Shringa Rishi along with goddess Shanta. Built 1500 years back, the Jagannathi Devi Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the sister of Lord Vishnu. The architecture of this temple is influenced by the Pahari style and its walls are artistically crafted with the images of Goddess Durga. The temple is surrounded by an ancient legend of a shepherd boy who caught hold of one of the two girls dancing to the tune of his flute. She then revealed that she was a goddess and decided to settle in that village.

Regarded as one of the most challenging treks in the northern Himalayan region, the Parvati Valley trek has mesmerising views. Although the trail is not really well laid, the thrill it brings is unmatched. The trek is quite long and taxing, but the reward is extremely exhilarating. As the altitude increases, the surroundings become more enchanting adorned with dense forests, lush green meadows and a plethora of gushing streams, all being flanked by majestic snow-clad peaks. One of the trekkable summits in the Indian Himalayan region, the Friendship Peak which looms at an elevation of 5,289 meters in the Pir Panjal range in Himachal Pradesh is a trekker’s dream. From the summit, one can feast their eyes on the panoramic view of the Pir Panjal range and the silver horizon formed by the Dhauladhar and the Great Himalayan ranges. The Friendship Peak trek passes through the beautiful Solang Valley that houses several alpine meadows, thick forest dotted with varied species of alpine trees, colourful orchards and crisscrossed by numerous small and gushing streams. Located at an altitude of 3660 m the Chandrakhani Pass offers visitors a fabulous view of the Deo Tibba Peak, the Pir Panjal and Parbati ranges. The Parvati valley, with all its beauty, makes for an amazing trek with the Chandrakhani Pass a popular base for trekking. The Pin Bhabha Pass, also known as the sister of the Pin Parvati Pass, is a very challenging and beautiful trek. Located at an elevation of 4865 m, the Bhabha Pass acts as a bridge between the valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti. Starting from the less explored village of Kafnu, the trek keeps one engaged with dramatic changes in the landscape at every turn. The best time to visit is between mid June to early October

Isolated from the rest of the world lies the solitary village of Malana Nala, which is a side valley of the Parvati Valley known as Malana or the Malana Village. The temples in Malana, the Jamadagni Temple and the Shrine of Renuka Devi serve as major attractions of the village and are built close to each other. The trekking route to Malana is adorned with lush deodar vegetation along with a slight view of the Malana Dam that energises people from time to time.

Manali
Nestled in between the snow-capped slopes of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges, Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in the country. With jaw-dropping views, lush green forests, sprawling meadows carpeted with flowers, gushing blue streams, a perpetual fairy-tale like mist lingering in the air, and a persistent fragrance of pines, Manali has been blessed with extraordinary scenic beauty. Manali is the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and from there over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin and serves as the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti district as well as Leh. Named after the Sanatan lawgiver Manu, the name Manali is regarded as the derivative of Manu-Alaya, meaning the abode of Manu. Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. The valley is often referred to as the ‘Valley of the Gods’ with the old Manali village having an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu. The British introduced apple trees in the area and today, apples, along with plum and pear, remain the best source of income.

When heading to Manali for a vacation, two absolutely essential destinations are the Rohtang Pass and the Solang Valley. Located 14 km to the north west of the main town, Solang Valley is situated on the way to Rohtang. A favourite for adventure enthusiasts, activities like parachuting to paragliding, horse riding to driving mini-open jeeps specially available for tourists of all age groups are available in the valley. During winters, Solang valley is covered with snow, making skiing a popular sport. The crystal snow in Solang starts making an appearance towards the beginning of October and with the onset of core winter months, the temperature drops down to -1 °C with nights being especially chilly and December and January are the peak months for snowfall. Paragliding is a favourite activity here and the best time to paraglide depends on the season. For those visiting between January to May or October to December, 9 am to 5 pm Is the time for paragliding which is shut down during the monsoons. The cost of paragliding varies from INR 600 to 1800. Solang Valley is an all season destination as the valley is magnificent during winters and during summers experiences mildly hot afternoons with cold mornings and evenings.

Located just 51 km from Manali, Rohtang Pass can only be reached by road and is located at a height of 3978 m on the Manali – Keylong road. In the Ladhaki language Bhoti, Rohtang means a pile of corpses because of the large number of people who died while working here. Due to heavy snowfall, the pass remains closed in winters from November to May and is said to be the only pass in the country to be covered by snow throughout the year. Only 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles are allowed entry into the pass daily. A tourist permit is required for the taxis and vehicles going to Rohtang Pass, valid for a day, except on Tuesdays as the pass is closed for maintenance each Tuesday. Permit fees for cars, jeeps and MUVs are INR 500 + INR 50 as congestion charge, for busses and HMVs, it is INR 500 + INR 100 congestion fee. There is a special permit for private vehicles only which is only valid for one day and only 60 petrol and 40 diesel vehicles are allowed entry to the pass daily. The Rohtang Road Tunnel also known as the Atal Tunnel is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass. At a length of 9.02 km, it is the longest tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world and reduces the travel time and overall distance between Manali and Keylong on the way to Leh. What was a five to six hour trip under good conditions now takes only 45 minutes. The tunnel was inaugurated in October 2020.

A high altitude lake, Bhrigu Lake is located about 40 km from Manali. The route to the lake passes through entrancing meadows which are also called the Bhrigu Lake Meadows. The name Bhrigu is derived Maharishi Bhrigu. A salient characteristic of the lake is that it never freezes entirely during winters, which according to legend, is because Maharishi Bhrigu meditated near it. Not many visitors know about the lake which takes six hours to get from Gulaba village. The alpine meadows can be compared to those found in Switzerland. During most of the tourist season, the region has clear blue skies during the day with the night skies a special treat for campers and night gazers. The best time to visit the lake is between October and May which is the winter season in Manali because a significant portion of the lake is frozen, and the surrounding covered with snow. Between March and May, during the summer months, the weather is clear and pleasant.

Located inside the very famous Vashisht Temple, Vashisht Baths is a hot water spring, believed to possess medicinal values. Also known as Vashisht Springs, it is visited many, who take a dip in the holy water to rid themselves of skin diseases and infections. The baths are accompanied by beautiful sandstone temples with separate bathing areas for men and women.

Nehru Kund gets its name from the first Prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru who is said to have had the water from the natural spring when he used to stay in Manali. Located on Manali Leh Highway, it is believed that the waters of this spring originate from famous Bhrigu Lake and is known for the cold and pristine water and breathtaking scenery of the mountains and valleys. The kund is famous for photography and has the perfect natural lighting.

Located 3 km uphill from Manali lies the town of Old Manali, a quiet settlement that lays beneath a valley with a vast apple orchards. Manali is divided into Old Manali and New Manali by the Manalsu river and one can reach Old Manali by a bridge over the river. The sunrise and sunsets here are stunning and Old Manali is most famous for its Hidimba temple, the Jogini falls and the Vashisht temple.

The Hadimba Temple is a unique temple dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of the second brother of the Pandavas, Bhima built on a rock believed to be in the image of the Hidimba herself. Locally known as Dhungari Temple, the construction style of the Hidimba Devi temple is entirely different from that of other temples, with wooden doorways, walls, and cone-shaped roof. The temple is a four-storeyed structure built in the Pagoda style with flat roofs. The topmost roof is conical and clad in metal, while the other roofs are covered with timber tiles. The temple is made of mainly wood and stones with intricately carved wooden doors and a 24 metres high wooden shikhar or tower above the temple. The main door of the temple is adorned with carvings of Goddess Durga with the interior simple. The temple does not contain any idol but the sanctum sanctorum consists of the rock where Hidimba sat for meditation. A few metres away lies a shrine dedicated to Hidimba and Bhima’s son Ghatotkacha which consists of a stone block with the impression of what is believed to be Hidimba’s foot. During Navaratri, she is worshipped and during the day of Dussehra, the idol is taken to the Dhalpur Maidan from where she blesses the ceremonial horse called Ghor Puja. It is open on all the days of the week, from 8 am to 6 pm.

A beautiful temple dedicated to Sage Manu, the Manu Temple lies in the Beas river valley. Said to be the only temple dedicated to the sage who was King Vaivasvata Manu, believed to be the creator of the human race and known as the lawgiver of the Sanatana Dharma. According to legend, Sage Manu found a small carp in a river who was actually Lord Vishnu. The sage put the carp in a bowl to save him. The fish soon became too big to fit in the bowl, so was moved to a bigger bowl. The fish, however, kept on increasing in size and the sage had to move it back to the river. Once in the river, the fish grew to a size that the river couldn’t accommodate. The sage eventually moved the fish to the ocean. It was then that Lord Vishnu appeared in his real form and informed Sage Manu about the flood that would wipe life off the planet. The sage then built a boat big enough to accommodate his family and nine kinds of animals, birds and seeds. After the flood was over, he landed on earth from his boat and meditated. The location where he is believed to have meditated is the location where the Manu Temple stands. Sage Manu is also attributed to the Laws of Manu or the Manusmriti, which forms the basis of Hinduism through a converse given to a group of Rishis to guide them to deal with catastrophes and maintain peace and harmony in the society. The architecture of the temple is in the pagoda style of architecture and the most significant characteristic is the tiered tower or the diminishing wooden roof which looks similar to the shrines of Nepal. The structure of the Manu Temple is of wood and concrete and is also believed that the Pagodas are demon arresters as they attract lightning during thunderstorms by functioning like lightning rods. The temple is open daily between 6 am and 5 pm.

Situated 7 km away from Manali, the Gayatri temple houses an idol of Goddess Gayatri, made of marble. This temple has some splendid architecture styles, is constructed with a stunning artistic finesse and with some of the most intricate woodwork.

Named after Rishi Vashisht, who was known as King Vishwamitra in his previous birth, the Vashist temple is more than 4000 years old and has a hot spring which is believed to have medicinal properties. The temple is open from 7 am to 9 am and the hot spring is open from 7 am to 1 pm and then again between 2 to 9 pm daily.

The Siyali Mahadev temple is one of the oldest temples in Manali dedicated to Lord Shiva. Incredibly famous for its architectural beauty, the quaint temple is frequently visited. There is another smaller temple built behind the Siyali Mahadev Temple which according to legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared on earth from a tree trunk where the smaller temple is now built. The temple, with a foundation of stone and cement and the main temple made of wood which is a blend of chalets and pagoda. The pagoda has four levels, two of which are smaller and located on one side, instead of in the centre, on top of the other two levels. The edges of the roof have delicately carved hanging pieces of wood which look like tassels from afar. Wooden pillars support the arches and the ceiling forming an area that encircles the main shrine with wooden railings about one foot high supported with many smaller carved wooden legs. The main shrine has stripes of wood placed on the walls. The frame of the door and the windows of the main shrine are also made of richly carved wood. Inside the shrine is a swayambhu, a self-manifested Shivalinga. The temple is open daily between 6 am and 7 pm.

The Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa is a monastery with a small shrine dedicated to Lord Buddha built in the traditional Tibetan style of architecture. The structure has a pagoda that is a bright shade of yellow and has several glass windows with frames decorated in yellow. Inside the monastery is a giant statue of Lord Buddha, some more colourful murals, several tombs and prayer wheels. The murals depict Lord Buddha’s philosophy of life. The first floor of the building is only used for meditation which can be used by everyone visiting the monastery. Constructed in 1960 by Tibetan refugees, the monastery is often visited by devotees from Kinnaur, Tibet, Nepal, and Spiti and serves as an essential point of gathering for locals. Most visit the monastery in the mornings and the evenings as it is the best time to offer prayers and to observe the Buddhist monks and devotees perform their rituals. The monastery is open between 6 am and 8:30 pm daily.

The Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa is a Buddhist monastery whose most prominent feature is the enormous statue or idol of Lord Sakyamuni in a sitting or meditative posture. Located very close to the Mall road, the gompa is built in the traditional Tibetan style of architecture. In front of the temple is a narrow pathway lined by shrubs and spacious lawns on either side. The structure has a solid base, and the building is made out of wood. It is a two-storey structure and has a pagoda. Like many other Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries, the pagoda is also painted a bright shade of yellow with the main shrine encircled by a passage where the prayer wheels are installed. The main door is a solid red colour thick wooden door which has intricate and traditional colourful designs on it and the walls and the ceiling are decorated with vivid mural painting. The idol of Sakyamuni is about 4.5 feet tall and is seen in the sitting posture and is coloured in traditional and symbolic gold and saffron colours. A section of the shrine has low desks with floor seating for the monks. There are also paintings depicting the life and principles of Gautam Buddha. Several more statues of Buddha in various sizes and shapes are also installed inside the monastery. The gompa is open between 6 am and 7 pm daily. Though there is no entry fee to offer prayers, if you plan to take photos or videos, a small token fee of INR 20 is charged.

A local favourite for picnics, Arjun Gufa is located on the left side of river Beas and is very close to Prini village. The cave is a narrow path into a hill and with no light entering after a point, one has to explore and find their way into the cave through the darkness using flashlights. The passage inside is uneven and at a little distance inside, one is required to descend to reach a base area. It takes about 45 minutes to explore the whole cave. The cave is associated with Arjun, one of the Pandava brothers. It is believed that Arjun meditated in the cave for years when Lord Shiva, pleased with his devotion and dedication, blessed him with the Pashupata Astra. According to legend, Arjun travelled to Arjun Gufa and meditated for years to attain the Pashupata Astra. His devotion pleased Lord Indra, and he blessed him with the Astra which according to mythology, the Pashupata Astra was a powerful and destructive weapon which could be discharged by a bow, through words, eyes or by the mind and was never supposed to be used by less significant warriors because it could wipe out all beings in an instant.

Jogini waterfall is a popular tourist spot cascading from a height of 160 feet. It takes about 3 hours to climb to the fall, but the beauty of the trek will make the time fly. The leisurely 2-kilometre trek to the fall begins at the Vashisht temple through a narrow lane adjacent to the temple which passes through pine tree plantations and beautiful apple orchards. After about 45 minutes, one gets to the base of the fall with a small temple dedicated to Yogini Mata.

The Jana Waterfall is a 30 feet high watefall located in a quaint village called Jana. One has to trek to the waterfall through dense deodar and pine trees amidst snow-capped mountains. There’s a wooden bridge laid perpendicular to the direction of Jana Falls which trekkers use to walk across with seating arrangements near the waterfall which is open between 6 am and 6 pm.

The Rahala Waterfalls are located 29 km from Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass. The water is usually cold as it originates from a melting glacier situated in the Himalayas and the surroundings are thickly vegetated with deodar and silver birch trees and is located at an altitude of about 9000 feet. The falls ate open between 6 am and 5 pm.

The Rozy Waterfalls is also situated on the way to Rohtang from Manali and is enveloped in tall deodar trees, dense woods and bounteous nature. The silvery cascading water is a visual delight to the eyes and a famous picnic spot.

Adorned with sky touching deodar trees, the Van Vihar National Park has a man-made lake that is open for boating. Run and maintained by the city, this beautiful garden is a local favourite picnic spot. Under the shade of the dense trees, there are many wooden and concrete benches installed throughout the park where one can unwind after a long day, stroll or jog along the specially made track. With still waters on a crystal clear lake, a boat ride on boats that seat two to four people manually operated by oars is a must as well as self-operating paddle boats. During summers, the park is open from 8 am to 7 pm and from 8 am to 5 pm during winters. There is an entry fee of INR 5 per person with the boat ride costing INR 30 for 15 minutes.

A visit to Manali is incomplete without a visit to the Manali Sanctuary, which is at a walking distance from the main town and city centre. The sanctuary commences from just behind the town and extends all the way up in the mountains. It was officially declared as a sanctuary in 1954 and is spread over an area of 31.80 sq km. It is home to all kinds of species of flora and fauna, both rare and endangered as well as the common like the Himalayan Black Bear, Kashmir flying Squirrel, Himalayan Palm Civet, Himalayan Yellow-throated Marten, Barking Deer and Flying Fox. The sanctuary has numerous trekking routes, ranging from easy climbs to difficult ones as well as a camping experience under the sky, though only during the summer months.

The Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art has a beautiful collection of the ancient and traditional heritage of the region. The antique artefacts give insights into the the ancient culture of the state. Established in 1998, the eclectic museum’s collection includes traditional apparel, jewellery, accessories, utensils, furniture, traditional household items, musical instruments and handloom. There are also models of the ancient houses and temples as well as a beautiful collection of handicraft that include painting, woodwork and traditional masks made of wood. The museum has an entry fee of INR 10 per person and is open from 9 am to 7 pm between April and November and from 10 am to 6 pm between the months of December and March.

Gulaba is a little village about 20 km from Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass with an enchanting natural landscape. Most people explore Gulaba on their way to the Bhrigu Lake and rest in the Gulaba Meadows. It’s name is derived from the first Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the Dogra Dynasty. The Maharaja had camped at Gulaba when he was on his way to invade China during his reign and the location was named because it replicates the picturesque beauty of Kashmir with its snow-capped mountain peaks and lush green grasslands.

A quaint village about 15 km from Manali, Kothi lies on the foothills of Rohtang Pass and enchants visitors with the magnificent view of the natural landscape surrounding the village. Here, one can get a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountain peaks, the Beas river and the glaciers from an altitude of 2600 m. The village receives snowfall during winters but is not as crowded as the Solang Valley.

Jagatsukh is a picturesque village, and the capital of former state of Kullu, located about 7 km from Manali. It is famous for its enchanting natural landscape and the ancient Jagatsukh Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Sandhya Devi which is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day. The village is also famous for the annual Chacholi Jatra Festival. Kalath, a hot water spring in Jagatsukh is another famous attraction in the village.

The Hampta Pass serves as a convenient and enjoyable trek which is laden with dense pine forests, pristine glacial valleys, vast meadows and a panoramic landscape. A perfect trek for beginners, the place is easy to access and unlike most treks, this one begins from Manali. Chandratal, a crystal clear lake perched at high altitude is the highlight of the trip and a sight to behold. The trek is a trip of about four to five days.

The Chandratal Baralacha is a perfect trek destination perched at an altitude of 4,300 m and is a high altitude lake located on the Samudra Plateau of Spiti Valley. The sight of sunset gleaming upon the turquoise waters of the lake, pristine landscape, mountain passes, several gushing streams, verdant meadows, the gush of colourful orchards and exotic wildlife make the Chandratal Baralacha Trek an unforgotten experience. The second part of the trek, Baralacha nestled at 4,890 m above the sea level, is situated on the Leh-Manali Highway. This pass, connecting the Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar and Lahaul Regions, is a high altitude motorable pass and the trail passing through is quite enticing with varied terrains, from lush green valleys and dense cover of forests of Kullu valley to barren lands of Spiti and tiny quaint Indo-Tibetan villages.

The Beas Kund Trek is one of the most undertaken treks and a a perfect weekend getaway plan. A chance to feast one’s eyes on the outstanding views of the Pir Pinjal mountain ranges over the Beas river, with the soul getting wooed by the spectacular meadows of Dhundi and Bakarthach and finally, the glacial lake at Beas Kund is all that one needs to get rejuvenated and worth the walk.

Hanuman Tibba is a scenic peak 5860 meters above sea level northwest of Manali amidst the Pir Panjal range, further north of Solang Valley and is a favoured destination for mountain climbers, experienced trekkers and skiing enthusiasts. Experienced trekkers must cross the Tentu Pass to get here and treks to Hanuman Tibba require prior approval as per the Indian Mountaineering Foundation rules with a fixed number of trekkers per mountaineering expedition. One can either take a mountaineering course or be allowed to apply with extensive mountaineering experience to be able climb Hanuman Tibba.

Dharamshala and Mcleodganj
Known as India’s Little Lhasa, Dharamshala or Dharamsala is known around the world as the home to the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader who runs his government in exile from the city since 1959. Located 10 km from Kangra, Dharamsala is separated as upper and lower divisions with different altitudes. The lower division is the town while the upper-division is located 3km away and is popularly known as Mcleodganj and Dharamshala is the second and winter capital of the state and is surrounded by dense coniferous forest with several tea gardens. Dhamshala is a compound word of dharma and shala from Sanskrit and Hindi which when loosely translated into English means spiritual dwelling or more loosely sanctuary. In common Hindi usage, the word dharamshala refers to a shelter or rest house for spiritual pilgrims. When the first permanent settlement was created in what is today Dharamshala, there was one such pilgrims’ rest house on the site, and the settlement took its name from that Dharamshala. McLeod Ganj was named after Sir Donald Friell McLeod, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab and the suffix ganj is a common Persian word used for neighbourhood. Until the British colonisation, Dharamshala and its surrounding area was ruled by the Katoch dynasty of Kangra. The indigenous people of Dharamshala and the surrounding region are the Gaddis, a predominantly Hindu group who traditionally lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle. The Tibetan settlement of Dharamshala began in 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled Tibet and was allowed to settle in McLeodGanj or upper Dharmshala. Today there are several thousand Tibetan exilees mostly in and around McLeodGanj.

Popularly known for the study of Tantric meditation and philosophy, the Gyuto Monastery was founded in 1959 and was established for preserving and promoting the tradition of black magic or tantric teachings, of the great teacher Ksongkhapa. Beautifully constructed on a hilltop with a commanding view of the Dhauladhar ranges and the Beas river, the monastery has a gold-plated statue of Lord Buddha which glistens when the rays of the sun fall on it early in the morning. Originally established in 1474 by the Dalai Lama’s chief disciple, Konga Dhondup in Tibet, it was re-established in 1959 in India and houses over 500 monks and is the temporary residence of His Holiness, the Karmapa. The monks at Gyuto Monastery are famous for their chants and were even nominated for a Grammy in 2011. The monastery is open between 7 am and 7 pm with the best time to visit on the Buddha’s birthday.

Replete with Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama Temple, also known as Tsuglakhang Complex and the Namgyal Monastery, is a politico-religious centre in Dharamsala full of lamas chanting on prayer wheels or beads. This complex houses Dalai Lama’s residence, the Tsuglagkhang Temple, the Namgyal Monastery and the Tibet Museum. Except for Dalai Lama’s residence, every other part of the complex is open for tourists and if lucky, one can even get to meet His Holiness. It is often referred to the Dalai Lama’s Temple as it is the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. Close to the residence of the Dalai Lama, the temple is frequently visited by him to preach and conduct prayer meets. The gigantic complex houses massive statues of Avalokiteshvara, Padmasambhava and several other Buddhist monks with the main attraction of the temple, the enormous idol of Lord Buddha sitting on an elevated pedestal. The chief prayer wheel is also located here, at the centre of the temple which is plated in gold and has chants of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. Pilgrims walk around the pedestal and rotate the prayer wheel. The large hall adjacent to it accommodates thousands of people who can meditate and spend a few moments of quietude. A major point of attraction at the complex is the Dalai Lama Museum which showcases elaborate pictures and photographs of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan culture. Inaugurated in 2000, the museum also plays a short video on the culture and teachings of Buddhism and is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day except Mondays and a nominal entry fee of INR 5 is charged for entry. The dates for the Dalai Lama’s preachings in the temple are known in advance and can be checked online with the tickets only purchased in person at the Tibetan Branch Security Office in McLeodg and a service fee of INR 10 is collected for each session per person. The foundation of Namgyal Monastery was laid down in the 16th century by the second Dalai Lama and was set up for the monks to help Dalai Lama in religious affairs. The monastery is open between 5 am to 8:30 pm daily.

Located inside the Thekchen Chöling temple complex, the Kalachakra temple is a popular Tibetan temple built in 1992 and known for housing the stunning murals of Kalachakra or the wheel of time, linked to the Avalokitesvara. The walls and the pillars of the temple are adorned with several beautiful traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings and has a statue of the Shakayamuni Buddha, which is surrounded by stunning fresco decorations of the seven hundred and seventy two deities of the mandala as well as a central Kalachakra image. The temple complex also houses a book shop and quaint cafe.

Located 5 kms from Dharamshala in Khaniyara, at the foothills of Dhauladhar, the Aghanjar Mahadev temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and believed to 500 years old. A small cave near the temple houses a Shivalinga. The temple can be reached through a stone paved pathway with some 50 steps below a tiny stream of water flowing. According to legend, Arjun, the third Pandava brother was once on his way to mount Kailash for a fight with the Kauravas and when he reached this spot, Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him to win the war. The temple is open between 5 am to 9 pm every day.

Surrounded by lovely pools and lush greenery, the Bhagsunag temple is one of the oldest temples located about 3 km from Mcleodganj and is also popularly known as the Bhagsunath Temple. The two pools around the temple are believed to be sacred and considered to contain miraculous powers of healing. According to popular legend, the Snake God was enraged when King Bhagsu dared to steal water from the sacred Nag Dal lake in Mcleodganj. Later, the king repented and built the temple to seek forgiveness from the Snake God. Other legends say the temple is because of the patronage offered by a specific Gorkha community known as Bhagsuwala, after Lord Bhagsunag and is believed that the community built the two pools of water that are located here with tiger-head spouts. The construction of the double-storey wooden house that is located here for the pilgrims to stay is also credited to the same community. The temple is open from 5 am to 12 noon and then again between 4 to 9 pm.

Snuggled amidst the Dhauladhar range, the Bagalamukhi temple is dedicated to one of the ten Mahavidyas of the Supreme Goddess as per Shaktism. Devotees visit the temple with hopes of getting their wishes fulfilled be it cases won, exams passed or otherwise to be happy and successful. It is said that anything asked for after performing a homagni and yajna at the temple is granted. The name Bagalamukhi comes from two separate Sanskrit words, Bagala meaning bride and mukhi meaning face which translates to the deity having captivating and hypnotising powers in her face or in herself which fights evil. It is said that yellow is the favourite colour of the goddess which is why the temple has been painted in yellow and all worshippers wear yellow coloured clothes with yellow sweets offered to the deity.

The Masroor Rock Cut Temple is an archaeological site which is currently in ruins. The complex is a combination of 15 rock cut temples designed in the Indo – Aryan style of architecture, believed to have been built in the 8th century and dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu, Devi and Saura. The temples have been carved out of a single monolithic rock in the Nagara style, with a Shikara and has three entrances with the fourth entrance left incomplete. The complex has a sacred pool of water, is laid out as a square with symmetric construction with the main temple with a square sanctum occupying the centre and other tiny temples surrounding it in a mandala pattern. As per legend, the Pandavas stayed here during their exile and built the complex and it is believed while building it, their hidden identity was exposed and they had to leave before finishing it. Another legend says that the Pandavas wanted to reach heaven. so that they began constructing a staircase within the complex and made an oath to complete the staircase by the next morning. This angered Lord Indra, as the staircase would make it easy to reach heaven, so disguised as a crow, he began cawing loudly in the early dawn, which ensured the Pandavas could not complete the staircase. The complex is open between 9 am and 5 pm.

Built in 1852, the St. John in the Wilderness Church is a neo-gothic church built in dedication to John the Baptist. Set amidst lush deodar forests, this peaceful edifice is known for its Belgian stained-glass windows. The church was built in dense woods which is why it is famous as the St John in the Wilderness and is one of the oldest structures of Dharamsala as well as the final resting place of Lord Ergin. The church is open from 7 am to 6:30 pm on Mondays to Saturdays and from 9 am to 6:30 pm on Sundays.

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is a Tibetan library founded by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. With artefacts and manuscripts that date back to the 12th century, it is one of the pioneering institutions in the study and research of Buddhism. It is home to as many as 80,000 manuscripts and 600 Buddhist artefacts including beautifully crafted silk applique thangkas and a three dimensional, wood carved mandala of the Avalokiteshwara.

Located in McLeodganj, the Tibetan Museum is regarded as the official museum of the Central Tibetan Administration Department of Information and International Relations and is very close to the Temple of Dalai Lama. The museum incorporates history reports, earthenware, handiworks and various canvases and is built in a traditional yellow and white Tibetan style of architecture. The museum aims to raise awareness about the occupation of Tibet and is filled with various exhibitions, documentary screenings, talk series, photographs and workshops. The Permanent Exhibition of the Tibetan Museum is dedicated to Tibet’s recent history, the Chinese occupation and the Tibetan exile experience.

The Kangra museum is dedicated to the marvels of Tibetan and Buddhist artwork and their rich history. Among the large variety of its precious collectibles are jewelry, rare coin memorabilia, paintings, sculptures and pottery.

Named after the summer residence of the Dalai Lama at Lhasa, the Norbulingka Institute is located 7.5 km from McLeodganj and built in a traditional Tibetan style, set in a beautiful garden of meandering paths, flowing streams, small waterfalls and ponds with the spectacular Dhauladhar mountains in the background. The main objective of the Norbulingka Institute is to preserve the Tibetan culture through paintings, statues and sculptures, and provide employment and care to qualified Tibetan refugees.

The War Memorial in the forests of Dharamshala was created to commemorate the memory of those from the Kangra who laid down their lives for the country. Three huge panels of black stone, each 24 feet in height, preserve their memory. Surrounded by pine forests leading to lush gardens with a quaint walkway, the memorial has the names of the fallen soldiers etched on the stone panels.

The smallest tea region of India, Dharamshala has beautifully lined and organized tea gardens across the Kangra Valley and is known for its good quality tea which are available for purchase in many shops across Dharamshala and Mcleodganj.

The little hippie village of Dharamkot is located near Dharamshala and Mcleodganj and is popular as the Yoga Village. Home to the Dhamma Shikhara Vipassana Meditation Centre and the Tushita Buddhist Meditation Centre, Dharamkot is the place to let meditation soothe your senses.

The Bhagsu Waterfall is ocated on the main road which connects Mcleodganj and Dharamshala and close to the Bhagsunath Temple. The waterfall starts at the base of the Dhauladhar valley, and before cascading down, the stream also passes through the Bhagsunath Temple. The Bhagsu Fall reaches it’s strongest force during the monsoon season when the water falls from a height of around 30 feet. Bathing in the waterfall is possible, but the water is freezing at times. The falls are open between 7 am and 9 pm.

Located at the height of 1,775 metres above the sea level near the village of Tota Rani, the Dal Lake is a small yet picturesque lake. With its name taken from the Dal Lake of Srinagar, the lake is surrounded by rugged mountains and towering deodar trees. The lake is also a perfect place to stop and relax if one is trekking up to Naddi, which is also known as the Sunset Point. A grand fair is organised at the banks of the lake every September to mark the presence of Lord Shiva and is attended by a large number of people of the Gaddi Tribe. According to legend, the fish in the lake are never caught or eaten because the lake is believed to be cursed and the lake is considered a sacred spot as there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the banks of the lake. The lake is open between 7 am and 8 pm and the best time to visit is between May and October and especially September when the fair takes place.

Triund is an easy trek that is situated a few km from Dharamshala at an altitude of 2828. A trek to Triund is short and simple and can be done from either McLeodganj or Dharamkot. The first half of the trek is a gradually inclined walk with the last 2 km from Snowline Cafe which involves a vertical climb all the way till Triund. The evening sky from Triund is a sight in itself and is a good excuse for camping here at night. Camping at Triund is closed until further notice. The peak is open between 7 am to 7 pm daily.

In our last part, we will explore more remote and border areas.

Memories and Such

Memories of a very ordinary life

Tag Archives: Bucket Lists