Sikkim has the unique distinction of being bounded by three sovereign nations, Nepal in the west, Bhutan in the east and China"s Tibet in the north. It also shares its southern border with the state of West Bengal. It has an area of around 7096 sq km and it is about 64 km from east to west and 110 km from north to south. Mt. Kanchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world dominates the landscape of the State and is revered as Sikkim"s guardian deity. The state has a good number of glaciers and some of the very important ones are Zemu, Rathong, Lona in North Sikkim. The river Tista is the lifeline of Sikkim and it originates from Lake Cholamu. Its tributaries are Rangeet, Ramam and Rangpo. Sikkim offers best buys for hand woven carpets, thankas and other paintings. Other items typical of the state and are large cardamoms, Lepcha weave bags, purses, jewellery and liquors etc. The main inhabitants of the state are the Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalis.

Sikkim lies between 27.5 and 28.1 degrees North latitude and 88.4 and 88.58 degrees East longitude.

Area :7096 sq.kms

Population :540493 (Provisional Census 2001)

Altitude : 224 mts to 8590 mts

Temperature :Summer Max 28 degrees C Min 13 degrees C

Winter : Max 18 degrees C Min 7 degrees C

Clothing :Summer : Light woollens

Winter : Heavy woollen

Languages:Lepcha, Bhutia, Nepali, English, Hindi, etc.

Domestic Tourists : Except for a few restricted areas, Indian tourists need no entry permits to visit Sikkim.

Foreign Tourists : Foreign tourists require a special permit that can be obtained from all Indian Missions abroad who are authorized to issue a 15- day permit. The Tourism Officer at the border town of Rangpo is also authorized to issue a 2-day permit to foreign tourists to enable them to enter the state and acquire the full 15-day permit. Permits can also be obtained from the following offices:

Maghe Sangkranti Mela : A three-day holy festival of the Hindus, this mela is held in the month of January. Huge fairs are regularly organised in and around the riverbanks and the confluence of Jorethang, Saramsa, Rorathang and Triveni rivers.

Bumchu : It is held during January/February at the monastery of Tashiding. The abbot of the monastery unveils a pot of holy water and foretells the future of the state.

Losar : This festival held around the first week of February is celebrated to welcome the Tibetan New Year with feasting and merrymaking.

Saga Dawa : It is an important festival of the Mahayana Buddhists. Saga Dawa is celebrated in the month of May in all-important monasteries of Sikkim. Lamas with painted masks, ceremonial swords leap and swing to the tune of the drums, the trumpets and the chanting of the monks. 

Pang Lhabsol : Unique to Sikkim, this festival held during the month of August to worship the snow peaks of Mount Kanchendzonga. An important feature of the celebration is the warrior dance with its intricate steps and leaps accompanied by martial war cries.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat : An important festival of the Lepchas community of Sikkim. This festival marks the celebration of the Tendong Hills where it is believed that the hill rises like a horn to save the Lepchas from a great flood. The festival is celebrated during the month of August.

Dasain :  It is the main festival of the Hindu Nepalese in Sikkim where elders of the family apply "tika" on the young and bless them. This festival signifies the victory of good over evil and it is held during the month of October.

Tihaar : This festival is celebrated as the festival of lights with the lighting of lamps accompanied with traditional carols called Deusi and Bhakti. The festival is held during the month of November.

Losoong Festival : Losoong is an important festival of the Bhutia community of the State. The festival marks the end of the harvest season and also the end of the Tibetan Year. It is celebrated in the Monasteries of Tsug Lakhang, Phodong and Rumtek with religious dances (Chaams) feasting and archery contests. It is held during the month of December.

Sikkim is endowed with a rich species of flowering plant, including 600 species of orchids. There are magnificent magnolias in the temperate regions and over 40 varieties of rhododendrons in the higher regions. The red panda, the Himalayan black bear, several species of deer, leopard cat, flying squirrels, the blue sheep, the Tibetan wild ass, the bearded vulture and around 600 species of butterflies are found in the State. There are six wildlife sanctuaries and one National Park in the State.

The five sanctuaries are the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, Shingbha Rhododendron Sanctuary, Meanam Wildlife Sanctuary, Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Fambong La Wildlife sanctuary. 

The only National Park in the state is the Khangchendzonga National Park known as the highest National Park in India

NATIONAL PARK / WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES :

Kanchendzonga National Park : The Park covers an area of around 1400 sq.km. It is bound on the north by the Tent Peak and the ridge of Zemu glaciers, on the east by the ridge of Mt. Lamaongden, on the west by Mt. Kanchendzonga and in the south by Mt. Narsing and Mt. Pandim. Wildlife found in this Park are the snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, barking deer, blood pheasant, civet cats, black eagle etc.

Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary : Adjoining the Tsomgo Lake and covering an area of 4 sq km, wildlife found in this sanctuary are the red panda, blood pheasant etc.

Shingbha Rhododendron Sanctuary : Famous for its variety of rhododendrons.

Meanam Wildlife Sanctuary : Located above Ravangla town and covering an area of 35 sq km, this sanctuary has its highest point in Meanam at 10,600 ft. Animals and birds found in this sanctuary are the red panda, leopard cat, civet this 33 hectares wildlife sanctuary is located near Yumthang. Wildlife found in this sanctuary - the blood pheasant, partridge, tiger, civet cats etc.

Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary : This rhododendron sanctuary has been recently established and lies in the west corner of Sikkim.

Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary : With an area of 51.76 sq. km and lying above the road between Singtam and Dikhu, this sanctuary is 25 km from Gangtok. The sanctuary is rich in wild orchids, rhododendrons etc. and is home to the Himalayan black bear, red panda, civet cat and many varieties of birds and butterflies.

Gangtok the capital of Sikkim is situated at a height of 5,500ft. The present capital was shifted from Tumlong in 1894 by Chogyal Thutob Namgyal and is today the centre for political, commercial, religious and cultural activities of the Sikkimese people. Gangtok offers the tourists all modern amenities for pleasure and comfort. There are a good number of luxurious and moderate hotels including modern shopping complexes, cyber cafes etc.

As per the 2001 provisional census, the population of the town is around 29,162. The temperature ranges from 13 degrees to 20 degrees Celsius in summer and between 7 degrees and 14 degrees Celsius in winter.

Flower exhibitions organized regularly at the Flower Show Venue near the White Hall complex is another attraction for the tourists.

Altitude : 5,500 ft

Population :29162 (Provisional Census 2001)

Temperature :Summer: Max 20 degrees C Min 13 degrees C 

Winter : Max 14degrees C Min 7 degrees C

Rainfall : 325 cm per annum

Clothing :Summer Light Woollens 

Winter Heavy Woollens

Language :Nepalese, Hindi, English

Air : The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, which is about 124 km away.Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.

Rail : The nearest railway stations are at Siliguri 124 km away and New Jalpaiguri at about 120 km. New Jalpaiguri is directly connected by rail to all important towns and cities in India.

Road : Gangtok is well connected by a network of roads with all important cities and towns. Some of the road distances in kilometre are as follows:

Darjeeling-100

Kalimpong-75

Pelling-117

Yoksam-124

Yumthang-145

Tsongo Lake- 34

Phodong-37

Nathula-51

Siliguri-114

Guwahati-589

Kolkata- 720

Shillong- 669

The Sikkim Nationalised Transport (S.N.T) plies regular bus services between Gangtok and Siliguri and within Sikkim. Private bus/taxi and jeep services are also available on regular basis.

Institute of Tibetology : This is a premiere institute in the world and its museum has the rare collection of antiques like statues, thangkas etc. The library too has a stock of rare books and documents on Buddhism. Around 30 thousand volumes mostly xylograph documents, translation of the original teachings of Lord Buddha and treaties by distinguished scholars can be found in this library.

Deer Park : Located adjacent to the Secretariat, it is also known as Rustomji Park. The park has a big open enclosure in which different types of deer and some animals native to Sikkim have been kept in this park.

The White Hall : Situated on a ridge, this Hall was built in 1932 in memory of the first Political Officer of Sikkim, Claude White. It is a two-storied structure and has a typical British architecture. There is an Officers" Club and a badminton court in the Hall.

Enchey Monastery : An important monastery of the Nyingma Order, the monastery commands a panoramic view of the mighty Kanchendzonga range. There is also a small hermitage here built by Lama Druptob Karpo. Later during the reign of Sidekeong Tulku, a monastery was built in the shape of a Chinese pagoda.

Tashi View Point : Around 8 km from Gangtok, Tashi viewpoint is an interesting spot to view Mt. Kanchendzonga and Mt. Siniolchu.

Himalayan Zoological Park : Also known as Bulbuley, the park covers an area of 205 hectares. Wildlife that can be seen in the park are, the red panda, barking deer, bears etc.

Do-drul Chorten (Stupa) : Built in 1945 by the venerable Trulshi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism, the Chorten has 108 prayer wheels and a good collection of holy books and other religious objects.

Institute of Cottage Industries : This institute was established in 1957 to promote the manufacture and sale of local handicrafts, carpets and furniture.

Ganesh Tok : It is a small temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, which is built on a hillock at an altitude of 6500 ft. A panoramic view of Gangtok and Raj Bhavan can be seen from here.

The Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation operates Local Sight Seeing tours, Package Tours and Sight Seeing Tours by Helicopter to some important tourist destinations of the State. For bookings and enquiries please contact:

1. Handlooms and Handicraft Centre, Tibetology Research Centre, Orchid Sanctuary and Enchey Monastery.

2. Orchidarium and Dharmachakra Centre (Rumtek Monastery)

3. Changu Lake.

1.West Sikkim flight route: Gangtok-Singtam-Geyzing-Yuksom-Dikchu- Gangtok. (60 min)

2.Yumthang flight route:Gangtok-Mangan-Chungthang-Lachung-Yumthang-Gangtok (70 min)

3.Khangchen-Dzonga flight route: Gangtok-Mangan-Chungthang- Lachen- Zemu Glacier-Green Lake-Lachen-Gangtok. (90 min)

4.Gangtok flight route: Gangtok-Gangtok

Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green hills steeped in splendour, a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic Himalayas.

Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS.

Darjeeling - the name is derived from the Tibetian word "Dorje" which means the precious stone or ecclesiastical sceptre, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Indra, and "ling" - a place, hence the land of the thunderbolt. The sceptre of Indra is believed to have fallen at a place where now stands the Observatory Hill.

Darjeeling beckons thousands today for a leisurely respite from the bustle of the madding crowd. The traveller - whether a tourist or a trekker, an ornithologist or a photographer, a botanist or an artist - will find in Darjeeling an experience which will remain etched in ones memory - forever.

Area:11.44 sq.kms

Altitude : 2134 m

Population :345669 (90-91)

Summer14.8900C8.590°C0C

Winter6.110°C0C1.50°C 0C

Rainfall: 320 cms annually

Best Season: March to mid June & September to mid December

Clothing: Light Tropical

Summer: Light woollens

Winter : Heavy woollens

Language Spoken :English, Nepali, Bengali, Hindi, Tibetian

Air: The nearest airport Bagdogra is primarily for Darjeeling hill areas. Bagdogra is 90 kms (56 miles) from Darjeeling. Journey Time - about 3 hours. Indian Airlines N.E.P.C. Skyline Jet Airways operate regular Services to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati.

Rail: The two closest railway stations are Siliguri (80 kms) and New Jalpaiguri (88 kms) from Darjeeling. These railway stations have direct railway connections with Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Varanasi and other major cities of India. Some Direct Train services from New Jalpaiguri.

Situated at an altitude of 2590 metres (8482 ft.) and 13 kms from the town, this spot has earned international fame for the magnificent view of the sunrise over "Kanchenjunga" and the great Eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even Mount Everest, the world"s highest peak, is visible from here.

About 5 kms from Darjeeling, this Railway Loop is a marvellous feat of engineering. It is fascinating to watch the toy train wind its way round the loop. The War Memorial constructed in the memory of brave sons of Darjeeling who died in different action since 1947, is worth a visit. A glorious view of snowy peak and town can be seen from this place. Entrance fee: Rs. 2/- Timings: sunrise till two hours after sunset. 

Apart from the magnificent view it commands, great religious importance is attached to the observatory Hill by both Hindus and Buddhists who are worshipped here by the hundreds. 

Situated on Jawahar Parbat about 2 km. From Chowrasta, this unique institution trains mountaineers. It has a museum containing an interesting collection of mountaineering equipment. Adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, it is a high altitude wild life park and new home for Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Deer, Red Panda, Snow Leopard and Birds. Timings: 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Thursday. Entrance Fee: Rs. 6/- per head for Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Zoo. 

It was started in 1986 to breed Snow Leopards in captivity with the help of International Snow Leopard captive breeding project. Entrance fee Rs. 10/- Closed on Thursday. 

Situated at Lebong Cart Road. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute conducts preliminary course on Rock climbing on these Rocks.

Within walking distance from Chowrasta, this interesting museum contains comprehensive collection of the fauna of the region. Opens from 10 a.m. too 4 p.m. Closed on Thursdays. Entrance fee: Re 2/-, children Rs. 1/-.

A colourful garden situated just below the Market Motor Stand. It contains a representative collection of Himalayan plants, flowers, orchids etc. The green houses are well worth a visit. Timing: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance free. 

The Shrubbery: This beautiful garden is situated on the Jawahar Parbat behind Raj Bhawan. A magnificent view of Kanchenjunga Range and Singla Valley can be enjoyed from here. 

About 3 mins walk from Chowrasta will bring the visitors to the place where the famous Indian patriot Deshbandu Chittaranjan Das had passed away in 1925. 

About 2 km from town on the way to Ghoom. It houses fine art and embroidery work of Mrs. Ava Devi. Timing 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance: 25 p. 

Of about seventy tea gardens in this hilly region, this is one of the nearest, about 3 km from the town. Here one can see the processing of the world famous Darjeeling tea. Timing: 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Sundays (afternoon and) and Mondays (full day). 

At North Point about 3 km from the town. The first passenger ropeway in India. For reservation of ropeway seats please contact Officer in-charge, Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Ropeway Station, North Point, Darjeeling. Phone: 52731. Regular share taxi service available from Market Motor. Stand to the Ropeway Station. Fare 5.00. 

About 8 km from the town, it is the smallest race course in the world. The complete lap is only 480 yds. Long. It was laid out in 1885 as a parade ground. 

Situated at a distance of about 4 km. On Gandhi Road it is a new amusement park with a variety of attractions. Entry fee: Rs. 15/-

Situated 10 kms. from town it is a very attractive picnic spot with natural water falls.Handicraft 

Tibetan refugee self help centre was established on 1st October 1959 to rehabilitate displaced Tibetians who had followed His Holiness The Dalai Lama to India in early 1959. This centre produces excellent carpets, woollen goods, wood work, leather work etc. The Tiebtan craftsmen can be seen at work at the centre.Closed on Sundays. 

Prominent hill handicrafts, handloom and silk products of West Bengal are displayed and sold here. The emporium is situated at Nehru Road. 

Woollen carpets, cotton shoulder bags, table mats, hand knitted pure woollen sweaters and caps are available for sale at reasonable prices. The items are woven by the local ladies. 

Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Govt. of India, an ideal place to buy khadi handloom silk products. Excursions, Picnic Spots & Short treks Senchal Lake: A favourite picnic spot about 10 km. from the town. Senchal Lake provides water supply to Darjeeling town. Singla: Altitude 244 metres or 800 ft. (approx.). This attractive picnic spot near Rangeet River has been earmarked by the Department of Tourism, DGHC for a water sports complex. Ajitar: 21 km. from Darjeeling by road (jeepable), it is a magnificent picnic spot. Bijanbari: 38 km. from Darjeeling by road (motorable). Situated at an altitude of 762 metres or 2500 ft. This beautiful picnic spot is near the Little Rangeet river.

Trekking in the Darjeeling Hills began almost a century ago. Infact, the first organised trekking route in India was established here along the Sangalila range. The trek begins in Darjeeling and proceeds through Maneybhanjyang, Tonglu, Sandakphu and ends in Phalut. The alluring natural beauty is replete with countless varieties of rhododendrons, magnolias, orchids and wild flowers. The dense forests, the verdant meadows, the savage mass of Mt. Everest, the everlasting beauty of Kanchenjunga, the rugged Lhotse or the mysterious Makalu - all in one sweeping glance, present an experience that can never be equaled.

There are trekker huts under the management of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department all along the route to Sandakphu. For further information contact Tourist Bureau, Darjeeling.

This is a beautiful hill town in North Bengal, which can be reached from either Siliguri or Darjeeling. KALIMPONG - means king"s ministers strong hold - a Bhutanese word. It is also called Kalimpong in local dialect meaning "black spur". As per Lepchas Kalimpong means "ridge where we play". It is said that these local tribesmen used to organise field sports while not engaged in agricultural pursuit - hence the name.

Situated at an altitude of 1250 metres, it enjoys temperate climate throughout the year. Somewhat secluded and tucked away in the corner under big Darjeeling umbrella, Kalimpong offers a quiet and relaxed holiday, against the backdrop of the Kanchenjunga.

The journey from Darjeeling to Kalimpong is a beautiful experience. The road drops from Ghoom 7407ft. to Teesta Bazar 700 ft in 12 km and passes through lush green forests and tea gardens. A place called the Viewpoint or "Lovers Meet", offers excellent view of the confluence of the Rangeet and the Teesta rivers, as also of the Himalayan mountain range from Durbindara summit. Kalimpong"s attractions include three Buddhist monastries, orchid nurseries, a sericulture centre and Dr. Graham"s Home, a large sprawling school set up in 1900 for educating the children of tea workers.

Area: 3.5 sq. miles

Population :1,77,337 (90.91 Rural urban)

Altitude : 1250 metres (4100 ft)

Climate  Temperate :

SummerMax. 270CMin. 17.20C

WinterMax. 150CMin. 7.20C

Rainfall: 86.20 inches Annually

Best Season : March to mid-June & Sept. to Dec.

Clothing :Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.

Languages : Spoken English, Gorkha, Bengali & Hindi.

Kalimpong is connected to all the major cities of India by Air, Rail and Road.

AIR : The nearest airport is Bagdogra which is 80 kms from Kalimpong. 

RAIL : The nearest railway stations are Siliguri Junction & New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. 

ROAD : Kalimpong is connected to Darjeeling, Siliguri and Gangtok by road through buses, jeeps and private taxis.

A unique educational institution, started in 1900 by Dr. John Anderson Graham, a Missionary, with six orphans, the school, situated in a 500 acre estate on the slopes of Kalimpong"s highest hill, Dealo, has today a strength of well over 700 boys and girls who are accommodated in small cottages in a picturesque set-up. It has its own diary, poultry and bakery and every year in the month of May the school organises "MAYFAIR". A day"s visit there can be enthralling. 

It is the highest point in Kalimpong accessible by car. It offers a breath-taking view of the plains and the mighty Teesta. 

Situated about 2 km from the town centre on the way to Durpin Dara, Gauripur House was one of the favourite haunts of Poet Rabindranath Tagore. He stayed there on his many visits to Kalimpong. 

Your visit to Kalimpong won"t be complete unless you spend several hours or better still, several days at the two Kalimpong bazars, one on the Main Road, the other near the 10th mile. It is a unique experience to see villagers turning up in their local costume at the bazars on weekly market days to sell their farm products. 

Kalibari is about 2 km from town Huge statue of Goddess Kali, the main deity of this temple. 

3 km from the town on the way to Teesta Bazar. A panoramic view of Teesta Rangeet Valley can be seen from here. 

Kalimpong is famous for its nurseries which export exotic flowers like Amaryllis LiLies, Anthuriums, Roses, Gerbera, dahlias, gladiolas as well as Orchids and Cacti. Some important nurseries are : Brindaban Garden Nursery, Ganesh Mani Pradhan Nursery, L.B. Pradhan Nursery, Pinewood Nursery, Standard Nursery, Shangrila Garden Nursery, Twin Brothers Nursery, Universal Nursery and others. 

1 km from town. Situated at 10th mile this monastery of Bhutanese origin is built in the year 1630 and it is the oldest monastery in this region. 

It is situated at Tirpai Hill and built around 1937 belongs to Gelupka Sect to which the present Dalai Lama belongs. 

This recently constructed place of worship is a marvellous piece of architecture. 

This is a fairly new monastery located in Durpin Dara. One can get a panoramic view of the town and surrounding from this monastery. 

26 Km from Kalimpong and was established in 1837. 

Rissisum: 20 Km form Kalimpong enroute Lava and situated at an altitude of 6410 ft. glorious view of the mountains can be obtained from this point and a beautiful picnic spot. 

32 km from Kalimpong and situated at an altitude of 7200 ft. commands panoramic view of Jelep La and Rechi La passes. Short drives through dense forests from Kalimpong are tourist spots with unspoiled idyllic surroundings. Lava is the gateway to the Neora National Park. 

56 km from Kalimpong and situated at an altitude of 5500 ft. Panoramic view of Kanchenjunga can be obtained from this point. Fabulous view of Sunrise over Kanchenjunga can be seen from Jhandi Dara. 

Kolkata, on the Hooghly, retains the aura of days long gone, weaving the past and the present, the intense and the funloving into a charming fabric. Home to four Nobel laureates - Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, Kolkata is the nerve centre of intellect and human values, where many modern movements began in art, cinema and theatre, science and industry. India"s quest for freedom began here.

Kolkata is the gateway to Eastern India. A city with a rich heritage, bustling streets and bewildering variety of facets. From October to March, Kolkata wears a radiant look. Sunshine, mild winter, lights, colours, fairs, festivals, galas and excursions, the mood is infectious and spirit sweeping.

Although the name Kalikata had been mentioned in the rent-roll of the Great Mughal emperor Akbar and also in Manasa-Mangal, to explore the history of Kolkata, we have to go back to the 17th century. It was in 1690 that Job Charnock of the East India Company came to the bank of the river Hooghly and took the lease of the three villages- Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kolikata (Kolkata) as a trading post of British East India Company. The city became famous in 1756, when Siraj-Ud-Dawlah, the last independent nawab of Bengal, captured the city. But the British regained their power in 1757 and the city was recaptured under Robert Clive. Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, made it the seat of the supreme courts of justice and the supreme revenue administration, and Kolkata became the capital of British India in 1772. By 1800 Kolkata had become a busy and flourishing town, the center of the cultural as well as the political and economic life of Bengal.

Kolkata City Area 187.33 sq km.

Kolkata Metropolitan District Area 1380.12 sq km

Population : 4.39 million (Kolkata city)

9.2 million (CMD)

Altitude : 6.4 metres (20 ft.) above sea level.

SummerMax. 36.30CMin. 9.60C

WinterMax. 41.70CMin. 38.10C

Rainfall: 1581 mm

Clothing : Cotton in summer and light woollen in winter.

Air: Kolkata is well connected to major international & domestic airports. The international Netaji Subhash Airport (Dum Dum Airport) is 20 kms from the city. Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Kolkata-Kolkata to other important cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, etc.

Rail: Kolkata is served by two railway station, Haora (Howrah) and Sealdah and is connected to major cities all over the country.

Road: Kolkata is connected by an extensive network of national highways with major cities and towns. Buses generally depart from the Esplanades bus stand area at the northern end of the Maidan near Chowringhee Road. But there are a number of private companies, which have their own stands. Buses to and from the South generally use the bus stand near Fort William at Babu Ghat.

South Park Street Cemetery 

This cemetery is situated at the Park Street. It was constructed in 1767 to accommodate the large number of the British people who died for their country. There are many heavily inscribed head stones, pyramids, urns and obelisks. The tombs of Col Kyd , Sir Thomas D"Oyly, the British Member of Parliament in early 18th century and Sir Willam Jones, the founder of Botanical Garden and the great oriental scholar can be seen here. 

This is one of India"s most beautiful monuments built between 1906 and 1921 on the lines of white marble. It stands on the southern side of the maidan (ground) near Jawaharlal Nehru Road. All monuments of this memorial were designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and build of white marble from Rajasthan. The memorial was the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901, felt that his lately departed Queen Empress, required a suitable monument to her memory. It took 20 years to build at a cost of 10 million rupees. The Prince of Wales formally inaugurated it in 1921. Set in beautiful garden grounds, the Victoria Memorial houses a large bronze statue of the Queen Empress Topped with a moving angel this memorial faces the Kolkata Maidan. The statues of Motherhood, Prudence, Learning, Art, Justice, Architecture and Charity are brought from Italy. It also has a 5 meter tall bronze winged figure of Victory, weighing 3 tons. It houses paintings, manuscripts, and other objects of historic value in its Museum and Art Gallery. Two regular sound and light shows are held in the evening. It is Open March to October from 1000 to 1630 and November to February from 1000 - 1530. Closed on Mondays. 

St. Paul"s Cathedral is 3 km from BBD Bagh. The Cathedral measures 71m. in length 24m. in width the spire rising 60m. high. The interior has exquisite scriptural scenes. Above these are the two Florentine frescos. In the centre of the eastern sector is the magnificent alter piece. The massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop Wilson, and the western windows are of special interest. The candlelight service on Christmas eve is a moving experience. 

The Cathedral was founded in 1797. The building cost for the Portuguese Cathedral was borne by two Portuguese noble- men. The entrance leading to the portico is paved with gravestones. Behind the altar, there are the figures of Madonna and Child. The remains of the first archbishop of Kolkata lie below the altar. 

It is situated alongside the Vivekananda Bridge north of Kolkata, about 20 km. from BBD Bagh. It is famous for its association - with Ramkrishna who achieved spiritual vision here. Rani Rashmoni built this temple in 1847. The 12- spired temple with its enormous courtyard is surrounded by 12 other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a world famous place of pilgrimage. It was here the famous religious thinker Rama Krishna Paramahamsa achieved his spiritual vision and preached the unity of all religions. 

This Jain temple is situated at the Badridas Temple street. The temple is dedicated to Sitalnathji, the 10th of the 24 Jain tirthankaras (perfect soul). Its structure has mirror-inlay pillars, the windows made of stained glass and the marble floor has a floral design. The dome of the temple is gilded. The chandeliers here were brought from Paris and Brussels in the 19th century. Its garden has blocks of glass mosaics and European statues, painted with silver paint. 

It is considered to be an engineering marvel, which took six years to construct in the 1940s. Over 2,590 metric tonnes of high tensile steel make up this unique cantilever bridge that joins the main Railway Station (for Kolkata) and the industrial city of Howrah with the city of Kolkata. Supported by two piers, each nearly 90 meters in height above the road level, the bridge has a span of almost 500 meters (no pillars in the middle). It was opened in 1943 and today it is one of the busiest bridges in the world. It is the third largest bridge in the world, has around 2 million people crossing over it daily. Visible from many places in Kolkata, the bridge is called "Rabindra Setu". 

This shrine is situates at eh Belur Road, Howrah. Belur Math is the international headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission which is 16.5 km from Dakshineswar across the Ganga. It is founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda, the world famous yogi and disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. This International tourist attraction is located near Belur in Howrah district. Its sprawling prayer hall with a statue of Ramakrishna is remarkable. The Belur Math shrine represents a church, mosque and temple when viewed from different angles. Its peaceful and calm atmosphere is befitting the gravity of the place. 

Timing: 6.30 a.m. - 12 noon, 3.30-6.30 p.m. daily. Admission free. 

Marble Palace is located on C R Avenue in north Kolkata at Muktaram Babu Street. Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur constructed this palace in 1835. Italian marble was lavishly used to complete its construction. This palace set behind a large lawn has the sculptures of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, Hindu Gods, the Buddha and Christopher Columbus. A large pool near the small granite bungalow has ducks, peacocks and ostriches. The rooms have hundreds of statues and oriental urns. The walls of these rooms are covered with enormous paintings and mirrors. Gigantic chandeliers hang on its ceilings. The lamps on the stair cases are detailed creations. Entry - free (you must get a pass from the West Bengal Tourist office 24 hours in advance) Visit : on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday and Thursday are holidays. Opens from 1000 to 1600. 

In the early morning this market fills with colourful flowers from the northern part of Kolkata. You can see flowers everywhere in this market on the ground, on people"s head, in carts and trucks and on display. By 700 the market start winding down and by 800 the entire sale is over. 

It is at Chitpur Road. Many Kumars or potters work here to create millions of clay images that serve as idols for Kolkata"s never-ending season of festivals. 

It is locates just south of Howrah Bridge. Dalhousie Square, which is renamed after Three Martyrs of Bengal, Binay, Badal & Dinesh was created in the heart of the imperial capital of Kolkata. The tank in the centre, fed by natural springs, is said to have supplied Charnock with drinking water. There are many historical buildings, which surround the square. The northern side is occupied by Writers" Building. To the east are commercial houses and the West Bengal Government Tourist Bureau. On the southern side is Raj Bhavan, residence of the Governor. Beside that are the State Legislative Assembly House and the Kolkata High Court. St John"s Cathedral, which close to Raj Bhavan is the oldest church in Kolkata. On the western side is the imposing white domed General Post Office, next to which is the Reserve Bank of India building. Netaji Subhash Road is the centre of the onetime English commercial houses, which today flourish in Indian hands. Lyon"s Range stock exchange, behind Clive Street, is worth a visit for a glimpse of the frenzied dealing in shares, periodically erupting onto the street. 

It is situated on the east bank of the river Hooghly and was named after King William III of England. It is surrounded by a 50ft high moat. It was built in 1757 after Robert Clive"s victory at Plassey over Siraj ud-Daula. This fort was completed to prevent attacks from Muslim invaders. The fort walls, barracks, stables and the church of St. Peter are still intact. The area cleared around Fort William became the Maidan. In the fort, there is a church, market, post and telegraph office, cinema, swimming pool, boxing stadium, football and firing range. The Arsenal inside is worth visiting for which a prior permission is required from the Commanding Officer. 

This mosque is at Mahatma Gandhi Road. Visit : Daily from Sunrise to 2000. Entry - free. Massive red sandstones were used to built this mosque. This huge mosque can hold upto 10000 worshippers. This mosque was built in 1926. It has two minarets 46 m high and an onion - shaped dome. 

It is at J.L. Nehru Road. This 148 ft pillar stands on the north end of the Maidan. It commemorates the victory of Sir David Ochterlony in Nepal. Its peculiarity is that its cupola is build in Turkish style, the column in Syrian style and the base in Egyptian style. 

It is the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity situated at 54 A A. J.C.Bose Road. It was Mother Teresa"s first home for serving destitute and dying people. Now this organization has spread worldwide. This organization is taking care of the people abandoned by society. 

Santiniketan was founded by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore. In 1901 Rabindranath Tagore started an experimental place of learning with a "class room" under the trees, and a group of five pupils. This classroom that he started later became the "Vishva Bharati University in 1921. This university attracts pupil from all over the world and aspires to be a spiritual meeting ground in a serene environment. It has the faculties in all major disciplines like humanities, agriculture, cottage industries, Indian Music and Drama, performing arts, Philosophy, Sanskrit and art. An interesting feature of this university is that the sculptures, paintings, murals and frescoes are found around the campus. It has the paintings of Rabindranath and Nandalal Bose and sculptures of Ramkinkar. 

The Metro system or the Under ground Railway Network in Kolkata started about 20 years ago. It is very clean and run efficiently. It starts from Tollygunge to Central station in Tiretta. It is the only under ground railway in India. Government is planning to expand the system and connect it with the Dum Dum Airport. 

It is a site of visual arts and Bengali theatre, situated near Victoria Memorial. It is established in 1933. It"s permanent galleries include medieval Bengali and Indian miniature paintings, textiles and excellent specimens of old hand-woven Daccai and Baluchari saris. A Jamini Roy collection and Desmond Doig"s pen and ink sketches of Kolkata"s nostalgic landmark, are also on view. Local theatre and dance programs are performed in a hall, which has a stage. The Rabindra gallery contains paintings and manuscripts of the great man of letters. Its galleries are open daily from 3 PM to 8 PM (except the Rabindra Gallery - 12PM to 6 PM daily, closed on Mondays). 

Science City, which is located on Kolkata"s Eastern Metropolitan By Pass, is an area of knowledge and adventure. This 21st Century marvel of science, communication and environment is the first and only institution of it"s kind in India and has a Space Theatre. The main attraction of the Science City is the Space Flight, Dinosaurs Alive, Dynamotion, Life in Water, a world of Insects and Reptiles, walkthrough Aviary, Butterfly corner, Convention Centre, four seminar halls, Mini Auditorium, Musical fountain etc. This convention centre complex has a 2215 person capacity main auditorium, 40 capacity mini auditorium and 8 seminar halls. It is open to public every day from 9 AM to 9 PM (Even on public holidays). 

It is located on Asutosh Chowdhury Avenue. It is the latest addition to the places of visit in Kolkata. It wad Build over twenty-two years of painstaking labour; it is an all-marble structure with very high quality rajasthani engravings. It attracts huge crowds and is splendid and imposing structure in white. 

It is the most visible center of wholesale and retail trade in Kolkata. It is a bewildering medley of crowds and merchandise. The businessmen who operate here care nothing for appearances. It is situated to the north of B.B.D.Bagh, the place is accessible on foot from B.B.D. Bagh or by any bus going towards Howrah from B.B.D. Bagh. 

It is situated at old post office street; near Eden Gardens.It is the highest seat of judiciary in West Bengal with tower of 54 metres height. It is one of the oldest buildings in India (constructed in 1872 by Walter Granville, the then architect to the Government of India.). It is built in the Gothic style of architecture, a later extension retaining the same architectural symmetry. 

It is an artificial lake in Ballygunge, which is in South Kolkataon Southern Avenue. It comprises a rowing club, safari garden children"s park and play center (lily pool) an open-air theatre Mukta Manch, swimming pool training Centres, etc. 

Alongside the Eden Gardens is the world famous Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium. The stadium is supposed to be the largest in Asia with a seating capacity of more than lakh spectators. It was one of the first cricket stadiums in India where floodlights were installed and Day & Night cricket was played. The gigantic electronic scoreboard is also one of its kinds in the country. The stadium has had the privilege of hosting the most important of matches like World Cup Finals 1987, World Cup Semi Finals 1996, Hero Cup and many other tournaments. 

It is located at the heart of Salt Lake City, just 12 Km away from the Central Kolkata. It is a beautiful picnic spot for families, who would like to spend few hours in the quiet greenery, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It"s unpolluted environment offers a soothing effect to the visitors. The Main attraction of this place is the four hundred acre picturesque lake with various kinds of boating facilities like paddle boats, shikaras etc. 

The Sir Hogg Market better known as New Market is arguably one of Kolkata"s best shopping center. Designed by an East Indian Railway Company Architect, it was opened in 1874 & named after the commissioner, Sir Stuart Hogg. Earlier it had a garden with a silvery fountain & benches for tired shoppers. Today, it continues to be a premier shopping area despite a part of it being burnt down in late 1985. Its red brick Gothic clock tower bears testimony to past grandeur. Linen to cakes, fruits to fish, all & sundry is available in wide choice & price. There are 2000 stalls and the remarkable feature of these stalls is that they are arranged merchandise wise i.e. there are rows of stalls dealing with one particular line of goods. 

It is now the residence of the Governor was once the residence of the Governor-General of India. Based on an idea of the then Governor-General, Marquis of Wellesley, the building was modeled to resemble Lord Curzon"s ancestral home - Kedleston Hall. It is situated in a fine enclosure of 6 acres standing back of the Maidan. The throne of Tipu Sultan is inside the building and the room where it is placed is called the "Throne room". The splendid ballroom whose floor is of polished teak is also worth seeing. 

This 165 ft high monument similar to Qutab Minar of Delhi was erected by public subscription in 1828, to honour Sir David Ochter Lony, a one- time resident of Malwa & Rajputana. More recently, it has now been renamed "Shaheed Minar" to honour the martyrs of the freedom struggle. An important landmark in Kolkata. It is located at the Northern end of the Maidan. 

Salt Lake Stadium also known as Yuba Bharati Krirangan, is situated approximately 10 km. from the city centre.It has a seating capacity of 1,25,000 Persons and is elliptical in shape. The roof is made of strong flow-coat tubes and aluminium sheets. There are two electronic score boards and control rooms. The lighting is uniformly distributed to enable sports by night. There are special arrangements for TV board casting. 

Vidyasagar Setu is a modern day engineering marvel and is the largest cable stayed bridge in Asia. Near the Race Course, It is the imposing and ultra-modern Second Hoogly Bridge. The bridge connects the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah. It was inaugurated in the year 1992. It was built at a cost of Rs. 388 crores. It is capable of handling around, 85,000 vehicles daily on 9 lanes. A beautiful bridge that spans the Hooghly, it has been built to ease the load off existing Howrah Bridge. It affords a panoramic view of the Kolkata skyline. 

This was, till the mid - 19th century, the place of residence for the junior servants (who were called writers of the East India Company). The original building was constructed in 1770 on the same site as the present one, but it was plain stuccoes and with no pretensions to architectural beauty. The present Gothic structure built during the tenure of Lt. Governor Ashley Eden (1877) is much more imposing than the original ever was. Situated at the northern end of Dalhousie Square, it now houses the Secretariat of West Bengal Government. 

It is about 2 km from BBD Bagh. It is a huge piece of Italian architecture on Jawaharlal Nehru Road, which was built in 1875. The largest museum in the country and is popularly known as Jadu Ghar (Magic House), this is the premier national collection in the subcontinent.

Established in 1966, it is located at 19A, Gurusaday Road. A minicoal mine is the main attraction. The galleries have working models in popular science, motive power, mining, metals, petroleum, electricity, communications and electronics. It is a seat of learning of modern science and technology for students, research scholars etc. The museum opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and closed on Mondays. 

Gurusaday Museum is situated 15 km. from the BBD Bagh, on Diamond Harbour Road. The museum has a small but rich collection of the folk arts and crafts on undivided Bengal. It has Collection of over 2,000 items. It"s highlights are the Kalighat pats, Jorano pats (scroll paintings) and exquisite kantha quilts, a thrift needlecraft of rural Bengal, wood carvings and terra-cotta panels. Timings: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Thursdays. 

Asiatic Society is the first modern museum in Asia. It is a famous center of Indology, Literature and Scientific Research and is situated at 1, Park Street, Kolkata-16. The society started a public museum in 1814. The Library of this institution contains approximately 20,000 volumes inclusive of 8,000 rare Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian & Hindi manuscript. The archaeological relics, geological and ethnological specimens which the museum of this society possessed formed the nucleus of the Indian Museum. The society has a few pieces of sculpture, which includes an image of Brahma (12th century). The Barhut Asokan Rock Edict (BC 250) in Pali written in the Brahmi script is one of the most important exhibits. 

The Museum concentrates on the Bengal renaissance of the nineteenth century. It is situated near Girish Park on Chittaranjan Avenue. This Museum is situated within the walls of Rabindranath Tagore"s house. This university now fosters cultural activities and conducts painting exhibitions by the artists of the Bengal School. The university was once the main center of Kolkata"s intellectual activity. It is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays (1.30 pm on Saturdays) and is accessible by any bus going northwards along Chittaranjan Avenue to the Girish Park Bus Stop. 

Nehru Children Museum which is located on Jawaharlal Nehru Road was built during the late sixties/early seventies and was . This Center hums with children"s activities has a huge library for children. This contains dolls from all over the world. On Chowringhee, this modern museum houses miniature models in clay that depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. This is open on all days except Monday from 12-00 Noon to 8 P.M. 

Established in 1937, it is located within the premises of Kolkata University and has interesting pieces of Bengal art. It is open from 10.30 AM to 5.30 PM on weekdays and up to 3.00 PM on Saturdays. 

These gardens were created in 1840 by the two sisters who were related to the Governor General, Lord Auckland. The idea was to make a Biblical - style Garden of Eden in India. Winding paths intersects the expanse dotted with beautiful trees and shrubs, and there is a large artificial lake. Adjoining the lake is the Burmese - style Pagoda, which was brought to Kolkata from Burma after the British victory in the Burmese war of 1884. Entry is free. Opens 24 hours. 

20 km from the BBD Bagh. It is founded in 1787 by the East India Company. They developed it for the collection of plants, indigenous to the country and for the introduction and acclimatization of plants from foreign parts. The main attraction of the 273-acre gardens being the banyan tree, the world"s largest, having a circumference of 330m. These gardens are the biggest in Asia, and the second largest in the world. Visitors may drive across the bridge and through Howrah, the industrial extension of Kolkata or take ferry from Chandpal or Tekta Ghats to the gardens. Timings: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Opened in 1991 and located at Salt Lake, Nicco Park is the first amusement park of Kolkata, This amusement park is The Disney land of West Bengal, is no bar for any age group. The various rides are enjoyable. There are many attractions for children. The park is open to the public from 10.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. everyday during the winter and 11.00 A.M. to 9.00 P.M. everyday during the rest of the year. 

This garden was founded by William Carey in 1820 and is situated in Alipur, adjacent to Kolkata Zoological Garden. It has a significant collection of botanical varieties with facilities for gardeners and plant/flower lovers. There is no entry fee. 

Kolkata"s interesting zoo-the oldest in India-was the creation of Sir Richard Carnac Temple who was Governor of Bengal from 1874 to 1877. It was opened on Jan 1st 1876, by the Prince of Wales. The 16 hectare grounds house a wide species of animals & birds including the rare white Bengal Tiger. There is a separate reptile house and a children"s zoo. Migratory birds find sanctuary on a small lake in the zoo every winter. It remains a favourite picnic spot during winter. Directly across the main zoo is an aquarium, with a variety of aquatic life from around the world. Entry by ticket. The gardens are open from 6 a.m. To 5 p.m. daily.