Two Weeks in West Bengal

wheela · Jul 18th, 2008, 00:34

Hi

Hope all are well.... I am planning about two weeks in West Bengal and would love some recommendations for how to spend this relatively short period of time most wisely. I am flying into Kolkata, and will probably immediately venture Northwest towards Varanasi. Would then quite like to go to Darjeeling, and perhaps north from there? I am happy to take overnight trains, so does anyone have any thoughts?

Also, I need to enter Bangladesh at the end of this period... Anyone any knowledge about crossing the border at the north of BD?

Looking forward to hearing your advice.
Rupert

wonderwomanusa · Jul 18th, 2008, 03:09

Easiest first: there's now direct train service from Kolkata to Bangladesh. Use the SEARCH function here and you'll find the info.

The rest of your message is a bit confusing. Are you going to spend two weeks in W. Bengal, or are you going to Varanasi, which is in a different state?

If you're staying in W. Bengal, you can take a tour of the Sunderbans, go to Santiniketan and Bishnupur, and explore Kolkata for days on end without being bored.

singsub · Jul 18th, 2008, 09:37

there's also the ruins of murshidabad and the forests of dooars. google your way to the west bengal tourism department and decide.

Jorge Reverter · Jul 19th, 2008, 20:26

From Kolkata you can go direct by night train to Varanasi and in your way back go by night train also to NJP (New Jalpaiguri) and from there by the Toy Train or by shared jeep (they are at the Railways Station) to Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

From Darjeeling go down south to NJP again and from there go by train to Malda to visit Gaur, Pandua and Adina, really interesting. From Malda take the train to Murshidabad (the train stops in an station at the other side of the Ganga river, I don't remember the name). Murshidabad is a real lost gem, loads of monuments to visit spread here and there in the middle of nowhere at the old part of the city, lodge at Manjusha Hotel, very cheap and in the best place you can imagine on the banks of Ganga river, form there you can take a boat and visit some monuments or just spend your time at the river. From Murshidabad take a bus to Bihnupur, another wonderful small town lost and hidden. From Bishnupur there are trains and buses to Calcutta.

If you have still few days go from Calcutta to Shajnetapally at the Sunderbans and visit the area.

I'm sure you'll enjoy West Bengal as I did.

All the best

Jorge

Jul 18th, 2008, 00:34	#1
wheela Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 4	Two Weeks in West Bengal Hi Hope all are well.... I am planning about two weeks in West Bengal and would love some recommendations for how to spend this relatively short period of time most wisely. I am flying into Kolkata, and will probably immediately venture Northwest towards Varanasi. Would then quite like to go to Darjeeling, and perhaps north from there? I am happy to take overnight trains, so does anyone have any thoughts? Also, I need to enter Bangladesh at the end of this period... Anyone any knowledge about crossing the border at the north of BD? Looking forward to hearing your advice. Rupert

Jul 18th, 2008, 03:09	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,560	Easiest first: there's now direct train service from Kolkata to Bangladesh. Use the SEARCH function here and you'll find the info. The rest of your message is a bit confusing. Are you going to spend two weeks in W. Bengal, or are you going to Varanasi, which is in a different state? If you're staying in W. Bengal, you can take a tour of the Sunderbans, go to Santiniketan and Bishnupur, and explore Kolkata for days on end without being bored. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

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Jul 18th, 2008, 09:37	#3
singsub Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: right next door to hell Posts: 1,171	there's also the ruins of murshidabad and the forests of dooars. google your way to the west bengal tourism department and decide.

Jul 19th, 2008, 20:26	#4
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,152	From Kolkata you can go direct by night train to Varanasi and in your way back go by night train also to NJP (New Jalpaiguri) and from there by the Toy Train or by shared jeep (they are at the Railways Station) to Darjeeling and Kalimpong. From Darjeeling go down south to NJP again and from there go by train to Malda to visit Gaur, Pandua and Adina, really interesting. From Malda take the train to Murshidabad (the train stops in an station at the other side of the Ganga river, I don't remember the name). Murshidabad is a real lost gem, loads of monuments to visit spread here and there in the middle of nowhere at the old part of the city, lodge at Manjusha Hotel, very cheap and in the best place you can imagine on the banks of Ganga river, form there you can take a boat and visit some monuments or just spend your time at the river. From Murshidabad take a bus to Bihnupur, another wonderful small town lost and hidden. From Bishnupur there are trains and buses to Calcutta. If you have still few days go from Calcutta to Shajnetapally at the Sunderbans and visit the area. I'm sure you'll enjoy West Bengal as I did. All the best Jorge

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