Things to do in  West Bengal

Built in 1864, Eden Gardens is the oldest cricket ground in India and one of the largest in India and in the world, with a seating capacity of 68,000. Cricket is very popular in India, so watching a match or taking a tour of Eden Gardens is a good way to get an insight into sports and popular culture in this country.

The Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata is a symbol of both the city and of the entire British Raj. A tribute to Queen Victoria by the viceroy of India, the giant, white-marble building was erected over a 15-year period, starting in 1906. Today it houses a museum covering the history of the Raj and is surrounded by English-style gardens.

The Missionaries of Charity (MOC) Mother House in Kolkata is a mission center founded by Mother Teresa in 1950. It was from here that the now canonized Catholic nun began administering to the city’s poor and sick, and it now serves as a residence for the charity’s nuns and as her burial place.

More than 2 million people cross the Howrah Bridge each day, earning it the title of the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. The 2,313 foot (705 meter) expanse of steel girders hanging over the water connect Howrah and Kolkata with eight lanes of chaotic auto rickshaws, scooters, bikes, cars, animals and pedestrian traffic.

The seat of the Diocese of Calcutta of the Church of North India, St. Paul's Cathedral was built in 1847, effectively shifting the hub of Anglicanism in the city from St. John's Cathedral. Though its main function is as a house of worship, the imposing cathedral also features a decent library with numerous books on theology and general interest.

Central Kolkata’s College Street is the heart of intellectualism in a city that prides itself on its esteemed academic traditions. Thousands of second-hand book stalls line the street to either side where you can find nearly any book ever sold in the city, including rare titles at bargain basement prices.

Dating back to the end of the 18th century, St. John's Church was the first Anglican cathedral in India. It was one of the earliest buildings set up by the East India Company, its construction funded largely by public lottery. The church served as the seat of the Anglican Church until the 1847 construction of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Rising from the banks of Kolkata’s River Hooghly, the Dakshineswar Kali Temple is held sacred by millions of Hindu faithful. Built in 1855, the 9-spired temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali and offers an insight into the city’s religious life and culture.

Built in 1809 and dedicated to the goddess Kali, Kolkata’s famous Kalighat Kali Temple is easily the city’s most important Hindu site. It’s a major point of pilgrimage for Hindu devotees from around the country, with upwards of 20,000 people sometimes visiting in a single day. The name of the city is said to have been derived from the temple’s name.

Founded in 1814, Kolkata’s Indian Museum is India’s oldest and largest museum, and hosts a vast collection of historical artifacts and natural history specimens. Located near the Maidan park, the colonnaded museum is a must-see for visitors interested in India’s past.

As the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim in the eastern Himalayas, Gangtok has long drawn nature lovers and Buddhist pilgrims who come to seek blessings at the area’s many monasteries. The area is mainly known for hiking options, with plenty of easy day options and multi-day backpacking tours.

Also known as the Darjeeling Zoo, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is known for its conservation programs, specializing in Eastern Himalayan species such as red pandas, snow leopards, and Tibetan wolves. This large zoo is a great place to see all sorts of mountain species, along with birds, reptiles, and mammals from around the world.

Darjeeling has a large Tibetan community, and its Ghum Monastery(Yiga Choeling Monastery) is one of the city's most popular sights. With its traditional architecture and golden exterior detailing, the monastery itself is a sight to behold, but the monastery’s 15-foot-tall (4.6-meter-tall) Maitreya Buddha statue and the views of the surrounding hills are what bring many visitors here.

Often described as the lungs of Kolkata, the Maidan is the city’s largest urban green space, home to numerous cricket and soccer fields, playgrounds, the flowery Eden Gardens, and several memorials and monuments. The park is an important gathering place in Kolkata, and residents head to the Maidan for entertainment and leisure on the weekends.

Considered one of Kolkata’s most important Jain temples, the Pareshnath Temple is also one of the city’s most extravagant. Composed of four temples located in ornamental gardens, the complex is dedicated to Pareshnath, a Jain tirthankar (spiritual teacher), and attracts thousands of Jain followers and non-Jain visitors each year.