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Evening river crossing beneath Vidyasagar Setu in Kolkata — a traditional wooden boat carrying passengers in life jackets glides across the Hooghly River, with the illuminated cable-stayed bridge reflecting golden lights on calm water under a blue twilight sky.

West bengal

Overview

West Bengal is a culturally rich state in eastern India, known for its deep intellectual heritage, colonial history, vibrant festivals, and diverse landscapes. From the Himalayan hills of Darjeeling to the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal coastline, the state offers remarkable natural and cultural variety.

Capital: Kolkata
Language: Bengali (primary), English & Hindi widely spoken

Historically, West Bengal was part of ancient and medieval Indian empires and later became the center of British power in India after 1757 under the British East India Company. Kolkata served as the capital of British India until 1911, shaping the region’s education, administration, and architecture.

The state played a key role in India’s freedom movement and the Bengal Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual awakening led by thinkers and artists like Rabindranath Tagore.

Today, West Bengal is celebrated for its literature, art, cinema, cuisine, festivals like Durga Puja, and iconic destinations such as Darjeeling and the Sundarbans—making it a timeless blend of history, creativity, and nature.

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