Essential Information About West Bengal

Nightlife: There isn’t much of a nightlife in West Bengal, unless you count Park Street of Kolkata. If you are looking for nightlife information on West Bengal, the only places that are sure to stand out include the bars, pubs and discotheques of Park Street. Great food and good prices come together to make it a great place for youngsters and adults alike to hang out. South City in Kolkata is also a good place to spend some time. During Durga Puja, the entire state becomes a hub for parties and the celebrations go well into the wee hours of the morning.

Food: West Bengal cuisine is famed all over the world, offering as many vegetarian options as there are non-vegetarian options. From cooking prawns in yam leaves to making fritters out of potato peels, the Bengalis are known for their innovation in the kitchen. Spicy to the hilt, and yet with a hint of sweetness to most dishes, Bengali cuisine ensures you leave wanting for more.

Culture: Much like other things, the festivals of West Bengal are also pretty famous. Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Laxmi Puja, Saraswati Puja and a hundred other similar religious fests mark the Bengali calendar. If you find yourself here during any of the festivals, you are sure to be in for a grand time. Festivals in West Bengal are not just a religious ceremony, instead they serve as an excuse for the whole community to come together and enjoy the day with a lot of fun, food and fanfare.

Shopping: If you want to start shopping in West Bengal then there are a plethora of options to choose from, such as junk jewelry, silk saris, gold jewelry, perfumes, nonperishable food items such as jaggery and dry fish, sweets, handicraft, metal wares, ethnic wear for men, organic tea of premium quality, conch, conch bangles and so much more. The best cities to shop in West Bengal include Kolkata and Darjeeling, where local markets run abound.

<pCommuting within the state: If you find yourself in Kolkata then your commuting woes within the city are taken care of, since there are several forms of transportation available such as buses, trams, metro rail, auto and taxis. In Darjeeling too, autos and taxis are easily available. However, when traveling within the more remote parts of the state such as Taki, Diamond Harbor or Mondarmoni, having access to your own vehicle is important. The only public transport available in these places include make shift trollies that run on motorcycle engines, and are rickety at best. If you do not have access to a personal vehicle make sure to get all West Bengal tourist information about how to hire a taxi when you get to your destination.