West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in eastern India that runs from the Himalaya in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. Its capital is Kolkata.

Travellers come for Kolkata's neighbourhoods, markets and food, and for the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is Shantiniketan, also on the UNESCO list, the terracotta temples of Bishnupur, Murshidabad, the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the Dooars and much more. Durga Puja in Kolkata is on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The best time to visit West Bengal is October to March. The hills of the north are pleasant from March to May as well.

Pollen Dots plans customised journeys anywhere in West Bengal, with local guides and stays. Browse the journeys and stories below, or write to us to plan a journey around what you want to see.