Kolkata and Varanasi
Eastern India
West Bengal was the first home of the East India Company and for decades the British made Kolkata their capital. A strong colonial influence remains, but the Bengali heritage is undeniable. West Bengal was the first home of the East India Company and for decades the British made Kolkata their capital. A strong colonial influence remains, but the Bengali heritage is undeniable.
Why Eastern India?
Kolkata – formerly known as Calcutta – is India’s cultural capital. It’s a city of poets and playwrights, musicians, philosophers and academics. It’s packed with enthralling sites, from the extraordinary marble facade of the Victoria Memorial, to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Indian Museum and the Eden Gardens. We favour a walking tour through the ‘City of Joy’, followed by a sunset boat tour on the Hooghly River.
Board the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and ride north from Kolkata to Darjeeling. The narrow railway is a UNESCO-designated engineering marvel and will deliver you to the scenic Himalayan foothills where you can see Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak, and learn about snow leopard and red panda conservation efforts. There are also, of course, Darjeelings namesake tea estates.
Board the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and ride north from Kolkata to Darjeeling. The narrow railway is a UNESCO-designated engineering marvel and will deliver you to the scenic Himalayan foothills where you can see Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak, and learn about snow leopard and red panda conservation efforts. There are also, of course, Darjeelings namesake tea estates.
- Art and creativity abound in Kolkata.
- Historic sites and monuments.
- Boating tours on the Hooghly River.
- UNESCO-designated historic railway.
- Home of Mount Kanchenjunga.
- Tour Darjeeling tea estates.
- Snow leopard and red panda conservation.
Best Places to Stay in Eastern (Kolkata and Varanasi)
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We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.
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