State · East India

West Bengal travel guide

পশ্চিমবঙ্গ

Every district of West Bengal and what it is known for — 256 places to visit across 23 districts, with how to reach each one, the best time to go and where to stay.

  • Capital Kolkata
  • 23 districts
  • 256 places
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Before you go

Five districts (Kolkata reorganised, Basirhat, Sundarbans, Jangipur, Arambagh) were announced in the 22 June 2026 budget but not notified; the guides use the 23 existing districts.

Stays are WBTDCL tourism properties with tariff ranges from its booking site (3 Nov 2026). West Bengal Tourism's own site could not be reached.

Top places to visit in West Bengal

One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.

  1. Jaldapara

    Alipurduar district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    National park jaldapara wildlife sanctuary is a national park situated at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in alipurduar district of Northern West Bengal and on the banks of the Torsa River. (district portal)

  2. Bishnupur

    Bankura district · Temples, mosques and churches

    the temple town in the Bankura district of West Bengal is welcoming you with its lavish heritage, proud culture, brilliant architecture and tales of terracotta. Adi Malla established the Malla dynasty. (district portal)

  3. Bolpur and Santiniketan

    Birbhum district · Museums and culture

    is a city and a municipality in Birbhum district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bolpur subdivision. Bolpur municipal area includes Shantiniketan. (district portal)

  4. Madan Mohan Temple

    Cooch Behar district · Temples, mosques and churches

    Situated in the heart of the Cooch Behar town. Constructed by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan during 1885 to 1889. The deties include Lord Madan Mohan , Ma Kali, Ma Tara and Ma Bhabani. (district portal)

  5. Bangarh excavation site, Gangarampur

    Dakshin Dinajpur district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    Bangarh is the historical place situated in Gangarampur, West Bengal, India. (district portal)

  6. Tiger Hill

    Darjeeling district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    At sunrise, the peaks of Kanchenjunga are illuminated before the sun is seen at lower elevations. From Tiger Hill, Mount Everest (8848 m) is just visible. Kanchenjunga (8598 m) looks higher than Mt. (district portal)

  7. Chinsura (district headquarters)

    Hooghly district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Hooghly district, Burdwan division (Wikipedia).

  8. Belur Math

    Howrah district · Temples, mosques and churches

    founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda , is the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission , on the Hooghly’s west bank in Belur, Howrah. (district portal)

  9. Gorumara National Park

    Jalpaiguri district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    This park is located in theDooars Region of Jalpaiguri district. (district portal)

  10. Jhargram Raj Palace

    Jhargram district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    The history of Jhargram Palace (Rajbari) lies in the legend of Jhargram city which says that around 1574 AD ,Man Singh I of Kachwaha Rajput Raja of Amber which was later known as Jaipur came to conquer Bengal on behest o. (district portal)

  11. Deolo Hill

    Kalimpong district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    It is one of the two hills that the town of Kalimpong stands between. Kalimpong is situated on a ridge connecting the two hills, Durpin and Deolo. The hill is 1,704 metres (5,590 feet) and is the highest point of Kalimpong town. (district portal; wording is the source's own claim)

  12. Victoria Memorial

    Kolkata district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    In the heart of Kolkata, where the historic Maidan meets Queens Way, stands the Victoria Memorial - a breathtaking marvel where India's colonial past meets its sovereign future. (Incredible India; wording is the source's own claim)

  13. Adina Mosque

    Malda district · Temples, mosques and churches

    Listed on the district portal; description still to collect.

  14. Hajarduari Palace

    Murshidabad district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    Hazarduari Palace, earlier known as the Bara Kothi, is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal.It is situated near the bank of river Ganga. (district portal)

  15. Mayapur

    Nadia district · Temples, mosques and churches

    is located on the banks of the Ganges river, at the point of its confluence with the Jalangi, near Navadvip, 130 km north of Kolkata. (district portal)

  16. Dakshineswar Kali Temple

    North 24 Parganas district · Temples, mosques and churches

    Dakhineshwar Temple is like a beautiful sonnet in brick and mortar. Sitting in a quiet, green patch of land, beyond the borders of Kolkata, in Dhakhineshwar, this ochre yellow edifice has drawn scores of devotees into its embrace. (Incredible India)

  17. Ichhai Ghosher Deul

    Paschim Bardhaman district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    also called tower temple (rekha-deul), is located near Gourangapur in the Indian state of West Bengal. (district portal)

  18. GANGANI (Grand Canyon of Bengal)

    Paschim Medinipur district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    Gangani is widely known as “Grand Canyon of Bengal” is a famous tourist & picnic spot situated by the town of Garhbeta of Paschim Medinipur district at a distance of 55 Km from Midnapore Town. (district portal; wording is the source's own claim)

  19. Bardhaman (district headquarters)

    Purba Bardhaman district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, Burdwan division (Wikipedia).

  20. Digha

    Purba Medinipur district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    is West Bengal’s most popular sea resort and tourist spot located south west of Calcutta. It is 187 km from Calcutta and described as the ‘Brighton of the East’, it is best for a holiday. (district portal; wording is the source's own claim)

  21. Garh Panchakot

    Purulia district · Palaces, forts and monuments

    It’s a famous historical place located within Neturia Block, and is 60 kms away from Purulia town. It has the ruins of some forts built by the kings of Panchakot in 1600 A.D. (district portal; wording is the source's own claim)

  22. Sundarban

    South 24 Parganas district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    The home of Royal Bengal Tigers. A ‘World heritage site’ . (district portal)

  23. Kulik Bird Sanctuary, Raiganj

    Uttar Dinajpur district · Hills, forests and wildlife

    Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, popularly known as Kulik Bird Sanctuary is no less than heaven to bird watchers. This haven of a huge variety of birds is located near Raiganj in the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. (district portal; wording is the source's own claim)

Districts of West Bengal 23

23 (5 announced Jun 2026, not notified) — 23 districts; five announced in the June 2026 budget (Kolkata, Basirhat, Sundarbans, Jangipur, Arambagh) not yet notified; boundaries frozen for Census 2027. Guides live for all 23.

Festivals and dates to plan around

  • Durga Puja — Kolkata and statewide: September-October; 2027 dates to confirm
  • Gangasagar Mela — Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas: Makar Sankranti, mid-January; 2027 dates to confirm
  • Poush Mela — Santiniketan, Birbhum: December; dates to confirm
  • Rath Yatra — Mahesh (Hooghly) and statewide: June-July; date to confirm
  • Rash Utsav — Nabadwip and Shantipur, Nadia: November; dates to confirm