West Bengal: The Sweetest Part of India

A land renowned for its spongy roshogollas, mishti doi, and ilish machh, West Bengal is a lot more than its clichés. Rushing down the majestic Himalayas and blending into the deep waters of the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal is a storehouse of picturesque destinations, lush greenery, historical landmarks, and of course, some of the most delicious dishes! Undoubtedly Bengal is the sweetest part of India! Let's find out how.

What’s Special about West Bengal?

With its capital in Kolkata, West Bengal is a smorgasbord of a diverse range of experiences. From the lush, sprawling tea gardens in Darjeeling to the deep, turquoise waters crashing on the sandy shores of Digha, this destination is a slice of paradise for nature lovers and wanderers! Moreover, the traditional Bengal cuisine is extremely delicious. Its rich, spicy and tangy flavor perfectly balanced with a dash of sweetness shall make you beg for more!

Why is West Bengal the Sweetest Part of India?

It all started with the department of West Bengal Tourism getting a makeover. With the tagline “Experience Bengal – The Sweetest Part of India”, the state focuses on preserving its wonderful tourist spots. Often considered to be the sweetest language, Bengali is widely spoken in this state. The quintessential culture, the rich heritage, the scrumptious cuisine, the various religious practices that go hand in hand with each other, its intricate handicraft, and the inherent energy of its residents all come together to make West Bengal the Sweetest Part of India.

1. The Taste of West Bengal

Apart from the dishes that people usually identify West Bengal with, namely, the same old roshogolla, doi, and machh, the local cuisine is made up of so much more! From kosha mangsho and fulko luchi to mouthwatering mutton biryani, from the piping hot muri ghonto to the crispy beguni, the options are endless! Of course, there are a thousand dishes based on fish which are prepared in a variety of ways, including bhetki machher paturi, ilish machher bhapa, chingri machher malaikari, and doi machh.

The sweet-toothed Bengalis are also fond of desserts owing to which there is an enormous range of items, from paayesh and kheer to sondesh and narkel nadu, and the delicious malpua, gajorer halwa, patishapta and pitha especially reserved for the cool winters.

Read more about Bengali Sweets here.

Street Food in West Bengal is of utmost significance, with a majority of the population chomping on them at various times of the day. Be it the delicious Kathi roll or the spicy phuchkas, this state has a repertoire of street food for all.

2. Culture of West Bengal

One of the most culturally prosperous states of India, West Bengal is filled with surprises.

• The place has a rich legacy of literature with great authors like Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay contributing their fair share to the Bengali literature as well as to the world literature. 
• It has a long list of acclaimed filmmakers both nationally and globally, including the Academy Award-winning film director Satyajit Ray. Other famous contemporary filmmakers include Rituparno Ghosh, Aparna Sen, Nandita Roy etc.
• Bengal is credited to be the forerunner of modern contemporary art with famous artists like Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore being among the forefront to promote modernization of art in the country.
• Baul singing is perhaps the most famous of all the traditional singing of the yore. This involves singing a folk song about God, and one can see the powerful emotions that such type of singing evokes.

3. Tour West Bengal

There is no dearth of breathtaking places in West Bengal. Be it strolling through the lush forests lined with mangroves in Sundarbans or sitting by the banks of the gushing Ganges that flows across Kolkata, there are over a thousand experiences to take in. The ornate architectural style of the religious abodes of Bishnupur, the mystic hills at Kalimpong, the gurgling waves at Bakkhali, and the carefully preserved heritage of Tagore in Shantiniketan are only a handful of the many, many places in West Bengal that calls for a visit. The exotic range of flora and fauna are no less responsible to make the state the sweetest part of India.

In addition, the natural splendour of the state, combined with its ethereal aura, gives rise to a plethora of vibrant festivals, classic literature, mesmerizing music, as well as a traditional ethnicity that runs deep in its veins.

4. The Endless Festive Season of West Bengal

With respect to the endless number of festivals, West Bengal is often referred to as ‘Baaro mashey Tero Parbon’, which roughly translates to ‘thirteen festivals in twelve months’. Even though the hyped Durga Pujo is what every Bengali looks forward to, the people of the state never fail to celebrate other festivals as well, from Saraswati Pujo to Christmas, from Kali Pujo to Holi, and from Ganesh Pujo to Eid. The Bengali New Year, popularly referred to as Poila Boishakh, is also a major celebration in the state. Women clad in traditional sarees and the men in traditional kurtas are a sight to behold!

West Bengal is a potpourri of exceptional experiences, and a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities. With a lifestyle that stands out from the rest, it truly deserves the title of the ‘sweetest part of India’. No matter how many times you pay a visit to this state, you can never get enough of its sweetness which welcomes all with open arms.