West Bengal forms a land full of exquisite lyrical poetry, natural beauty and enthusiastic people. West Bengal is located in eastern India and it stretches from Bay of Bengal in the south to the Himalayas in the north. West Bengal shares its international boundaries with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Therefore, it becomes a place which is strategically important. States like Assam, Sikkim, Bihar and Orissa interlock this state. The soils of Bengal are enriched by the River Hooghly along with its tributaries which are Damodar, Mayurakshi, Rupnarayan and Kangsabati. The Bengal's northern districts such as Cooch Bihar, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are watered by Torsa, Tista, Ranjit and Jaldhaka River. West Bengal is a land of ceaseless beauty which can be seen from the tropical forests of Sunderbans to the northern places.

West Bengal is a place of many contrasts having a peculiar combination of the new and the old, partly grown out of developing urbanization, partly feudal and partly indefinable. Crowds, fish, potholes, politics, art and cinema, monuments, soccer and cricket etc. these all are the core parts of Bengal. West Bengal in its physical state is Indian subcontinent's complete representation. Darjeeling, its northern district extend till the splendid Himalayas and Dooars located in the foothills are quite rich in forest. The Ganga River flows across the rich alluvial palins of the state to reach upto Bay of Bengal in south via wide swamps called as Sunderbans. The west districts of the state are semi arid and boast loamy soil.

Durga Puja clashing with Dussehra in country's other parts rouse West Bengal to a high pitch with the preparations that are significant for every Bengali. In this state, Diwali, Kali Puja, Ganga Sagar Mela, Holi (Dol Jatra), Id, Ramzan, birth anniversary of Rabrindranath Tagore, Baisakhi, New Year and Christmas, all these festivals are celebrated with devotion and abundance.

The capital of West Bengal is Calcutta and is a chief entry point. Calcutta being the East India Company's first headquarters had some of the famous monuments which were constructed by this company.

Capital:  Kolkata.

Language:  Bengali.

Population:  80,221,171 (2001).