West Bengal

West Bengal is a state located in the eastern part of India, on the Bay of Bengal. It is the fourth most populous state in the country and the thirteenth largest in terms of area. The capital and largest city of West Bengal is Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, which is a major cultural, commercial, and educational center in eastern India. West Bengal has a rich cultural heritage and history, and is known for its diverse and vibrant culture, reflected in its music, art, literature, and festivals. The state is also known for its contributions to India's freedom struggle, with notable figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, and Subhas Chandra Bose hailing from the state.

West Bengal is an agricultural state and is known for its production of rice, jute, tea, and fish. The state is also home to a thriving cottage industry, particularly in the field of handloom and handicrafts. West Bengal is bordered by Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, Bangladesh to the east, and the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar to the west and south. The state has its own language known as Bengali which is spoken by majority of its population.

Below are some important points to remember about West Bengal:

• West Bengal is located in the eastern part of India on the Bay of Bengal.

• The state was established on 1st November 1956.

• The state has a total area of 88,752 square km.

• West Bengal has 20 districts.

• West Bengal shares its boundary with Sikkim and Bhutan in the north, Assam in the northeast, Bangladesh in the east, the Bay of Bengal in the south, Orissa in the southwest, Jharkhand and Bihar in the west, and Nepal in the northwest.

• The total population of the state is 91,347,736 with a density of 1000 per square km.

• The literacy rate in the state is 77.08 %.

• Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal.

• Kolkata is also known as the "City of Joy".

• The economy of the state depends on mainly agriculture.

• Kolkata, Darjeeling, Victoria Memorial, Vidyasagar Setu, Shantiniketan, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, etc are the main tourist attraction in West Bengal.

• Darjeeling is one of the favorite hill stations in India. Durga Puja is the main and widely celebrated festival in West Bengal.

• Ganga and Hooghly are the main rivers of West Bengal.

• National Library of India in Kolkata is the biggest library in the country.

• Birla Planetarium, Kolkata is the largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest planetarium in the world.


State Symbols of West Bengal
Category English Term
Animal Fishing cat
Bird White-throated kingfisher
Flower Night-flowering jasmine
Tree Chatim tree
Fish Ilish