Sandakphu - The Highest Peak in Bengal

Sandakphu at a height of 3,636 meters is the highest peak in West Bengal. It is situated in the northernmost. It derives its name from a Lepcha phrase which roughly means ' the height of the poison plant'. Such a name is due perhaps to the profusing growths of the poisonous aconite plants in this area. It is situated in the Singalila National Park in the West Bengal - Sikkim border.

Beautiful flowers like magnolias, rhododendrons, primulas and many other sub-alpine flowers bloom in this region. This is home to over 600 species of orchids, probably the highest number of different varieties to be found in a single geographical location anywhere in this world.

Sandakphu, 58 kms from Darjeeling can be reached either by 10 hour trek or a 2-3 hour ride from Maanebhanjan (2,134 km). Sandakphu's location makes it ideal for viewing the mountain peaks of the Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and the beautiful Kanchenjangha. This makes Sandakphu one of the hottest and most scenic trekking destinations in the country. The 21 km long trek route from Sandakphu to Phalut (3,600 m) on the Singalila ridge is one of the best in the country.

The best time to trek is from March to May and from September to November.

Trek Route (10 - 12 days)

Route Distance (in Kms)

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Siliguri - Ghoom * 73

Ghoom - Maanebhanjan * 18

Maanebhanjan - Tonglu ** 11

Tonglu - Kalipokhri ** 12

Kalipokhri - Sandakphu ** 08

Sandakphu - Phalut *** 21

Phalut - Singalila Pass ** 06

Singalila Pass - Chiyabhanjan ** 09

Chiyabhanjan - Uttrey ** 10

Uttrey - Dentum ** 07

Dentum - Pelling ** 21

Pelling - Jorethang * 51

Jorethang - Siliguri * 85

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* Bus/Jeep

** Trek

*** This stretch is uninhabited and must be covered in a day

Uday Shankar : Pioneer of Modern Indian Dancing

Uday Shankar (1900 - 1977) often credited as the pioneer of modern Indian dancing was a world renowned classical dancer and choreographer. He was the pioneer of Indo-Western fusion music. He adapted the modern Western techniques into his dance form and took Indian classical dancing to a new level.

Uday Shankar did not have any formal training in dancing and his art was largely self educated from the different dance forms prevalent in India during the times, Mughal frescoes and rajput paintings and largely influenced by Western ballets. He brought both Western and Indian styles into a new dance form which he later called 'Creative dancing' which became widely popular in the West as well as in India.

His association with the legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova gave the Indo-Western masterpieces like 'Radha-Krishna' and 'Hindu Wedding'.

He toured Europe and America for several years with his dance troup named 'Uday Shankar and his Hindu Ballet'. This made him immensely popular in the West and acclaims back home.

He married Amala Shankar with whom he made his only movie named Kalpana or imagination where he showcased his art form.

In the later half of his life he was awarded with the second highest civilian award by the Government of India in 1970.

His brother Ravi Shankar, the great musician, is credited for introducing and popularising Indian music in the West.

Folk Dances from Bengal

Bengal is a land of music, dance, literature, theatre, artists and many other forms of art.

The colors of rural life in Bengal ca be glimpsed in the different folk dances from different parts of West Bengal.

Chhau, which is perhaps the most famous among all folk dance forms from Bengal, is a masked martial dance form from the district of Purulia.

Natua is another acrobatic tribal dance from Purulia. This is widely practised in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.

Tusu is a tribal dance popular in Purulia and Medinipur. It is a harvest dance performed by both men and women.

Raibenshey is a martial dance usually performed by groups of 15 men in the districts of Bardhaman, Murshidabad and Birbhum.

Stilt dancing is popular in many parts of Bengal in which rural people dance on bamboo stilts to the rythm of the dhol.

Another beautiful dance form is the Gambhira from the district of Maldah. This performed during the Charak festival in the months of April May just before the rainy season.

Santhali dance is a widely popular dance form among the tribals in the Purulia district and also among the tribal workers in the tea plantations of Darjeeling and jalpaiguri districts.

Maidan : The Lungs of Kolkata

The large area around the Fort William right upto Chowringhee is known as the Maidan or field. The initial European settlements were built facing the Maidan in the model of the Hyde Park in London.

The first organized cricket match of the Calcutta Cricket Club established in 1792 was palyed here in 1804. Eden Gardens was established as the permanent cricket field in 1864. It is the oldest cricket ground in India. The Eden Gardens is one of the best and largest cricket stadiums in the world and is reknowned for the huge number of spectators, at times over a hundred thousand people, who come to see cricket matches here. Situated next to the Eden Gardens is the Netaji Indoor Stadium with a seating capacity of 12,000.

Maidan is also the place where the famous and hugely popular footbal clubs of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are located. Thoroughout the year, Maidan remains busy with different kinds of sporting activities, specially domestic cricket and club football. Maidan is the Mecca of Indian football.

Apart from its prominence as the major sporting center of the city, Maidan is also the place where most of the greenery of the city of Kolkata is. This is where the city breathes. This is where the city folks come for an evening stroll in the Garer Maath to breathe in some fresh air in a city otherwise suffering from huge air pollution. Whether you take a joyride in a horse drawn tonga, gulp in a few delicious phuchka or just sit down in the lush green grass fields just to lament, this is where the bustling city life takes a breather.