1 - The capital of West Bengal is Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), one of India’s largest and most vibrant cities.
2 - West Bengal lies in eastern India and borders Sikkim and Bhutan to the north, Assam to the northeast, Bangladesh to the east, the Bay of Bengal to the south, and Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar to the west and northwest.
3 - The state covers about 88,752 km², making it larger than countries like Austria and smaller than Jordan.
4 - Home to over 91 million people, West Bengal is the fourth most populous state in India
5 - The state includes two main regions — the fertile Gangetic Plain and the Himalayan foothills in the north.
6 - The climate ranges from tropical in the south to humid subtropical in the north, with a strong monsoon season from June to September.
7 - The main language is Bengali, while Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Santali, and English are also spoken.
8 - About 70% of residents are Hindu and around 27% are Muslim. There are also small Christian, Buddhist, and Sikh communities.
9 - West Bengal has one of India’s richest cultural traditions, known for its art, literature, theater, and music.
10 - The Nobel Prize–winning poet (1913) was born in Kolkata. His works continue to shape Bengali identity and culture.
11 - The city was the capital of British India (1772–1911) and remains a major commercial and cultural center.
12 - Agriculture, manufacturing, and services drive the state’s economy. Tea, rice, and jute are key products. Kolkata also has major industries in IT, petrochemicals, and steel.
13 - West Bengal is home to the world’s largest mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
14 - The Dooars region and hill station of Darjeeling are famous for their lush landscapes and world-renowned Darjeeling tea.
15 - West Bengal has some of India’s oldest universities and colleges, such as the University of Calcutta (established in 1857).
16 - Once part of ancient kingdoms like Vanga and later the Mauryan Empire, West Bengal became a separate state after India’s partition in 1947.
17 - Kolkata has India’s first metro system, extensive railways, and one of the oldest ports in the country.
18 - The Durga Puja festival is the highlight of the year, featuring art, music, dance, and elaborate statues of the goddess Durga.
19 - From 1977 to 2011, the state was governed by one of the world’s longest-serving democratically elected communist parties.
20 - The state’s diverse ecosystems range from mountain forests to coastal wetlands, home to elephants, leopards, crocodiles, and migratory birds.
21 - Bengali food is known for its delicate use of spices and sweets like rosogolla, sandesh, and mishti doi (sweet yogurt).
22 - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the “Toy Train,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers stunning views of the Himalayas.
23 - The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata is one of the world’s busiest cantilever bridges, a symbol of Bengal’s engineering prowess.
24 - West Bengal’s Victoria Memorial, built in honor of Queen Victoria, is one of India’s most iconic colonial landmarks.
25 - Sundarbans Delta is one of the few places on Earth where tigers are known to swim in saltwater channels.
26 - The people of West Bengal are famous for their passion for literature, cinema, and football — particularly the fierce rivalry between the clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
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