West Bengal: Location | WBCS Preparation: All Subjects - WBCS (West Bengal) PDF Download

West Bengal, located in the Eastern region of India, spans approximately 700 km from the Himalayas in the North to the Bay of Bengal in the South. Remarkably, it is the sole Indian state boasting both a coastline and the Himalayas, significantly influencing its climate to exhibit a humid sub-tropical to tropical character.
Established in 1947 during India's partition, West Bengal acquired its name due to its location in the Western part of the undivided Bengal province. The state's capital is Kolkata, and it ranks 14th in terms of area among Indian states, covering around 88,752 sq km, constituting 2.67% of India's total land area. Geographically, a state's features include its location, extent, and physiographic divisions.

Location

Physiographic Divisions of the State
The area of West Bengal can be divided into three physiographic divisions:

• The Northern Mountains
  This region, part of the Eastern Himalayan range, covers Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. The Teesta, Jaldhaka, and Raidhak rivers flow through this area, dividing it into Western and Eastern mountains, each with distinct ranges.
  • Western Mountain Region 
    The two main mountain ranges of this region are Singalila range and Darjeeling range. The Singalila range is located along the border of Darjeeling and Nepal. This range has four important peaks i.e. Sandakphu (3630 m, highest peak of the state), Phalut (3595 m, Sabargram (3036 m) and Tonglu (3121 m). The Darjeeling range extends from Terai region in the South to steep mountains in the North.
    It also called Ghum range. The world heritage Toy Train of Darjeeling runs from Siliguri to Darjeeling through Ghum (2247 m), the highest railway station of the world. Tiger Hills (2567 m) is the highest peak of Darjeeling range from where Mount Kanchenjunga (8586 m) can be seen. Hill town of Kurseong also lies in this range.  
  • Eastern Mountain Region 
    In Eastern mountain region, Richila (3121 m) is the highest peak. The Sinchula range of this region forms the boundary between Bhutan and Jalpaiguri. The main mountain pass of this region is Buxa Pass which joins India and Bhutan. Other important peaks are Renigango and Chota Sinchula. City of Kalimpong lies here.
• The Western Plateau 
  Encompassing Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura, Bardhaman, and West Midnapore districts, this region is a segment of the Chhotanagpur plateau, characterized by small hills, including Ayodhya and Baghmundi. The rivers in this area flow West to East. 
• The Plains of the North and South Region
  Extending from Siliguri to the Bay of Bengal, this is West Bengal's largest region, contributing to its status as a fertile agricultural state. It is further divided into Plains of North Bengal and Plains of South Bengal.