Sikkim, West Bengal, and the North- Eastern States (Political) - 2 - UPSC

The capital city of West Bengal is Kolkata. It is the largest city in the state and serves as its administrative, commercial, and cultural hub.

West Bengal is divided into 23 districts, each contributing to the state's unique cultural and historical fabric.

 It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. The present Sundarban National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1977. On 4 May 1984 it was declared a national park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1987,^[2][3] and it has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2019.^[1] It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) from 1989.

Jalpaiguri division in West Bengal is known for its vast tea plantations, which contribute significantly to the state's economy.

West Bengal shares its borders with the states of Odisha, Sikkim, and Bihar. However, Telangana is not a neighboring state of West Bengal.

West Bengal's economy is diverse, but the information technology (IT) sector has seen significant growth in recent years, contributing significantly to the state's economy.

Kolkata is famous for its annual Durga Puja festival, which is a grand celebration of the Hindu goddess Durga and is one of the biggest cultural events in West Bengal.

Bengal Engineering and Science University, located in Shibpur, West Bengal, is a renowned educational institute offering courses in engineering and sciences.

Siliguri is known as the gateway to the Northeast India region as it serves as a major transportation hub connecting the northeastern states with the rest of India.

The district of Darjeeling is home to the famous hill station, also named Darjeeling. It is known for its scenic beauty, tea gardens, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.