CALCUTTA
Calcutta, the hub of Eastern India, is a bustling, overcrowded, but intenselyvital, city. It is also India's largest. A great centre ofcommerce and industry, it is the capital of West Bengal Staie. A large number of international airlines pass through Calcutta, making itthe most accessible of cities in the easte'rn region. There are anumberofluxuryhotels and fine restaurants.
Santiniketan, Poet Tagore's unique experiment in education, is 151 kilometres (94 miles) from Calcutta. Started as a small school, it is today a university and a famous centre of art education:
DARJEELING
Darjeeling : For a view of Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga, the majestic Himalayan peaks, one has to journey a little farther-some 644 kilometres (400 miles)-to Darjeeling, where some of the finest tea in the world is grown.
SHILONG
Shillong : In the north-eastern tip of India is the State of Assam. Its capital, Shillong, is on an elevation and the surrounding hill tribes, with their colourful costumes and festivals, add charm
to its enchanting tropical scenery. Shillong can be reached by air from Calcutta (496 kilometres-308 miles up to Gauhati and 96 kilometres-60 miles from there by road).
BODH GAYA
Adjoining West Bengal is the State of Bihar, kriown for some of India's greatest Buddhist monuments. Bodh Gaya is a living reminder of the great penance which the Buddha .did to attain enlightenment. The tree under which he meditated is still there, a hallowed spot, marked by an imposing temple.
Not far from Bodh Gaya is Nalanda with
its unearthed ruins of the famous 5-th century Buddhist University.
BHUVNESWAR, PURI, KONARAK
The state of Orissa has a special charm
for the lover of india's medieval art. The temples of Bhuvne- -swar,
Puri and Konarak stand unrivalled for the beauty of their carvings. And
who has not heard of the word 'Juggarnaut' ? This is derived from
Jaganath 'Lord of the Universe' , a hindu god whose image is worshipped
in the famous Jaganath Temples at Puri , 63 kilometers ( 39 miles ) from
Bhuvneswar . This idol is annually taken out in procession on a giant
wooden chariot which almost resembles a temple in size and shape.
Bhuvneswar , the capital of Orrisa ,
is an accient 'cathedral city' with over a hundred medieval temples.
Many are covered with exquisite relief carvings. Another architectural
masterpiece in Orissa is the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konarak, 85 kilometres (53
miles) from Puri. Built in perfect proportions in the image of a chariot (with 12 wheels), this temple of the Sun has soine of the most marvellous
carvings of their kind.
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