Are you ready to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Eastern Himalayas? Darjeeling, Tonglu, and Sandakphu should be on your bucket list if you enjoy trekking and exploring serene hill stations. Nestled in India’s West Bengal, these destinations offer stunning panoramic views, rich culture, and thrilling trekking routes. For travelers from Bangladesh, this guide will provide everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable trip to these amazing destinations. Darjeeling Location Darjeeling, known as the "Queen of the Hills," is located in West Bengal, India, at an altitude of about 2,045 meters (6,709 feet). It is famous for its tea plantations, colonial-era architecture, and majestic views of Mount Kanchenjunga. Journey/ Path/ Route The most convenient way to reach Darjeeling from Bangladesh is through the Burimari border. You can take an overnight bus from Dhaka to the Burimari border (8 hours). Complete immigration formalities at the border, then take a bus to Siliguri (3-4 hours). From Siliguri, catch a shared jeep to Darjeeling (3 hours), which will cost 150 INR each. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of hills and tea gardens.  Read more: Moulvibazar Travel Guide: Explore the Top Tourist Attractions What to See There or On the Way On the way to Darjeeling, you will pass through picturesque tea gardens, small hill towns, and lush green forests. Once in Darjeeling, start with a sunrise at Tiger Hill, offering stunning views of Mount Kanchenjunga and Everest. Visit Ghoom Monastery and its 15-foot Buddha statue.  Explore the Darjeeling Zoo to see rare animals like the red panda and snow leopard. Discover local wildlife at the Bengal Natural History Museum and tour the historic Happy Valley Tea Estate. Do not miss the spiritual tranquility of the Japanese Peace Pagoda and the adventure-filled Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.  Interesting Activities to Do - Ride the Toy Train through the hills for scenic views and a unique experience.- Take a cable car ride on the Darjeeling Ropeway for aerial views of tea gardens.- Climb Tenzing Rock for some amateur rock climbing.- Visit the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre to explore Tibetan culture.- Stroll through Rock Garden & Ganga Maya Park for a peaceful retreat.- Trek and river raft in Singalila National Park and Teesta River. Read more: Exploring Sreemangal: Top Destinations for an Unforgettable Travel Experience

The severe cyclonic storm "Dana" over Northwest Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northwestwards, now lies over Northwest Bay and adjoining Odisha and West Bengal coasts. At middle of the last night, it was centered about 570 kms Southwest of Chattogram port, 565 kms Southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 370 kms Southwest of Mongla port and 410 kms Southwest of Payra port, according to the No-12 special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday morning. It is likely to move North-Northwestwards further and may complete crossing north Odisha-West Bengal coast of India between Puri and Sagar Island around morning today (Friday), it reads. Under the peripheral effect of the Severe Cyclonic Storm, heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy (289mm) rainfall with gusty or squally wind may occur over North Bay, offshore islands, chars and coastal areas of Bangladesh. Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the Severe Cyclone center is about 90 kph rising to 110 kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain high near the system center. Read: Cyclone Dana causes minimal damage, no threat to Bangladesh Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No-3. Under the peripheral effect of the cyclonic and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and their offshore Islands and Chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge of 2-3 feet height above normal astronomical tide. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Samaresh Majumdar, the renowned Bengali novelist from West Bengal, India passed away on May 8, 2023. He was not only a prolific writer but also a source of inspiration for many filmmakers and TV drama producers. Majumdar's works were known for their realistic portrayal of social issues and human emotions. Some of his novels have been adapted into critically acclaimed films and TV dramas. From the Naxal movement in "Kalbela" to the character of detective Arjun in "Buno Haansh," Majumdar's works have taken the Bengali literary and cinematic world to a new height. Let’s explore some of the most memorable films and dramas based on Samaresh Majumdar's novels. 7 Films and TV Dramas based on Samaresh Majumdar’s Works to Watch Kaalbela Directed by Goutam Ghose the film "Kaalbela" was released on May 19, 2016. This film features a stellar cast including Soumitra Chatterjee, Santu Mukherjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghosh, Bratya Basu, Anandi Ghose, and others.  The story, based on a novel by Majumdar, revolves around the disillusionment of young Bengali students who take up the cause of revolution, only to be left with unanswered questions regarding the conduct of those who change their tracks midway.  The story is set against the backdrop of the political unrest in Kolkata during the 1960s, where we see Madhabilata fighting against societal norms as an unwed mother, while Animesh questions the ideology he once fought for. The film highlights the struggles faced by these young revolutionaries and the impact it has on their lives. The film manages to capture the essence of the novel and brings it to life on screen. Overall, "Kaalbela" is a compelling drama that is worth watching for its stellar performances and thought-provoking storyline. Read More: Netflix Originals in English Coming in June 2023 Buno Haansh “Buno Haansh” is a Bengali action thriller film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, based on a novel by Samaresh Majumdar. The film was one of the high-budget films of Tollywood and was released on 15 August 2014. The main theme centres around Amal, who gets deeply involved in smuggling and eventually realises that he is a part of a dangerous game.  The film features Srabanti Chatterjee and Tanusree Chakraborty as the female leads and Moon Moon Sen as the central character.  “Buno Haansh” was produced by Bhushan Kumar and Arindam Sil served as the executive producer. The film was shot in various locations, including Mumbai, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Read More: ‘Deora’: Coke Studio Bangla’s latest featuring Pritom and Islamuddin Palakar is an instant hit   Arjun – Kalimpong E Sitaharan Bengali thriller film titled "Arjun - Kalimpong E Sitaharan," directed by Prem Prakash Modi and produced by Mukul Sarkar, was released in 2013. The movie starred Om Prakash Sahani and Sabyasachi Chakraborty as the lead actors.  Arjun is a famous Bengali fictional character created by the renowned novelist Samaresh Majumdar, primarily for a young audience. The film's storyline is based on two novels of Samaresh Majumdar, "Sitaharan Rahasya" and "Khunkharapi."  The storyline revolves around Sita, a teenage girl on the brink of adulthood, born and raised in the United States, who is brought to Kalimpong by her father to keep her away from her boyfriend, whom he considers a bad influence. The situation gets complicated when everyone appears to be part of a conspiracy and deception. The climax reveals that Sita's father is the culprit, as disclosed by Amol Shome (played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty). Arjun (starring Om) helps his mentor Amol solve the case in Kalimpong.  The film was shot in different locations in West Bengal and Sikkim, including the scenic spots of Kalimpong with misty mountains and dense jungles. Critics and reviewers gave the film mixed reviews, with some criticising the weak dialogues and loud background score. Nonetheless, Om's depiction of Arjun, a sleuth of the Gen X, received praise. Read More: May 2023 New Releases: Top 10 Upcoming South Indian Films Garbhodharini “Garbhodharini” is a TV adaptation of Samaresh Majumdar's novel that narrates the story of four friends who want to change the outlooks and values of their society.

The low pressure area over Southeast Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea has intensified into a well-marked low over the same area. “It is likely to intensify further. Trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area,” said a Met office bulletin on Tuesday (May 09, 2023). Read More: Missouri tornado kills 5 in latest wave of severe weather Severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Netrakona, Khulna, Chuadanga and Kushtia districts and mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping other parts of Bangladesh and it may continue, it said. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country with chances of rain or thunders at one or two places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. Read More: New weather forecasting system launched for Bangladeshi farmers

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Bangladesh is observing the situation and verifying the media reports of India's plan to withdraw water from the River Teesta for hydropower and irrigation projects in West Bengal. "The water resources ministry and Joint River Commission (JRC) are readying a paper, and we will seek to know the facts from India. Then we shall take necessary measures," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told journalists at the weekly media briefing at the ministry. Indian newspaper The Telegraph last week reported that the West Bengal government decided to set up three hydropower plants in Darjeeling, and two of them are likely to reduce the volume of water in the Teesta. It also reported that the West Bengal government acquired 1,000 acres to dig two canals and divert more water from the river to irrigate farms in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts. Teesta water is crucial for irrigation in the northern part of Bangladesh, especially during the lean period between December and April. Seheli said the life and livelihood of the people in a large part of Bangladesh depend on the Teesta water. So, Bangladesh has been trying to ink a water-sharing deal with India for many years, she added. In 2011, the two neighbours finalised the Teesta water-sharing agreement but it was not signed due to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opposition during the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit. Read more: Implement the Teesta Project with cooperation of China: Intl Farakka Committee Seheli said considering Bangladesh and India's "excellent relationship," Bangladesh will continue to work to resolve the issue through dialogue. Meanwhile, State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said India-Bangladesh JRC members in Bangladesh already prepared a letter that would be sent to India soon to officially learn the facts about the reported plan of diverting water from Teesta by the West Bengal government. "We have learnt about the plan of digging canals and withdrawing water. We want them [India] to officially tell us the facts. Then we will be confirmed if India is withdrawing water or not," he told journalists at the foreign ministry after a stakeholders' consultation on the UN Water Conference to be held in New York on March 22-24.   He said the letter has already been drafted and he will sign it at the soonest. Farooque said he is expecting a JRC meeting before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi visit in September. Regarding the Water Conference that will also be attended by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Farooque, Seheli said they will highlight Bangladesh's rights of having water as a lower riparian country as well as the impacts of climate change and seek the support of the international community. "Bangladesh will highlight the basin-wide water management of the international rivers. It will focus that proper water management will be a major determinant of regional and international cooperation, peace and security," she added. Read more: People living in fear as Teesta flowing above danger level in Lalmonirhat

A video clip of a man in India’s West Bengal barking like a dog at a local officer has gone viral.  The man was reportedly protesting his last name being misprinted on his ration card. His last name “Dutta” had been misprinted as “Kutta”, Hindustan Times reported. The 45-second viral video shows the man barking like a dog with his documents in hand at a block development officer, the report said. Read more: 18 killed, 5 injured in road accident in India's West Bengal The man, Srikanti Kumar Dutta, has applied to the Bankura administration several times to get his last name corrected on the ration card. But this was the third time his name was printed as Srikanti “Kutta” instead of Srikanti Dutta, according to the Hindustan Times. Being disturbed by repeated mistakes, he decided to “bark” at the officer. Read more: BJP Office set on fire in India’s West Bengal, party blames Trinamool “How many times will people go to apply for a correction leaving our work?” the West Bengal man asked.

Former governor of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Jagdeep Dhankhar, was elected as the country's next Vice-President on Saturday. Dhankhar, who was fielded by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, defeated his main challenger and opposition candidate Margaret Alva, also a former state governor and federal minister, by a huge margin. Voting to elect India's 14th Vice-President was held earlier in the day. Dhankhar will replace incumbent Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu whose five-year term ends on August 10. Also read: Indian oppn leader Rahul Gandhi released from detention The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament -- the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the Lok Sabha (Lower House). The Vice-President is the second-highest constitutional office in India. The Vice-President serves as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and also acts as the chancellor of the central universities. Who's Dhankhar? Born on 18 May, 1951, in Kithana, a small village in the western state of Rajasthan, to a farmer family, Dhankhar completed his graduation in law and entered politics at a very young age. Also read: India raises interest rate to 5.4%, in 3rd hike since May He subsequently became a member of the Rajasthan state assembly and then India's Parliament. He also practiced as a senior advocate in India's Supreme Court.

At least 10 people died and 16 others sustained injuries after a van carrying a group of Hindu pilgrims got electrocuted in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in the small hours of Monday. The tragedy occurred around 12.30am on Dharla Bridge in the state's Cooch Behar district, some 700 kms from West Bengal capital Kolkata, police said. "Preliminary probe has revealed that the van got electrocuted due to a short-circuit in the diesel generator set fitted in the vehicle to power a music system," a police officer told the local media. Read: 28 people dead, 60 sick in India from drinking spiked liquor While the 10 pilgrims, mostly young men in their early 20s, were electrocuted to death on the spot, the injured have been admitted to Jalpaiguri hospital, the officer said. "The condition of two of the injured is serious." The bodies have been handed over to the family members of the victims, police said.  "A probe has been ordered into the tragedy that will also ascertain if the vehicle had the required permission to install and use the music system on board," the officer added.

Twenty-one Bangladeshis, including five children, returned home through the Benapole checkpost on Friday evening after serving time in Indian prison in different terms, starting from six months to five years. The returnees comprising 10 women, 6 men and 5 children, belong to Dhaka, Bagerhat, Khulna, Barguna, Narail, Munshiganj and Cox's Bazar districts. Read:17 Tablig jamaat members return after serving jail in India They returned to the country with a special travel permit issued by the Government of India on coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and the Special Task Force on Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children in West Bengal and Kolkata, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Raju Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Benapole checkpost immigration, said they were lured to India with promises of good jobs in different times. But Indian police arrested them while working from home in different parts of the country, including Kolkata. From there, NGOs called MM Rescue, Sanglap and Talash put them in a shelter home. Read:3 Bangladeshis return home after serving jail in India In the presence of the Director General (Consular and Welfare) and Assistant Secretary (Welfare) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a delegation from Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata handed over all the Bangladeshi women and children to the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Women and Children Affairs Officer and law enforcers’ agencies, said the release. After the immigration process, they were handed over to two NGOs -- Justice Care and Rights Jashore.

At least 18 people were killed and five others injured after a vehicle carrying them collided with a stationary truck in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, officials said Sunday.The accident took place late Saturday night at the Phulbari area of Nadia district, about 164 km north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal."Late last night a vehicle carrying people collided with a stationary truck laden with stones at Phulbari area, resulting in the killing of 18 people and injuring five others," a police official said.According to police, the victims were mourners heading to a crematorium to cremate the body of a relative. READ: 2 of a family die in Noakhali road crash Following the accident, the injured were removed to a nearby hospital.Police officials said preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was being rashly driven and there was dense fog in the area.West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar expressed his grief and said there was a need to promote road safety.Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused by overloading, poor condition of roads and reckless driving.Around 150,000 people are killed every year in around half a million road accidents across India, officials said. READ: Two Class X students die in Chandpur road crashIndia's federal minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari recently said the government has set a target to reduce road accident deaths by 50 percent by 2024.