West Bengal forms a part of the great Gangetic Plains with the mighty Himalayas crowing it in the north and the vast bay of Bengal in the south It is a land of contrasts in climate (north to south) in vegetation scenery and landscape In complete contrast to the tranquility of the sea is the hubbub of of Calcutta and the quiet and amazing beauty of the hills in and around Darjeeling. West Bengal was the home of the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and his Shantiniketan which continues to be a beacon to the present day. The state also has some beautiful beaches such as Digha. Then there are the Sunderbans or the beautiful forests at the junction of the Ganga and the sea. A major attraction here is the deverse forms of wildlife including deer, wild boars monkeys snakes crocodiles and of course the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Diamond Harbour at the point where the hoogly turns south and flows into the open sea is also worth a visit.