Strategically located in the eastern part of India, West Bengal is the gateway to eastern India. This colorful state makes for an intriguing tourism hub, famous for its majestic hills, verdant jungles replete with teeming wilderness, lovely breaches, undulating plains, historical monuments and an immensely rich culture. Besides being one of the important tourist destinations in eastern India, West Bengal also offers many options to explore the numerous tourist sites near West Bengal.

The important states which constitute fascinating tourist sites near West Bengal are Assam, Bihar, Orissa and Sikkim. These states have prominent tourist spots and attract numerous travelers from all parts of the country as well from overseas.

Assam:
Lying at the heart of north-east India, Assam is a beautiful state featuring rivers, mountains and plains. Some of the tourist places in Assam that you must visit while on excursions from West Bengal include the capital city of Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, Sual Kuchi � the place where Assam silk is weaved, the Kamakhya Temple, Majuli River Island, and of course, the Brahmaputra River � the lifeline of Assam.

Bihar:
A state which had been for ages a prominent seat of ancient civilization, history, culture and religion, Bihar makes for an interesting place to visit while on tour to west Bengal. Home to the ruins of some of India�s ancient learning centers, Bihar flaunts a varied array of tourist sites, ranging from Vaishali, the birthplace of lord Mahavira, to Patna, the capital city; and from Rajgir, Magadha�s ancient capital, to Deoghar, a famous Hindu pilgrimage site; Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment; Nalanda, a seat of Buddhist learning; the steel city of Jamshedpur; Panchet; and the hill resort of Hazaribagh.

Orissa:
Also popular among the places to see near west Bengal is Orissa along the Bay of Bengal. Tourist places worth visit in Orissa are - Bhubaneswar, the state capital which is dotted with ancient temples and monuments, the caves of Khandagiri and Udaigiri, the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark, the Puri beach, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens at Nandan Kanan, Chandipur beach, Gopalpur beach, Chilka Lake and the Barehipani and Joranda falls.

Sikkim:
India�s northernmost and 2nd smallest state, Sikkim is a land of mystic beauty and a destination worth visit from west Bengal. Nestled beautifully amidst the Himalayas, Sikkim is bounded by the 3rd largest mountain of the world, the Kanchenjunga. Some of the major tourist attractions in Sikkim are Gangtok, the state capital, Temi Tea Garden, the state�s only existing tea estate; the holy lake of Changu, worshipped by the people of Sikkim, and the Khecheopalri Lake.

Touristplacesinindia.com offers online information on Tourist Sites near West Bengal, and tourist places in other parts of India.