Bengal
The cheesiest Indian desserts on offer
One of India’s favourite sweet treats, rasmalai, was chosen as the second-best cheese-based dessert in the world. Here are more such sweet dishes from India that lean in on our cheese-making traditions.
Sohrai workshop brings together artistic hiveminds
Khwabgaon near Jhargram experienced a collaborative exchange between two cultures as artists from Hazaribag, Jharkhand, came over to Konedoba in Jhargram district and painted an illustrative Sohrai mural for three days.
Kholey Dai: It takes a village to host this festival
Folk music, local cuisine, scenic Himalayan setting. The upcoming Kholey Dai festival in a Kalimpong village has a lot of attractions for travellers, but at its heart lies the story of a community’s unity and resilience.
Learning the ABC of Toto language
Bengal’s Toto tribals, who come under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, are striving to keep their endangered local language alive by teaching kids its new-created alphabet system.
Bengal farmers bear brunt of Assam poultry ban
Aftershocks of Assam’s bird flu-related ban continue to rattle the poultry industry in Bengal even after the withdrawal of curbs, resulting in severe losses for farmers.
Bay leaf brings aroma to lives in Bengal
The bay leaf that adds flavour to many a dish is an attractive source of livelihood for thousands of villagers in northern Bengal.
The disappearing wild orchids of North Bengal
Known for their beauty, fragrance and medicinal properties, epiphytic orchids found in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are dying out because of deforestation in their natural habitat.
What’s a tiger reserve without a safari?
The tiny, off-grid destination in North Bengal’s Buxa tiger reserve is a paradise for nature lovers, but its tourism-dependent residents are plagued by a mountain of problems.
How the patuas sustain their art of storytelling through scrolls
The patua art of storytelling through painted scrolls and songs now flourishes in varied adaptations, putting the art on the world map.