Situated in the north eastern corner of India, the state of West Bengal has a rich history of rule and a diverse landscape supporting an array of climatic regions. Found within its borders are the densely populated capital city of Kolkata (for years the capital of British India), tea plantations clinging to the slopes of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, long stretches of unspoilt beach in the sleepy fishing village of Mandarmani, and the mangrove delta of Sunderban in the south – its watery inlets home to one of the largest concentrations of tigers on the planet.