West Bengal Foodie Itinerary: Exploring Exotic Flavours and Twisted Delights

1. Day 1: Kolkata
   Start your food journey in Kolkata, the gastronomic capital of West Bengal (WB).
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 0 mins

   Savour authentic Bengali cuisine made with a blend of spices and rich flavours at Bhojohori Manna in Esplanade. Treat your taste buds to Kathi rolls at Nizam's in New Market and try the mouth-watering puchkas or Kolkata's famous street food at Kusum Rolls and Chaat located in Jodhpur Park.

2. Day 2: Darjeeling
   Head to Darjeeling, a picturesque hill station with lush green tea gardens and panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga.
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 7 hrs 10 mins (404 km) by car

   Sip on a hot cup of Darjeeling tea at Glenary's Bakery & Cafe and treat yourself to the delectable caramel custard. Try the lip-smacking Nepali cuisine at Kunga Restaurant and fulfil your sweet tooth cravings with the famous chocolate momos at Sonam's Kitchen.

3. Day 3: Malda
   Travel to Malda, also known as the "mango city" because of its delicious mangoes.
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 5 hrs 30 mins (245 km) by car

   Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast at Ramshila Sweets and try the ras malai, a popular sweet dish. Don't miss the spicy chicken roast at Mahaveer Hotel and Restaurant and treat yourself to the famous Malda langcha, a sweet dish made with cottage cheese, at Nandalal Mistanna Bhandar.

4. Day 4: Murshidabad
   Head to Murshidabad, famous for its rich history and famous sweet dishes.
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 4 hrs 43 mins (216 km) by car

   Indulge in the unique fusion of Bengal and Mughlai cuisine at Azimganj Serajuddin Mia Hotel and try the boneless chicken curry and Murshidabad's famous langcha.Relish the delicious ghee-roasted chicken at Basanta Cabin and savour the local street food like telebhaja and ghughni at the famous Khosh Biryani.

5. Day 5: Bolpur
   Travel to Bolpur, home to one of the oldest universities in India and famous for its red soil pottery.
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 5 hrs 4 mins (224 km) by car

   Order the authentic Bengali thali at Sonar Tori and experience a wide range of mouth-watering Bengali dishes like daab chingri, kosha mangsho and luchi. Don't miss the chicken fry and the unique "baked yoghurt" at Kitchen Treasures and savour the delicious local street food like the famous sitar dokan tea and shingara at Marble Palace.

6. Day 6: Asansol
   Travel to Asansol, one of the fastest-growing cities in WB.
   Estimated time & distance from the last spot: 3 hrs 40 mins (176 km) by car

   Taste the delicious mutton curry at Annapurna Hotel and don't forget to try the famous Asansol er jalebi at Maheswari Jalebi Centre. Relish the local street food like egg chop and fuchka at the Asansol station area.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Bhojohori Manna (1 hr, INR 650)
• Nizam's (30 mins, INR 250)
• Kusum Rolls and Chaat (1 hr, INR 150)
• Glenary's Bakery & Cafe (45 mins, INR 350)
• Kunga Restaurant (1 hr, INR 500)
• Sonam's Kitchen (45 mins, INR 250)
• Ramshila Sweets (30 mins, INR 150)
• Mahaveer Hotel and Restaurant (1 hr, INR 300)
• Nandalal Mistanna Bhandar (30 mins, INR 75)
• Azimganj Serajuddin Mia Hotel (1 hr, INR 500)
• Basanta Cabin (45 mins, INR 350)
• Khosh Biryani (30 mins, INR 100)
• Sonar Tori (1 hr 30 mins, INR 1000)
• Kitchen Treasures (1 hr, INR 400)
• Marble Palace (30 mins, INR 100)
• Annapurna Hotel (1 hr, INR 350)
• Maheswari Jalebi Centre (30 mins, INR 50)
• Asansol station area (1 hr, INR 100)
Total Estimated Costs: INR 4,225

Useful tips

For those who have extra time, a day trip to the beach town of Digha is recommended. Don't forget to try the famous Digha-style fried fish and hot rasogollas. Food enthusiasts can also add a visit to Bolpur's Haat Bazaar, where one can find unique handcrafted items and spicy street food. If time is short, consider skipping Malda and Asansol on the itinerary, and allocating more time to Digha and Kolkata instead.