West Bengal is India's 12th largest state. West Bengal is the gateway to the beautiful north eastern states of India. Its capital, Kolkata was once the capital of the british empire, that is Calcutta remains the cultural capital of India with a strong tradition in literature and fine arts. The total area of West Bengal is 88,853 sq kms. West Bengal covers the bottleneck of India in the east, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. Countries that share international boundaries with West Bengal include Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal while Sikkim, Assam, Orissa and Bihar frame its domestic borders. .There are three distinct climatic zones, the coastal region, the interiors and the Himalayan highlands. Temperatures along the coastal belt are fairly hot and humid with no appreciable changes throughout the year. The inland plains experience wide fluctuations, getting to be chilly in winter and scorching in summer. The Himalayan highlands are cold in winter and wonderfully pleasant in summer. The state receives around 100 cm to 300 cm of rain each year.

Information updated from http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/westbengal