East India, in Lifelately’s guides, means four states: West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand. Between them they stretch from the Himalayan foothills to the Bay of Bengal, and they are varied enough that the first decision is not where to start, but what kind of trip you want.
The four states at a glance
- West Bengal: Kolkata, the tea hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the Sundarbans and the temple towns of the west.
- Odisha: the temples of Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri, Chilika Lake and craft villages.
- Bihar: Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali and Patna.
- Jharkhand: waterfalls, forests, Netarhat and Deoghar.
Gateways
- Kolkata: the main international gateway for the region.
- Bagdogra: the airport for Darjeeling and the northern hills.
- Bhubaneswar: for Odisha.
- Patna and Gaya: for Bihar’s historic sites.
- Ranchi: for Jharkhand.
How long do you need?
A week is enough for one state done well, or Kolkata plus one other region. Two weeks lets you combine two or three, for example Kolkata, Darjeeling and Odisha’s coast, or Kolkata and Bihar’s Buddhist sites. Distances are large and roads slow, so fly or take overnight trains between regions rather than trying to drive everything.
When to go
For most of the region, October to March is the most comfortable time. The hills are best in spring and autumn, while the monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain everywhere. See our guide to seasons in East India.
Next steps
Sources and image credits
Facts that can change were checked on 31 October 2026:
Photography: Rahul Moharana via Unsplash (Unsplash License). Stock images, not the author’s own.
Transport and seasonal details change. Use this as a starting point and confirm specifics before you book.
