It was in the eastern seaport of Kolkata (earlier Calcutta) that the British first landed when they came to India. This used to be the capital of colonial India – and today, is a city that takes prides in its cultural and intellectual aspirations. Towards the north-east of Kolkata lie the seven sister states – an undulating spread against the north-eastern Himalayas. Treks, Buddhism, ancient monasteries, tea estates, and nature’s abundance characterise these parts. Towards the north of Kolkata lies the state of Bihar – a revered pilgrimage centre for Buddhists.