Tourism : Weekend Getaways from Kolkata

By A Correspondent | Kolkata | West Bengal

BAKRESHWAR:

225 kms from Kolkata & 58 kms from Shantiniketan, Bakreshwar is famous for the hot sulphurous water spring with curative medicinal properties.  It is a Hindu pilgrim centre with Lord Shiva temples.

BISHNUPUR:

132 kms from Kolkata, it is a town in Bankura District, which is famous for its terracotta temples, which stand testimony to the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisans of the region. It is also famous for Bishnupuriya Raslila and Balucheri sarees.

DIGHA:

185 kms from Kolkata, it is one of the finest beaches in India which is partly lined with casuarinas. Digha is very much sunny & charming.

JHARGRAM:

181 kms from Kolkata, Jhargram offers topography culminating in hill ranges of Belpahari, Kankrajhor in the North to the serene and Subarnarekha River in the South. It is a paradise for nature lovers with bountiful forests of sal, teak, peasal and mahul in its vicinity. Santhal tribal life with rich culture can be witnessed here.

MANDARMANI:

180 km from Kolkata, it is a small beach on Bay of Bengal, only a few kms from Digha. Red crabs crawling around the 13 km long beach is a special attraction of Mandarmani.

MAYAPUR:

133 kms from Kolkata, Mayapur ISKCON temple at Nabadwip, the birth place of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu, is the head quarter of ISKCON. Day trips from Kolkata to Mayapur available from ISKCON House Kolkata.

MUKUTMANIPUR:

282 kms far from Kolkata & 52 kms from Bankura, Mukutmanipur has a dam binding the rivers Kangsabati & Kumari & a large reservoir is there. Mukutmanipur is a beautiful picnic spot.

MURSHIDABAD:

230 kms from Kolkata, it was the seat of power of the Nawabs of Bengal which was once governed from this town. A few years later Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula lost to the British at the Battle of Plessey, which ultimately changed the history of India. The Hazarduari Palace or the palace with a thousand doors is the chief tourist attraction of Murshidabad.

PURULIA:

330 kms from Kolkata, Purulia is a land of beauty. The lush green landscape, verdant hills and dense forests make it a perfect tourist destination that gives a rustic ambience and peaceful surroundings to weary city dwellers. The landscape is rocky and undulating. The region is home to different tribal communities like Santhals, Kurmis, Kherias-Sabars to name a few. Purulia is well-known for its masked colourful “Chhau dance”. Melodious “Tusu song” is unique to the region. 45 kms from Purulia, Ayodhya Pahar is a hill which boasts of forest clad hills, beautiful waterfalls, & natural springs.

SHANTINIKETAN:

212 kms from Kolkata, it is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district. It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town – Visva-Bharati University.  It is famous for its fairs and festivals like Poush Mela (December), Joydev Mela (January), Basanta Utsav (Holi) in March and the famous mystic Baul Singers.

For further information please contact Indiatourism Kolkata (Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India), 4 – Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata-700071 Tel: (033)2282-5813/7731/1475 Fax: (033)22823521 Toll Free (24×7) No: 1800-11-1363 or 1363 E: indtour6100@dataone.in Web: www.incredibleindia.org

(Shilpa Bichitra | Special Edition | 2020)