weekend destination near Kolkata- Top 10 getaways from Kolkata

Top 10 Weekend Destination from Kolkata

West Bengal is distinctive among other Indian states which stretch from Himalaya to the sea. While traveling to Kolkata visiting the weekend destination from Kolkata is a must. Kolkata being the capital holds a list of weekend destinations from Kolkata to other places. Bengal holds an exceptional array of landscapes and cultures ranging from small hills to highest mountain in the world, to the vast mangrove swamps and man-eating royal Bengal tigers Bengal has it all.

Kolkata being the capital of Bengal presents us with few popular weekend getaways or visiting places from Kolkata. some of them are.

1.Bakkhali

Bakkhali is a famous weekend destination from Kolkata. It is a village within the authority of the Namkhana station Kakdwip subdivision of the south 24 Parganas district in the Indian State of West Bengal. It has a 7km long beach stretching from Bakkali to Frasergunj, a twin beach, with mildly rolling waves. Also, the beach is not that crowded therefore, it is the best place for those who don’t like crowds too much.

Things to do

once in Bakkhali, you can visit the following places.

Henry’s island- The place derives its name from a British explorer in the 19th century. The red fiddler crabs dotting the shore can be seen here. Tourists enjoy the recline and desolate beach.

Jambu Dweep- This island remains submerged in water for some months of the year. Here different species of water birds can be seen and the Dweep is covered by mangrove trees.

Fraserganj wind park- This parked is name after Lord Fraser, a British official who resided in this area. This is one of the well-known tourist spots.

Bishalakshmi temple- It is a little-known Hindu temple on Bakkhali beach.

Crocodile Breeding Centre- It is the only crocodile reservation park in west Bengal.

Best time to visit

Bakkhali can be visited in summer, monsoon, or Winter.

The expense of the trip

One needs to cover 125km to travel to Bakkhali from Kolkata. Both trains and buses are available to reach there.

You can directly reach Bakkhali by bus which charges Rs.91 per head from Dharmatala, Kolkata.

One can reach Namkhana, which is the nearest station by unreserved train that takes Rs.25 per head, you can also reserve the seat in Tatkal which takes extra charges.

From station one need to hire a van to reach the bus stand, which takes Rs.10/head from there you can avail buses for Bakhali which takes Rs.17/head.

2.Tajpur

Tajpur is a famous weekend destination near Kolkata. It is a small town set on the reposeful shore of Bay of Bengal, just 170km from Kolkata. It is 16km away from Digha. This beach is blessed with an inverted crescent shape that offers a sweeping view of the sea. It is one of the hidden beach destinations of India. Tajpur’s main attraction is its beautiful beach that is lined with the dense tamarisk trees. The sand is being covered by the Red crabs during day time. During the break of dawn, you will get to observe the chaotic yet lovely dissonance of the seagull here on the beach.

Things to do

The beach has a variety of adventure activities such as snorkeling, Kayaking, parasailing, Coastal biking, boating and fishing, and many others.

You can also pay a visit to fisherman villages nearby for getting the experience of the life of the locals and interact with them.

If you are a food lover then the beach will become a paradise for you as it offers amazing seafood, with chilled beer.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit here is October to February.

A distance of places near Tajpur

Digha is located 7km away from Tajpur

Mandarmani is just 19km from Tajpur beach

The distance between Shankarpur and Tajpur is only 7km

The expense of the trip

The distance between Kolkata and Tajpur is 180km, you can avail both train and bus. Tajpur is near Digha therefore any bus going to Digha can drop you to Balisai, which is 15 minutes away from the Tajpur beach. A train going to Digha can also be another option. After reaching Digha Station one has to go to the Digha bus stand and take a bus for Tajpur.

The Kolkata to Balisai bus fare is approx. Rs155/head

The train fare is approx. Rs.100/head.

3.Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan is a famous weekend destination near Kolkata Birbhum district. It is 212km away from Kolkata. Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore built a house here and named it Shantiniketan which means Abode of Peace. If you are the one who is interested in our history and heritage then this small town will be best for your weekend trip.

Things to do

The Tagore House- it is the best place to visit if you want to glance into how the great writer went about navigating the trials of daily life. The house was built in an old Bengali style so it is great to watch the artwork details. You can also talk to the natives about the wonderful beauties of the places.

Amar kutir- it is a history museum with original antiquity on display. It houses numerous products, lac made, very colorful, and mostly for clothing or home décor.

The Rabindra Bharati Museum- Here you will get the art collection of Rabindranath Tagore. You will get to see the song collections poetry and written documents of him. There is a manuscript as well. There you will find all the Tagore collection.

Chhatimtala – Constructed for the practice of the art of meditation, which is still done today. This is the place to submerge oneself in prayer and feel the soul of Tagore.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit there is between July and February.

How to reach

There is no direct train to reach Santiniketan. You have to first reach Bolpur by train and from there Santiniketan is 2 km away.

4.Sundarbans

The Sundarbans filled with mangrove in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal.it comprises closed and open mangrove forests, agriculturally used land, mudflats, and barren land, and is intersected by multiple tidal streams channels.it is the best place for a weakened tour for the people who are wildlife lovers as well as nature lovers. The embouchure of the Sundarbans makes it a unique and must place for visit. This is a famous weekend destination near Kolkata has to offer several things to its tourists.

Activities to try around Sundarbans national park

This go-to destination certainly has a unique approach, with land and water along with multiple islands. Here you can find various species found in Sundarbans such as saltwater crocodiles, hawksbill turtle, river dolphins, Bengal tigers, and many more. You can also take a boat safari in Sundarbans national park. By boat safari, you can also spot river dolphins.

Not all of the species is visible while doing boat tour. To watch all the species, you should visit the watch tours built on different islands of Sundarbans.

Best time to visit

September to March is the best month to visit Sundarbans.

How to reach Sundarbans

Canning railway station is the nearest railhead from Sunderbans. It is 48km away from Sundarbans the Taxi fare is about Rs.1000. Canning station is connected by regular passenger and express to Kolkata and Howrah which is nearly 100 km away from Sunderbans.

5.Mandarmani

Mandarmani is a seaside resort village in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of Bay of Bengal. Here you can see lots of red crab crawling over the sand during day time. Mandarmani beach is truly an offbeat beach for spending your weekend and its calm atmosphere will take you one step closer to nature. On the beach, one can get the chance to feel the godliness and peace. The serene fishing village also offers the best sunrise and sunset views. It is not so crowded place therefor it is the best place for you to refresh and release your work stress.

Things to do

The beach offers you many activities like banana boat rides, jet skilling, and surfing. Even boating is very popular here. Mandarmani beach is the longest beach in the country. Tourists also enjoy driving on the beach. If you are a food lover you can visit the stalls along the beach which provides you tasty plates of seafood. Small shops of dry fruits are also there on the sides of the beach during day time from where one can shops dry fruits also.

Best time to visit Mandarmani

The best time to visit Mandarmani is October – May. The weather is pleasant throughout this month.

How to reach

Mandarmani can be reached from all major cities of the country. The roadway is the best place to reach this place. Contai and Digha is the nearest rail station of Mandarmani. It is 151 km from Kolkata.

6.Mayapur

Mayapur, previously known as Miyapur is a place situated adjacent to Nabadwip, at the confluence of two rivers, where the waters of the river Jalangi mix with the Ganga. It is located in the Nadia district. It is the holiest of all places in entire India. Those who love to visit holy places to make their soul calm this destination is perfect for them.

Things to do

Iskcon Chandrodaya Temple-Iskcon temple is a religious site for Hindus as well as other religions. God Krishna is worshiped here. Over 650 temples are established by the international society of Krishna consciousness. Sri Prabhupada is the founder of the ISKCON temple. Many devotees come here from abroad and spent the rest of their life here. You can see many foreigners drawing rangoli and performing at the entrance of the temple. It is mesmerizing to watch them singing lord Krishna’s song. Whether you are the worshippers of Lord Krishna or not it is the must-visit weakened destination to discover and to take the feel of this magical atmosphere.

Yoga peeth- Here the yoga and meditation are practiced. The temple is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sri Chaitanya math, Chand Kazi,s Samadhi  Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math are some other places you can visit there.

Best time to visit

An ideal time to visit is in October – November and February- March.

How to reach

It takes around 3hours to reach Nabadwip Dham from Howrah. Kolkata to Nabadwip Dham train Fare is Rs.500/head.

7.Mukutmanipur

If you are boring from your daily life and want to spend some time in the lap of nature then Mukutmanipur is the perfect destination for you to spend the weekend. In a very short time, you can refresh your mind between the vast bluish tract of water surrounded by the green forest and the hillocks. It is a perfect place for the couple, silence long walk in the cold breeze air will make you and your partner happy and stress-free. This is a famous weekend destination near Kolkata has to offer several things to its tourists.

Mukutmanipur sightseen

You can visit following tourist places there

Parasnath hills(Mukutmanipur Pahar)

Kangsabati Dam

Ambikanagar

Deer park

Best time to visit

The best time to visit here is in October and March.

How to reach

From Howrah, station trains are available to the nearest railway station Bankura. From Bankura, lots of public buses are available to Mukutmanipur via Khatra.

8.Bankura

Bankura is the headquarter of the district Bishnupur. A popular weekend destination near Kolkata  You can spend your weekend here by exploring the wide range of arts and architecture, terracotta temples, dense virgin forests, and hills.

Things to do

Susunia hill- it is one of the famous tourist spots due to its flora and fauna. It is situated at an altitude of 1442 feet. If you enjoy doing trekking and camping you can visit here. There is a stone named Narasimha stone which has a curved monolith structure on the hill and is known as the oldest stone. The vast spread of greenery helps to beat the summer heat. You can relax your body and mind after visiting this place.

Joyrambati- it is the birthplace of Sree Sarada Devi whom we all know as a holy mother. There are several temples to visit there.

Hadal Narayanpur- it is located on the bank of the Bodai river. It is famous for its Terracotta temple.

Biharinath hill- it is the tallest hill in this region. it is situated 57km from Bankura.

Bishnupur-it is famous for its terracotta temple and baluchari sarees. It is 34km from Bankura.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Bankura is during November, December, and January.

How to reach

There are 7 trains from Kolkata to Bankura. The train takes almost 3hours and 35 minutes to reach Bankura. Also, the train from Kolkata to Bankura is Rs.105 in the second seater and Rs.1255 in First AC and Rs.90 in general.

9.Kamarpukur

Kamarpukur a popular weekend destination near Kolkata is situated in the Goghat -II community development blog. It falls under the Arambag subdivision of the Hooghly District. It is famous as it is the birthplace of Sri Ramkrishna. For refreshing yourself spiritually and bring back the concentration one can visit here in the short weekend.

Things to do

You can visit places like

Kamarpukur Ramakrishna Math –  Built by the monk in 1951. The temple is 45feet high and has a marble statue of Sri Ramakrishna. Tourists and believers come here in search of peace.

Gopeshwar temple – is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Multiple believers gather together to worship lord shiv.

Matri Mandir –  Believed that Ma Sarada born here. The temple had a marble statue of Ma Sarada. Matri Mandir is open to the visitors from 4 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 8 pm on all days.

Talpukur Tank – Situated near Simhavahini Temple. Visitors allowed to have a bath in this sacred water.

Best time to visit

You can visit here almost all season.

How to reach

One has to avail train from Howrah to Tarakeshwar which costs Rs.95 approx. for a 1-hour 23minutes journey. From there you have to take a taxi or cab to reach Kamarpukur.

10.Jhargram

Jhargram is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of West Bengal. One who loves to explore the forest, ancient temples, and royal palaces can visit this place on a weekend. It is a paradise for nature lovers.

Things to do

You can enjoy the folk dances of tribal peoples like saotals, Mundas, Bhumjis coexist there.

one may visit the Jhargram Royal palace to know the history.

Also, visit a historical palace name Chilkigarh. It is the main tributary of the subernarekha.

do visit the mini zoo of Jhargram to enjoy the wildlife.

Belpahari is a forest paradise under ta Dolma hills which are 45km away from Jhargram.

Best time to visit

It is August and October are the supreme month to visit Jhargram.

How to reach

One can avail Ispat Express for Rs 345/head from Kolkata which takes 2hours 14minutes to reach Jhargram.

To conclude, you can definitely plan a short and ideal trip accordingly inside west Bengal if you don’t have much time in your hand. And explore the weekend gateways bucket list from the hustle-bustle of Kolkata.