Holidays are on and everyone likes to enjoy traveling in these days. Due to the paucity of time, most of people plan to visit only on weekends. In such a situation, if you want, you can choose Kolkata. It would not be wrong if Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is called the heart of the country. Once upon a time Kolkata used to be the capital of the country. Even today it has the distinction of being called the cultural capital of India. Kolkata is famous as the 'The City of Joy' where you can enjoy roaming freely. Today in this episode, we are going to give you information about major places near Kolkata which attract tourists with their natural beauty, history, art, and culture. Let's know about these places...
Sundarbans
About 109 km from Kolkata, it is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Sundarbans are known for the royal Bengal tigers, waterways, and aquatic species. A large part of the mangroves has been converted into a national park. The Sundarbans National Park is accessible only via boat to Sajnekhali Island, which is the gateway to the national park. You can take wildlife boat safaris in Sundarbans National Park as the tiger reserve has islands, waterways, creeks, and canals. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an ideal place to enjoy wildlife. Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary near Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is the best place for bird-watching. The flora of the forest includes Sundari trees which give the forest its name. There are about 30,000 spotted deer and about 400 royal Bengal tigers in the forest.
Bishnupur
It is 140 kilometers away from Kolkata. The historic city of Bishnupur used to be the capital of the Hindu Mallabhum kingdom established in the 8th century. This dynasty used to be the most important dynasty of Bengal in ancient times. You will see old fortifications around this city and there are more than a dozen temples here, which you can visit. Bishnupur is a city in Bankur district in West Bengal, India. It is famous for its terracotta temples Malla Sri Krishna Rasleela and Balusheri Sarees.
Mayapur
If you are bored with the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and want a calmer environment, then you can visit Mayapur. The spiritual atmosphere here calms the mind and leaves you feeling completely refreshed. Mayapur, situated on the banks of the Hooghly and Jalangi rivers, is famous as the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. A grand temple has been built here by ISKCON, which is considered to be the main attraction. People come from far and wide to see it, including both devotees and tourists.
Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan is a beautiful tourist destination located at a distance of about 164 km from Kolkata. It is famous for Visva Bharati University established by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Shantiniketan has developed into a city and has become a famous tourist destination near Kolkata. The university has the concept of open-air education. The university has many beautiful paintings, murals, frescoes, and sculptures by Binod Bihari Mukhopadhyay, Nandlal Bose, and Rabindranath Tagore. There are five buildings in the Uttarayan Complex, which are heritage buildings. This is the compound where Tagore lived. It now houses a museum and an art gallery. The best time to visit Shantiniketan is during festivals and fairs like Basant Utsav in March, Joydev Mela in January, and Poush Mela in December. During these events, renowned Baul singers will enthrall you with their performances. Shantiniketan is also a center for traditional handicrafts such as batik, pottery, weaving, and embroidery.
Digha
If you want to enjoy the beach near Kolkata, you can head to Digha. It would be surprising to know that it is also called Goa of Bengal. Actually, due to the presence of the Bay of Bengal, the people of Bengal enjoy the sea very well. Here the sea remains calm and tourists go for a swim while admiring the natural beauty. It is divided into two parts New Digha and Old Digha. Just 185 km from Kolkata. The distance of Digha can be covered even on a day trip but it would be better if you spend a weekend. There is another beach, Mandarmani, about 160 km from Kolkata, which has become very popular in recent years. These beaches are one of the favorite places, especially for lovers.
Barrackpore
Barrackpore, 30 km from Kolkata, was at the center of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. There are many places to visit in this historical city like Shivshakti Annapurna Temple, a replica of Dakshineswar Kali Temple. This 700 year old Kali temple was the meeting place of freedom fighters. Shaheed Mangal Pandey Udyan, a garden named after freedom fighter Mangal Pandey, is located in Barrackpore. Some of the most popular activities here include picnicking and boat rides on the Ganges River. Apart from the garden, the Vijayanta Memorial is also popular among tourists. Gandhi Museum or Gandhi Memorial Museum is one of the research centers of India. The museum has five galleries, a study center, and a huge library. The Gandhi Museum houses a vast collection of photographs and personal items of the Mahatma. Jawaharlal Nehru Garden is popular among tourists for its peace and tranquility, which makes it an ideal picnic spot.
Gateway
The Hazaradwari Palace is situated in Murshidabad district, about 230 km from Kolkata. It was built by the Nawab of Bengal in the 19th century. It is known from its name that it will have a thousand gates. Please tell me that there are a thousand gates in this palace, but only 100 are real gates, the rest 900 gates are fake. Turning history, it is known that it was specially designed for the safety of the Nawab so that even if an unknown enemy enters the palace, he will be confused by seeing so many doors. Nowadays it has been kept under the supervision of the Archaeological Department of India. You can dive into Nawabi's history by visiting Hazardwari.
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