Here are your best options if you are looking for a relaxing break from the chaos of Kolkata. From quiet beach towns to picturesque hill stations, there’s something for everyone on this list of weekend getaways from the City of Joy.
Samsing
Abhijit Kar Gupta /Flickr
This small hillside village located 640 kilometers (398 miles) outside Kolkata is ideal for a long weekend getaway. With rich tea gardens, scenic valleys, dense forests and pristine river waters, Samsing is nothing short of paradise for nature lovers. Come here if you are looking to picnic amidst stunning views of nearby hills and the lush greenery of tea plantations.
Rasikbil
Park
Surrounded by dense forests, this eco-tourist spot is ideal for bird-watching. Located a little more than 450 kilometers (280 miles) outside Kolkata, Rasikbil’s prime attractions remain its lake and adjacent bird sanctuary. The area also features a deer park, a crocodile rehabilitation center, a leopard house, and a tortoise rescue center.
Bakkhali
Rocksmoker 007 / WikiCommons
This quaint seaside village on the southern tip of West Bengal is just about four hours outside Kolkata. Alongside a pristine and quiet beach, Bakkhali is an ideal option for anyone seeking a break by the sea. Along with the well-maintained beach, the area also features a historic Hindu temple—the Bishhalakshmi Temple—as well as a crocodile breeding center.
Mayapur
Hindu Temple
As the birthplace and headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Mayapur is where you should go for a spiritual getaway from Kolkata. Just over 130 kilometers (81 miles) outside the city, this small but buzzing town offers quite a few Hindu temple attractions for you to visit, including the ISKCON temple.
Digha
Aquarium
Awankanch / WikiCommons
One of the state’s most popular beaches, Digha is a guaranteed fun break from Kolkata. A four-hour drive outside the city, the beach town is ideal for quite a few water sports, including parasailing, snorkeling, and water skiing. Other attractions include a century-old Shiva temple and a Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre that showcases the marine biodiversity of the region.
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Chandipur
This peaceful seaside town is host to a peculiar phenomenon—where the sea recedes by as much as five kilometers (3.1 miles) every day, only to return to its original form. About four hours outside Kolkata, this beach is home to incredible marine biodiversity and is an excellent getaway if you are looking for a quieter beach than the popular Digha.
There are few better options for observing wildlife in the region than the famous Sundarbans National Park, under two hours from Kolkata. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as home to the Royal Bengal tiger, the Sundarbans are likely to thrill any visitor. The park offers a number of guided boat cruises, and treks are available to take visitors through the dense forest.
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