OFF BEAT PLACES IN WEST BENGAL (TRAVEL GUIDE)

West Bengal is a unique state that has the sea, the river, and the mighty Himalayas! Its varied topography is unique and gives various places to escape for a traveler looking for a change. These offbeat places are unique and underrated and thus you can expect to be away from the hustle, into the wild. So it’s time to jump off the bed and arrange a short trip for 1-2 days to refresh your mind.

RAICHOK

Lately, Raichak, this small town has emerged as a sought-after weekend destination, a drive away from Kolkata, offering a spectacular view of the river Ganges and the 18th century Radisson Fort or the Raichak Fort. Situated at the banks of the river Hooghly, Raichak proves to be a quaint settlement, famous for its serenity and scenery. It is a pleasant destination which gives travelers a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

LOCATION- Nestled on the bank of River Hooghly, Raichak is 15 km from Diamond Harbour and 50 km from Kolkata and acts as a connecting link between Haldia and Kolkata.

HOW TO REACH-

By Bus: Luxury bus ply from Goalpark, Esplanade, which takes directly to Raichak. Fares vary between Rs. 200 to 500 per trip. It is just 2 and a half hours drive by bus.

By Car: Raichak lies at a driving distance from Kolkata. You should drive down the Diamond Harbour Road from Behala in southern Kolkata to reach Sarisha in about 30 minutes and take a right turn just before Diamond Harbour. Raichak is another 5 km from here.

By Train: Train connectivity is there through Howrah station, buses are the direct car is also available from Howrah station

By Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Airport is the nearest airport from where cars or buses are available.

RECOMMENDED STAY-

Raichak Fort and Ganga Kutir are among the famous hotels in Raichak. These five-star hotels provide a magnificent panoramic view of the river at Raichak. MeghBrishti Bari is another awesome and recommended stay in Raichak.

SIMLIPAL

Simlipal, known for its national park and Tiger Reserve, is located in the northern part of the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. Adorned with beautiful flora and fauna, Simlipal derives its name from the Simul Tree of Bengal. The area of Simlipal is the proud claimant of being the largest wildlife sanctuaries of India and in 1973 it became an essential part of the Tiger Project.

The Simlipal National Park is nature’s boon of bio-diversity not only in terms of wildlife but also in faunal diversity. Bordering the Santhal Tribal settlement, Simlipal provides us with a complete ecosystem conducive to floral, faunal, and human habitats. Filled with plateaus, meadows, gushing rivers, waterfalls, and dense forests, this area is nothing less than the gift of nature making it a traveler’s paradise. It was also here that the Mugger Crocodile Scheme was launched in the year 1979. The Simlipal National Park is not only home to the highest tiger population but also elephants, leopards, Sambar, barking deer, and hill mynah along with more than three hundred species of birds and sixty species of reptiles. The heritage trees of Sal and Simulare predominantly found here. Simlipal with its National Park is purely nature’s bliss.

HOW TO REACH-

Simlipal by Air: The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar or Kolkata which are 270 km and 240 km from Simlipal respectively. From the airport, you can hire a private car or a taxi and drive straight down to Simlipal.

Simlipal by Train: Located at a distance of 76 km from Simlipal, the nearest railway station is Balasore. It is well connected with major cities like Kolkata (Howrah), Midnapore, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Hyderabad.

Simlipal by Road: The best way to reach Simlipal is to travel by road. It is roughly a five-hour drive from Kolkata and the roadways are beautiful. The scenic and picturesque beauty of the place is best enjoyed while traveling in a car.

 JHILMILI

 

Kangsabati River flows by the side of this hill which adds to the beauty of this tourist spot. A watch tower is located on the bank of the river. It offers a mind-blowing, panoramic view of the surroundings. You can take an idyllic stroll along the edge of the river or simply sit back and listen to the melodious singing of birds.

Small tribal villages are scattered in and around the forest. Those who wish to get a taste of tribal life can hike to one of the villages and spend some time with the inhabitants. The annual Tusu Parab, a tribal festival worshiping Goddess Tusu is a major attraction in the region. The festival is celebrated every year on the bank of River Kangsabati during mid-January.

 

HOW TO REACH

Trains are running from Howrah, Santragachi, and Shalimar to Bankura. It takes around three and a half hours to reach Bankura by train. Buses are running from Bankura and Mukutmanipur to Jhilimili via Khatra.

RECOMMENDED STAY

Rimil Tourist Lodge. Tariff: Rs. 800-3500. Tel: 8538834031, 9434202485.

TAAJPUR

There are several famous sea beaches in West Bengal, but with fame comes the crowd. The sellers and shops cramp natural marine beauty in places like Digha or Mandarmani. Therefore, if you prefer to relax and rejuvenate your tired soul, Tajpur is the perfect place for this need. It is a well-connected but relatively less explored beach in the East Medinipur district, not very far from Digha.

The serene beach in this place lies across a stretch of bay water from Mandarmani, visible from here. Bereft of the cacophony and chaos, the place is unspoiled and free from the pollution common on the nearby beaches. The road that takes you to this place passes through marshy land, large fishing lakes or “Bheris” on one side, and the sandbanks by the sea on the other side. The patches of forest comprise dense tamarisk and other species of trees which is another major attraction to this place. The coconut-tree-clad beach is a favorite habitat of seagulls who spread their wings to the wind at the break of dawn.

HOW TO REACH

Train:

There is no rail station at Tajpur itself. The nearest two major rail stations are Kanthi P H and Digha Flag Station. From Kanthi P H, an auto-rickshaw can be hired to reach the place. From Digha, the distance is 18 km and it takes around 1 hour to reach by a hired car.

RECOMMENDED STAY

Abasar hotel and resorts

JHARGRAM

Jhargram, is a district in West Bengal that is within 200 km from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. It's around a 4-hour journey making it a perfect destination for a long weekend trip. The road towards Jhargram district along with NH16 is very polished, so road trips are pretty enjoyable, except for traffic. En route, you would enjoy vast stretches of forest area along two sides of the road. Jhargram had a history of unrest, hence we didn't venture out into the forest. The famous Bengali film, "Durgeshgorer Guptodhon", the second part of a detective movie series, Sona Da (Professor Subarna Sen) was shot in Jhargram. You can find glimpses of the Rajbari, and Kanak Durga Temple in the film.

Jhargram Rajbari or The Royal Palace of Jhargram is the current resident of the Malla Deb Royal Family. There is an opportunity to stay in the Royal Palace itself, the rooms on the ground floor are converted into a heritage hotel. The guest house of West Bengal Tourism is just next to the palace and also serves as a great place for accommodation.

There's a Sri Ramkrishna Sharada Peeth Girl's High School, in close proximity to the palace grounds, which has more than 2k students. It also has a residential wing. There's an ashram inside the school compound, which can be visited for some self-reflection.

HOW TO REACH

Jhargram is 176 km from Kolkata. Roughly it a 4-hour drive by car or motorcycle.

RECOMMENDED STAY

Jhargram Raj Palace