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Side Trips : |
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Located on the east bank of the Hoogly, this is the Kali temple where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a priest and where he realized the unity of all religions. Highly revered by the Bengalis, this temple is one of the most popular temples near Kolkata.
Bishnupur
Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as the intricate Balucheri saris, the rare Ganijifa |
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(circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artifacts. It has a rich architecture, music tradition and handicraft legacy of pottery and weaving. Some unique terracotta temples can be found here.
Shanti Niketan
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s university township is a ‘must-go-to’ on any itinerary that plots Bengal as a stopover. Started as an experimental open-air classroom, this university has emerged as a universal centre of knowledge and academic excellence, for students and scholars alike.
Not only is it a place for growth of the mind, it is also a place where several hot springs that are said to cure many chronic diseases are found.
Botanical Gardens
A perfect way to spend an evening in communion with nature. The Botanical gardens are about 8 km from Kolkata on the west bank of Ganga. The highlight of the Gardens is the 200 year old banyan tree, said to be the largest in the world. The tree is 26 m high, spread over 10,000 m² with a 420 m trunk, approximately.
Sunderbans
The name literally means the beautiful forest. Sundarbans is a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest of great size and bio-diversity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (awarded in ’97), Sundarban is a vast area covering 4262 square Kms in India alone, with a larger portion in Bangladesh. 2585 sq. Kms of the Indian Sundarban forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India.
The world's largest estuarine forest in the world, the Sunderbans is the habitat of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, which also houses the estuarine crocodile, wild boar and several varieties of birds and snakes, is within easy reach of Calcutta. This famous Project Tiger Reserve can be approached only via the waterways.
The Sundarbans is inhospitable and dangerous. Dense mangrove forests occupy 56 islands and the rest is under saline water which flows through numerous tidal channels and creeks. It is difficult to approach and even more difficult to spend time in. But for those who dare, it is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth.
Not for those intending to relax…and definitely not for the weak hearted!
Digha
185 km south east of Kolkata is Digha, a popular beach resort with a 6 km long beach, said to be one of the widest in the world. The other popular beach resort of West Bengal, Bakkhali, lies 132 km from the city.
Diamond Harbour
Around 48 km south of Kolkata, is the beautiful Diamond Harbour at the mouth of the river Hooghly. An ideal picnic spot.
Belur Math
Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, which was founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna. The temple, built in 1938, is a mixture of Hindu, Islamic and Christian architectural styles. It is open from October to March from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and 3.30 pm to 6 pm; from April to September from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
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