Weekend Getaway spots near Kolkata

Festive season is here! How about planning a Getaway weekend trip to some of the most interesting and beautiful places near Kolkata? We’ve a list of them- the best part about these places is they are easy to access and are a rich visual as well as informative treat for the tourists/visitors. Let’s have a quick look!

1Mayapur – For a Spiritual Trip

Mayapur- one of the main of the nine islands of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dham Nabadwip. Surrounded by holy shrines and temples this  place will give you utmost peace and solace. Amid the daily mundane life and chaos sometimes all you need is to be around positivity and spiritual healing and when it comes to these two things you can blindly go for this place. Well, one of the major glories of Mayapur is the holiest of all places in India, Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple of ISKCON which attracts tourists from not only India but also the rest of the world.

Places to visit in Mayapur: Chandrodaya Temple; Samadhi of Prabhupada; Shree Chaitanyamath

Things to do: Visit ISKCON to connect with God or for spiritual fulfilment

2Bishnupur

Dwell in the artistic vibe over the weekend when you plan a trip to Bishnupur from Kolkata. From ancient terracotta temples with intricate architecture to the world famous ‘Baluchari’ sarees – this place will make you wonder and go through the pages of history. One of the most interesting things about this place are the beautiful Terracotta tiles that make up most of the place and depicts stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Interesting, isn’t it? It really is something to experience at least once in a lifetime and once you have been here you cannot help but visit this epitome of rich culture and heritage again and again.

Places to visit in Bishnupur:The top attractions to visit in Bishnupur are Rasmancha, Shyamrai Temple, Jorebangla Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, Dalmadal Kaman Canon

Things to do: Spent the day exploring the stunning terracotta temples and don’t forget to buy their famous Baluchari sarees.

3Tajpur

Are you a Beach person? Then this is the place for you to be this weekend! Also known as the Virgin sea beach around Kolkata, Tajpur has a lot of amazing experiences to offer. It’s a beautiful space, surrounded with patches of forests by the sea shore, undoubtedly a visual treat for the travellers. Also, red crabs are said to be found during the daytime, making parts of the shore look like a red carpet. There’s always something about sunsets at the beaches – and Tajpur is no exception. Witness the beautiful sunset, as it colours the horizons in shades of red and orange giving you those perfect vibes for a beach getaway near Kolkata. .

Places to Visit in Tajpur: One can visit other near-by beaches like Mandarmoni, Shankarpur and Junput, and of course the famous Digha

Things to do: Water sports & Paragliding

It’s a classic life-affirming escapade but with the unbeatable adrenaline rush of freefall paired with the world unfolding beneath you, it’s not hard to see why. Skydiving taps into the innate human desire to experience flight and serves as proof that life’s all about stepping out of our comfort zone.

4Shantiniketan

The land of art, poetry and literature. The land of Kabiguru. Famous worldwide for the renowned Visva Bharati University founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921 this place holds an aura of rich art & literature. If you are a person who loves nature and poetry then this is a great place for you. Being in Shantiniketan gives you a sense of familiarity and closeness to your own culture and art. In fact tourists from all over the world come here to experience this charm and indulge in the aura. Not only that, students worldwide come down to Shantiniketan to live here and study music, art and literature. As you walk by the Visva Bharati University campus you’ll be able to understand the diverse and captivating aura this place holds. Also, do not forget to spend an evening by the beautiful Kopai Nadi- the one which Tagore has written a poem on. 

Places to Visit in Shantiniketan:Visit Kankalitala (9 km), one of the 51 Shaktipeeths and Nanur (13 km), the birthplace of the 14th century poet Chandidas

Things to do: Tagore Museum, art galleries. You could also attend the Poush Mela and Basanta Utsav

5Sundarban

An adventurous weekend awaits you as you visit the Sundarbans, surrounded by rich flora and fauna, this place is an experience to cherish for a lifetime. One of the major reasons tourists visit this place is to spot the famous Royal Bengal Tiger that is almost at the verge of being extinct. Other than that, it also houses a number of endangered species like estuarine Crocodile, River dolphin and many more. This place is known to be one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. You can avail various options to explore this place like ferry, boats and the other local means of transport. One of the best times to visit this place is during the months of September and May. If you visit in the winters you can literally sight the sun-bathing Royal Bengal Tigers on the River banks. Goosebumps already? So why wait, plan a weekend getaway to the Sundarbans and take a step closer to nature.

Places to visit in Sundarbans: Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower; Sajnekhali Watch Tower; Bhagabatpur Crocodile Sanctuary

Things to do: Visit Sajnekhali watch tower to watch wildlife, spend a full day and night in Boat in the midst of Matla River

by Antara Mukherjee

Content Writer at Things2do