In the land of terracotta temples Rajnagar holds a pleasant surprise. This quaint little town is home to the mosque that boasts of terracotta embellishments which can give competition to some of the best temple art in Bengal. According to some historians, Rajnagar, near the Bengal-Jharkhand border, was the oldest capital of Hindu rulers in […]
In the 16th century, Rajbalhat was the bustling capital of the Bhursut kingdom, which was spread across the present Howrah and Hooghly districts. Five centuries later, it is an undistinguished town in Hooghly’s Jangipara, known locally for its fascinating terracotta temples. The 16th-century temple housing the idol of Devi Rajballavi, after whom Rajbalhat is named, […]
Nature fills up human senses at Nameri. The national park at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including tiger, elephant, leopard, bison, sambar, hog deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, capped langur and giant squirrel. However, spotting wildlife in the dense jungle is difficult. A plethora […]
Century-old temples adorned with wood carvings and boat-making workshops, which are just as old, make Sripur a wonderful destination for a day trip. Europeans, who had made Bengal their trade and administrative hub in their colonial pursuits, realized that they would need an indigenous ship-building industry. Taking advantage of the increasing river trade by the […]
When the Kolkata summer begins in right earnest and the sun is without mercy, it’s probably a good idea to spend a weekend trekking through forests of rhododendron, with a chill wind rustling through the trees and a gorgeous view of Mount Kanchenjunga in the distance. Such is the experience of Tumling, a small settlement […]
Kalimpong, nestled at an altitude (1250m) lower than that of Darjeeling town (2134m), has its own charm, and is ideal for a short weekend trip after being tired of the hustle and bustle of city life. On a clear morning, we can feast our eyes on the elusive Mt. Kanchenjungha. Spending three days in an […]
If you love your tea, enjoy greenery around you and want to spend your holiday tucked away in solitude, Zurrantee is an ideal place for you. This tea estate near Chalsa in Dooars is a revelation, to say the least! Zurrantee has its own heritage resort in the middle of a vast tea plantation, making […]
There’s no way Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary in Nadia can be counted as a major forest of West Bengal. This name comes as a small footnote in the long list of forests that are often visited by tourists to enjoy wildlife and nature. But a trip to this small forest can make the weekend most memorable. […]
Want to experience the beauty of hills, forests, rivers and waterfalls on a single weekend? Then BarsuanValley on the Jharkhand-Odisha border is an ideal place The almost-five-hour train journey from Rourkela to the Barsuan mines, through the hills and the Saranda forest, provides the glimpses of the beauty. The leaves of teak and other trees […]
If anyone prefer for a temple tour within Bengal, Bishnupur is an ideal place. One of the Malla kings, Jagat Malla, is said to have built a temple of goddess Mrinmoyee and shifted the capital of Mallabhum here in 995. The Malla kingdom became a hub of the Vaishnab culture once the 49th Malla king, Bir […]
This summer, Jhallong can be a perfect destination for those who want to explore nature up close and seek solitude amid hills, forest and river. This township near the India-Bhutan border is some 105km from Siliguri. After reaching New Jalpaiguri station via train from Calcutta, a car can be hired to reach the destination. Early […]
Dhole Samudra is a vast waterbody bordered on all sides by a green cover of sal, piyal and akashmoni. Considered to be a morass created many years ago, this 200-acre lake looks like a miniature sea in the heart of a forest. It has become popular among the locals as Dhole Samudra. This little oasis is […]
Willing to take a trip to the north Bengal mountains but not amid the crowd of tourists in Darjeeling? Then Lepchajagat is an ideal destination. Lepchajagat i.e. the land of the Lepchas is picturesque and green and offers one of the best views of the Kanchenjunga. The weather gods willing, the breathtaking snow-capped peak is […]
Bengal is the land of terracotta temples. The better known ones are in Bishnupur, Aatpur, Bansberia, Guptipara and Kalna. The hundreds of other terracotta temples, spread across villages in south Bengal, also have much to offer to visitors. The Rajrajeshwar temple at Kotalpur in Jangipara block of Hooghly is an excellent example. The temple has […]
Around 18km from Purulia town, on the banks of the Kangsabati river, stands Deulghata, a wonderful place to explore on a spring weekend. The settlement owes its name to its deul-styled temples, inspired by Jainism that once had a firm foothold in the region. In 1870, British engineer John Beglar conducted a survey of the archaeological […]
A solitary abandoned temple steeped in history towers over the village called Banda near Raghunathpur in Purulia. An incomplete masterpiece, the temple of Banda is worth a visit, especially for those interested in the history of Bengal. As no inscription stone or plaque has been found outside the temple, it is almost impossible to figure […]
Temple tourism in Bengal revolves around terracotta structures but there is at least one temple made of laterite stone that matches the best in architectural skill. Located at Gokulnagar, a small village near Salda town in Bankura district, the large stone structure, with an even larger natmandir, is a treasure trove for who love history. The […]
Steeped in folklore and nurtured by the Damodar, Boalia in Howrah district is a typical Bengal village. The Damodar here is wide and full of currents. It flows past Garchumuk to meet the Hoogly and the Rupnarayan near Gadiara. One can take a boat ride across the river. A 60-year-old Kali temple and a burning ghat by […]
