While Kolkata promises some of the most cosmopolitan experiences that India has to offer, the surrounding countryside also has a few aces up its sleeve. If you’re passing through the metropolis and have a few days to spare, you can take your pick from vibrant cultural hubs, scenic beaches, fascinating colonial history, and nature reserves teeming with wildlife in the waterlogged Sunderbans delta. Whichever you pick, you’ll appreciate Kolkata all the more after dipping into its rural heartland.
Find Poetry and Peace at Shantiniketan
A gentle, tree-shaded town in the heart of pastoral Bengal, cultured Shantiniketan (‘Abode of Peace’ in Bengali) is famed as the home of the Visva Bharati University, an institution promoting liberal arts and humanities founded by poet, artist, and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore in 1901. Many of the state’s musical, literary and fine arts movements trace their origins to Shantiniketan, and the university’s alumni include some of the best-known figures in Indian literature, classical music, and modern art.
Consequently, a day trip from Kolkata offers fascinating insights into India’s creative and intellectual spirit. Learn more about the town’s institutional heritage in the excellent museum at the Uttarayan Complex, where Tagore once lived and wrote much of his poetry (reading the Nobel-prize winning Gitanjali before you visit is highly recommended).
Getting There: To get to Shantiniketan, hop on to one of the many trains departing from Kolkata’s Howrah Station (approximately three hours). Consider staying at Mitali Homestay, known for its fabulous food and friendly hosts, or at Park Guest House, located in a charming tribal village bordering the university campus.
Cruise up the Hooghly
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, at the height of India’s colonial era, the Hooghly River served as a vital conduit for European trading companies operating administrative and warehousing outposts upstream from Kolkata. Made rich by cargoes of jute, indigo, textiles, and spices, these towns flourished as miniature versions of their parent countries but fell into decay in the 20th century in the wake of Indian Independence.
Spread over just a few kilometres, this cluster of towns—often referred to as ‘Little Europe’—still has a few relics from the past that are worth exploring. In Chandarnagar, you can visit French creations such as the Cultural Institut de Chandarnagar and the Eglise du Sacre Coeur Cathedral.
Founded by the Portuguese, the nearby settlement of Bandel, now part of the town of Hooghly, is home to the 17th-century Basilica of the Holy Rosary, and the Imambara, a Shia Muslim congregational hall commissioned by an 18th-century philanthropist. Serampore, a former Danish post, boasts the Serampore College founded in 1818, which houses one of India’s largest college libraries. Additionally, these towns offer a fantastic glimpse of the gentle pace of life outside the Bengali capital, and you can visit all three in a single day.
Getting There: Trains to Bandel and Hooghly run from Kolkata’s Howrah station, and you can explore the surrounding area by chartered autorickshaw.
Seek Sun, Sand, and Seafoam at Mandarmani
Featuring the best sands within easy reach of Kolkata, Mandarmani is a quaint fishing village on the wave-lapped Bengal coastline. With a pristine beach that stretches almost 15km, the village has seen some development and tourism-related construction, but it still promises enough serenity for you to consider spending a weekend here.
Moreover, take a morning walk along the seashore, and you’ll witness fishing boats pulling in and unloading their marine catches, while countless colonies of sand bubbler crabs paint the beach in red motifs. You can even purchase fresh-caught delicacies directly from the fishermen and carry them back to your lodge, where friendly kitchen staff will prepare them for lunch. Alternatively, simply order a chilled beer from one of the low-key resorts and enjoy the sweeping sea views.
Getting There: The 180km journey from Kolkata to Mandarmani can be covered in about four hours. Catch an early morning train departing Howrah Station for Digha, then take a taxi from there. Sana Beach offers the best accommodations in the village, complete with a swimming pool and bar.
Explore Bishnupur’s Terrific Temples
The ornate terracotta temples of Bishnupur are among Bengal’s most celebrated archaeological wonders. Built in the classic ‘Bengali hut’ style, most of these graceful structures date from the 16th to the 19th centuries, when the ruling Malla dynasty constructed them to honor Lord Krishna, consequently earning the town the name, ‘City of Krishna’.
You can easily spend an entire day (if not two) wandering through the town and admiring these glorious shrines. The most notable structures include the Ras Mancha, Jor Bangla, Madan Mohan Temple, and Shyam Rai Temple, each adorned with intricate panels depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Don’t forget to stop for shopping along the way to pick up some of the town’s famed Baluchari silk saris and terracotta horses.
Getting There: Bishnupur can be conveniently reached by an early-morning train from Kolkata’s Howrah station (approximately four hours). The state-run Bishnupur Tourist Lodge is your best option for an overnight stay.
Here There Be Tigers
Crocodiles in the water; tigers on dry land. So goes a popular Bengali proverb describing a no-win situation, originating from the bleak and inhospitable landscape of the Sunderbans. Spanning over 2585 sq km, this waterlogged network of saltwater channels and mangrove forests constitutes the world’s largest river delta, where the Ganges meets the sea along with four other mighty rivers. The Sunderbans is also home to one of the largest surviving populations of Royal Bengal tigers.
Around 100 of these predators stalk the impenetrable jungles, hunting for deer and other wildlife, yet sometimes clashing with villagers and their livestock. The shallow channels also harbor a different threat—poisonous snakes and ferocious saltwater crocodiles, some growing up to 20 feet in length. Accessible via boat trips departing from Godkhali, this represents India’s wilderness at its most savage.
Getting There: While most of the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve remains off-limits for safety reasons (and to protect the wildlife), safe areas are accessible to visitors on guided trips. Reputed and knowledgeable tour operators, including Backpackers, Help Tourism, or Sunderban Tiger Camp, offer convenient pick-up and drop services from Kolkata. Alternatively, you can arrange a boat and guide at Godkhali, which is accessible by train and bus from Kolkata via the small town of Canning.
