Want to spend a day or two far away from the madding crowd? Here is the perfect destination for you, only 4 hours drive from Kolkata you will reach an air-conditioned traditional cottage at Santiniketan, Bolpur, India.
Ekantika Cottage is looked after by a relative of one of the families who took care of Shantiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore.
It’s a fully air-conditioned traditional hut in closeness to the university grounds among Sriniketan and Shantiniketan. Interesting that this comfortable spot was begun by a family exceptionally near Rabindranath Tagore and who was one of nine families to have worked with Rabindranath Tagore to do crafted by Shantiniketan.
Acclaimed social activist Nabakumar Mukhopadhyay child Priyam Mukherjee and his wife, Ritapa — another notable Rabindrasangeet artist — take care of the bungalow now.
The accommodation comprises of one room with five beds (an additional bed can be given on the off chance that you are six individuals). The room has a connected dressing unit and restroom, just as a very much supplied library with books on Tagore, music, verse, and expressions just as fiction. The charges are INR 3,500 every day for three individuals, including breakfast. Additional beds can be accommodated INR 750 each.
The cottage serves traditional Bengali cuisine made with local produce served as a “Thali” which are charged separately at moderate rates for in-house guests.
Thik chholar dal, begun pora, posto bhapa, mangshor jhol, jhingey posto, ilisher doi ombol, sobjir tok and that’s just the beginning. Everything is filled in as a thali — they have a few veg and non-veg choices. For example, the fish thali will have two nearby fish arrangements, two uncommon vegetable dishes, dal, bhaaja and a teto dish, and chaatni/mishti. In the event that you need lamb, do tell them ahead of time.
Details below:
Veg Thali: Rs. 130 per person
Egg Thali: Rs 150 per person
Fish Thali: Rs. 275 per person
Chicken Thali: Rs. 250 per person
Mutton Thali: Rs. 350 per person
Breakfast up to 5 guests + 1 kid (up to 5 yrs) Complimentary
The most ideal approach to arrive is to take a train. There are numerous that withdraw from Howrah station, for example, the Shantiniketan Express. It requires around three hours to get to Bolpur. From that point, you can take one of the auto-rickshaw or recruit a vehicle.
No gatherings or occasions allowed after 12 PM (noon). This is a home offered to the visitors.
There is another homestay at the same campus called Nababithika, which can accommodate 8 persons for INR 8500 with additional service charges.
Plan a royal short road trip from Kolkata during this Pandemic
Covid pandemic has made our life quite monotonous and boring. Life has become full of uncertainties.
Despite the fact that we may, in any case, be a long way from going on the ideal vacation that we all hope to take in this new normal, the unwinding of lockdown limitations and the speculative declaration by the central government that hotels and restaurants can open from June 8 has got everybody energized. Despite the fact that the hospitality sector is quick to see business, they are likewise working out the new guidelines of security, cleanliness, and distancing norms prior to opening up.
Homestay or resort owners said they will simply open to a predetermined number of visitors and follow all applicable conventions including temperature checking, regular sanitization, maintaining social distancing, keeping collaboration among staff and visitors to the base, and guaranteeing staff follows all compulsory insurances like wearing masks and gloves.
Just to break away from this boredom, plan a short road trip and unwind yourself to start afresh.
A 400-year-old house of the previous zamindar family, presently changed over to a legacy homestay named Baithakkhana Amadpur. Set back from the modest community of Amadpur (close to Memari in Purba Bardhaman area), it is a solitary structure doing very well on the bank of a huge lake, which is surrounded by mango plantations and different trees. While away your time in the open rooms fronted by similarly enormous verandas. Wooden rafters, louvered windows, and period furniture mirror the mood of old Bengali zamindar houses. Watch the cormorants and different flying creatures fluttering over the lake. There is a little ‘ghat’ prompting the water where you can appreciate the windy night hours. Remember to request that the concoct stir a run of the mill Bengali dinner for you, particularly his unmistakable dishes made with ‘posto’ (poppy seeds). As per proprietor Shiladitya Chaudhuri, they intend to open to little family gatherings and with 60% inhabitance.
Estimated distance from Kolkata and driving time (normal traffic): 100km and two hours.
Implicit the late eighteenth century, this rambling home (in Maheshganj, close to Krishnagar, in Nadia locale) with its French-style house fronted by a pretty nursery and encompassed by sections of land of gently lush grounds, was initially worked as a home of an Indigo grower. Purchased by the Palchoudhuri family (a settled Bengali vendor family) in 1875, they have held the old tradition of the house. Access to the heritage homestay lies through a long driveway that sequesters the estate from the surrounding area. The enormous rooms loaded up with period furniture lie aside of a long veranda drew nearer by a wide marble flight of stairs. Send your time in the midst of nature, watch the birds at their showers, go for long strolls around the mansion, sit with a book or just swing endlessly. With vegetables, milk, and natural products from their own nursery, you are guaranteed solid suppers. As per the current proprietor Ranodhir Palchoudhuri, the estates now have their own arrangement of exacting standards and will follow all basic conventions when they open.
Approximate distance from Kolkata and driving time (normal traffic): 120km and 3.5 hours.
This wonderfully reestablished legacy mansion of Indo-European engineering fittingly considered the Cossimbazar Roy’s Palace sits in a rambling home speckled with trees, bloom gardens, yards, a tennis court, and a lake. Presently somewhat changed over into a rich lodging, it is probably the best spot to enjoy a regal remain, a long way from the concerns of separating standards. Appreciate peaceful strolls among the trees, set up an easel in a corner in the event that you are a painter, drop in at the private sanctuaries inside the complex or take a visit through the smaller than normal exhibition hall inside the primary structure. The guest plan in the eating corridor will be revamped to guarantee removing standards during feast hours, said Pallab Roy, a scion of the Cossimbazar Roy family.
Estimated distance from Kolkata and driving time (ordinary traffic): 204 km and five hours. Note: If you locate the lengthy drive a touch tiring, at that point, you can go through a night at Balakhana and continue to Cossimbazar (in Murshidabad area) on the morrow.
Essentially in Kolkata’s backyard, a gateway from the Basanti expressway (which prompts the mangrove forest of the Sundarban), this small hotel is tucked inside a verdant open country. Albeit all around spread out, the spot oozes a charming vibe of nature permitted to run free. Take strolls, sit by the curiously found seats, take a series of the lake, watch the winged animals, or just watch the changing shades of green as the day protracts from the solace of your room. In the first place, they will just acknowledge appointments from each family, in turn, said Ankan Adhikary of Jalapath; they have not just set up strict safety and hygiene protocol, however, will have a cashless transaction, online food menu, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Estimated distance from Kolkata and driving time (typical traffic): 9 km and not exactly 60 minutes.
Situated among Shantiniketan and Sriniketan, Ekantika run by Priyam and Ritapa Mukhopadhyay, is a resort with exceptionally limited accommodation, ideal for a solitary visitor to a little family searching for a quiet occasion. They additionally have different accommodation called Nababithika. The couple said they are considering making changes post lockdown, for example, lessening the number of furniture things in a space to guarantee visitors have more space than accessible previously.
Estimated distance from Kolkata and driving time (typical traffic): 161 km and around 4 hrs.
The Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary lies in the southwest corner of the West Sikkim area. Spreading more than 104 sq. km, over the well-honed Singalila Range, which shapes the common global outskirt with Nepal. There are three entry points in Versey, they are from Hilley, Dentam, and Soreng. Tourists prefer Hilley since it is accessible by road. The harness way from Hilley to Varsey is a top pick among travelers, particularly during the Rhododendron blossoming season. The wildlife of Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary includes Leopard cat, Himalayan Yellow Throated Marten, Himalayan Palm Civet, Himalayan Langur, Crimson Horned Pheasant, Monal Pheasant, Kaleej, and numerous different types of birds.
Varsey – A 4 km simple trek from Hilley through Singalila covered with Rhododendron timberland and it takes around 1 ½ hrs to 2 hrs to cover this short distance. As the road approaches Varsey, the wonderful view on Kanchenjunga Massif arises to welcome. Going through a night or two in this distant Himalayan valley where the marvellous presence of Kanchenjunga Massif is constantly felt with rich green woods, named and anonymous flying creatures and wild creatures are consistently worth.
Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is additionally identified with Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker who made an examination on Flora and Fauna in Singalila Range and distributed a book in 1849 named “Rhododendrons of Sikkim”, which is as yet viewed as a true txt regarding this matter.
From Varsey some short and long trips can be organized to Uttarey, He-Bermiok, Dentam, Phalut, and so on.
The climate is wet and cold preferring the spread of the prevailing sort Rhododendron. July is the wettest month, with the normal yearly precipitation being more than 250 cm. The spans above 2500m get ordinary snowfall in winter. Clear skies can be experienced distinctly from November to May.
DO’S AND DON’TS AT PARKS AND SANCTUARIES
A certain set of accepted rules has been outlined to keep up the maintainability of these parks and sanctuary. Guests are mentioned to follow the accompanying Code for Conservation
Leave just impressions, take just photos High height vegetation is fragile
Avoid stomping on, follow trails, and don’t pick plants or blossoms. Do not upset natural life or its living space.
Do not accept jeopardized creature or plant items
Use lamp fuel or packaged gas for cooking, warming, and lighting; try not to utilize kindling. Guarantee that you and your staff are appropriately furnished with comfortable garments and fuel. Conveying plastics inside the asylum is prohibited
Traveling is exciting, But packing? Not really. Here’s your guide for some essential travel tips and hacks to assist you with packing your travel kit like a professional for the much awaited anticipated excursion
Individually, we will mention to you what everything you have to pack for what sort of excursion. In any case, before that, investigate what you don’t need to pack! Snap here to peruse our blog on What Not To Pack for a vacation.
For short excursions you don’t have to pack a ton of stuff, you simply need the essential things and you’re all set. In case you’re going to camp, climb, hike the wild or an unassuming community, you will require the accompanying things:
1. A Backpack
The most important thing an explorer needs to have is a minimized and multi-utility rucksack with different shrouded pockets so you can generally convey all your packing travel stuff without any hassle. Ideally it ought to be solid, lightweight with plenty of pockets so you don’t need to delve in for each little thing.
2. Airtight Water Proof Bags
Airtight Water Proof Bags for putting away food things, clothing, or anything besides to shield them from getting destroyed by the climate or environmental factors. This likewise helps keep things sorted out and simple to access and store. You can get a LOKSAK waterproof, reusable, sealable capacity packs for the best utility. Keep airtight sacks to keep your possessions unaffected by downpour or residue. Bad weather can destroy your rucksack all things considered keeping a downpour spread likewise sorts the issue. You must keep your own records, devices, telephone, and basic assets safe to spare them from erratic holes or climate changes.
3. Headlamp/Torch with additional batteries
A Headlamp or a Flashlight or beside a light is a MUST-HAVE and significant basic for journeying, outdoors, and climbing – you never think about at what time you will arrive at your objective, no doubt a light asset is an absolute necessity to keep with you as a basic. Be it a short-term venture or not, it generally critical to keep an electric lamp along, there’s consistently an opportunity of arriving at late or confronting snags.
4. Toiletries
Keep in mind- Hygiene is a must- It’s not possible to stay bacteria or germ-free when going hiking, trekking or camping. So carry along your vital toiletries which incorporate prepping things, hand sanitizer, paper cleansers, cleanser pockets, and other significant basics.
5. Multipurpose Shoes
You should have a comfortable pair of sports shoes so that regardless of whether you make an offhand arrangement of traveling or climbing, you are arranged with that pair itself. You neither need to stress over keeping numerous footwear or dropping that trip plan. We suggest waterproof strong shoes which will uphold your long strolls around the city or your off the cuff journey designs too.
6. Disposable sacks and Polythene packs
Carry disposable bags as it’s essential to clean the mess that you make while traveling/climbing or outdoors around. You can likewise utilize it to arrange wet garments if there should be an occurrence of blustery climate or discard squander food things as opposed to littering around.
7. First Aid Travel Kit
On the off chance that you’re going for experience sports exercises like climbing, traveling or outdoors at that point you must have a medical aid unit. The courses can be harsh and it’s to be expected to get a few cuts and wounds during the journey. So keep an emergency treatment unit prepared as you can never disregard such a significant traveling fundamental. Continuously make sure to convey your emergency treatment unit with you – It’s smarter to be sheltered than sorry. Few out of every odd part plant you contact or creature you experience will ever have will be sufficiently protected to pull off without any problem. A journeying domain can be exceptionally hazardous now and again.
8. Scarfs, Handkerchiefs, and Socks
As we said cleanliness is significant, so convey an additional pair of vital things of apparel that will facilitate your outing. Convey tissues and scarves to get your face far from sweat and daylight. Convey a couple of socks in cases of chilly climate.
9. Shades/Sunglasses
No compelling reason to go daze with the rankling sun falling right in your eyes. UV beams can make genuine damage your eyes so consistently remain secured.
10. Minimal And Absolutely Necessary Clothing
No one enjoys conveying a weighty rucksack all through their traveling/climbing/outdoors venture – an astute choice would convey supreme insignificant and vital apparel to pack shrewdly.
Mousuni Island is coming out as a most popular weekend destination for adventure lover and nature lover from Kolkata. This virgin beach is a hidden gem of beauty, culture, nature and scenery. The location of this island is at Mohana near Jambu Deep and Sagardeep. You can feel the essence of bigger size of silent Ganga and at the same day feel of Bay of Bengal. It’s a quite uniqueness over there. Not many people are still aware of this location and that make it the top off-beat destination near kolkata. This Island will allow you to smell the nature closely, known for photographer’s paradise, you can do birding at it’s best, beach camping at night and lot more and feel your heart with joy.
