Top 3 Weekend Destinations in West Bengal
Can you imagine how important a short trip is for our busy schedule? Yes, it is immensely important. A short trip of a day or two can be magical to release stresses from your life. Here are three weekend destinations in W est Bengal which you can count on:
Jhilli, Jhargram, 189 Km from Kolkata
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Are you looking for a picnic spot? Then Jhilli with its dam is the ideal place for you to come and enjoy its pleasure. Apparently, Jhilli is ideal till daylight is there and after the sun sets, the area get completely isolated. However, some real adventure lovers can stay here.
Places to see at Jhilli: The lush green surrounding and the vast waters of Jhilli are ideal for a nature lover.
Nearby attractions: Hatibari, a beautiful forested region, 9 km from Jhilli. The main attraction of this place is the beautiful River Subarnarekha. Gopiballavpur is another nearby destination to visit; you can go to see the Temple of Gopiballavji.
How to reach: From Jhargram, Hatibari is 24 km, just 2 km before it, you have to turn left and continue 7 km in that direction to reach Jhilli.
Best time to visit: Winter is the best time to visit here as you can see groups of migrating birds covering the banks of Jhilli.
Lodging and dining facilities: Bungalows and tents are available for tourists. Dining comes along with staying in the tent, but the cost of the food is separate.
Piyali Island Sunderban, 75 Km from Kolkata
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Have you ever experienced the beauty of the Sunderban? Then you can go for a trip to the Piyali Island. The two rivers Matla and Piyali surround the island. The Piyali River, in fact, flows through the Island and merges with Matla River at a later stage. There is just a single tourist lodge in this island, but it has well-supported modern setup for tourists. There are plenty things to do in Piyali Island like a nature walk, enjoying a boat ride, do some bird watching, enjoying in the gardens and taste the village life.
How to reach: Piyali is located at a distance of 75 km from Kolkata. Both train and car facilities are available to reach there.
Best time to visit Piyali Island: Winters would be a nice time to watch the birds.
Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary, Sonarpur, 20Km from Kolkata
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Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary is within a driving distance from Kolkata. It is the shelter of large varieties of butterflies, birds, ferns, epiphytes and orchids. The sanctuary is situated to the west of the Netaji Subhas Road, on the connector of Garia and Baruipur in the Rajpur area. It is close to the Ramkrishna Mission Institute in Narendrapur.
The site was recognized as a sanctuary in the year 1982 and given the name of Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary on September 8, 2004.
Since 2005, the sanctuary was finally named as Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary after the famous artist Chintamoni Kar, who has the main contribution in providing “Kayaler Bagan,” the status of a wildlife sanctuary.
Sanctuary hours: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission Fees: Rs. 40 per head
What to see: Chintamani Kar Bird sanctuary is the home of a number of bird species like Common Hawk Cuckoo, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Emerald Dove, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-throated Fantail and Large-tailed Nightjar and more.
Some uncommon species include Tickell’s Thrush, Slaty-legged Crake, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Scaly Thrush, Little Spiderhunter, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Blue-throated Flycatcher.
Best time to visit: The ideal time of visiting the place is the period between spring and winter.
Lodging and dining facilities: It’s preferable to take your own food. There are no lodging facilities at the Bird Sanctuary. It is best for day trips.