Written by: Krithika Saptarishi
We are all feeling the covid fatigue again; but stress not; we will take you on a virtual tour to 5 places around Calcutta. And you can add them to your trip list once it’s safe to travel again. Once in a while, we long to leave the hustle and bustle of the city to get a breath of fresh air. What if one can also learn about some of the heritage that our culture-rich state has to offer? Here’s looking at five unique places that can be covered in a day trip from Kolkata.
1. Ambika Kalna
So what if you can’t make it to the temple town of Bishnupur? There’s a temple town close to Bandel which is relatively unknown and has unique temples to blow you off your feet. Kalna is known for its 108 Shiva Temples in the form of two concentric circles and the entire temple complex is filled with different styles of temples from the bygone era.
Getting there: There are direct trains to Kalna from Howrah which take about two hours.
2. Serampore
Serampore is famous for its Danish heritage and also the famous Serampore Rajbari where Bhooter Bhobhisyot was shot. Stroll through the old quarters filled with old buildings from the Danish era and dine at the recently renovated Denmark Tavern.
Getting there: Serampore is hardly an hour away from Kolkata and is easily accessible by local trains.
3. Beyond Bandel
Bandel is known for its church but there are two more destinations that you can add to your list while you visit Bandel: The Hangseshwari temple and the Zafar Khan Ghazi Dargah. The dargah is the oldest surviving Islamic structure of Bengal dating back to the 13th century while the Hangseshwari Temple built in the 19th century will remind you of Hogwarts or the colourful churches of Russia.
Getting there: There are innumerable local trains which go to Bandel. You could hire a toto from Bandel to take you to these spots.
4. Chinsurah
Just like how Serampore is filled with buildings from the Danish era, Chinsurah has a Dutch history but not a lot of it remains today. However, the place that you have to visit is the Tomb of Susanna Anna Maria who inspired Ruskin Bond to write Susanna’s Seven Husbands and Vishal Bhardwaj to direct Saat Khoon Maaf.
Getting there: It is easily accessible by train and takes about an hour from Kolkata.
5. Chandannagar
Chandannagar is a slice of France in Bengal with a promenade filled with French architecture. Take a walk along the kilometre long stretch and immerse yourself in the bygone era.
Getting there: It is easily accessible by train and takes about an hour from Kolkata.
Taste of Calcutta 