Magestic Rivers

From Kolkata, nice riverside spots are accessible easily. A night out at Taki or Diamond Harbour can be a great blend with Kolkata Sightseeing Tour.

Taki

If you want to experience the flavor of staying in a ‘Bagan Bari’ of Bengal then Taki is the place to be. Bagan Bari refers to a Country House where one can spend leisurely time during holidays in the lap of nature. The culture of Bagan Bari in Bengal was very dominant during the reign of the Zamindars (Feudal Lords) in Bengal. Taki is one such place in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district where the culture of Bagan Bari flourished once upon a time. Taki is a border town that is separated by the flowing Ichamati River with Bangladesh on the other side. It is a municipality under the Basirhat subdivision. The place is popular for its Country Houses or Bagan Baris where one can experience a wonderful time by the banks of the river. There are river cruises available where tourists from both countries ride on boats to get a close view of the other country.

For sightseeing, one can visit the remnants of the zamindar houses, the Ramakrishna Mission, Kuleshwari Kali Temple, 300 years old Jora Shib Mandir, Golpatar jungle and General Shankar Roychowdhury’s adi bari (ancestral home). There is also an island nearby called Machranga River Island that is covered by green patches of Sundari and Golpata trees. One can visit this mini Sunderbans through a short country boat ride.

 

Diamond Harbour

Another place for a short weekend trip is the Diamond Harbour. Situated at the mouth of the delta formation where River Ganges merges with the sea, this captivating location is a hotspot tourist attraction. It is located about 50 kms away from Kolkata in its Southern most fringes. Formerly known as Hajipur, Diamond Harbour was an important port town for traders, merchants and sea-farers for many centuries. Due to its prime location it was infested by pirates mostly Portuguese pirates who built the Chingrikhali Fort in the 16th century. Presently, one can visit the ruins of the fort that was once inhabited by the pirates. Other interesting places around Diamond Harbour are the Sarisha Ramkrishna Mission Ashram which is an important pilgrimage site and the age-old lighthouse which is a major tourist spot. One can also visit the industrial town of Haldia located on the other bank of the Ganges. River cruises are available for sightseeing around the port town and if lucky one can spot huge Vessels and Merchant Ships sailing or anchored near the town. At present, Diamond Harbour still serves as an important port centre for maritime activities.