Road Trips From Kolkata: Motorcycle Diaries Part 4

Known For : Parasnath Hills Kangsabati dam Ambikanagar

Mukutmanipur is a dam at the confluence of the rivers Kangsabati and Kumari and is a lovely place for a quick break. Bankura district is famous for its historical buildings and temples. Bishnupur is a destination you must visit if you’ve gone as far as Mukutmanipur. The two destinations are at a distance of 68 kilometres from each other. Kolkata to Mukutmanipur road condition: Mukutmanipur is a perfect bike ride away from Kolkata. The route via Dankuni and Barrackpore is studded with a sufficient number of dhabas and eateries and is in great condition. A few alternate routes exist for this road trip, the SH 2 being the shortest at 208 kilometres and the NH 6, a slightly longer route at 230 kilometres. 

Distance from Kolkata: 262 km

Best Time: October to March

4 Mukutmanipur Attractions

Located atop a hill at 2092 meters, Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple is believed to be one of the ancient holy sites or SiddhaPitas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Mahashivarathri festival draws a huge crowd from across the country.

Distance from Kolkata: 1,516 km

Known For : Marine Station/Aquarium of Zoological Survey of India New Digha Beach Udaipur Beach

Digha is the ultimate destination to chill, at a little more than a stone’s throw away from Kolkata. Ride out early in the morning, reach by noon, have a sumptuous lunch of seafood and watch the sunset with a bottle of beer by the beachside. Simple, yet fun! Kolkata to Digha road condition: The road between Kolkata and Digha is in picture perfect condition and takes about 3 hours 9 min to cover (180.7 km) via NH6. The road has quite some eateries along the way. The spring and monsoon are good times to drive out to the sea! 

Distance from Kolkata: 180 km

Best Time: July to March

9 Digha Attractions

Known For : Dimna Lake Jubilee Park Tata Steel Zoological Park

If there’s a pseudo hill town you can bask in the glory of, without travelling miles and miles, it is this one. Jamshedpur is an industrial town that is nestled in the lap of the Dalma Hills and knows nothing of pollution, unruly traffic or bad roads. A trip here with your bike is a breather for both you and your bike – you can drive at high speeds on these hilly roads with the clouds following you, and you can feel the fresh air in your lungs as you do so! Kolkata to Jamshedpur road condition: It takes 4 hours 38 min via the NH6 to reach Jamshedpur. The city lies at a distance of 283.1 km from Kolkata, and there are some good dhabas along the way to treat your tummy! 

Distance from Kolkata: 281 km

Best Time: November to February

21 Jamshedpur Attractions

Known For : The F fort Diamond Harbour Lighthouse at Diamond Harbour

Raichak on the Ganges is the perfect getaway when your plans take shape after 8 PM over a beer on a Friday night, in the sense that it can be executed that quickly! At a slight distance from Kolkata, this is the perfect place to unwind after a week of hating your job! The Ganges and its austerity will take your breath away for this short trip. Kolkata to Raichak road condition: Raichak is a calm drive away from Kolkata, and the way is abundantly armed with restrooms, food joints and fuel stations. The distance of about 53 kilometres is covered within 1 hour and 30 mins at the most! 

Distance from Kolkata: 52 km

Best Time: October to March

8 Raichak Attractions

Known For : ISKCON Chandrodaya Temple Yoga Peeth Sri Chaitanya Math

Your spiritual getaway from the city to bask in the glory of Krishna, Mayapur is as lovely a drive as its ISCKON temple. Set in a peaceful atmosphere, you’ll love this nice, calm getaway into tranquillity. Distance from Kolkata: 146.2 km Time took: 2 h 38 min via SH6 Kolkata to Mayapur road condition: Fair. The SH6 has good roads throughout, give or take a few rough patches here and there. 

Distance from Kolkata: 115 km

Best Time: July to March

5 Mayapur Attractions

Known For : Mahabodhi Temple Great Buddha Statue Tibetan Refugee Market

One of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, Bodhgaya is a village in the state of Bihar. It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year who come to pay their homage in the monasteries, shrines and temples. It also attracts tourists from India and abroad owing to its magnificent Buddha statue, the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree.

Distance from Kolkata: 472 km

Best Time: October to March

26 Bodh Gaya Attractions

Known For : Susunia Hill Joyrambati Bishnupur

With much historical significance, Bankura is a town famous for its hills and temples and a treat for adventure sports enthusiasts such as trekkers and hikers. Bankura has a significant history and is a temple city in West Bengal. The area's history intermingles with spirituality to create a simple, and yet unique tourist experience.

Distance from Kolkata: 212 km

Best Time: October to March

9 Bankura Attractions

Known For : Mandarmani Beach Shankarpur Beach Digha Beach

With more and more money being pumped into beaches all around the world to turn them into synthetic poolsides, Shankarpur gives you the luxury of experiencing the thrill of isolated beaches, calming winds and that typical old world charm. Known for its scenic beauty, the one thing that gives Shankarpur an edge over other beaches of India is its pristine surroundings. Shankarpur is a beautiful beach town in the East Medinipur district of West Bengal. Known by few and visited by even fewer, Shankarpur is the beautiful beach town that affords to give you the luxury of the sea, as it's meant to be- calm and boundless.

Distance from Kolkata: 174 km

Best Time: October to Apr

3 Shankarpur Attractions

Known For : 108 Shiv Mandir Christ Church Golap Bagh

With a convergence of religion, nature, man-made marvels and the proverbial old world charm, Bardhaman is the ideal fit for a weekend getaway. Take a group comprising the most diverse people. Even with nothing else being common, they will all agree on one thing- Bardhaman's Splendor. Perhaps the only place in India that will manage to appease every mind and mindset, this Unique Bengali town has an air of its own.

Distance from Kolkata: 101 km

Best Time: October to March

14 Bardhaman Attractions

One of the most secluded beaches of the country and the newest entrant in the tourism scene of West Bengal, Tajpur is slowly carving out a niche for itself as the stopover destination between the two major state centres, Digha and Shankarpur. The red crabs that are found here in plenty and the gentle breeze that lulls idle strolls by the sea make Tajpur a perfect place getaway.

Distance from Kolkata: 136 km

Known For : Marichjhanpi Ghoramara Island New Moore Island

Known for hosting the biggest mangrove forests in the world, Sundarbans National Park is located in West Bengal, India. It is also a Tiger Reserve and a Biosphere reserve that provides a complete nature's circle to the tourist right from 'Royal Bengal tigers' to roaring rivers and beautiful estuaries. Sundarbans National Park is a part of Sundarban delta that is covered with Mangrove Forest and the largest population of the Bengal Tigers. It is a UNESCO world heritage site with a large variety of birds and reptiles including salt-water crocodile.

Best Time: September to March

3 Sundarbans Attractions

Known For : Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ISKCON Temple, Nabadwip Radha Rani Temple

Blanketed away in the commotion of West Bengal, Navadwipa - Mayapur is a cluster of nine islands located on the banks of Ganges. This place is one of those few religious shrines whose spirit of devotion is palpable. With almost 200 temples concentrated in this small rural setting, Navadwipa is God's own land, in every sense of the term. It is unaffected by economy, industry and futile activity. The place is untouched by tides of time and is a perfect treat for your aesthetic sense and devotion. It doesn't matter which faith you believe in, this land of Lord Chaitanya (reincarnation of Lord Krishna) will enthral you like nothing else.

Distance from Kolkata: 120 km

Best Time: October to March

8 Navadvipa Attractions

Known For : Rasmancha Lalji Temple Susunia Hill

A small town in West Bengal famous for its terracotta temples, Bishnupur is famous among tourists, especially for its rich culture including architecture, music and handicraft. Bishnupur is a town with a rich heritage and a present as rich in culture, art and architecture. Its heritage and an ornamented culture transcend into multiple attractions for the tourists, which can be witnessed in the area's soft corner for classical music, paintings or while you take home a Baluchari sari. The temples that the area is known for include Jorbangla temple, Rasmancha temple, Shyamrai Temple and many more.

Distance from Kolkata: 136 km

Best Time: October to March

12 Bishnupur Attractions

Babur haat is the perfect weekend destination for you and your loved ones if you do wish to take a break from the hectic city life and spend some time close to rustic Bengali rural life. Dominated by natural fishing lakes or bheris, responsible for producing some of the tastiest fish in West Bengal, Babur Haat is a nature paradise. Long stretches rice farmlands, vegetable orchards, mango groves, palm groves and rural homes and temples make a wonderful scenic landscape. Fishing is one of the more popular activities in Babur Haat. You can also go on a short picnic trip to the nearby local village grounds, open spaces of which also allow for outdoor games like badminton and cricket to be played. Malancha villages, famous for its fish markets is only 15 km from Babur Haat. You can also opt for country boating, by crossing the river to visit Chaital village. Greenery, fresh air and open spaces will definitely leave your spirits rejuvenated. Babur Haat is located at a distance of about 50 km from Kolkata. You can also choose to avail the bus services from Kolkata to Malancha village via Babur Haat.

Distance from Kolkata: 12 km