15 Best Day Trips from Kolkata: Easy Escapes and Tours
Leave Kolkata for a day: these escapes are genuinely worth it
The queue at Howrah forms by half seven for the morning locals. These fifteen escapes are ranked by how soon you'll be out of the city—from an hour on a Bandel train to the ferries you'll need for the island temples. Closest first are the riverside towns of colonial heritage. Next come the express trains to beaches and universities. Last are the overnight-level distances that still work if you leave at dawn. For each, the bottleneck is travel time and how many changes you'll make, not the destination's distance in kilometers.
Chandannagar
Bandel local line, Hooghly district · Colonial church and river town · Local trains from Howrah, 1 hour return
Chandannagar is roughly 33 km from Howrah on the Bandel local line, about an hour each way. Serampore, a former Danish post, has the Serampore College founded in 1818, which houses one of India's largest college libraries. These towns are walkable from the station, perfect for travellers with tight schedules or those avoiding the hassle of booking.
Tarakeshwar Temple
South of Howrah on local rail · Hindu pilgrimage temple · Local trains, under 2 hours round trip
The distance from the city is just 62 km, which is practically perfect if you are running on time crunches. Tarkeshwar's fame comes from its famous temple going by the same name. Perched atop the banks of River Hoogly, this lovely little harbour is quite famous amongst tourists. Ideal for spiritual visitors seeking a temple visit without the long journey.
Diamond Harbour
South 24 Parganas, 50 km south · River confluence and harbour town · Bus or hired car from Kolkata
Diamond Harbour located in the Southern suburbs of Kolkata is an exciting day out or a weekend tour. You will be amazed to locate this charming destination within such a short reach from Kolkata (50 km), ideal. This is the best place for you to witness the confluence of River Hoogly and the Bay of Bengal. The Bay of Bengal is already quite a tourist attraction and is crowded by travellers who wish to relish the ambience of the wide sea. Best for families wanting a short river trip with optional boat rides.
Bandel Church
Bandel, Hooghly district · Portuguese basilica from 1599 · Drive or local train, 2 hours round trip
About 66 km from Kolkata, takes about 2 hours drive on NH 2 and AH1. Popularly known as Bandel Church, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, is the oldest Church in West Bengal and Eastern India (Estd. 1599). The original church building, that was built by the Portuguese with the permission granted by Moghal Emperor Akbar, was destroyed by the Moors in 1632 and was rebuilt in 1661. Suits history enthusiasts and those seeking architectural heritage.
Taki
Indo-Bangladesh border, North 24 Parganas, 70 km north · Border town on Ichamati River · Bus from Kolkata
Taki is a beautiful town located in the district of North 24 Parganas, just 70 kilometers away from Kolkata. It lies on the Indo-Bangladesh border, along the bank of the Ichamati River. Make sure to eat some freshly caught fish from the river. Later, after getting some rest, go for boating at the Ichamati River and witness the stunning sight of the golden hour. You can see both Indians and Bangladeshis on the same water, separated only by the border. Perfect for adventurous travellers after an offbeat border experience.
Machranga Dwip
Hasnabad, North 24 Parganas, 75 km north · Kingfisher Island on Ichamati River · Road then motorboat from Hasnabad
Machranga Dwip, also known as Kingfisher Island, sits in the middle of river Ichamati, flanked by India and Bangladesh. This verdant haven, perfect for nature lovers, offers picturesque views, boat rides, and glimpses of distant Bangladeshi settlements. To reach the island, one can travel to Hasnabad from Kolkata (75 km) by road, bus, or train and then take a motorboat from either Hasnabad or nearby Taki. Best for nature lovers willing to make a boat crossing.
Shantiniketan
Birbhum district, 145 km west · Rabindranath Tagore's university campus · Shantiniketan Express train, 2 hours 10 minutes
Shantiniketan sits around 145 km out and takes roughly 2 hours 10 minutes on the Shantiniketan Express. A gentle, tree-shaded town in the heart of pastoral Bengal, cultured Shantiniketan ('Abode of Peace' in Bengali) is famed as the home of the Visva Bharati University, an institution promoting liberal arts and humanities founded by poet, artist and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore in 1901. Many of the state's musical, literary and fine arts movements trace their origins to Shantiniketan. Ideal for cultural explorers and university students.
Bishnupur
Bankura district, 150 km west · Terracotta temples from Malla Kingdom · Train, about 3 hours
Bishnupur is about three hours by train. In this day trip from Kolkata, you will discover the medieval terracotta temples of the 17th century Malla Kingdom. The journey is feasible if you depart early and are prepared to return late. Best suited to architecture enthusiasts and those with patience for travel time.
Digha
East Midnapore, 185 km south · Bay of Bengal beach town · Tamralipta Express train, 3 hours 20 minutes
Digha, the nearest beach, is 185 km and around 3 hours 20 minutes on the Tamralipta Express. Old Digha is crowded and commercial; New Digha, a few kilometres along, is generally cleaner and less packed. The sea here is shallow and choppy rather than scenic, so treat this as a seafood and sea-air trip rather than a swimming holiday. Fresh prawn, pomfret and crab at the beachside stalls are the actual highlight. Best for travellers seeking a full beach day and seafood lovers.
Navadwip
Nadia district, 120 km north · ISKCON Mayapur and Gaudiya pilgrimage sites · Train 2-3 hours or ISKCON bus
Kolkata is about 120 kilometres away. It takes about 02:00 hours to reach Kolkata. This train leaves Navadwip (NDAE) at 06:15 and reaches Kolkata (HWH) at 08:15. A full day is enough for the highlights including ISKCON Mayapur (Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Janmasthan Mandir) and Yoga Peeth. Suited to spiritual seekers and devotees, though dawn departures are essential.
Bakkhali
South 24 Parganas, 132 km south · Beach on Sundarbans fringe with mangrove views · Bus or car with ferry crossing at Namkhana
Bakkhali is on one of the many deltaic islands spread across Southeast Bengal and has a popular sea beach. Bakkhali is around 147 km or a 4½-hour car ride from the airport. Bakkhali offers quite a lot of attractions like the windmills of Frasergunj as well as the crocodile propagation centre at the place. The narrow path that enters into the casuarinas forest lying adjacent the beach will lead you to the temple of Banabibi, a local deity. Best for beach-and-wildlife combination trips and those comfortable with ferry crossings.
Mayapur
Nadia district, 129 km north · ISKCON temple complex · Car, bus, or train; requires 5 am start for day trip
Mayapur, about 129 km from Kolkata, is the headquarters of ISKCON and the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Sundarbans and Mayapur are both possible in a single day but need a 5 am start. ISKCON Kolkata operates buses thrice a week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The bus takes passengers from the Kolkata temple straight to Sri Mayapur. Ideal for religious pilgrims and those willing to rise before dawn.
Gangasagar
South 24 Parganas, 110-130 km south · Holy island at Ganges-Bay confluence · Car to Kakdwip, then ferry; 4 hours one way
The distance from Kolkata to Gangasagar is 110 km which takes 4 hours to reach by car. On reaching Kakdwip, one has to travel for about 30 to 40 minutes, riding on a local ferry on the other side of the river in Kochuberia. It holds immense significance for Hindus, believed to be the place where the mighty Ganges river merges with the Bay of Bengal. Taking a holy dip (snan) here is considered to be a way to wash away sins and attain liberation. This island also houses the Kapil Muni Temple, dedicated to the sage Kapila. Only for pilgrims committed to a full day of travel and boat crossings.
Kamarpukur
Hooghly district, 97 km west · Ramakrishna Paramahamsa birthplace and ashram · Car or bus, 3.5 hours
Distance from Kolkata to Kamarpukur — 97 km approx · Time required to reach Kamarpukur from Kolkata — 3.30 hours · Things to do — Visit the Kamarpukur Ramakrishna Math, Gopeshwar Temple, Matri Mandir, Talpukur Lake and Simhavahini temple. This pilgrimage site suits devotees of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and those seeking a quiet spiritual retreat. The drive-based journey requires either hired transport or bus stations.
Murshidabad
Nadia district, 200 km north · Hazarduari Palace and Nawabi heritage · Train or car, 3-4 hours by car, 4 hours by train
The driving distance between Kolkata to Murshidābād is 129 miles. It takes approximately 3h 2m to drive from Kolkata to Murshidābād. Upon reaching Murshidabad, explore the majestic Hazarduari Palace, a 19th-century marvel with a thousand doors, now housing a museum showcasing Nawabi artifacts. Witness the elegance of Katra Mosque, an 18th-century Mughal masterpiece with ornate floral designs. This full-day trip suits history buffs and those able to start very early. It's a one-day round-trip from Kolkata, and the Nabadwip Dham, Mayapur ISKCON tour ends here. It is challenging to cover all the places mentioned in a single day, so staying at least one day is advised.
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