Tours in Kolkata India - There are a plethora of interesting places to visit from Kolkata. Some of the notable places of tourist attractions are compiled below:
Nadia District:
The district of Nadia with its headquarters at Krishnanagar located at a distance of 118 Kms from Kolkata is a district, which has a royal side as well as a spiritual side to it. Krishnanagar town itself is renowned for its exquisite clay models which has earned international fame and recognition. There is also a palace here, which in the days of yore used to be the residence of the Maharaja of Krishnagar.
The town of Nabadweep is located in close proximity to Krishnagar and happens to be the spiritual capital of West Bengal. It is here that the great Vaishnavite saint - Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born. The Sonargouranga temple is a much venerated shrine for the Vaishnavites.
There is Mayapur, which is located within close proximity to Nabadweep.
Pilgrims and visitors from all over the world come to Mayapur to have a date with Lord Krishna. Mayapur happens to be the headquarters of the Hare Krishna cult popularly referred to as ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness).
Murshidabad:
Murshidabd is located at a distance of 210 Kms from Kolkata. It used to be an army base of the British East India Company. Murshidabad is most renowned for the Hazarduari Palace.
The town has been named after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, the former Dewan of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
Murshidabad is a historic town that played a significant role in modern Indian history. There is a place called Pallasey located in close proximity to Murshidabad where a fierce battle was fought between the British and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula. If historical records are anything to go by, Murshidabad used to be the ancient capital of Bengal.
The Hazarduari Palace which literally means a palace with a thousand doors is the the piece de resistance of Murshidabad. Ths magnificent palace was built by Duncan McLeod way back in the year 1837 primarily as the residential abode of the Nawabs of Bengal. It took seventeen long years to build this palace which is conspicuous by its 114 regally appointed rooms and 8 stunning galleries. Today, the palace is open to visitors and it has been converted into a museum.
Vishnupur:
In the days of yore, Vishnupur used to be the capital of the distinguished Malla dynasty who ruled over Bengal for more than a thousand years before the advent of the British. Among the royal dynasties of Bengal, the Mallas had carved a niche for themselves not only by dint of their combative expertise but also due to their patronage and pioneering zeal in the promotion of arts, sculpture, architecture, and music. Vishnupur reached its pinnacle during the reign of Hambir and Raja Raghunath Singh and Veer Singh.
The renowned Vishnupur style of temple architecture is conspicuous by its single column resting on a building plaza with the quintessential roof of a typically Bengali is the hallmark of Vishnupur temples. The temples of Vishnupur are spread over two primary zones. The Shyam Rai, Radha Shyam, Jore Bangla, Krishna Balram, Lalji, Kesari Rai and Nikunja Bihari are all located inside the fort while the Radha Madhav, Kalachand, Radha Govinda, Nandalal and Jore Mandir temples are located to the South West of Lalbundh. The Madan Gopal, Malleswar and Madan Mohan temples are located in northern ramparts of the fort. There is also the Ras Mancha, one of the oldest temple edifice found at Vishnupur. This ruined temple was built by Veer Hambir, which has a unique architectural style unmatched by any other temple in Vishnupur.
Malda:
The town of Malda is located to the east of the point of convergence of the Mahananda and Kalindri rivers. Malda is an ancient town and it came into the limelight as a much sought after river port of the erstwhile Pandua kingdom. In the 18th century Malda had flourishing cotton and silk industries. Much of the rice, jute, and wheat produces of Bengal come from Malda.
On of Malda's most enduring landmarks is the majestic Jami' Masjid mosque which was built way back in1566. The Malda Municipality is among the oldest Municipal bodies of West Bengal and was founded in 1867. Malda is most renowned for Mulberry plantations and mango orchards. English Bazaar happens to be the headquarters of Malda. Malda is
Pandua:
Pandua is an interesting place for tourists and is located at a distance of 357 Kms from Kolkata. Although it has not shot into limelight as a tourist destination, yet Pandua has something for everyone. For instance there is the renowned Muslim monuments, which are amongst the finest specimens of Islamic architecture in Bengal. Apart from this, one may also visit the splendid Kulik Bird Sanctuary where both resident and migratory birds can be spotted. The sanctuary is a bird watcher's delight.
Shantiniketan:
Shantiniketan literally means the oasis of peace. Way back in the year 1863, Rabindra Nath Tagore's father - Maharshi Debendra Nath Tagore established a meditation center here at Santiniketan. And in the year 1901, it was the turn of Rabindranath Tagore to establish the Brahmo Vidyalaya, which was an open-air educational amphitheatre. Later in the year 1921, it became a full-fledged University, which is today known as the Visva-Bharati University. The University has exclusive colleges for arts and crafts, dance, drama, music, teachers training, a school of Languages, science & technology, post graduate studies and research.
The University's museum "Rabindra-Sadhana" is the university's museum cum study center for Tagore related subjects. There are also other institutions for rural management, health & social welfare along with folk arts at the university premises.
Digha Beach:
Digha Beach is a popular beach resort located at a distance of 185 Kms. from Kolkata. The beach with its never-ending Casuarina plantations makes for a truly enchanting beach destination of West Bengal. The surging waves of the Bay of Bengal lure many beach aficionados to this picturesque beach resort. Hotels and resorts abound in Digha. So finding an accommodation of ones choice is never a problem.
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