Excursions in Calcutta
Botanical Gardens: Located 8 kms from Calcutta on the west bank of Ganga
are the famous Botanical Gardens.The highlight of the Gardens is the 200 year
old banyan tree, said to be the largest in the world.The tree is 26 metres high
with a circumference of approximately 900 feet. The world's largest estuarine
forest in the world, the Sunderbans, the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger,
which also houses the estuarine crocodile, wild boar and several varieties of
birds and snakes, is within easy reach of Calcutta. This famous Project Tiger
Reserve can be approached only via the waterways.
Digha: 185 km south east of Calcutta is Digha, a popular beach resort
with a 6 km long beach, said to be one of the widest in the world. The other
popular beach resort of West Bengal, Bakkhali, lies 132 km from the city. 48
km south of Calcutta is the beautiful Diamond Harbour, at the mouth of the Hooghly,
an ideal picnic spot. 12 km from the city centre, on the banks of the Ganga,
is the magnificent Dakshineswar Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali . 136 km from
the city is the one - of - its - kind university of Shantiniketan, the brainchild
of the revered Rabindranath Tagore. Started as an experimental open air classroom,
this university has emerged as a universal centre of knowledge and academic
excellence, for students and scholars alike.
