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Places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day offer a calm mix of nature, heritage, and peaceful escapes within easy distance of the concrete jungle. While Kolkata presents colonial elegance and cosmopolitan sophistication, it presents itself as an excellent choice for a day’s excursion for those seeking tranquil riverfront views, spiritual sanctuaries, mangrove, and villages of yore. All such locations close to Kolkata are ideal for a short getaway, either to see wildlife, learn about architecture, or unwind in serene environments. Travel to these places is an experiential day of West Bengal’s natural and cultural heritage at your doorstep.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Kolkata For 1 Day
Find places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day that offer distinctive experiences, ranging from mangrove forests and colonial settlements.
1. Sundarbans
Photo: Sudipto2cool / Wikimedia Commons
Approximately 109 to 130 km from Kolkata is the Sundarbans, a very fascinating place to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. This extensive mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its dense complex network of tidal creeks, mudflats, and halophytic vegetation. It offers the extremely rare sight of pristine wilderness only a few kilometres from the city line. Sundarbans has the Royal Bengal tiger, the saltwater crocodile, the spotted deer, and the fishing cat, to name a few, and an unmatched variety of avifauna like kingfishers, herons, and migratory ducks.
How To Reach: Train to Canning, followed by road transfer to Godkhali jetty and by boat safari
Main Attractions: Boat safari in the mangrove, wildlife, watch towers
2. Piyali Island
Photo: Indrani911basu / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Piyali Island is among the offbeat but scenic places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. Frequently referred to as the “Gateway to the Sundarbans,” the island is a tranquil haven with nature supported by serene rivers and verdant mangroves. It is the ideal vacation destination for tourists looking to unwind and be at peace at a leisurely pace far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Travellers can take long walks on paddy-covered riverbeds, enjoy serene boat rides down the Piyali River, or just sit and watch the stunning sunsets marking the end of the day by bathing waters in golden hues.
How To Reach: Go down to Baruipur or take a local train to Gocharan and an autorickshaw for a short run.
Main Attractions: Mangrove scenery, bird fauna, river-boating
3. Chandannagar
Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons
Chandannagar is 48 km from Kolkata and one of the most appealing places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. As a French colony, this river town still has a very European ambience that separates it from others. Strand, an extremely lovely promenade along the side of the Hooghly River, is lined with old colonial buildings, little cafes, and ancient churches, providing travellers with a serene and picturesque environment. A visit to the Chandannagar Museum and Institute is a powerful introduction to the Indo-French heritage of the town, and Sacred Heart Church is a lovely piece of French architecture.
How To Reach: Local train from Howrah to Chandannagar
Main Attractions: The Strand, Chandannagar Museum, Sacred Heart Church
4. Diamond Harbour
Photo: Asfak95 / Wikimedia Commons
About 50 km from Kolkata, one of the favourite 1 day outing places near Kolkata is Diamond Harbour, which is just breathtaking with breathtaking views where the Hooghly River meets the Bay of Bengal. The beachside setting is just perfect for city folk who need to escape the commotion and noise with a picnic treat, photo play, and a serene boat ride on calm waters. Its balmy sea breeze and soothing lapping of waves make it a rejuvenating destination that invites a group of weekenders. Convenient seafood eateries nearby are a bonus to the journey.
How To Reach: By NH12 or suburban train to the Diamond Harbour station
Main Attractions: River fronts, boat cruises, ruins of Portuguese fort
5. Taki
Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons
Taki is one of the scenic places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. The riverbank village has its own cultural uniqueness and also its own natural charm. On a clear day, the Bangladeshi shore just across the calm waters can be spotted, and it offers an interesting glimpse into cross-border life. Boat tours along the Ichamati are a peaceful means of exploring the locale, with the remains of antique zamindar residences and indigenous temples offering historical and cultural significance to the excursion.
How To Reach: Drive via Basirhat and Barasat
Main Attractions: Temple, historical buildings, boat tour on Ichamati River
6. Kamarpukur & Jayrambati
Photo: Sukanta Pal / WIkimedia Commons
Kamarpukur and Jayrambati twin villages are spiritually quite interesting places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. The villages are of great importance to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ma Sarada Devi followers. Kamarpukur is consecrated as the birthplace of Bengal’s greatest mystic, Sri Ramakrishna, and Jayrambati as the abode of Ma Sarada Devi, his spiritual guru, where she lived the major portion of her life. The countryside is scattered with serene temples, serene ashrams, and serene meditation halls, which beckon one to sit and find solace in one’s soul.
How To Reach: Drive from Arambagh or take a train to Goghat and drive from there.
Main Attractions: Ramakrishna Temple, Sarada Devi Temple, rural area
7. Bishnupur
Photo: Anupam Mukherjee / Wikimedia Commons
Bishnupur is one of the most fascinating places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day for history and culture enthusiasts. The former capital of Malla kings, this quaint town is famous for the breathtakingly beautiful terracotta temples, the breathtaking Rasmancha, Jor Bangla, and Madanmohan temples, among others. All such architectural wonders are based on medieval Hindu epics, and their beauty and art form reflect the rich cultural heritage of Bengal.
How To Reach: Howrah-Bishnupur train or NH16 and NH314 drive
Main Attractions: Rasmancha, Jor Bangla Temple, Baluchari saree shops
8. Raichak
Photo: Indrajit Das / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
All 50 to 55 kilometres away from Kolkata, Raichak is one of the best places to visit near Kolkata for a 1 day visit that offers a good mix of colonial heritage and modern luxury. Fort Raichak crowns the town as a luxury resort with innovative development from an old 19th-century fort with the finest dining facilities, refreshing therapies at the spa, and serene cruises on the Hooghly River. Tourists can bask in serene riverbank surroundings, with sunsets spreading in splendour, drenching the water with golden light and soft winds bringing relief from city mayhem.
How To Reach: Drive on Diamond Harbour Road
Main Attractions: Henry’s Island beach, soft waves, golden sunset
9. Henry’s Island
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
Henry’s Island is a calm and separate beach location, and therefore one of the unique places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. Located near the renowned seashore resort of Bakkhali, Henry’s Island is filled with mangrove forests and unspoiled beaches, which are a calm retreat from the city’s hurried atmosphere. It is ideal for bird enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers who seek peaceful walks on unpolluted, virgin, pristine sand beaches. The gem of the island is the tiny watchtower, where one has a view of the shining sea and surrounding vegetation in all their glory.
How To Reach: Drive to Namkhana, ferry, short drive to the island
Main Attractions: Beach walks, watchtower, bird-watch
10. Gadiara
Photo: Dwaipayanc / Wikimedia Commons
Gadiara is a serene riverside retreat and one of the picturesque places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day. Situated at the confluence of the Hooghly, Rupnarayan, and Damodar rivers, the tranquil place is where the bird’s eye view of water and cool breezes beckon the city dwellers to indulge in the relaxation lovers’ paradise. The history enthusiasts will be fascinated with the remains of Fort Mornington, giving a colonial element to the picturesque setting. Travellers can enjoy a boat ride through peaceful embankments, explore the warm lighthouse, or unwind and watch breathtaking sunsets on the rivers.
How To Reach: Travel through Howrah and Uluberia
Main Attractions: Fort Mornington, lighthouse, river confluence landscape
These are the best offbeat places to visit near Kolkata for 1 day that offer the best mix of nature, history, and culture in the closest vicinity to the city. If you want peace, heritage destinations, bird-watching, or a peaceful nature walk, something in these attractions around Kolkata has something for you. Explore these offbeat gems with TripXL and enjoy day trips full of culture, heritage, and the timelessness of Bengal.
Cover Photo: Koushik Halder / Unsplash
