Related: Food Crawl in Darjeeling – A rare treasure of the North Bengal Tourism

Foodies’ heaven – Darjeeling Restaurants

Sipping hot Darjeeling tea with the view of Kanchenjunga is something to live for. And when these two are accompanied by different restaurants serving authentic Continental, Chinese and Nepalese food, what more to ask from life?

Breakfast Options

Chillout Restaurant & Bar

Address: Dudhia, Plot No 114, Rl, Khatian 152, O, 276, District Darjeeling, Kurseong, Darjeeling District, West Bengal, 734217

You can start with this small restaurant, which is more famous for lunch and dinner, but we had our breakfast here on our way to Darjeeling from NJP. They serve tasty momos. And the quantity is perfect. The noodles and pork preparations are worth tasting.

Sonam’s Kitchen

Address: Dr Zakir Hussain Rd, Chaurasta, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101

A tiny breakfast joint serving delicious, healthy and sumptuous breakfast options. There are a few sitting options, and you might have to share your table with other tourists. Because of the rush, the service is sometimes slow, but the behaviour of the staff is homely, and the food is worth tasting. Try out their choice of eggs & freshly brewed coffee. And if you eat their hash brown potatoes, fried eggs, roasted tomatoes and bread toast, you are sure not to feel hungry for at least 4 hours.

Himalayan Coffee

Address: 5/1, Nehru Rd, Bellevue, Darjeeling, West Bengal – 734101

Located on the 1st floor, the restaurant is quite a contrast to the entrance. While climbing up the fleet of stairs, you might ask yourself why you came here, but keep walking because you’ll get a cosy and warm vibe once you enter the cafe. With wooden chairs and the aroma of the bakery & coffee, it’s a place where you would like to start your day. Their pancakes are good, and so are the omelettes. In addition, they serve a wide range of tea and coffee.

Arcadia Resort

Address: West Point, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101

We stayed here for one night. A bit in the premium range, but the resort offers a grand view of Kanchenjunga from the balconies. Since it’s very close to the Darjeeling station, the toy train and the birds chirping add to this place’s charm. Coming to their breakfast – unlike the other two places, where we had Continental food, we were served poori, sabji, halwa & chicken sandwiches. That halwa was simply yummy. If you ever plan to stay there, try out their breakfast. They also serve a variety of paranthas.

Darjeeling restaurant serving lunch and dinner

Ara by Bellevue

Address: Nehru Rd, Chauk Bazaar, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101

It’s better to visit this Darjeeling restaurant for dinner. With dim lights and live music, it helps to complete the day. Along with good food, they also have a full bar serving well-crafted cocktails. You can choose North Indian, Asian, Continental or Mexican food. Though a bit pricy, overall, the food is good & staff is cordial.

Penang

Address; 27Q8+V5F, Unnamed Road, Limbugaon, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101

Penang is a must-visit if you want to taste authentic Nepalese food. But do not go by the exterior of this restaurant – it’s very deceptive. After all, the path to heaven is narrow! They have a full bar and serve a wide range of Asian food like noodles, soups, thukpa, yakishoba (spelling check please) etc. But, the major attraction of this place is their pork/chicken Nepalese thali. The thali comes with saag, sabji, daal, 3-4 types of chatni (dips), rice, a bowl of clear soup, 1 fry, dalle (Darjeeling chillies) and pork or chicken, whichever you opt for. All these are authentic Nepali dishes.

North Bengal: DOOARS: The ultimate getaway to the wonderland of the North Bengal Tourism

Yeh Dil Mange More

Neha had often heard from her friends that once you visit Darjeeling, your heart craves to go there again. But she didn’t believe it. Reason – when she visited Darjeeling with her parents after her Class X exams, after staying in Gangtok & Pelling, she found this queen of hills dingy & congested. But, on hearing about it from different people, they decided to give it a shot last year. The fundamental objective of this trip was to try out different restaurants, loiter in the Mall and help the kid to have loads of fun. And even before their trip ended, she and her 7-year-old started planning the next visit! That’s the charm of this place! So, if you have yet to visit one of the major destinations of North Bengal tourism, you’re indeed missing out on something. For a budget-friendly hotel – you can opt for Classic Guest House. And for a high range, Arcadia Resort is good. But, while Classic is very close to Mall, Arcadia is a bit secluded.

The post Darjeeling Restaurants – The Hidden Gems appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Joypur Forest

The following day, i.e. on 17th December, we started for Joypur jungle. A sweet aroma punched me as we entered the magical forest area. No! Not the typical smell of the forest; it came at sudden points, making me go crazy. After stopping our car once to find the source, we were reminded that it was winter, time for khejur gur (date palm jaggery). So, along with my nose, I kept my eyes open. The following person we saw on the road with bottles and mud pots, we stopped to purchase some fresh khejur gur. If you visit Bishnupur, Bankura, in winter, it’s a must-try out! But, be careful of fraud.

After a 2 hours ride, we reached Banalata resort near the outskirts of Joypur forest.

Bonphool Tree House

Banalata resort is the most commonly known resort in Joypur forest. But, since it’s overtly priced and overcrowded, we booked our stay in Banphool Tree House. So, while Banalata was bang on SH2, we had to travel further inside the forest to reach Bonphool.

Bonphool was once again precisely something what we wanted. In the lap of nature, it has a swimming pool, children’s play area, sufficient space to laze around, and is preferably deserted. They have boating options and also arrange jungle safaris for a minimal cost. You can also go for cycle rides in the forest. Their room rent includes three times’ meals. Initially, we were not happy with it. But all our complaints vanished after having the first bite of food.

We had booked a treehouse, which was very cozy, and perfectly crafted for a family. They also have other options like cottages, tents, and bamboo houses.

After having our sumptuous lunch, I decided to lie in the room while the other two went for a walk with my cousin, who had come to visit us.

Lying on the low-raised bed and looking at the wooden floor, before I could gather my thoughts, the party was back. So, we went downstairs, ordered our tea, and prepared our board under the eucalyptus trees for playing Connect 4. We played, chatted and drank some excellent tea until the sun went down, and we started feeling the chills in our bones.

Buy the exciting board game ( Connect 4) online from Amazon.

Since it was peak winter and the forest wind made our teeth chatter, they arranged for a bonfire on request. It was near the dining area. So, we went upstairs to keep the board game and covered ourselves with another layer.

The evening went by singing, dancing and playing with the puppies who stayed in the resort. The icing on the cake was the finger-licking snacks.

As the fire started to fade out, we decided to move back to our rooms for dinner and a night of peaceful sleep.

The next day was our last day in Bankura and we had decided to spend it in Bishnupur.

Bishnupur

It took us around half an hour to reach Hotel Annapurna, in the heart of Bishnupur town. Unlike the other three stays, it was a brick-and-mortar star category hotel.

Bishnupur Bankura temples

Bishnupur is renowned for its terracotta temples, artefacts and Baluchori saree. It has a vibrant history and every temple has a story behind it. While I wasn’t interested in sarees, I was keen to visit some temples and the haat. So, we quickly freshened up and left for the famous Rasmancha. Totos are very readily available near the hotels. On fixed rates, they’ll take you through all the temples. You can book entry tickets to the temples either online or at the entrance gate of Rasmancha.

Rasmancha

In 1600 AD, King Bir Hambir built this historical temple to celebrate the Vaishnav Ras Utsav in a protected area. To know more about the history of Rasmancha, click here.

Its structure and artefacts attract not just tourists but historians and artists from far and wide.

Dalmadal Kaman & Ma Chinnamastar temple

Our next stop was the Dalmadal Kaman. It’s indeed a legendary canon but lacks maintenance. Then, very close to it, is Chhinnamasta temple. This 100-year-old simple temple’s deity has been engraved out of Red Desert Sandstone. She is seen holding her severed head in her right hand. In her left hand, she holds a sword.

To know the story behind this temple, click here.

We didn’t visit any other temple, but to learn about the temples in Bishnupur, click here. Unfortunately, we had to return to our hotel due to my health issue. But, here’s the list of temples for you:

Poramatir haat

And after a delicious continental lunch and some rest, we went to poramatir haat. As a homage to the burnt clay and brick artefacts of the Bankura district, this evening market is named Poramatir haat. It starts at around 2 pm and runs till around 7 pm.

The vast ground has specific areas for painters, singers, dancers, and sellers. It’s the perfect place that captures the vibe of Bankura. Along with the beats of the baul and tosu songs, from somewhere, you’ll get the rhythms of dhamsha, and madol. The folk dancers move to their beats, creating an unforgettable ambience.

As you walk to the other sides, you will find some incredible painters engrossed in their canvas. And then there are the villagers, with their colourful handcrafts. Starting from dolls, mud tea sets, cotton stoles and handmade lanterns – each represents Bankura’s native art and crafts.

From the moment you enter this place, it’s bound to remind you of Shantiniketan’s Sonajhuri Haat.

After a few bags full of shopping, we retired to our hotel. They accept gpay, which is good but got quite heavy on my pocket. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my evening.

Tips

Carry an electric kettle with you and a flask. Rooms (except Annapurna hotel) did not have electric kettles. Since we are tea lovers managing without electric kettles was a bit challenging. And flask to help you enjoy a few tea sips while travelling through the forests.

There are quite a few routes to Bankura. But I suggest, if you’re going by road, don’t miss the trip through Jhargram. After all, the road towards the destination is as cherishable as the destination.

To Conclude

Be it a weekday or a weekend; everything’s mostly planned in our lives. Our mind is either planning something or executing it—no doubt why most of us wake up every morning feeling tired. And even after a long weekend (stuffed with household work and socializing), we look forward to the following weekend. However, after visiting Jhilimili and Joypur, I realized the true meaning of relaxation.

“Live close to nature and your spirit will not be easily broken, for you learn something of patience and resilience. You will not grow restless, and you will never feel lonely.”

Ruskin Bond

The post Joypur And Bishnupur Bankura-The Journey Continues appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Being a Bankri (someone from the Bankura district of West Bengal), Bankura as a holiday destination always sounded quirky to me. Moreover, my son and I prefer the beach. Though my hubby loves the plateaus, we always won by 2 to 1. However, last December, I decided to see what’s there in Jhargram or Bankura that entices him so much. And fortunately, we found a resort (Rimil Lodge) with treehouses. The kid also loved the videos and instantly agreed to divulge from a beach trip.

So, off we were….

15^th December is my kiddo’s birthday and in 2021, it was also the last class in school before winter vacation. Our booking at Rimil was for the 15^th itself. So was his maths exam, from 8:00 am. We were so excited that instead of waiting for a day, we decided to let our son experience some fun on his birthday alongside having serious business to take care of. I know many will frown on this idea, but that’s a life skill, to be honest!

The plan was to Jhilimili forest via Jhargram- approximately a 5 hours drive. So, the kid was to take his exam from a roadside eatery in his school uniform!

15^th December 2021

We started our journey at around 6:00 am, aiming to reach Kolaghat by 7:30 am.

We reached there by 7:20 am, giving us enough time to freshen up and prepare for the test. Though we were worried about how the teachers would react to our crazy idea of taking the test inside an eatery, they were quite sporting. After all, it’s the new normal. However, the kid was excited to reveal his birthday plans to his teacher. We had to literally beg him to restrict his words only to “Ma’am, today’s my birthday.” And to keep aside his excitement as after vacation stories. Once the test was over, we changed him into his birthday dress and resumed our journey.

Trust me! I’m not exaggerating, but this was one of our best road trips – the roads were very smooth, and the lush green forests, from the moment we entered Jhargram, added to the charm. There were so many moments when we just stopped and looked around. Unlike any other trips, we had no hurry to reach our destination. There was hardly any traffic and we either passed by villages or forests. Life seemed so peaceful and so enticing. It seemed like a journey that we could continue forever.

Jhilimili Forest

We reached our destination by 2 pm and there wasn’t a single drop of tiredness in us.

Rimil Eco-Tourism

Rimil Eco-Tourism was just the place where we wanted to be. There’s enough open space with a children’s park. However, the treehouse is a bit overtly charged. It’s a make-believe tree house put up on a few pillars. After reading a few stories, the kid expected something more realistic, but the park and the freedom to roam about maskless made him happy. And he also loved the company of the staff. They were very hospitable and paid as much importance to the kid’s words as ours.

They also have a small pond, beside which you can sit and detoxify your city life’s tiredness. And the entire area is perfectly lit up, ensuring that you neither feel unsafe nor does it interfere between you and nature.

In the evening, we had a bonfire just near our treehouse. And they prepared a sal-pata chicken, a speciality of Bankura. The smoky flavour of the countryside chicken can beat any 5-star restaurant’s tandoori.

My father and his friends used this sala-pata recipe, as an old technique, as kids. They used to marinate fish with spicy Indian masalas, wrap them up in sal-pata and put it at the base of the bonfire. Then, once the fire was towards the fag end, they took it out and enjoyed it with hot rice. We enjoyed the same thrill but with chicken!

From Rimil resort, you can visit the Talberia dam. Amidst tribal villages, it’s an appealing spot for visitors who want to spend quality time with themselves.

Visit the hills: An Accidental Sojourn In Darjeeling

Sutan forest

The next day we left for Kangsabati Dam in Mukutmanipur, Bankura. On our way, we took a detour and went to Sutan forest, which is half an hour from Rimil.

Someone has rightly said, “True bliss is found in the silence of the nature.”

Sutan forest is no activity spot. It’s the ultimate heaven where one can sit and do nothing. And if you have a poor mobile network (like we had), consider it as nature’s gift. We could see nothing around except Sal, Seora, Simul, Amla, Palash and many other trees standing in tranquillity. And Sutan lake calmly flowed through them, creating a rustling sound. As if the ambience solaced us by saying, “we are there if you need us!”

After spending some time there, we started walking into the forest. The silence, the smell of the different types of trees, the hustling sound of water and the sudden ruffling sound made by the leaves as air gushed through them – created an aura of calmness and fear. It was broad daylight, but my heartbeat fastened as we went deeper inside the forest. I had to keep a straight face with the seven-year-old, showing courage. And I was relieved when he finally declared we should turn around or we’ll lose track.

After spending some time there, we continued on our journey toward Mukutmonipur.

Another Weekend Gateaway: Let’s travel to the unknown lands of Purulia Ayodhya Pahar

Mukutmanipur

Travelling through the exciting forest of changeable heights on both sides, we reached Mukutmanipur, one of the well-known places in Bankura. The WBFDC resort is on a hill covered by green woods. And within walking distance of the Kangsabati Dam. From the dam, if you look in the resort’s direction, you’ll see nothing but a small forest on a hill. But inside stands a resort with a hauntingly tranquil ambience.

WBFDC resort Mukutmanipur, Bankura

Though the rooms are big, they aren’t well maintained and the service is poor. As the parking is quite far from the reception, climbing up to the rooms might be difficult for aged people. So, try to book rooms near the reception.  For booking and other information, click here.

Kangsabati Dam

No vehicle is allowed on the dam. So, if you want to visit the tourist spots, you’ll have to book an auto or totos, which charge exorbitantly. The sites are mostly overcrowded with tourists, but the boat ride over Kangsabati was exciting. We didn’t want to disturb the harmony of the ride with the motor boat’s sound and took a paal-tola-nouko (a sailing boat). Every time the vast azure water current swayed the boat, chills ran down my spine. After the adventurous ride, we spent some more time loitering on the dam before retiring to our room in the evening.

Personal opinion

I feel we could have avoided this halt. It can be a day’s trip from Rimil resort. But, the hotel options are much more here than at Jhilimili forest. So, make your choices, depending on the type of traveller you are!

Coming up soon with our experience and stay options at Joypur forest and Bishnupur.

The post Bon Voyage – Jhilimili Forest And Mukutmanipur Bankura appeared first on KolkataFusion.

I tend to seek refuge in the Himalayas. The lofty ranges, the green trees, the valleys and the moors of the Himalayas help me to rediscover myself again and again.

Running away to the mighty mountains gives me solace every time the hard routines of life rebukes me and intimidates me with its fiery red eyes.

A few months ago, along with my family members, I went to the sleepy Himalayan settlement of Rinchenpong in the western part of Sikkim. The entire region seemed to be well-adorned with flowers to celebrate the spring carnival, – the small, simple and pretty forget-me-nots, the Red Lillies, the Arum Lillies, the Bleeding Hearts, the Poppies, the Foxgloves, the Salvias, the Pansies, the Daisies, the Poinsettias, the spiny Rhododendrons, the Orchids and many unknowns added dashes of colours and made the region more verdant and vibrant.

After a 5 hour-long journey from New Jalpaiguri, all of us were quite tired. The limbs wanted to recline in the comforts of the hotel we were staying in but the heart wanted to wander around. As a sincere listener of heart on all occasions, I went out for a stroll. The road headed towards the unknown. I took short strides ahead. The Buddhist prayer flags greeted me and fluttered in the cool breeze with absolute glee. Some unknown birds chirped about their daily chores. As I moved ahead, I heard the crickets singing an unknown song. Perhaps, a song of melancholy, or, perhaps a welcome song for a two-legged animal who calls herself civilized. The Pine trees stood tall and protected the flower shrubs, creepers, grassy and mossy green carpets like the responsible elders.

I stopped and took in deep breaths – the abundant and unleashed pure air to help me go on for a few more months until the schedule of my next refuge. The air which I took in had a sweet, slightly pungent, intoxicating and wild fragrance. Was it of the Pines? I really don’t know. The fragrance had the quality or vice to turn anyone into a life-long wanderer. The fragrance mocked the civilization and its advancements and laughed devilishly at the attempts to harness its source. I started climbing up a flight of mossy stairs. They led me to a place where the slightly crowded settlement of Kaluk waved and beckoned from a distance.

I quietly told myself, “maybe next day” and headed back to the hotel.

Next day, we went to our Rhododendron adventure and came back to Rinchenpong late in the evening. We couldn’t explore much of Rinchenpong on that day. The Kanchenjunga, too, did not smile at us at all.

The day after, we woke up to a bright, warm, sunny weather. As we peeped outside of our glassy window, the Kanchenjunga smiled warmly. She stood tall with all her pristine and spotlessly white mighty peaks, flanked by the Mt. Kumbhakarna from the left, the Simvo twins and Siniolchu, guarded her from the right.

The day was so bright that we couldn’t hold ourselves back and went out for a hike down the slopes towards Tato Pani.

The entire region seemed to be having a gala time, with the treetops lightly swaying their heads, the flowers dotting the green slopes and the children playing in the football ground basking in the warm sun. Our sojourn could not be carried on further as our tummies growled with hunger. We headed back for lunch. The lunch platter was an amazing one. The ‘gundruk’ soup made with locally available ingredients and the dried shrimp curry were absolutely delicious.

After lunch, we, the younger turks of the group, instantly made a plan to hike up 3 Kilometers to Kaluk. The road was a smooth, pitched one with the Pine guardians strictly guarding each of its curvaceous turns. The walk was a pleasant one. We took relaxed strides ahead. The intoxicating fragrance went along with us. The quaint mountain scenes elevated us to speechless appreciators. But, frankly speaking, Kaluk failed to live up to our expectations.

What more can a crowded settlement, crowded shops and crowded luxurious resorts with people hankering over Kanchenjunga’s sight from the rooftops offer to the ones who were smitten by the simplicity of Rinchenpong? With a deep despise we turned down on the left side of the unkempt road towards a village called Boom. The pathfinding plackard showed that it was just 1.75 Kilometers down Kaluk. Whether we really wanted to explore the place or not, I don’t know, but in a state of trance, we moved ahead. However, sadly enough a loud rumble in the clouds above us pushed us back to our senses and we decided to return because we were not equipped for the sudden rainfall. Thanks to the friendly cab driver who favoured us by transporting us back to our Rinchenpong hotel.

The conventions of the civic life we are used to, threw us back to the din of the city. Our workplaces waited for our attendance. Honestly, I did not want to come back so early. I just wanted to stay back and seep in the flavour of the place slowly just like a wine enthusiast seeps in some exotic old wine. I really longed to go back to the pitch-dark nights illuminated by the humble lights of the mountain hamlets. I longed to go back and spend a night under the stars and several known and unknown constellations. I longed to go back to the life of a rambler roaming around the mountains and going on a high after inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of the wild forests. Yes, there’s no escape from the mountains, Mr. Ruskin Bond. I can’t but totally agree to the words you spoke with such a conviction,

“It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape.”

– Ruskin Bond, Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the Himalayas

How to reach Rinchenpong and where to stay

i) Reach New Jalpaiguri Jn on any NJP bound train. 

ii) Take a cab directly to Rinchenpong. It would take about 5 or 5.5 hours to reach the place.

Hotels and resorts in Rinchenpong:

1. Rinchenpong Nest
2. Orchid Villa Homestay
3. Yangsum Heritage Farm

Photography Courtesy: Avik Das

First published as a post in the facebook group “Weekend Tours From Kolkata”

The post Rustic Rinchenpong appeared first on KolkataFusion.

The next morning, I found myself reluctantly sitting inside a hired autorickshaw. Actually, I did not want to join the picnic party, instead, I wanted to stay back alone, reminiscing the old times when Maa made the rice flour dumplings and coconut stuffed crepes to celebrate Makarsankranti. Nevertheless, because of his colleagues’ pleading and continuous requests, I decided otherwise.

The day started…

With the loud noise of the vehicle. The chatters of the picnic crowd continued till we reached the location and was overpowered by the rumbles of the nearby cascading streams. We nudged our way through different selfie crazy picnic groups to the source of the sound. The first thing I noticed was a fat brown mass of rock through a veil of brown rippling ribbons of water gushing down below to join the Usri falls in the Girdih district of Jharkhand. Not a very impressive show for a waterfall, I thought, in the true sense of the term. What fascinated me, instead, was the humble beauty of the surroundings. A few boulders stood up, unarranged, from the chest of the muddy river. On looking up, there was a green horizon, soothing the tired eyes.

As we reached Usri Falls

While the other members of our group, joined the selfie gang too, Avik and I, sat upon a rock and looked on. The fidgety stream was flowing by incessantly. The ripples did not stop even once, they broke, they gathered and flowed. As I concentrated on their movements, it occurred to me that our lives, too, are like the ripples.  We break, we gather and move on. Life is all about moving on while the inevitable death would sweep us away, like the river here, sweeping away the ripples with it.

My stream of contemplations broke when someone called for lunch. There were soft paranthas, dum aloo, and kadhai paneer. Mahender Ji, a caretaker of the guesthouse, which belonged to Avik’s workplace, managed to cook and pack them early in the morning. Though Mahender Ji was not an excellent cook, I loved the lunch. It seemed to me that I had never tasted such soft paranthas, dum aloo, and paneer ever in my life. Maybe I was very hungry, unknowingly, or, maybe, the natural setting influenced me to find joy in humble things around me. 

After having the food, we decided to stroll around the rocky banks of the river. The banks were quite slippery, as water rode over them, at times. While treading on forward, even, I, who boast of completing a few treks in my life, couldn’t help but slipped. We took a few more steps ahead and saw small sand dunes, probably formed due to erosional as well as depositional work of Usri. It was fun to step on those dunes, watch them crumble down by bits. For a few moments, we became children again. Our shoes went up in our hands, our feet bare. As we walked slowly on the sand, we felt our feet immersing down. And then we looked back to see the footprints we left there. Though deep in our minds, we knew, the next rains will wash them off, that moment was ours.

Good time too ends

The sun dimmed. It was time to go back home. Our autorickshaw driver started the engine. The noise brought us back to the present. Yes, we need to go back to our chores. I returned too, to my grief as well as the daily chores of life. The brief outing taught me a lot without saying anything. I realized that very little can be achieved by brooding about the loss I am undergoing through and I needed to live each moment of my life, as my father had always advised. I couldn’t change the scenario by bringing back my father to his previous self but I gathered more strength to face the present, from this short trip to Usri Falls, Jharkhand.

The post A Picnic By The Usri Falls, Jharkhand appeared first on KolkataFusion.

We launched our website, have started investing time, and brain in SEO, exploring new ways to make our digital presence felt and trying our hands-on photos and video editing. Moreover, we also got the support of two new members and it’s not just a dream of 2 school friends anymore. Amidst all the problems the Pandemic has brought along, we kept finding and devoting time for our dear child – our website. And why? This is because YOU ARE THERE!

KolkataFusion is incomplete without you readers and your support in our journey. Even when we were lost and down, you messaged us suggestions and edits that caught your eyes. You let us know you are waiting for us and though we weren’t writing, your trust in us was unmoved. For you, for all of you, we have decided to look back and list down a few posts that you enjoyed reading the most, the posts through which you kept our spirits high. Hope you enjoy reading them once more!

The Most Loved Posts of the Year 2020

Bonphool – The purest honey from the Sundarbans Forest Co-Operative Apiary

KolkataFusion virtually visited the remote jungles of Sundarbans in search of the purest honey made by the Co-operatives there. The organic honey has become the lifeline of the residents in the Sundarbans village because it reduced human lives’ loss due to human-wildlife conflict. Click here to know how Bonphool honey is beneficial for both you and the workers.

MY FIRST JUNGLE SAFARI EXPERIENCE

An 8-year-old guest blogger has narrated his first jungle safari experience through his vivid narrative. It has been a joy to present his writing to you. If you want to re-join him in his experience in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh, click here without further delay. And, if you haven’t read it yet … you must!

Shantiniketan Resorts and Food Joints

Shanti-r Niketan, Shantiniketan is indeed a peaceful place, where you can bond with nature, roam about freely without forced social-distancing and buckle up for 2021. Approximately four hours drive from Kolkata, it has some beautiful eco-resorts and restaurants serving homely food. With the COVID-19 restriction, it’s best to welcome the new year away from the crowd. So, plan a trip to Shantiniketan and we are there to help you.

Mangalorean Chicken Sukka Recipe in Bengali Style

Bengalis can bring their unique touch to any cuisine, starting from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Though we often cook dishes like Palak Paneer and Biriyani at home, this was our first food-fusion post. It might be this fusion of Mangalore and Bengal that caught our readers’ attention and with New Year’s Eve coming, if you, too, want to try out this yummy recipe, click here.

Covid-19 Era: Our Journey towards the new normal

We have narrated our respective experiences of dealing with Covid-19 and our journeys towards the new normal. This was our first post while launching KolkataFusion’s website, and got a broad reach to different corners of the world. Would you like to retrospect those dark days again through this post? Here you go!

In 2021, stay tuned with us as we are planning to present more exciting stories on Bengal and Bengalis just for you, our esteemed readers.

The post Wrapping up the year 2020 appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Though there are plenty of resorts and hotels in the heart of the town, we chose the eco-stay homestay, Madol, which is some 15 minutes’ drive from the Visva Bharati, amidst lush green fields.

Where to stay in Shantiniketan?

Madol Eco Stay

Rooms

It has 2 family rooms on the ground floor and 1 dormitory on the first floor. Rooms are clean with basic amenities, attached toilets and balcony. The view from each balcony is not only soothing but also refreshing! The dinning area was our favourite, with wooden chairs and tables! The owner, Riddhiman Bajari also has a fascination for nurturing plants and thus his kitchen garden is a treat for the city-dwellers.

The lawn is perfect for evening gatherings and it is big enough to comfortably host 10 to 15 guests. In the severity of cold December-end, we were fortunate enough to enjoy a bonfire in the evening. This same place can be a great play area for the kids!

Parking is free – there’s a place where you can park your car, but discuss with the owner before travelling because parking more than two vehicles in the given area may be a challenge.

Food

Breakfast is complimentary and you can customize the food according to your taste. We travelled with our kid and stayed there for two days. And we never had any issue with our dinners (we mostly preferred having our lunch outside while touring the town). Our kid was served on time and precisely in the requested manner.

Quantity of food is more than sufficient and it also reflects the generosity of our villagers – to whom we are also guests and not a mere mode of earnings.

The taste of the served food is typically that of ghoroa bangali (Bengali homemade) food, which you can personalize depending whether your palates enjoy spicy or non-spicy food. One of the interesting food items that we had was Banspora Chicken (if it would have been mutton, the taste would surely have multiplied, but as we got late in placing the order, we missed it). This well marinated tender chicken stuffed inside hollowed bamboo poles and slowly cooked in charcoal oven is an the perfect item to savour while you sit beside the bonfire and listening to mollifying baul songs (Folk songs of Bengal).

Staff

Riddhiman, the owner, believes in attending his guests himself and with his knowledge and experience he’s not only helpful, but also a great guide. He’s accompanied by a young guy, who guards the property and also acts as the hands-on helper whenever anything needed. Both of them are amicable and attends guest wholeheartedly.

Their warmth is sure to make your stay more cherishable.

Who should go?

It’s not a brick-and-mortar hotel, so don’t expect any modern amenities – it’s absolutely for nature lovers, who want to spend some time with themselves and their loved ones.

Since it’s surrounded by villages and ponds, if you are travelling with kids, carry mosquito repellents.

Some other places to stay

La Sonajhuri

While visiting the Sonajhuri haat, we saw this resort and it looked pretty enticing from outside. Its near the location of the famous Sonajhuri haat, where you can enjoy the commotion during the day time as well as relax in the silence of the evenings. Among some of the other resorts, La Sonajhure was a well recommended place, but as we wanted secluded resort, we had opted for Madol. We plan to stay here the next time we visit.

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5/5

Ram-Shyam Village Resort

Another quite well-know resort, in Sonajhuri, located very close to the “sanibarer haat,” this place is full of life. Evenings are a seamless blend of series of Baul programmes, finger licking snacks and hot mugs of tea/coffee. Though the cost of food is a bit on the higher side, they serve delicious meals, with loads of ghee and in the perfect village ambiance.

Tripadvisor rating: 3.5/5

Where to eat?

Kasahara – The Café located inside the campus of Visva Bharati, it reflects the vibrant culture of the university. Though the food wasn’t anything great, but it’s a must visit for the ambience and the nostalgia of college days.

Purba Pally Guest House – In a typical set-up of Government guest houses, this restaurant serves delicious food at the most reasonable price you can imagine. They have both veg and non-veg thalis, which come with Daal, Bhaat, Bhaja, Shaak er Ghonto, Papad, Chatni, Doi, Mishti, and Torkari (for Veg Thali) or Fish/Chicken/Mutton for Non-Veg thalis.

Out trip was only two days, so we couldn’t go around and check all the other eateries. With the help of a dear friend (and relative), who have been a regular visitor of Shantiniketan during his college days, we bring for you some other eateries of Shantiniketan. He is also an ardent foodie, and aims to pen down his affairs with street food someday.

The following places are his suggestions, and I can vouch on his words!

A lunch in SHILPA with Mutton curry and Rice, a serving of crispy potato fry and white jholjhole (soupy) alu posto. Located in front of Bolpur Super market, finding it out won’t be a challenge for you.

Kharimati – A garden converted into an open restaurant. Ultimate fusion of aristocracy with Bengali Gram er flavour – enjoy delicious meals served on kansar thala (utensils made of Bell Metal).

German and SURMAN dhaba – Once upon a time it was the go-to place of college goers. This place also used to serve liquor in the perfect dhaba set-up and was absolutely safe. Though liquor isn’t served here as it used to be, but it’s machchur, and chicken tarka with handmade voluptuous chapatis still tastes as lip-smacking as ever.

We also recommend Chicken Dosa as one of the must try street food of Ratan Pally.

Are you an Egg lover?

Half boiled, full boiled poultry and duck eggs topped with pinch-full black pepper and black salt served half egg shell intact but can be loosened with a spin of spoon underneath. You can taste it near Chitra Cinema Hall.

Ghare Baire – One of the well-known restaurants in Shantiniketan that serves authentic Bengali food, is located next to a Government run cinema hall. It has a clean and soothing ambience with amicable staff ready to help you out. But the prices are on the higher side.

Disclaimer: COVID-19 has changed the way we travel. While most of these resorts are fully functional and takes care of the hygiene, it’s our responsibility to abide by the new travel norms and keep ourselves safe.

To know about Shantiniketan, the best time to visit and the festivals, read our post Weekend Destination Near Kolkata – Shantiniketan

The post Shantiniketan Resorts and Food Joints appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Approximately 163 kms from Kolkata lies this small town, Shantiniketan – an ideal place to revive and rejuvenate your soul. The land of bauls, the land of art and culture, the dream place of Rabindra Nath Tagore, Shantiniketan, is now also a great weekend destination and attracts tourists from all over the world.

History

In 1863, when Maharshi Debendranath Tagore founded the Brahmo Samaj, he had a guest house on this land of red soil named as Shantiniketan. The story goes such that while on a boat ride from Raipur, this learned man chanced upon a small village called Bhubhandanga, named after Bhubhan Dakat, a local dacoit, and he fell in love with it. He decided to buy a piece of land there and built a meditation center, which later became the initiator of Brahmo Samaj.

Viswa- Bharati – communion of the world with India

Later on, in 1901, his son, Rabindra Nath Tagore, converted his father’s ashram in to a school, in the lines of the Asian Gurukul system. And with this he laid the foundation stone of our renowned institute Visva- Bharati – as Tagore had said, a place “Where The World Makes A Home In A Nest.” A school which started with a handful of students is now an internationally accredited university that offers wide range of courses starting from regular graduation courses to specializations in different genres.

But, Shantiniketan hosts lot more than the university! The wealth of information housed within the Rabindra Bhavan is a treasure trove to dive in and can entice any living soul. It remains closed on Wednesdays. And the complex also has an art gallery that treasures many of Tagore’s work. To take a tour of Tagore’s houses – Punascha, Shyamali, Konarka, Udichi and Udayana, visit the Uttrayan Complex  – a Tagore lover is sure to die for it.

Let’s now move out of the University and look at another game changer – Amar Kutir.

Amar Kutir – my cottage

Yes! That Amar Kutir which supports the locals now andshowcases various handicrafts and has a stock of over 1300 regional handicraft products; that Amar Kutir which is a must-go place for a shopaholic, and that Amar Kutir where you can see artisans giving shape to the raw products, had played a significant role in our Independence. Set up by Late Susen Mukherjee, Amar Kutir, meaning my cottage, was a place where Indian independence activists took refuge. It is a half an hour’s drive from the university and you will easily get local transports to this place.    

Susen Mukherjee, the follower of Ramakrishna Vedanta Culture, had found that his purpose in life was “to free yourself from the bondage of foreign rule”. He had been allied with many spearhead leaders of the freedom movement, and has been greatly motivated by their visions. He wanted to build a remote, human inhabitant free haven for the fugitives, preferably in the midst of woods to dupe cudgels and piercing eyes of the alert British Police. It was to help the youths involved in freedom movements earn their livings for themselves and their families. They could work on sari printing, handloom and leather craft production. Mr. Mukherjee was a hitherto wanderer, and through his rigorous travelling, he met different people, learnt new techniques of waxing, cracking and printing.

It is said that this place has once been home to notable Moni Ganguly and Pannalal Dasgupta, whom Mr. Mukherjee had met in prison. His dream vision was on halt from 1932 to 1937 – during his imprisonment. However, on returning they started with a new zeal and with the help of notable freedom fighters, they also imparted knowledge on Marxism.

Two brothers, Kamalaksha Bose and Alok Bose, are the heirs of the nearly 100 acre land and are running the organisation with utmost love and dedication making it the only place in India to specialise in creating leather Batik objects, the motifs on them inspired by the Bengal school of Art and Ajanta cave paintings.

How to reach Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan, a neighborhood city of Bolpur is in the Birbhum district. Though you can go by road, the most convenient transport is train.

Train – Find the list of trains available – Indian Rail. It takes around 2-3 hours to reach by train.

Road – You can go by your own vehicle, the route is pretty simple with a comfortable drive via NH2 till Burdwan. From here, once you take the NH2B, the roads are a bit congested, but only until you leave the Burdwan town (50 m approximately). Some 15 kms from the main road, the smell of Bengal’s villages is sure to hit your nose. With lush green paddy fields, palm trees, and small ponds every here and there, it’s usually a relaxing drive till Shantiniketan. The road crosses a few villages, and thus at times making the drive cumbersome. It takes around 4 to 5 hours to reach by personal vehicle.

Another weekend within a few hours distance from Kolkata is on the banks of Rupnarayan River

Best time for a weekend trip to Shantiniketan

The best times to to visit is July to February.

However, you can also visit during the different festivals

• Vasanta Utsav – Rabindra Nath Tagore named Dol as Vasanta Utsav to welcome the onset of Spring, is celebrated in the month of March. This national festival of India, is known as Holi in most of the parts of our country. But dol in Shantiniketan has a different charm. There was time when all the colors used to be handmade from the flowers – it used to be what we term as organic today! A number of dance performances and cultural programs are staged by the students during this time of the year.
• Rabindra Jayanti – another time when you can witness the rich culture of the town is the birthday of Kobiguru Rabindranth Tagore (in May)– to commemorate him, students perform cultural programs like poetry, dance and drama, written and composed by him.
• Poush Mela – One of the biggest attractions of Shantiniketan is the Poush mela which pays a homage to the day when Devendranath Tagore With Twenty Followers Accepted The Brahmo Creed From Ram Chandra Vidyabagish On 21 December 1843 (7 Poush 1250 According To The Bengali Calendar). Though the fair is officially for three days, it starts from December end and lasts till end of January. Besides finding rich work of art, you can also enjoy live baul performances.

Sources: SiliconIndia, Wikiwand, Amar Kutir brochure

For an escape to the hills, know about Darjeeling.

Coming up… Where To Stay and What To Do

The post Weekend Destination Near Kolkata – Shantiniketan appeared first on KolkataFusion.