Howrah: Culture, Rivers and Nature

Howrah lies on the western bank of the Hooghly, opposite the city of Kolkata. In the district, you’ll find spiritual sites, houses with literary and architectural histories, a botanical garden and river landscapes. You can shape your stay around the experiences that interest you most: culture and history, a trip to the water, or winter wildlife watching, for example. When choosing a holiday apartment in Howrah, it’s therefore helpful to consider which of these aspects of the district you’d like to explore.

Cultural Sites and History

Belur Math was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 and is the worldwide headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The site brings together a specific historical founding and its significance to the organisation. The opening hours provided can help you plan your visit: Belur Math is open from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. You can plan your day around either of these time slots.

Another literary trail leads to Samata Bera. There, in Howrah district, Saratchandra Kuthi, also known as Sarat Smriti Mandir, stands on the bank of the Rupnarayan River. The house was the home of Bengali writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and is protected as a historic site under the West Bengal Heritage Commission Act of 2001 (IX). Anyone interested in literary history will find a tangible connection here between a writer and his former home.

Andul Rajbari is also a historic heritage site in Howrah district. From Andul railway station, it is about a 15-minute walk covering 1.2 kilometres. Other historic places offer different points of interest: the Damodar Temple of the Mandal family is in the village of Jhikira and was built in 1769. Bhot Bagan Math was the first Tibetan Buddhist temple in the lowlands of India. The Railway Museum in Howrah was established in 2006 to showcase the history of railways in eastern India. These places offer different ways to explore the district, from religious history to railway history.

Lake, Garden and Rivers

The Indian Botanical Garden features rare plants and has a collection of more than 12,000 specimens. It is also notable for a 250-year-old banyan tree. The garden is a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to include plants and botanical diversity in their trip.

At Santragachhi Jheel, the focus is on the lake and its birdlife. The large lake is next to Santragachhi railway station. In winter, particularly in December and January, it attracts numerous migratory birds. The lake is about a 7-minute walk covering 650 metres from Santragachi Junction railway station. The approximate walking distance and seasonal highlight can help you plan this outing by timing and theme.

At Gadiara, the three rivers Hughli, Rupnarayan and Damodar meet. A sunset river cruise is one of the tourist activities there; Gadiara is also a picnic spot in Howrah district. If you’re planning a river-focused stay, this destination offers a different experience from the cultural sites or botanical garden. Picnicking is also possible at Garchumukh Deer Park, and the Damodar River flows alongside the park. The park is in Howrah district, in the Shyampur-1 administrative block. This lets you distinguish between the confluence of rivers at Gadiara and the park beside the Damodar when planning your trip.

You’ll also find Chakpara as a direct destination at the next-closest level of the hierarchy. Other destinations in the same higher-level area: Nadia, Malda, Darjeeling, North 24 Parganas, West Medinipur, Purulia and Jalpaiguri.

For the broader travel overview: West Bengal.