Howrah: Railway History, Gardens and Rivers
Accommodation in Howrah
Howrah offers a wide range of travel interests: railway history, religious and architectural heritage, a large botanical garden, and riverside landscapes. When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first consider whether you would especially like to include museums and historic sites, plants and birdlife, or a river experience in your trip. The attractions are in different locations, so your own interests are a useful starting point for planning.
Railway History and Unique Collections
The Railway Museum in Howrah showcases the history of railways in eastern India. Its collection includes the first broad-gauge electric locomotive built in India—a notable subject for anyone interested in technology and transport history. Howrah railway station is a five-minute walk from the museum.
The Ananda Niketan Kirtishala Museum also offers a glimpse into the past: it is located in the Bagnan block of Howrah district and has exhibits from various historical periods. Visitors who put museums at the heart of their trip will find different points of interest here—from the railway focus at the Railway Museum to the exhibits from different eras in Bagnan.
Plant Life and Seasonal Nature
The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden covers 109 hectares and is managed by the Botanical Survey of India. Its collection comprises more than 12,000 specimens, and numerous rare plants also grow there. This makes the garden a distinct nature and plant-life destination alongside the museums and historic sites. It can be reached by bus and taxi. When choosing a holiday rental, it may be important to consider whether you plan to make the garden a special destination or give priority to other interests.
Santragachhi Jheel offers another opportunity for seasonal nature-watching: during the winter months, especially in December and January, the wetland attracts many migratory birds. These months are therefore particularly interesting if birdlife is part of your travel plans. The Damodar flows past Garchumukh Deer Park, where picnicking is possible. Its riverside setting and the option to picnic offer a different focus from visiting a museum or plant collection.
Culture, Architecture and River Landscapes
Belur Math was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897. It is located on the west bank of the Hooghly in Belur, Howrah, and is the worldwide headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Opening hours are 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. If you include Belur Math in your day, you can take these visiting hours into account when planning.
Other cultural sites each offer their own focus. Saratchandra Kuthi, also called Sarat Smriti Mandir, is protected under the West Bengal Heritage Commission Act of 2001 (IX). Andul Rajbari is a historic site and cultural heritage site in Andul, Howrah district. The facade of the Narayan (Sridhar) Temple features terracotta sculptures; above the eastern entrance is a battle scene from the Ramayana. Bhot Bagan Math was the first Tibetan Buddhist temple in the plains of India. These varied sites give culture enthusiasts several themes to choose from for their trip.
The Hooghly, Rupnarayan and Damodar rivers meet at Gadiara. A sunset river cruise is a tourist activity there and offers a very different travel experience from the museums and historic sites. The Howrah Book Fair may also be of interest when planning your trip: it takes place every winter at the Sarat Sadan Complex in Howrah and includes dance, music, theatre and recitation, among other events. When choosing your holiday rental, you can decide whether to give particular priority to culture, nature-watching or a river experience. For further information, also visit the destination page Howrah.
For the broader travel overview: West Bengal.
More Destinations
More places in the same destination:
