Your destination for extraordinary travel  

   
 
Search
Keyword to search for
on Theindiatravel.com
      
In this section
General Information
People of West Bengal
History
Religious Places
Historical Places
Museums & Art Galleries
Rivers & Lakes
Beaches
Hill Stations
Forests
Wildlife
Festivals 
Temples
Travellers Interest
Hotels of West Bengal
City Phone Codes
Travel & Tour Operators
Educational Institute
      
Free Listing
Add yourself  in our database :
Tour Operator
Travel Agents
Hotel Directory
Golden Plan
       
  Home > State > West Bengal > Rivers & Lakes
      
Rivers & Lakes

<Next Page>

Cities of West Bengal 
Calcutta DarjeelingKalimpong Malda
Mirik • Murshidabad • Siliguri • Vishnupur
MukutmanipurPuruliyaMassanjore
SabujdwipGadiara Diamond Harbour
FaltaFraserganjJambudwip
KakdwipNurpur 
Mukutmanipur

Mukutmanipur is located around a dam in the district of Bankura. The dam harnesses the waters of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers.

The dam itself is worth visiting. It is 10,098 m. long and 38 m. high. The gently lapping lake, covering an area of 86 sq. km., offers a grand view of the sunset. The lake nestles amidst the surrounding greenery and provides boating facilities to the visitors.

A walk from Mukutmanipur leads one to the confluence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers. Nearby is the Pareshnath Hill. A number of stone images are to be found on top of the hill. Among these are the Jain God, Parswanath Swami, made of chlorite stone, and the Hindu God, Shiva. 
The green island of Banpukuria Mrigadab is a must for tourists. The island is full of mahua, kendu and palash trees. A boat trip to and from Mukutmanipur takes around four hours.Another important landmark near Mukutmanipur is Ambikanagar, an ancient centre of Jain culture. 

How To Get There 
Direct buses to Mukutmanipur are available from the Shahid Minar bus terminus at Calcutta. Buses also leave the Machantola bus stand at Bankura for Mukutmanipur. Bankura town is only 56 km. from Mukutmanipur.
Train services to Bankura are also available from Howrah Station. 

Puruliya

Puruliya town is the district headquarters. It offers quite a few interesting landmarks to the tourist.

Saheb Bandh, a 50-acre lake where thousands of birds migrate every year, has a very interesting history. Convicts, at the initiation of Colonel Tikley, dug this waterbody. Work started in 1843 and ended in 1848. Birds visit Saheb Bandh from Baluchistan, Siberia and various places in Europe.

The Science Centre at Puruliya, built on the lines of the Birla Industrial Museum, houses a planetarium. Inside the centre are models explaining scientific theories. 

A short bus-ride to Garjoypur takes one to the banks of the peaceful Subarnarekha River, where the ruins of an old fort and a few ancient temples make a charming site for exploration.

How To Get There 
Trains leave Calcutta for Puruliya town from the Howrah Station. The Puruliya Express is available from Howrah on all days except Saturday. 

Buses to Puruliya are available from Shahid Minar bus terminus in Calcutta. Bus services are also available from Digha, Krishnanagar, Jhargram, Bardhaman, Tarakeshwar, Malda and Berhampur. 

Massanjore

The Massanjore Dam was constructed in 1955 with Canadian assistance. The dam is also known locally as the Canada Dam. It is 34.4 m. high and 609.6 m. long. The Mayurakshi River water is regulated with a series of 21 lock gates. The dam generates hydroelectric power and irrigates nearly 50,000 acres of agrarian land, spread between the districts of Birbhum and Murshidabad. 

Low green hills around the Massanjore Dam converge with the Birbhum's santhal, or tribal, belt. Santhal settlements lie a short walk away from the Massanjore Dam.

Massanjore is 77 km. from Shantiniketan and 40 km. from Siuri. The Massanjore Dam is best viewed during the day. 

Sabujdwip
Sabujdwip, meaning Green Island, is a quiet piece of greenery, 75 km. away from Calcutta. This is a sandbank, two kilometres long and 12 metres wide, formed at the confluence of the Behula and Hooghly rivers. It was developed and promoted as a tourist spot by the joint venture of the Hooghly District Council and the State Fisheries Department in 1993. The island is crowded with casuarina, palm, eucalyptus, arjun, sal, segun, and mahogany trees. A view tower and a children's park have also been constructed here. Easily accessible from Calcutta city and yet close to nature, Sabujdwip is an ideal picnic spot
Gadiara

A popular weekend getaway on the banks of the River Hooghly, this small village is located near the confluence of the Damodar, the Rupnarayan and the Hooghly rivers. Gadiara commands a magnificent view of the three mighty rivers. Here the combined body of water is so vast that it looks like a miniature sea. Nature at Gadiara, despite its lack of variety, is quietly beautiful. 

The main attractions here are the ruins of Fort Mornington Point, said to have been built by Lord Clive to guard the entry of ships up the rivers. There is also a lighthouse. 

Nearby is Mayachar, a sandbank on the Rupnarayan River, which is easily accessible by boat. Launches ferry tourists from Gadiara to Geonkhali via Nurpur. This two-hour launch ride connecting the three districts of Howrah, South 24-Parganas and Midnapur, is also a memorable experience. 

Diamond Harbour

Originally known as Hajipur, this charming spot in South 24 Parganas was renamed Diamond Harbour by the British. As the River Hooghly, a distributary of the Ganga, bends south on its way to the sea, it becomes wider and deeper, enabling even large ships to steam up the river and dock at Diamond Harbour. Located 48 km. south of Calcutta, the harbour is a popular day's excursion for Calcuttans, accessible from the city by road and rail. For families and friends looking for a quick getaway, Diamond Harbour it is an ideal picnic spot during cool weather. 

River cruises are available and tourists may spend the entire day on the gently lapping Hooghly. Walking along the riverbank, one can also reach the Sharisha Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, which is a popular spot for pilgrims. 

How To Get There 
Diamond Harbour can be reached by road or by rail. Trains leave Sealdah (South) Station from 3:45 a.m. to 11:42 p.m. Travelling by train takes one and half hours. 

Government buses leave Calcutta from the Shahid Minar bus terminus throughout the day, going directly to Diamond Harbour. 

Private buses leave from Babughat. Most Calcuttans, when travelling in groups, prefer to go to Diamond Harbour in cars or chartered buses. 

© 2008. theindiatravel.com. All Rights Reserved