This Women's Day, Try These Offbeat Destinations For A Quick Break With Your Girl Gang

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Being a city slicker is tough work and sometimes we just need to get away from it all. Luckily for us, Kolkata offers plenty of quick escapes. Hence, this Women's Day, pack your bags and set out on an adventure with your girl gang.

Duarsini

Duarsini, located close to Bardhaman on the foothills of Purulia district, is ideal for those who love isolation. You can sit endlessly watching the Satsurang River flow surrounded by a forest full of shal, shimul, piyal and palash trees. The real attraction here are the tribal villages where you can get to study about the unique cultures and traditions of Saonthal, Munda, Shabaradh and Kheriya communities. The jungle here is home to many wild animals like bear, wild boar, elephants, hyena and wolf. The distance from Kolkata is 178 km, approximately a 7-hour drive by road. The closest railway stations to Duarsini are Purulia and Ghatsila.

Bishnupur

If you are a history buff, you must visit Bishnupur since it has more historical temples than any other place in West Bengal. It’s also interesting from an architectural point of view. When you go temple hopping, you will notice four distinct types of temple designs. It is well known for its Hindu temples made from local terracotta, such as the pyramid-shaped Rasmancha established around the 1600s. Ornate carvings adorn the walls of Jor Bangla Temple. Madan Mohan Temple is decorated with scenes from Hindu mythology, including the Mahabharata. The place is also famous for its terracotta jewellery, pottery and artefacts.

Gongoni

Located in a small town of Garhbeta in the West Midnapore district, Gongoni is known as the Grand Canyon of West Bengal. It’s a fascinating gorge made of red soil on the banks of River Silabati. Years of soil erosion by wind and the river have carved and chiselled the gorge into a row of jagged cliffs peppered with white sandbanks, making it look uncommon and exceptional. If you want amazing pictures of the canyon, be sure to visit it either during early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight is mellow making the gorge glow like gold.

Daringbadi

Did you know that Odisha has a hill station where the temperature drops to zero degrees in winters? Daringbadi, popularly known as the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’, is the only place there where the dew freezes to ice during chilly winters. Your Insta will get rave reviews with the area’s picture-perfect waterfalls, the tall pine trees and plantations of coffee, turmeric, and pepper. Apart from revelling in the scenic beauty, you can also visit the Belghar Sanctuary nearby, where you can sight many wild animals, especially elephants.

Pirates Party Adventure Sail

If you are a beach bum, you’ll love this. Say ahoy to a pirate-themed adventure party. Sail upon a wooden rustic cruise boat through river deltas, creeks and jungles into the backwaters of Bengal heading towards a beautiful white sand beach called New Bakkhali beach island near Sundarbans. Apart from the boat stay, you get to enjoy other activities like camping, jungle safari, bonfire with bamboo kebabs and a night cruise. The Adventure Sail covers a number of hidden islands of Bengal including Bhagbatpur Crocodile Island passing through the Lothian Island.