These Waterfalls Near Kolkata Make Up For The Most Picturesque Sceneries

Starting off with a rather underrated one, the Whistle Khola Waterfall is located in Kurseong, West Bengal. It has a rather interesting story—its name came about as a result of all the toy trains that pass through the front of this waterfall, making whistles. As it's comparatively untouched and absolutely free from the crowd, this waterfall can make for a perfect place you would want to visit with your partner.

How to Reach: You can take a train to Siliguri and then a taxi to Whistle Khola Waterfall.

Changey Waterfall is located in the North of Bengal. With the backdrop of dense green forests, it appears as if a great white line is being drawn by this waterfall. It is the best destination for you to visit if you plan on experiencing living within the wildlife, as it is located within the Neora Valley National Park. You will get a chance to closely spectate the rare red panda here, along with a huge variety of fauna. To witness the falls closely, one must climb 900 metres. A private agency over there helps people by lending them walking sticks in exchange for a fee. 

How to Reach: Once you reach Siliguri, you have to cover a further distance of 111.3 km via road, which takes almost 3 and a half hours. After reaching the lava, it takes another hour of driving to reach Changey Falls.

Located in West Bengal's nearby state, Odisha, the Duduma Waterfall is situated in the Badigada village of Koraput district. To everyone's surprise, this waterfall is known as one of the highest waterfalls in India. It originates from the River Machkund, making up the backbone of the Machkund Hydro Electric Power Project. The scenery here is absolutely stunning and calming, best suited for sitting back and relaxing. There is also a tribal group residing nearby this waterfall, known as the 'Bondas'.

How to Reach: The nearest railway station to Duduma Waterfall is Jeypore Station (JRPE), which is about 65 kilometres away. You can take a train to Jeypore from major cities in India. Alternatively, you can also take a bus from Visakhapatnam or Koraput. From Jeypore, you can hire a taxi or cab to reach the waterfall. The cost of a taxi ranges from around INR 1,200 to INR 1,500.

The Chunnu Summer Waterfall will be an undeniable experience that you will tenderly remember for a long time to come. The Rock Garden (also known as Barbotey Rock Garden) at Chunnu Summer Falls and nearby Ganga Maya Park are added tourist attractions in the hilly town of Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, India. It is a show piece meant to lure tourists back to Darjeeling after political agitations disrupted the visit by tourists in the 1980s.

How to Reach: Chunnu Summer Falls can be reached from Darjeeling via rented cars from Darjeeling town. It is approximately 10 kilometres from the town of Darjeeling. While proceeding downhill from Darjeeling via the Hill Cart Road, one has to turn right a little before reaching Ghoom Station. Although the road is narrow and descends rapidly into the valley, after you pass across a few households and a couple of sharp turns into the valley, you will be in for surreal landscapes.

Ghagra is about 7 km North of Belpahari district in West Bengal. Interestingly enough, it is a beautiful waterfall passing through a canyon of black stone. The name 'Ghagra' came from the word 'Gagra', meaning a kalash filled up with water. Even the shape of the waterfall is similar to a canyon. Tharafeni Dam is also very close to Ghagra, which is about 188 km from Jhargram. One can enjoy the midst of wild greenery and rocky pedestal, which is a sight of amazing beauty near the waterfalls.

How to Reach: The distance between Kolkata and Jhargram is 154 km by Train. From Howrah/Tatanagar, take the Express/Local Train to Jhargram Station. It usually takes about 2.5 hours to reach Jhargram from Kolkata: 2 hours 24 minutes.

This picturesque waterfall in Darjeeling increases the overall beauty of the district. Located specifically in the Kalej Tea Estate of Darjeeling, this waterfall jumps to the Kalej Valley in full force. You can also drink the water from this waterfall as it is fresh and clean. The name of the waterfall is quite aptly given as you can experience the beautiful scenery of rainbow formations across the waterfall if you are lucky. Surrounded by the dense forests of Mandir Gaon and the tea garden, this place will not make you want to leave it.

How to reach: Rainbow Falls is actually a waterfall located at Kalej Valley and Rangbull. It is within walking distance of Rangbull, but from Sonada, it is better to take a car to visit the waterfalls.

Turga WaterFall is located in Ajodhya Hills Road, approximately 345 kilometres from Kolkata and is in Purulia. This cascading waterfall is absolutely clear, making you able to see the bottom of the flowing stream. It falls through Mayur and Gorshabru hills and is a home for a variety of flora and fauna. The height of this waterfall is 200 feet, and the best time to visit it between the months of November to April. Its comparatively closer to Kolkata than the others, and is perfect for a trek, coupled with sightseeing.

How to Reach: Purulia can be reached by road and also by train from Kolkata. Reach Purulia Station and take a car to your destination. By road, it will take around 7 hours to reach Purulia via NH16.