The state of cart, literature, culture and heritage embedded in its roots that has been a place of fascination for the British, Portuguese, French and more is also a surprisingly pleasant and an offbeat destination to set your sails upon indeed. With a rich flora fauna and a retro vibe in the entire state, there are numerous nooks and corners you could pong yourselves into the vibe of Bengalis- one of the most appealing people in the country.With that said, here are some of the best offbeat Bengali places you need to visit!
- Garh Panchkot
Garh Panchakot is situated on the slopes of Panchet Hill and adjacent to Panchet Lake, is a scenic hilly forested area, with a tinge of history. It was a fortified area owned by the Rajas of Panchakot, the Singh Deo dynasty. Their antiquity and history are still to be ascertained properly. The ruins are a remarkable preserved historical gem which dates back to probably the 90 AD.
- Dooars
Terminology stating “door” these are the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North East India around Bhutan. You almost could call it a portal to the hill stations of Bengal and Bhutan -famous for its tea gardens, forests and the River Teesta, it is ideal for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The region is known for its wildlife sanctuaries where one can spot herds of deer, one-horned rhinos, elephants, guars and reptiles.
- Lepchajagat
Perched at an altitude of an astonishing 6959 feet is a serene hamlet offering you bird eye views of the mighty himalayas and once used to be the only home of the Lepcha tribes. With an unbelievably pleasant and a picturesque view of the Kanchenjunga, this is a safe haven for the tourists that wander for solitude among the snowy wilderness of the Bengal! Along with the mountains, this heavenly cove also has many trekking trails as well as so many surprises for a curious botanist!
- Sandakphu
Being the highest peak of the state, the proud peak bestows upon us the pleasure of viewing four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen from its summit.At an extremely hard yet un urbanised place of adventure and pure solitude, this place is not for the tourist destination but for an experience- a true paradise for all adventure lovers and Sandakphu is the only place in the world where you will find a rhododendron and silver fir forests that makes it remarkably unique.
- Shankarpur
A pristine and scenic virgin beach located at a very safe distance from the hustle and bustle of the city. Being a regular fishing harbor, witness the fishermen hauling their nets in the morning and capture Bengal at dawn for the “MOCHI” With the kaleidoscopic impressions of the solar refraction coupled with the fairly calm yet tenderly cool breeze heave a breath of peace along the coastline!
- Chandraketugarh
A truly forgotten civilization of the state, this place could be called the Harappa of Bengal. Dating back as old as about 400 BC to 100 BC and approximately contemporary with the Maurya period, as well as from the more recent Kushanas and Gupta periods. The Chandraketugarh Fort that was built by the mythical King Chandraketu and dates from the period between 4th century BC to 12th century BC.This place is one of the ones that is too good and unreal to be true due to its presence itself.With an abundance of a huge mythological and a royal significance this one is sure to bamboozle you.
- Samsing
Perched at an altitude of 3000 feet comes another heighty natural cove. Studded with scenic landscape, green tea garden hills and forests. It’s a naturally splendid amalgamation of hills , plains, rivers, forests and also makes an ample spot for bird watching that include impeccably rare and beautiful birds like the orange – bellied leafbird and greater racket tailed drongo that soar in the Bengal wilderness skies!
- Taki
With a pleasant vibe of the waters, cruise along the river and enjoy the delicate sunshine among nature that’s unravelling without the interference of technology and the noise of the city. What’s utmost remarkable about this place is the town’s position on the border with Bangladesh- The annual Durga Puja festivities are a sight to behold as people from both India and Bangladesh meet on the Ichamati to do the ritual immersing of the idols in the water.
- Rajabhatkhawa
The teeny tiny semi rural town contains some of the most revered temples, excursion trips and nature interpretation centers. Few of them to be an adventurers list like the Mahakal caves and the Park safari might interest the offbeat person in you while the Buxa Tiger reserve might be an incredible opportunity to spot some Royal Bengal felines and other interesting creatures !
