If sun, sand and the roar of the sea make up your idea of a perfect holiday, head out for the beaches in and around Calcutta. You can also take your pick among wildlife destinations, hill stations, pilgrimage spots, and places of historical importance. It is also possible to plan an exotic vacation outside West Bengal, using Kolkata as the starting point. 

Wildlife destinations around Kolkata

Go on an elephant safari through the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Catch the Royal Bengal Tiger in his own home, if you can. Lose yourself in a maze of mangrove roots in the Sunderbans. Count the branches of the gigantic banyan tree at Shibpur. There's no end to the things you can do as a wildlife enthusiast in Kolkata. 

Shibpur

The Botanical Gardens at Shibpur, on the bank of the River Hooghly, are famous for a 250-year-old banyan tree, nearly the largest of its kind in the world. The Gardens are over two centuries old ad home to over 35,000 fruit trees and flowering plants. The Gardens also have a rare collection of orchids, besides coveted books on botany. 
How to get there: State and tourist buses are available from Kolkata to Shibpur 

The Dooars

Situated amid the forests of northern West Bengal, and watered by the Teesta, the Dooars are a must-see for the wildlife enthusiast. A stay at a forest lodge, a walk down the ruins of forts at Nalrajar Garh and Buxa Duar, an afternoon at the Jalpesh temple, elephant rides through the home of the rhino and a visit to the habitat of the Toto tribes in Totopara are but part of the traveler's itinerary here. 
How to get there: Take a train from Kolkata to Siliguri, and then cover the remaining distance by road. 

Sunderbans

Named after its large number of Sundari trees, the Sunderbans is a World Heritage Site that's a must-see for the wildlife-loving traveller in Kolkata. Crocodiles, cheetahs, wild boar, Rhesus monkeys, cormorants, curlews, Olive Ridley turtles and monitors roam free in this land that has but one king - the Royal Bengal Tiger. Sunderbans is also home to mangrove forests characterized by roots sticking above the water. A haven of Portuguese pirates in the past, the land is still home to many mythical constructs - among them, the goddess of the forest Ma Bonobibi, the ancestor of all tigers Dakshinaroy and Shiber Kumir or Lord Shiva's crocodile. 
Visitors to Sunderbans need to get the necessary permission before they depart. 

How to get there: Take the train or bus from Calcutta to Canning, and then hop on to the motorboat to Sajnekhali. 

Trekking trails around Kolkata

Ajodhya Hills

If you travel into Purulia district and find yourself in the midst of a dense forest and gurgling waterfalls, chances are you're in Ajodhya Hills. This place is a favorite with tourists in Kolkata, and is accessible by rail and road. Ajodhya Hills also offers good trekking tracts for the adventure seeker. 
How to get there: Take the train from Howrah to Barabhum, hop on to the bus here to Baghmundi and cover the 1 km from here to Ajodhya Hills on foot. 

Darjeeling

Green tea bushes set off by red rhododendrons, long roads that appear to wind up into the clouds, ponies that take the traveller for a merry, breathless ride down the mountainside - all these and more make Darjeeling the queen of India's hill stations. To reach this jewel set at the foothills of the Himalayas, you can fly to Bagdogra or take a train from Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri. Once here, catch the sunrise at Tiger Hill and stroll into the local market for some chhurpi - a delicacy made from yak milk. 
How to get there: Fly to Bagdogra, and take a bus or jeep. Or else, take the train to Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri and motor the rest of the way 
Must-sees: Tiger Hills, Observatory Hill, Bhutia Busti Gompa, Yoga Choling Gompa, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himayalan Zoological Park, Snow Leopard Breeding Centre, Rangeet Valley Ropeway 

Kurseong

For a bird's eye view of the Bengal hills, find your way to Kurseong, the place of the White Orchid. Set between Siliguri and Darjeeling, the town has an old-world charm and milder weather than the more moody Darjeeling. A must-visit spot here is Eagle's Crag, from where you can drink in the view of the plains surrounding the steep slopes that for the township. 

How to get there: Take the train to Siliguri and motor the rest of the way 
Must-sees: Eagle's Crag, Ghoom 

Kalimpong

Kalimpong is the best place to be spectator to the confluence of two mountain rivers - the Rangeet and the Teesta. A land of tea gardens and verdant slopes, Kalimpong is also steeped in Buddhist culture and affords an excellent view of the Himalayas. Drop by at Dr Graham's home - a school for the children of tea estate workers, or drink in the beauty of nature at the orchid nurseries here. 

How to get there: Fly to Bagdogra, and take a bus or jeep. Or else, take the train to Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri and motor the rest of the way 
Must-sees: Tharpa Choling Gompa, Durpin Gompa, Dr Graham's Home, Mangal Dham 

Mirik

For the tourist in Calcutta who wants to visit a Hindi film-style hill station, Mirik is the place to head for. Most of the tourist activity here centers on a lake that's a kilometer and a half long. Check out the floating fountain in the middle of the lake and take a ride on one of the many boats that dot it. Mirik also offers a close-up view of the Kanchenjunga mountain, and is a favorite for trekkers who take this route to Sandakphu or Kurseong. 
How to get there: Take the train to Siliguri and motor the rest of the way 
Must-sees: Bokar Gompa 

Historical Places Around Kolkata

Murshidabad

A flourishing trade town during the early years of British rule, Murshidabad is a must-visit for the history buff. Situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi, Murshidabad is home to the Hazarduari - or Palace of a 1000 doors), which has been converted into a museum that houses memorabilia associated with Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah. Visit Nimak Haram Deori or Traitor's Gate, where the nawab was assassinated, his resting place Khushbagh, and the ruined Katra Mosque. 
How to get there: Take the train from Calcutta to Berhampore, and then hop on to a bus for Murshidabad. 

Antpur

For a glimpse of 18th century temples, visit Antpur in Hooghly district. Built by zamindar Krishnaram Mitra, the temples include ones dedicated to Jaleshwar, Baneshwar, Fuleshwar and Gangadhar. The main draw here is the Radha Govind temple with its covered courtyard and terracotta panels. 
How to get there: Buses are available from Calcutta 
 

Bansberia

On the temple trail, catch the shrines dedicated to Ananta Vasudev and Hanseshwari in Bansberia. The Hanseshwari temple deserves special mention for its architecture - it has 13 lotus bud-shaped minars and its inner precincts follow the design of the human anatomy. 
How to get there: Buses and trains are available from Calcutta 

Shantiniketan

The traditional school founded by Rabindranath Tagore, Shantiniketan is a place that will satisfy the artist in every tourist. The Uttarayan Complex here, where Tagore lived, has a museum and art gallery. You can also drop by Vishwa Bharati University, a centre of international studies.

How to get there: Take the train or travel by road from Calcutta. The nearest railway station is Bolpur.