Come new year – procure new year diaries & calendars – scan for long weekends – plan holidays around them – lead an otherwise mundane year – Repeat. Yeah …. We know that drill all too well !!

August 2015 as we all know is special, as it happens to have 5 Saturdays,  5 Sundays; and the organized and methodical ones are already waving with a smirk on their face, as they leave for that exotic, much-planned vacation. For the rest of the impulsive hate-to-be-organised ones, here’s a list of quick getaways from Kolkata, that can help spruce up the weekends this August .

• 1) Bankiput

If you are all for the “not so touristy” stuff, then this pristine and Casuarina lined beach is just the pill for you .
Coordinates- about 160 km from Kolkata. A 4-5 hour drive from Kolkata.

Reach Kanthi -take Junput road- from Junput bus stand take road to Bhagatput, and when halfway on it, slip into Bankiput road.
Hideouts- only a couple of half-baked hotels with 2-3 rooms.

• 2) Bakkhali

Head off with your shades and sunscreen, to soak up and gorge on crab meat !
Coordinates- about 125km from Kolkata. A 3 hour drive.
Joka, NH117- Diamond Harbor- Kakdwip- cross ferry at Hatania-Doania –reach Bakkhali.
Hideouts- number of hotels. Bakkhali tourist lodge is recommended. It’s the closest to the beach too.

• 3) Henry island

Can be clubbed with the Bakkhali trip. You can reach either by car directly, or put up at bakkhali and take a 40min bhatbhati “trekker” ride up and down.

Hideouts- Sundari tourist lodge (operated by the fisheries department).

• 4) Mandarmani

This popular beach resort about 164 km from Kolkata needs no introduction. From a drive along the 13km long motorable beach to an  adrenaline surge with watersports – the place has it all !

• 5) Gadiara

Located 76km from Kolkata, this place marks the confluence of Hoogly,Damodar and Rupnarayan rivers.
Hideouts- Rupnarayan, the government tourist lodge, apart from a few other private hotels

• 6) Geonkhali

Only a ferry ride away from Gadiara, this place offers you nothing but an ideal idle idyllic time.

Hideouts- just the government tourist lodge, with 8 rooms.

• 7) Raichak

For those who believe that the Ganges is never out of fashion.

Located 55kms from Kolkata – an hour drive through NH117-Bishnupur-Fatehpur-Raichak.

Hideouts- Ffort Raichak for that fancy resort”y” weekend.

So people, pull out your duffles and just hit the road, to celebrate the impulsive wanderlust in you . Happy weekends ! Happy Wanderings !

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Some other weekend getaways from Kolkata :
Baranti- A Spring Retreat