The City of Joy has been a favourite place for tourists for decades. The former British capital has a lot to offer its visitors. From the Victoria Memorial to the Botanical Gardens, the city has a mix of tradition and modernisation. On the other hand, the metropolitan area and its outskirts have narrated tales of astute devotion through the Kalighat and Dakshineswari temples. The vicinity and its neighbourhood does not fall short of boasting its literary marvels. Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and other notable literary artists have been a driving force to spread its culture across the world and their houses have now been converted to museums for tourists to revel in their charismatic legacy. Hence, we have compiled a list of Nearby Places To Visit in Kolkata for the explorer in you

Shibpur: (Distance 11 kilometres approx.)

Shibpur is a major port in West Bengal, located on the banks of the Hooghly River. The port is located on highly vital trade routes that date back to the Mughal era. The Indian Botanic Garden of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose is located here. It is home to around 12,000 different plant species. Plant species from Nepal, Malaysia, and Brazil can also be found in the garden. The Great Banyan Tree, with a circumference of almost 486 metres, is the primary attraction.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple (Distance 13 kilometres approx.)

The Kali Temple in Dakshineswar was built in 1850 and is an architectural masterpiece. Lord Shiva's idol is placed in the centre of a thousand-petal lotus that was sculpted by hand. The goddess Bhavatharini, who is one of Kali Ma's many forms, is honoured in this temple. Other temples in the compound are dedicated to deities such as Krishna and Radha.

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Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary (Distance 22 kilometres approx.)

The Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary is a paradise for nature lovers. The sanctuary is surrounded by ferns, orchids, and fruit trees. Herons, egrets, cormorants, woodpeckers, kingfishers, Orioles, and bulbuls are among the birds that can be seen.

Aside from the birds, the three-striped palm squirrel and the monitor lizard can also be seen. The sanctuary opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. The entrance fee is Rs 50 per person.

Barrackpore (Distance 48 kilometres approx.)

Barrackpore is a historically significant location near Kolkata. On these lands, many valiant Indian freedom fighters perished. In Barrackpore, there is a garden named for Mangal Pande, Shaheed Mangal Pandey Udyan. Many tourists visit the Vijayanta Memorial in addition to the garden. A visit to the Bartholomew Church, a stunning gothic-style church, is also recommended.

Boro Kachari Temple (Distance 30 kilometres approx.)

The Boro Kachari Temple, located near Kolkata, is well-known among Lord Shiva worshipers. There is a banyan tree at the shrine that is said to grant wishes. You can see the several pieces of paper tied around the tree with wishes inscribed on them. The tree is said to have magical abilities because it is said to be growing on the site of the death of a legendary sage.