Looking for a quick getaway or a day trip from Howrah Station? Here you will find list of 14 must-visit places to visit near Howrah station to explore in a single day. Let’s explore!
Are you planning a quick getaway or a day trip from Howrah Station? Good news! This bustling railway hub is surrounded by a treasure trove of attractions waiting to be explored. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or a foodie, there’s something for everyone in and around Howrah. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a whirlwind tour of the top 14 places to visit in one day near Howrah Station. So, put on your walking shoes, grab your camera, and let’s embark on a memorable journey!
1. Howrah Rail Museum
The Rail Museum in Howrah, West Bengal, is one of India’s most important railway museums and a popular tourist attraction in the Kolkata metropolitan area and Howrah city. The museum was established in 2006 on the grounds of Howrah Railway Station and is known as the Howrah Rail Museum. It is operated by the Indian Railways. The museum has a comprehensive exhibition on the history and evolution of rail transport in eastern India. It displays information on all the developments and evolution of rail transport in eastern India. The museum has a vast collection of railway engines, carriages, tickets, posters, photographs, documents, and other railway-related artifacts.
Howrah Rail Museum Timings
| Days | Timings |
| Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Saturdays | from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
2. Mullick Ghat Flower Market
The Mullick Ghat Flower Market in Kolkata is a historic flower market that has been around for 164 years. It is located on the banks of the Ganges River, right at the foot of the Howrah Bridge. Every day, at least 200 flower vendors set up shop here. The market is recognized as the largest flower market in Asia. It is a popular tourist attraction, where visitors come to see and buy a variety of flowers. It is a vibrant and scenic place, especially for photographers.
How to Reach
You can walk from Howrah Station to Kolkata, crossing the bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you will see a staircase leading down to the flower market.
Timings:
The flower market is open all day long. People start coming here very early in the morning.
Read More About: Mullick Ghat Flower Market: A Colorful Kolkata Experience
3. Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple
The Bangeswar Mahadev Temple in Salkia is one of the most popular and religious temples of Lord Shiva in the region. This temple in Howrah is the only place where you can see all twelve Jyotirlingas. This place is very famous among the locals. People come here from all over to visit. It is located on the banks of the Ganges River and in front of the Lord Bhutnath Temple in Salkia. A temple of twelve Jyotirlingas has been built in the premises of the Bangeswar Mahadev Temple in North Howrah. It is known for its 51-foot-tall four-headed Shiva statue, which is the tallest in eastern India.
4. Seth Banshidar Jalan Smriti Mandir or the Naya Mandir near Salkia
The Seth Banshidar Jalan Smriti Mandir is located in Salkia, Howrah, just 3 kilometers from Howrah Station. It is located near the Bandha Ghat in Howrah, and the Ahiritola Ghat in Kolkata is located on the opposite side. The temple was renovated several years ago and rebuilt in a new form. Today, it is also known as the Naya Mandir(Temple) or Bangeswar Mahadev Temple. The temple has a 41-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva, the Supreme God, along the banks of the Ganges.
5. Shree Shyam Mandir Ghusuridham
The Shree Shyam Mandir in Ghusuri is a famous temple of Shree Khatu Shyam Ji, located in Ghusuri, Howrah district, West Bengal, India. Hundreds of Shyam devotees visit the temple every day during the aarti. The Shree Shyam Mandir in Ghusuri is the largest Khatu Shyam temple in eastern India.
Opening Hours:
| Morning | From 6-00 am to 1-00 pm |
| Afternoon | From 4 pm to 9-00 pm |
6. Bhot Bagan Math, Ghusuri
The Puranagiri Monastery is a 250-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Ghusuri, Howrah, West Bengal, India. It is located in the Gosai Ghat area of the Vot Bagan neighborhood. The Vot Bagan Monastery was the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Indian plains.
How to Reach
The Bangeswar Mahadev Temple, Seth Banshidhar Jalan Smriti Mandir, Shree Shyam Mandir Ghusuridham, and Vot Bagan Monastery are all located in Salkia, Bandha Ghat, and Ghusuri areas of Howrah. The best way to visit all of these temples together is to hire a toto or auto rickshaw. Alternatively, you can take any bus to Salkia or Belur.
7. Belurmath
Belur Math, a Hindu monastery in West Bengal, is a pilgrimage site dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. It is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1899. The monastery is spread over forty acres of land and houses a variety of religious, social, and educational activities.
How to Reach
There are three main ways to get to Belur Math from Howrah Station: by bus, taxi, or train.
By bus: Take any bus heading to Howrah-Balikhal from Howrah Bus Stand. Get off at the Belur Math stop, which is about 45 minutes away.
By taxi, auto rickshaw, or toto: You can also take a taxi, auto rickshaw, or toto from Howrah Station. If you take a toto, you may have to change to another toto at some point.
By train: If you prefer to take the train, you can purchase a ticket for Belur Station on the main or chord line. Get off at Belur Station and take a toto to Belur Math.
Opening hours of Belur Math
| April to September: | 6:00 am – 11:30 am and 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
| October to March | 6:30 am – 11:30 am and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
8. Magnificent architectural JanBari Palace
Janbari is a 500-year-old spiritual center founded by Srimat Achyut Panchanan. It is a place of Vedic astrology, tantra, panchamundi asana, and Kali sadhana. Many famous and renowned figures in history have visited Janbari.
How to Reach
Janbari is located on the road from Howrah Station to Ramrajatala, passing through Howrah Maidan and GT Road. You can easily visit this historic Janbari by bus, auto rickshaw, toto, or taxi.
9. Botanical Garden (Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden)
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, formerly known as Shibpur Botanical Garden, is a historic botanical garden located in Shibpur, Howrah district, West Bengal, India. The garden was established in 1786 by the British colonial government. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in India and is considered to be one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. The garden has approximately 17,000 trees, including 1,400 species, including rare and endangered species.
The garden has a large lake, a museum, and a research center. The lake is popular for boat rides. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden is a favorite destination for nature photographers.
How to get to Botanical Garden from Howrah Station
There are two main ways to get to Botanical Garden from Howrah Station: by bus or by taxi/auto rickshaw.
By bus: Take any bus heading to Botanical Garden from Howrah Bus Stand. The bus stop is about 30 minutes away.
By taxi/auto rickshaw: You can also take a taxi or auto rickshaw from Howrah Station. If you take an auto rickshaw, you will need to walk a short distance to the Botanical Garden stop from Howrah Railway Museum.
Botanical Garden opening hours
| Opening hours | 8 am to 5 pm |
| Entry Fee: | Rs. 10 |
| Camera: | Rs. 20 |
| Mobile Camera: | Allowed Free |
10. Andul Rajbari
Andul Rajbari is a historic palace located in Andul, a town in Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It was founded in 1834 by Raja Narayan Roy Bahadur. The palace is 185 years old and has a rich and beautiful history. It is a royal structure with a spacious courtyard, red and white columns, and a large roof. It is also home to the Annapurna Temple and two Shiva temples. Andul Rajbari is a popular tourist attraction. It is also the location where the film “Saheb Bibi Golam” was filmed.
11. Santragachi Jheel
Santragachi Jheel is a lake located in Santragachi, a town in Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It is a popular tourist attraction, especially during the winter months of November and December, when it attracts a large number of migratory birds.
The lake is about 100 acres in size and is surrounded by a branch of the Ganges River. It is a beautiful and tranquil place to relax and enjoy the natural scenery. There is a wide road around the lake that is ideal for walking and cycling.
How to Reach
From Howrah Station, take any local train going to Kharagpur, Mecheda, or Medinipur. Get off at Santragachi Station. From the station, walk to the lakeshore. If you prefer, you can also take a toto (auto rickshaw).
There is no direct bus service from Howrah to Santragachi.
Option 1:
Take a bus from Howrah to Andul. From Andul, take a toto or rickshaw to Santragachi Railway Station. From the station, walk to the lakeshore.
Option 2:
Take a bus from Howrah to Vidyasagar Setu Toll Plaza. From the toll plaza, take a bus to Santragachi. The bus stop is about 2 kilometers from the lakeshore. You can walk to the lakeshore or take a toto.
12. Ramkrishna Pur Ferry Ghaat (Ganga Arti)
After a full day of sightseeing in Howrah, a visit to the Ramkrishnapur Ghat Ganga Aarti is the perfect way to end your day. The aarti is a beautiful and spiritual ceremony that honors the Ganges River.
The aarti is held every evening at Ramkrishnapur Ghat, a riverside ghat in Kolkata. The aarti begins at around 5:30 PM with a procession of priests and musicians. The priests lead the procession to the river, where they perform the aarti. The aarti is accompanied by traditional music and chanting.
The aarti is a truly magical experience. The sight of the priests and musicians performing the aarti against the backdrop of the Ganges River is truly breathtaking. The sound of the music and chanting is also very moving.
If you are visiting Howrah/Kolkata, be sure to make time for the Ramkrishnapur Ghat Ganga Aarti. It is an experience you will never forget.
How to get to Ramkrishnapur Ghat by bus:
From Howrah, take any bus going to Shibpur. Get off at the Ramkrishnapur Ghat stop. From the stop, walk for a short distance to the ghat.
Or, you can take a toto:
Take a toto from Howrah to Ramkrishnapur Ghat. The toto will drop you off right at the ghat.
13. Second Hooghly Bridge (Vidyasagar Setu)
Vidyasagar Setu is a cable-stayed bridge in Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It crosses the Hooghly River, connecting the cities of Kolkata and Howrah. Vidyasagar Setu is a popular tourist attraction. From the bridge, visitors can enjoy stunning views of both cities.
The bridge is particularly beautiful at night, when it is lit up with colorful lights. The best place to view the bridge at night is from Ramkrishnapur Ghat in Howrah. From the ghat, the bridge appears to float on the river, creating a magical effect.
14. Avani Riverside Mall
Avani Mall in Howrah is an ideal spot to unwind after a day of sightseeing. This stylish shopping mall, conveniently located near Ramkrishnapur Ghat, offers a vibrant and sophisticated atmosphere with over 100 stores selling a variety of products. You can refuel at numerous food court restaurants, offering a wide range of cuisine options. Additionally, the mall provides entertainment options like a multiplex cinema, kids zone, game arcade, live performances, and music concerts. Avani Mall is the perfect place to conclude your day in Howrah, offering relaxation, shopping, and entertainment all in one location.
How to Reach
Avani Riverside Mall is easily accessible from Howrah by bus, auto rickshaw, toto, or taxi. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes from Howrah station.
Conclusion:
A day near Howrah Station can be a delightful experience filled with history, culture, spirituality, and delicious food. Whether you’re a traveler passing through or a local looking for a quick escape, these 14 places offer a diverse range of experiences that capture the essence of Kolkata. So, pack your day with exploration, adventure, and lots of memories in this vibrant city by the Hooghly River!
