A bit unknown to the people in the city, unmarked in Google Maps, this place around 80kms away is an ideal weekend gate away to the people in the city of joy, Kolkata.

As the name suggests, the Golpatar jungle is filled with the Golpatar trees. The famous Sundari trees after which the Sunderban is named can also be found here in abundance and maybe it is for this reason that the Golpatar jungle is regarded as the gateway to Sunderban.

To reach the Golpatar jungle, one can board the local train from Sealdah to Taki Road station. From there the journey can be continued by motor vans or rickshaws. One can also drive down Taki road from Barasat which lies along NH-34. Being quite close to the border, it is advisable to carry an identity card which may need to be deposited at the BSF checkpoint located on the way to the forest from Taki.

Taki is a municipality town in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. It lies along the Ichhamati River which separates it from Bangladesh. The Golpatar jungle marks the point at which the river is quite narrow bringing the two countries closest in this part. No fencing has been done on either side of the river and the river is treated as the international boundary. People from both sides are free to use the river but crossing over to the land is strictly prohibited. On Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja, the immersion of idols from both countries takes place together.

In Taki, one can enjoy the mid-river experience of meeting the countrymen of Bangladesh, on the river where tourists from both countries ride on boats to get a close view of the other country. One can also visit the ruins of Zamindar houses, Ramakrishna Missions, Kuleshwari Kali temple, 300-year-old Jora Shib Mandir and General Shankar Roychowdhury’s adi bari. Machranga River Island is a nearby destination to visit from Taki. The municipality has also built an eco-park that can boast to have a variety of birds and fishes on display. It also has a facility for boating on its premises.

To conclude, the Golpatar jungle and Taki are wonderful places to visit.

Read on Tripoto: Golpatar Jungle: A day trip from Kolkata