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.

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.

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