Weekend getaways are the ideal way to escape the mundane yet hectic schedules of our daily city life. Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and the centre of activities of the state. Although Kolkata itself is a gold mine of culture and religion, the pace of the city might leave you wanting for more.There are many places around Kolkata that lets you unwind in the midst of nature. A few of them are: Sunderbans The Sunderbans are a UNESCO world heritage site and only 166 km from Kolkata. It is world's largest delta and mangrove swamp at the feet of the river Ganges and is blessed with one of the most rich and varied flora and fauna. The forest, Sunderbans national park, is the world's largest estuarine sanctuary. If you are lucky, you can get a glimpse of Royal Bengal tiger, which inhibits this national park. Bishnupur After travelling around 150 km out of Kolkata, you will reach Bishnupur. It is a temple town, most of which are within walking distance of each other. All of them are terracotta temples, with no stone constructions.If that is not enough, you can watch the artistic craftsmen weave the magnificent and one of its kind Baluchari saris, often looking like a leaf out of the famous Mahabharata tales. Chandipur If you wish to travel to another state, not too far of Kolkata, in search of splashing waves of the sea, then Chandipur in Orissa is the place for you. Chandipur is only 257 km from Kolkata, yet is sure to provide respite and relaxation. A rare phenomenon of sea receding into the horizon by around 5 km every day exposes the silvery sand beneath it. It is a sight to behold. Bakkhali To have a feeling of how a private beach would be like, take a turn towards to Bakkhali, 135 km away from Kolkata. Ruins of a Portuguese fort and mind blowing sunrise and sunset scenes will leave you wanting for more. The walk over the beach from Bakkhali to Frasergunj is a unique moment that is going to be etched in your memory forever. Shantiniketan Around 180 km away from Kolkata is Shantiniketan. It is the home of the university founded by Maharishi Devendranath Tagore and nurtured by the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. The university lays emphasis on the studies of art, humanities, music and dance. It is a perfect synthesis of nature and culture to provide a unique study environment for the young minds. The town is also famous as the abode of Rabindranath Tagore, who penned many of his literary works. A lot of hand crafted articles like cloth/leather batiks, handlooms etc are certain to vie for your attention. So, the next time you wish to enjoy your time in the company of nature and history, just pick one of our Kolkata weekend getaways and pack your bags. We will ensure that you have the best of the weekend ever.