Bhalki Machan
WestBengal
Bhalki Machan may not be a name known to many people , but this upcoming weekend destination near Bardhaman is worth a visit. Not only for the people of Durgapur, Bhalki Machan is in fact a good picnic and as well as a weekend gateway option for the people of Kolkata as well. Nearness to Durgapur makes it easily accessible and provides an easy option of having a calm weekend amidst greenery and natural surroundings.
Tourist Spots
Around 140km down Durgapur Expressway, within minutes of the car crossing Burdwan, a billboard by the Aushgram panchayat will welcome you to Aranya Sundari Bhalkimachan. A freshly tarred road across the rice bowl of Bengal leads to Bhalkimachan, believed to be the favourite bear hunting spot of the erstwhile rajas of Burdwan.
The ruins of a tower or machan overlook a small waterhole where the unsuspecting animals were shot by the royalty. Perhaps in memory of the bears that lost their lives, the panchayat has erected a concrete model of a Indian sloth bear close to the pond.
According to a legend, a tunnel beneath the machan leads straight to a secret passage opening at the Rajbari in Burdwan, about 25km away.
To cater to the picnic crowd the waterhole has been “beautified” by the panchayat with dahlias, chrysanthemums and deodars. It has even put a couple of paddle boats in the water body for revellers and built a two-storey resort with 20 beds and a restaurant.
But the real fun lies beyond the confines of the resort amid the deep sal forest thriving with a wide variety of vascular plants. The pristine forest stretches beyond the borders of Birbhum into the Santhal Parganas in Jharkhand. A walk through the woods is very pleasant with sunlight forming patterns on the ground through the foliage.
The ruins of a tower adjoining the water body, believed to be the favourite bear hunting place of the erstwhile Raja’s of Bardhaman still stand tall reminding of its royal connection.
Although the forest used to be infested with bears, now one can find just some wild cats, foxes and monkeys. Elephants from the interconnected Dalma forests often stray into Bhalkimachan.
How to Reach
Road |
If you are traveling by your own vehicle or a hired vehicle, take on National Highway 2 (NH 2) and proceed towards Kolkata upto Galsi. On reaching Galsi turn left and the freshly tarred road leads to Mankar. On reaching Mankar, ask any local people to know the exact way to reach Bhalki Machan. You can also opt for private and state transport buses to reach Bhalki Machan from Durgapur. Board on to any bus going to Mankar; get down at Mankar railway station. From there hire a rickshaw to reach Bhalki Machan.
Rail |
One has the option of reaching Bhalki Machan by train as well. Board any local train going to Bardhaman and get down at Mankar station. From there hire a rickshaw to reach Bhalki Machan.
NearBy Places
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). It was made famous by Nobel LaureateRabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town (Visva-Bharati University) that attracts thousands of visitors each year.[1] Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath Tagore wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance.
Bolpur-Santiniketan is a municipality in Birbhum District in the state of West Bengal, India. It is 145 km north of Kolkata and is best known for the proximity to Visva Bharati, the university set up by Rabindranath Tagore the Nobellaureate poet. Given its proximity to Santiniketan and Sriniketan it is one of the seats of Culture and education in West Bengal.
Deul is a nature-resort built on the banks of the river Ajai. Deul's history goes back to the 15th century when the king of Gouda Ichhai Ghosh was killed in a feudal battle by Lausena the son of the dethroned king Karnasena in the forest of Garjangal. The resort, built at the Bardhhaman Zilla Parishad land, is flanked by the Ajai river on one side and the Garjangal on the other. Enjoy a solitary walk in the forests or on the banks of the river. Visit the 500 years old Bhabani Mandir built by Ichhai Ghosh. If you are lucky, you may find wild peacocks, deer or even elephants in the jungles.
Durgapur is a city of the state of West Bengal, India, located about 160 km fromKolkata, in the Burdwan District. It was a dream child of the great visionary Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of the state. The well laid out industrial township, designed by Joseph Allen Stein and Benjamin Polk[1] is home to one of the largest industrial units in the state, Durgapur Steel Plant, one of the integrated steel plants of Steel Authority of India Limited. Alloy Steels Plant of SAIL and CMERI, aCSIR laboratory, are also located here. There are a number of power plants, chemical and engineering industries etc. Some metallurgical units have come up in recent years. National Institute of Technology, Durgapur (Earlier known as Durgapur Regional Engineering College REC),is one of the most prominent seats of the Indian Central Government Engineering and Technological Educations of the country.
Distance from Major Places
| Kolkata | 135K.M. |
| Delhi | 1391K.M. |
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