New Town
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New Town (নিউটাউন Niuṭaun), also called Rajarhat (রাজারহাট Rājārhāṭ), is one of the newest sections of Kolkata at the extreme east. It is the second IT hub of Kolkata, with the offices of TCS, Infosys, Unitech and other fintech (financial technology) companies. Eco Park, one of the largest urban spaces in India, is the main tourist attraction of this district, attracting people from West Bengal and even beyond.
New Town was developed in the late 1990s and is rapidly growing under the leadership of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). The Indian government declared New Town a "Solar City" and later a "Smart Green City". As one of the newest parts of the bustling metropolis, New Town will take you to an ultra-modern world, compared to the "Old Town" of North Kolkata.
Get in
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By bus
[edit]- 1 New Town Bus Stand (AH Block, Action Area I)
By car
[edit]New Town is served by certain arterial roads to and from the township. Major Arterial Road (MAR) starts from Salt Lake Sector V, then turns left at Narkelbagan More crossing, turns left again at Akankha More and finally meets at VIP Road (Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani) near Kolkata Airport. The road serves the Action Areas I and II.
There are two other roads that begin from Narkelbagan More. The one next to Rabindra Tirtha (not the one next to HIDCO Bhaban) runs across Action Area III, while the one opposite Rabindra Tirtha runs across the southern parts of Action Area I before meeting at a narrower 2-lane road next to East Kolkata Wetlands.
See
[edit]- 1 Biswa Bangla Gate (বিশ্ব বাংলা গেট Biśba Bāṃlā Geṭ), MAR, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (Rabindra Tirtha
). An arch monument in New Town and one of the most iconic structures in Greater Kolkata. "Biswa Bangla" literally means "World Bengal". The structure consists of a single ring supported by two parabolic arches from four sides of the Narkelbagan intersection. The ring houses a restaurant and a visitors' gallery, which are surrounded by glass. There are two staircases and an elevator to reach the gallery. Decorative paintings of luminaries have been drawn on the wall inside the ring with the outer side having a glass façade to have a view of the township. 
- 2 Harinalaya (হরিণালয় Hariṇālaẏ) (opposite Eco Park Gates 5 and 6, parking space for four-wheelers at ₹50). 10AM—6PM (closed at sunsets in winter). A 12.5 acres (5.1 hectares) mini zoo developed by HIDCO, and despite being named after deers (হরিণ hariṇ), the zoo contains other animals as well. At the entrance, there's an aviary at the left and rides at the right. Rides include slides, mini jungle gyms, and swings. There's a waterbody for two large crocodiles and two hippos enclosed with fence. Other than real animals, there are images and concrete sculptures of birds. Within the zoo contains Nature's Cafe, which offers Chinese and Indian dishes along with non-alcoholic drinks. The zoo is a no-plastic zone, though you can picnic within the zoo premises. ₹50 for people above 5, both cash and UPI accepted.
- 3 Rabindra Tirtha (রবীন্দ্র তীর্থ Rabīndra Tīrtha), MAR, Narkelbagan, Action Area-I (Rabindra Tirtha ). A cultural centre dedicated to the poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It houses an exhibition of Tagore’s paintings, archives, a research centre, an auditorium and dormitories for students opting to conduct their research on Tagore.
Museums and art galleries
[edit]- Arts Acre.
- 4 Fanattic Sports Museum (FSM), Ecospace Business Park, Action Area II (Ecospace ). 11AM–7PM (closed on M). A sports museum dedicated to various types of sports and the first of its kind in West Bengal. ₹10.
- 5 Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA). A modern art museum.
- 6 Mother's Wax Museum, MAR, Action Area II (Prakriti Tirtha ), ☏ +91 33 2324 7243. Noon-3:30PM. The Mother's Wax Museum consists of nine sections containing 18 to 19 wax models of eminent personalities. It contains models of Maradona, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Manna Dey, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. 150.
- 7 , DJ Block, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (New Town Police Station ). A military aviation museum built by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and is exhibiting a Tupolev Tu-142 of Indian Navy. Other exhibits for its interior and surroundings like a mannequin pilot, bombs, machinery etc. will be developed by the Navy. Apart from the aircraft on display, there is a small children's park and a coffee shop.
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MAR, Action Area II (bus stops: Eco Park, Prakriti Tirtha), ☏ +91 33 2706 4010. Noon–4:30PM (closed M). ₹20.
Eco Park (ইকো পার্ক Iko Pārk) or Prakriti Tirtha (প্রকৃতি তীর্থ Prakr̥ti Tīrtha) is a 480-acre landscaped park surrounding a water body of about 100–120 acres (40–49 hectares). The green space is so vast and diverse that it cannot be visited in a short trip easily, and many new attractions are coming here at a rapid pace. There are eight gates to access the park. Parking facilities available at Gate 1 and Gate 4. Activities include paddleboats, rowboats, duo cycles, birdwatching, etc. You can also ride in trackless "toy trains" to enjoy the park. The attractions within the park include:
- 8 Bengal Village (বাংলার গ্রাম Bāṁlār Grām). An exhibition containing models depicting the daily life of rural Bengal.
- 9 Butterfly Garden. It consists of a large dome to enclose a plant habitat consisting of different species of flowering annuals and perennials that support a large range of butterflies organised around a circular body of water.
- 10 Eco Children's Park.
- 11 Eco Island.
- 12 Eiffel Tower.
- 13 Ghum railway station. A dummy railway station with a toy train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. You can get into the train to get a feeling of the Darjeeling Hills. It costs ₹10 per head for photoshoot inside the train.
- 14 Heliconia Garden.
- 15 Herbal Garden.
- 16 Japanese Forest.
- 17 Mask Garden. An open-air collection of masks from various parts of the world, especially from various states of India, especially from West Bengal.
- 18 Meadow Garden.
- 19 Pakhibitan.
- 20 Promenade. The spine of Eco Park is a paved pathway lined with coconut trees. It is designed to enjoy the waterbody. There's a massive Solar Dome and a replica of the Eiffel Tower along the promenade.
- 21 Rabi Aranya.
- 22 Rose Garden. A long walking path with varieties of roses at both sides.
- 23 Sculpture Garden.
- 24 Solar Dome. A dome-shaped structure that houses a museum about solar energy and its use in daily life. It has a guided tour with humanoid robots. The dome also houses a planetarium, marine aquarium, and an observation deck. It also has information stands on other renewable energies and also global warming, rising sea levels, and climate change. The structure itself generates a lot of solar power for the New Town area.
- 25 Seven Wonders. It consists of replicas of seven world-famous monuments: the Pyramids of Giza, Christ the Redeemer, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Petra, Colosseum and Moai Statues. Accessible from Gate 4.
- 26 Tropical Tree Garden. Contains a piece of the tropical forest of Bengal.
Do
[edit]- 1 Aquatica, Kochpukur (off St 299; Thakdari ), ☏ +91 33 3200 7947, +91 93315 55220. Daily 10AM to 6PM. This theme water park offers visitors a cool respite from the heat and grime of city life. Aquatica has a number of rides including tremendously exciting ones like the Black Hole, the Wave Pool, Niagara Falls, surf racer, Tornado and the Aqua Dance Floor. Regular parties and fashion shows are hosted here, especially in the winter.
- 2 Eco Park Amphitheatre, Eco Park.
- 3 Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Action Area I.
- 4 Mela Ground (Fairground).
- 5 Nazrul Tirtha (নজরুল তীর্থ Najrul Tīrtha), Action Area I (Nazrul Tirtha ). A cultural and educational centre dedicated to the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The cultural centre is functioning partly as a cinema hall and open air theatre for exhibitions and performances.
- 6 Ozone Convention Centre.
- 7 Taal Kutir, Eco Park.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Axis Mall, CF Block, Action Area-IC, ☏ +91 33 32006827. Shopping mall, restaurants, Bioscope multiplex with four screens. Restaurants include Aaheli (4F), Addiction (4F), Café Coffee Day (2F), Calcutta Retro (5F), Mehak-e-Punjab (4F).
- 2 Biswa Bangla Haat (বিশ্ব বাংলা হাট Biśba Bāṁlā Hāṭ), Eco Park (Gate 5).
- 3 City Centre II, Action Area-IID. There's Inox at third floor. Restaurants include KFC (GF, Block C), McDonald's (GF, Block A), Pizza Hut (GF, Block C), Gamma's World Cuisine (2F), Massekah (2F, Block B), The Orient (GF) and Zion Lounge (GF).
- 4 DLF Galleria.
- 5 Down Town Mall, Uniworld City, Action Area-III.
- 6 HomeTown (Central Mall), BG Block, ☏ +91 90 07 862472.
- 7 Misti Hub (মিষ্টি হাব Miṣṭi Hāb), Eco Park (next to Gate 3 and Mask Garden).
Eat and drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹1000 |
| Mid-range | ₹1000 to ₹3000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹3000 |
Splurge
[edit]- 1 Novotel, CF 11, Action Area-IC, ☏ +91 33-40323334.
- 2 Pride Plaza Hotel Kolkata, BG Block, Action Area I, ☏ +91 33 40259999. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹5,600–₹6,800.
- 3 Swissotel, City Centre, Action Area-IID, ☏ +91 33 6626 6666, kolkata@swissotel.com.
- 4 Taj Taal Kutir, Eco Park.
- 5 The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat, MAR (South-East), Action Area-II (opposite Eco Park), ☏ +91 33 4037 1234. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. The tallest buildings in New Town.
Connect
[edit]The 10.5 km (6.5 mi) area from Kolkata Airport to Salt Lake Sector V is a free Wi-Fi zone.
Cope
[edit]Police stations
[edit]- 1 New Town Police Station, New Town Rd, DJ Block, Action Area I, ☏ +91 33 23246077.
- 2 Rajarhat Police Station, ☏ +91 33 25733289.