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The Rajarhat-New Town area of East Kolkata covers two different but overlapping areas: the planned township of New Town (নিউটাউন Niuṭaun), and the surrounding Rajarhat (রাজারহাট Rājārhāṭ) area.
One of the newest parts of the bustling metropolis, New Town will take you to the leading edge of the city's development, in contrast to the crumbling old town of North Kolkata. It has multiple business clusters, with the presence of multiple tech companies. On the other hand, Rajarhat is a large unplanned area with a rather slow-paced lifestyle.
Understand
[edit]
New Town is home to business parks like Ecospace, Synthesis, FinTech Hub and the being-developed Bengal Silicon Valley (BSV). Tech companies like TCS, Unitech, Infosys, and ITC have Kolkata offices in the township. However, its main tourist draw is the Eco Park, one of the largest urban spaces in India, attracting people from West Bengal and even beyond. New Town is being developed by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) and governed by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA).
Rajarhat, in contrast, is the eastern extension of the northern suburbs of Kolkata and was developed in an unorganised manner. Plus, the area is governed by two different local bodies:
- Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) — the area along VIP Road.
- Rajarhat CD Block — the remaining rural area at the east.
Name and history
[edit]Before the development of the present-day New Town, Rajarhat mainly consisted of huge acres of cultivable land and water bodies. According to historian Haripada Bhowmick, the name "Rajarhat" was coined in 1649 when a local tax-collector named Gourhari Roy Choudhury decided to start a market in the area. He belonged to the Sabarna Roy Choudhury zamindar family. But after Gourhari's death and his son moving to Behala in 1716, Rajarhat fell into neglect for centuries. There was no road connectivity between Shyambazar and Rajarhat due to the Bagjola Canal till 1956, when a bridge was built over the canal, and a bus service between Shyambazar and Baguiati began. The VIP Road was built between Ultadanga and the Airport in 1956, covering the Rajarhat area.
In the 1990s, the rural tracts of Rajarhat were acquired for developing the township under the leadership of the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, in the late 1990s. The Indian government declared New Town a "Solar City" in the 2000s and a "Smart Green City" in the 2010s.
Orientation
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New Town is divided into three action areas:
- Action Area I (AA I) — the main area with various houses, housing complexes, shopping malls, and parks. The parks include children's parks, senior parks (like Swapna Bhor), and also parks themed on famous Bengali films (like Apur Sansar, Sonar Kella). The eastern end of AA I is home to various tech complexes.
- Action Area II (AA II) — home to multiple tech parks, including Ecospace, FinTech Hub, Synthesis, and Bengal Silicon Valley. It also has housing complexes at the northern end, between Mangaldeep and Owl junctions. Eco Park is in AA II.
- Action Area III (AA III) — still developing, with a mix of both urban and rural areas. It is home to massive housing complexes like Uniworld City and Shapoorji Pallonji Sukhobrishti. The eastern end has a handful but notable tech complexes of Infosys and ITC Limited.
Rajarhat covers the following neighbourhoods:
- Baguiati (বাগুইআটি Bāguiāṭi)
- Ghuni (ঘুনি Ghuni)
- Kestopur (কেষ্টপুর Keṣṭapur)
- Teghoria (তেঘরিয়া Teghariẏā)
Get in
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By bus
[edit]- 1 Newtown Bus Stand, AH Block, AA I. Almost all buses via New Town stop here.
By car
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Biswa Bangla Sarani, also known as Major Arterial Road (MAR), is the four-lane artery of New Town that connects the township to the Airport on one end and Salt Lake on the other, across Action Areas I and II. From Salt Lake, the road turns left at Narkelbagan More crossing, left again at Akankha More, and finally meets at VIP Road (Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani) near the Airport.
Two other roads 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.
VIP Road (Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani) and Rajarhat Main Road are two arterial roads of Rajarhat. The VIP Road connects urban Rajarhat to the Airport on one end and Ultadanga on the other. Branched from the VIP Road, Rajarhat Main Road connects the area to the rest of North 24 Parganas.
Get around
[edit]By bicycle
[edit]It has some bike paths along footpaths, and they are usually coloured in green. Bicycles are mainly useful for short trips, and for longer trips you have to opt for a bus or car.
See
[edit]- 1 Biswa Bangla Gate (বিশ্ব বাংলা গেট Biśba Bāṃlā Geṭ), Biswa Bangla Sarani, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (bus: Rabindra Tirtha
). Restaurant: 7-10PM; observation deck: noon-6PM (closed M). 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, an observation deck, as well as souvenir shops. The "hanging restaurant of Kolkata" offers a variety of items, as well as a buffet of ₹550 per head. The observation deck is surrounded by glass. There are three lifts to reach the deck. 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. Free for children below 3, ₹100 per adult. - 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 Kadampukur. A bird-watching area.
- 4 Rabindra Tirtha (রবীন্দ্র তীর্থ Rabīndra Tīrtha), Biswa Bangla Sarani, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (Rabindra Tirtha
). noon–7PM. 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. Various arts festivals are arranged here, including performances. ₹20.
Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area II (bus: Eco Park 
, Prakriti Tirtha ), ☏ +91 33 2706 4010. Noon–4:30PM (closed M). ₹20.
Eco Park (ইকো পার্ক Iko Pārk), also known as 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:
- 5 Bengal Village (বাংলার গ্রাম Bāṁlār Grām). An exhibition containing models depicting the daily life of rural Bengal.
- 6 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.
- 7 Eco Children's Park.
- 8 Eco Island.
- 9 Eiffel Tower.
- 10 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.
- 11 Heliconia Garden.
- 12 Herbal Garden.
- 13 Japanese Forest. 12:30PM-8:30PM. A mini-Japan in Kolkata, reflecting the architecture and philosophy of traditional Japanese gardens. It consists of vermillion torii gates, bonsai groves, wisteria-laced walkways, koi ponds, stone lanterns, and a monastery with a pagoda.
- 14 Mask Garden. An open-air collection of masks from various parts of the world, especially from various states of India, especially from West Bengal.
- 15 Meadow Garden.
- 16 Pakhibitan.
- 17 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.
- 18 Rabi Aranya.
- 19 Rose Garden. A long walking path with varieties of roses at both sides.
- 20 Sculpture Garden.
- 21 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.
- 22 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.
- 23 Tropical Tree Garden. Contains a piece of the tropical forest of Bengal.
Museums and art galleries
[edit]
- Arts Acre.
- 24 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.
- 25 Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA). A modern art museum.
- 26 Mother's Wax Museum, Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area II (Prakriti Tirtha ), ☏ +91 33 2324 7243. Noon-7:30PM. The first wax museum of India, with life-sized wax figurines of eminent personalities from India's independence movement, music, sports, Bollywood, Hollywood, and so on. The museum also has a haunted house for adventure seekers. ₹250.
- 27 , DJ Block, Narkelbagan, Action Area I (New Town Police Station ). 10:30AM-8:30PM (closed M). The second military aviation museum of India, built by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Like the first one in Visakhapatnam, this one also exhibits a Tupolev Tu-142 of the Indian Navy, along with the models of various aircraft designs with diagrams and descriptions for each aircraft part. There is also a small children's park and a coffee shop. ₹30.
Do
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- 1 Aquatica, Kochpukur (off Street 299; Thakdari ), ☏ +91 33 3200 7947, +91 93315 55220. 10AM–6PM daily. 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. Wide varieties of cocktails are available, as well as mocktails for sobers. M-F: ₹500 for adults, ₹350 for children; Sa-Su: ₹600 for adults, ₹400 for children.
- 2 Eco Urban Village, Street 645, Action Area II. A large picnic spot based around a lake, similar to Eco Park. Albeit smaller than Eco Park, the area is quieter and can provide a brief escape to the otherwise city life. Cottage rentals are available from ₹1,000. There's a tribal museum with the ticket price of ₹10 only. Red munia birds are common here, and many migrant birds come here around the lake during winter.
- Snowpark Kolkata, 6F, Axis Mall, Street 106, ☏ +91 9163190000. 11AM-8PM. A snow-themed park, popular among group travellers during summer. Its temperature is set at -6 °C, with realistic snowy experiences. You can play football and even dance on disco in snow. Especially children have fun with snow fight, which you can do as well. It also has a Durga idol entirely made of snow. ₹650 per head, including jackets, boots and gloves. Online booking available.
Event venues
[edit]- 3 Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Action Area I.
- 4 Eco Park Amphitheatre, Eco Park.
- 5 Mela Ground (Fairground).
- 6 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.
- 7 New Town Square. Hosts Durga Puja and trade fairs.
- 8 Ozone Convention Centre.
- 9 Taal Kutir, Eco Park.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Axis Mall, Street 106, CF Block, AA I, ☏ +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) (next to Gate 3, Misti Hub ).
- Sonajhuri Hat, Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area I (somewhere beneath the Axis Mall Flyover). F–Su 5–8PM. Based on the famous Sonajhuri Hat in Santiniketan. No entry price.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Cafe Amari, 95, Street 324, DE Block, AA I. A café with the French colonial vibe of Pondicherry, It has a strong coffee selection of pour-over V60 and frappés, fresh juices and bakery treats like butter croissants, Korean-style buns and Boston crème doughnuts. ₹500.
- Keshariya Junction, Axis Mall, ☏ +91 90733 74291. 12:30-11:00PM (Tu-W: 12:30-11:30PM). A rail-themed multi-cuisine restaurant inside a replica of an LHB coach.
- 2 Club De Golf, Gate 6, Eco Park (beside golf arena), ☏ +91 98318 26779. 7AM-11PM.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹2,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000–5,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹5,000 |
Budget
[edit]- 1 FabHotel Shivangan, VIP Rd, Baguiati, ☏ +91 33 2576 2711. ₹1,900-2,800.
Mid-range
[edit]- 2 The Fern Residency, 204, Biswa Bangla Sarani, ☏ +91 70444 77444 (mobile). Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹3,000-4,000.
- 3 Hotel O2 Oxygen, 641, VIP Rd, Kaikhali, ☏ +91 33 2525 0078, +91 33 2525 0113, +91 98364 75753 (mobile). Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. ₹3,460-5,600.
- 4 Orbit Hotel, RB 29, VIP Rd, Raghunathpur, ☏ +91 85840 14256 (mobile). Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM.
- 5 Pipal Tree Hotel, AS/464, Major Arterial Road (South-East), Hatiara, ☏ +91 33 3060 6060. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Splurge
[edit]- 6 Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata, CB Block, Action Area IC, ☏ +91 33 6666 4444. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹7,840.
- 7 Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport, ☏ +91 33 6699 6699. Check-in: 8AM, check-out: noon. ₹5,270.
- 8 Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kolkata, Chinar Park, ☏ +91 33 6655 7000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹5,600.
- 9 Lemon Tree Premier New Town Kolkata, BG 9, Action Area 1B, ☏ +91 33 6813 9900. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹7,460-8,410.
- 10 Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences, CF 11, Action Area IC, ☏ +91 33 4032 3333, +91 33 4032 3334. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹9,670-12,390.
- 11 Pride Plaza Hotel Kolkata, BG Block, Action Area I, ☏ +91 33 40259999. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹5,600–₹6,800.
- 12 Swissotel, City Centre, Action Area-IID, ☏ +91 33 6626 6666, kolkata@swissotel.com.
- 13 Taj Taal Kutir, Eco Park.
- 14 Vedic Village Spa Resort.
- 15 The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat, Biswa Bangla Sarani, Action Area-II (opposite Eco Park), ☏ +91 33 4037 1234. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹7,670-9,970.
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]Fire stations
[edit]- 1 New Town Fire Station.
Police stations
[edit]- 2 Baguiati Police Station, ☏ +91 91478 89500.
- 3 Eco Park Police Station.
- 4 Hatishala Police Station, ☏ +91 98749 02941.
- 5 Narayanpur Police Station.
- 6 New Town Police Station, New Town Rd, DJ Block, Action Area I, ☏ +91 33 2324 6077.
- 7 Rajarhat Police Station, ☏ +91 33 2573 3289.
- 8 Technocity Police Station, ☏ +91 33 2962 3600.