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Southwest Kolkata consists of the suburbs southwest of the city, including Barisha, Behala, Garden Reach, Joka, Sarsuna and Thakurpukur, all of which are governed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Historically, these areas were distinct towns or villages southwest of Kolkata with their own identities before being absorbed into the municipal borders. Some of these suburbs still maintain their own separate identities with their marketplaces and local traditions, for example, Behala and Garden Reach. People there still talk about "going to Kolkata" when they refer to the inner parts of the city.
This article also covers outlying areas like Batanagar, Bishnupur, Maheshtala and Pailan, all governed by the South 24 Parganas district administration. Ironically, the headquarters of South 24 Parganas is in Alipore, well outside the district boundaries.
Get in
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The transport system of Southwest Kolkata has changed drastically over the decades, from narrow-gauge railways and tramways to modern-day buses and metros.
By metro
[edit]Southwest Kolkata is served by line 3 , which was previously a tram route. Locally called Behala Metro, the line runs along Diamond Harbour Road, from Majerhat to Joka via Behala.
By local train
[edit]Despite still being locally called "Rail Line", James Long Sarani has not been served by trains since the 1950s. However, there are local trains between Majerhat and Budge Budge.
See and do
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Museums
[edit]- 1 Gurusaday Museum (গুরুসদয় জাদুঘর Gurusadaẏ Jādughar), P6, Diamond Harbour Rd (metro: Joka 3 ), [email protected]. Tu–Su 10AM-5PM. Closed on M and national holidays. The outcome of a lifetime collection of traditional folk arts in Bengal by Sir Gurusaday Dutta. On his death in 1941, the collection was handed over to the Bratachari Society founded by Sir Gurusaday Dutta to preserve and protect Bengal folk arts. It was opened as a museum to the public with the help of the union government in 1963. It contains, among other fine handicrafts, terracotta panels, kantha (folk quilt work) and patas (hand-painted scrolls), notably of the Kalighat School. Students ₹2, adult Indians ₹10, foreigners ₹50.
- 2 Sabarna Sangrahashala (সাবর্ণ সংগ্রহশালা Sābarṇa Saṁgrahaśālā), 67/3 Diamond Harbour Rd, ☏ +91 33 24473550, +91 9830289400, [email protected]. 10AM–noon and 5–7PM. Closed on Th. The only family museum of Kolkata. It was established in 2005 by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury Paribar Parishad and is a popular tourist attraction, especially for those who want to know more about the history of Kolkata. It is also a research institute in the making. The museum possesses some of the rarest Kabulatipatras, documents and articles of historical importance besides several artifacts dating back to the 17th century. The museum is dedicated to students for creating an awareness of history, heritage, and culture of the land. Every year in the month of February, the museum organizes the International History and Heritage Exhibition which is only of its kind in Eastern India. Free.
- 3 State Archaeological Museum, 1, Satyen Roy Rd (metro: Behala Bazar 3 ). 10:30AM-4:30PM. Closed on M and Tu. The museum has a wide collection of antiques from the bronze age and various artefacts collected from excavations across West Bengal. ₹5.
Religious attractions
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- 4 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhasa no. 14, Diamond Harbour Rd. A temple built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the one who also built the famous Akshardham in Delhi. It has been said that Shri Swaminarayan (1781–1820) once visited the Kapil Muni Temple in Sagar Island.
- 5 Durga Puja of Sabarna Roy Choudhury's family, Barisha. Sabarna Roy Chowdhury's jagirdari family has been celebrating Durga Puja since 1610 in their ancestral home at Barisha. It is the second oldest bonedi (family) Durga Puja in West Bengal and possibly the oldest organised festival in Kolkata.
- 6 Sibtainabad Imambara, P-34, Garden Reach Rd. A major centre of Shi'a Islam in West Bengal. It was founded in 1864 by Wajid Ali Shah, former Nawab of Awadh.
Buy
[edit]Diamond Harbour Road (DH Road) and James Long Sarani (JLS) are dotted on both sides with shops and eateries. Clothes, jewellery, electronic items, sports goods, books and footwear can be found in a multitude of stores all along the stretch from Taratala to Manton. The pavements of Behala are crowded with hawkers selling everything from toothpicks to bedsheets.
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 Hotel Artland, Joka.
- 2 Hotel East Palace, Diamond Harbour Rd, ☏ +91 6450 4025, +91 33 2497 9007, +91 9230613727.
Mid-range
[edit]- 3 New Punjabi Hotel & Restaurant, 394 Diamond Harbour Rd, ☏ +91 9874661256.
Splurge
[edit]- 4 Ibiza (The Fern Resort & Spa), Diamond Harbour Rd, ☏ +91 33 24809009, +91 33 24709929, +91 33 24809000, +91 33 24709928, [email protected]. 110 rooms, halls, conference rooms, swimming pool and many other indoor facilities. Arrangements for weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, conferences, corporate award shows and dinner, dealer’s meet, training sessions etc. Lunch also available for non-boarders. Price starts from ₹4,720.
Connect
[edit]Cope
[edit]Police stations
[edit]- 1 Behala Police Station, ☏ +91 33 23967350.
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