Kolkata is known for its largest Eco Tourism Park in the world, in addition to its rich history and heritage. This urban park, which is located in Rajarhat’s New Town district, took nearly 190 hectares of land. It forms an island since it is surrounded by 42 hectares of water. The park, also known as Prakriti Tirtha, is popular among locals who come here to relax and enjoy.
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Eco Tourism Park In Kolkata
The park was created by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and assigned to the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). HIDCO is the main agency in charge of managing it all from engineering to the execution and implementation of various projects related to the park’s overall operations.
The Eco Tourism Park is divided into three main parts of urban recreational areas: Ecological zone, Theme gardens, and Recreational open spaces. Visitors of all ages can specialize in a number of activities, including zorbing, kayaking, swimming, rowing activities, paddle boating, and speed boat trips.
Park officials have planned a variety of outdoor activities from which tourists can choose based on customer needs or interests.
Cottages and conference halls may be reserved for personal or official use at the park. People come to places like Eco Tourism Park as a break from their otherwise hectic lives, and they find it to be very peaceful and relaxing.
Places of Interest in Eco Tourism Park Kolkata
1. Artists Cottage & Adda Zone: The Artists Cottage, which oversees the flower lake, was designed to provide such a peaceful setting for people with artistic inclinations to sit in peace and make their own works of art. The rose garden, which is located near the back of the artists’ cottage, provides a lovely mix of an atmosphere that is ideal for a dreamy environment.
The Artists Cottage, which overlooks the lake and musical fountains, is directly across the street from the Adda zone. As the name implies, there are benches lined up here for people to catch up over small talk or engage in discussions on a variety of topics.
2. Urban Museum: In Kolkata’s Eco Tourism Park, the Urban Museum houses all of the Durga Pooja decoration. The collection includes themed artworks from all Durga Puja pandals, pushing the idea of art conservation and the festival’s essence.
3. The Seven Wonders of the World: The Eco Tourism Park has replicas of all of the Seven Wonders of the World distributed around the park. The Colosseum, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer, City of Petra, Sphinx, and Egypt Pyramids are one of them.
4. Sabuj Sathi Island: Sabuj Sathi is a 7-acre island located in the center of the Eco Tourism Park’s huge lake. The main attraction on the island is a 2,800-square-foot glass house with three open-air viewing galleries that provides a 360-degree view of the Eco Park. A total of 100 people can also be accepted in the hall at any given time.
5. Food Court: There are many food stalls located around the courtyard with pavilions, and the food is fairly priced.
6. Lakefront Promenade: The lakefront promenade is a paved path surrounded by palm trees and used by frequent morning walkers.
7. Graffiti Walls: The wall that runs along the south side of the Eco Tourism Park’s parking lot was built by JogenChowdhury and Subhaprasanna, two artists known for their incredibly beautiful artworks. The artists painted both sides of the wall and created a beautiful effect.
8. Biswa Bangla Haat: The Biswa Bangla Haat is a supermarket that sells traditional handicrafts from all over Bengal’s cottage industries. New, locally grown produce is also accessible at the arcade.
Gardens at Eco Tourism Park Kolkata
1. Fruit Garden: The Fruit Garden at Kolkata’s Eco Tourism Park has a large number of fruit-bearing trees. The plantations are mainly made up of the many different types and species of fruits that can be found in Bengal. It’s a perfect place for nature lovers to go and learn about the different species.
2. Mask Garden: The Mask Garden, as the title suggests, is home to masks from all over the world. People find this garden fascinating and fun to come across and learn more about the customs or cultures through the masks that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. It is located very close to the northern parking lot.
3. Butterfly Garden: Home to a variety of butterfly species, the butterfly garden at Kolkata’s Eco Tourism Park is regarded as one of the best in terms of providing a nearly natural habitat for the butterflies. A variety of plants are grown in the butterfly garden to help keep the temperature and climate near optimal for the butterflies to live and thrive.
4. Tea Garden: The tea garden at Kolkata’s Eco Tourism Park, that stretches over an acre of land, was designed as a model tea garden by Andrew Yule and Company.
The designers are said to have imported 40 truckloads of soil from the Dooars area of Northern Bengal. The reason for this was that the soil in the Dooars was ideal for growing and thriving plantations.
5. Formal Garden: Constructed with a combination of imagination and new concepts, the Formal Garden is based on the principle of vertical gardening surrounded by a flat landscape. Most tourists can learn a thing or two about how to plan their own home garden from here. Between the visitor center and a children’s park is this garden.
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6. Bamboo Garden: The Bamboo Garden is a themed garden with a diverse range of bamboo plantations varying in scale from short grass to giant bamboo shoots.
7. Rose Garden, Sculpture Garden, and Rabi Aranya: The rose and sculpture gardens have a long walkway lined with rose shrubs, fountains, and sculptures. Sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries can be found in the sculpture garden.
8. Meadow Garden: Viewing the lakefront promenade, the Meadow Garden at Eco Tourism Park includes an ecosystem of wild flowering plants. Visitors can appreciate taking a stroll through such a region.
Activities in Eco Tourism Park Kolkata
There are a variety of activities to choose from, including birding, cycling, gaming, zorbing, boating, and many more. At an entrance fee of INR 10 per person, visitors can observe and spot the birds that call Eco Park home.
Bird watchers from all over the city flock here in droves. Few sports, such as rowing, biking, zorbing, cycling, kayaking, and paddle boarding, have a time limit.
The Eco Park has a 1,600 square meter ice skating rink that can handle up to 45 skaters at a time. The Eco Park authorities also allow people to purchase monthly membership passes, which range from INR 1200 to 1700 and include ice skate rental. Coaches are also available to teach amateur skaters and beginners.
Ticket Price for Each Activity Inside the Eco Park.
- Birds Watching: INR 10 per person
- Game Zone: INR 50 per person
- Baby Cycling- INR 70 per person for 30 mins
- Solo Cycling- INR 150 per person for 30 mins
- Duo Cycling- INR 150 per pair for 20 mins
- Toy Train Ride: INR 150 per person for a single round
- Ice Skating On weekdays- INR 170 per person for 30 mins and INR 200 per person for 45 mins slot.
- Ice Skating On weekends- INR 200 per person for 30 mins and INR 230 per person for 45 mins slot.
Boating or Water Rides: There are a variety of boating activities available, including kayaking, paddle boating, rowing, and speed boating, with ticket prices ranging from INR 50 to INR 300 depending on the type of ride chosen.
- Rifle Shooting: INR 50 per person for 10 gun shots
- Archery: INR 70 per person for shooting 5 arrows
- E- Byke: INR 150 per person for 10 mins
- For Water Zorbing- INR 150 per person for 30 mins
- For Land Zorbing- INR 200 per person covering a distance of 200 metres
Timings & Entry Fees at Eco Tourism Park March to October:
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 2:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Timings & Entry Fees at Eco Tourism Park Kolkata November to February:
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Entry Fee: INR 30 per person for everyone except children below the age of 3
Note: Eco Tourism Park closed on Mondays
Note: The ticket counter remains open till 7:30 PM
Location of Eco-Tourism Park Kolkata
The Eco Tourism Park is located in Action Area– II of New Town, on the Biswa Bangla Sarani’s Major Arterial Road. The park is about 10 kilometers from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport and has excellent access to VIP Road and the EM Bypass.
How to Reach Eco Tourism Park in Kolkata
By Air: Kolkata Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the closest airport. To get to the park, one can hire prepaid taxis or cabs from top car rental companies in Kolkata. From the airport, city buses run to the Eco Tourism Park.
By Train: Howrah Junction is the closest railway station, with connections to all major cities in the region. To get to the Eco Tourism Park, you can use prepaid taxis or cab services. Bidhan Nagar Railway Station is the nearest station for commuting by suburban local trains. You can either hire a taxi or take a city bus from here.
By Bus: Ultadanga, Kolkata Airport, Salt Lake, Chingrighata, and Baguiati are all served by city buses. CTC bus number C8 also runs directly to Eco Tourism Park and can be boarded at Tollygunge bus station. Visitors staying near the Esplanade will take the 46B and 217B buses from Chinar Park or City Centre 2.
