The Samtaber house
A two storey country house with his room, his things and the veranda facing the river. Half an hour inside is enough, and it stays with you.
travel guide
Deulti and Samtaber: the house Sarat Chandra wrote in
At Samtaber, near Deulti in Howrah district, is the house where Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay lived and wrote, kept much as it was, with the Rupnarayan flowing behind it. It is 58 km from central Kolkata. There is nothing built for tourists here, which is why a winter morning at Deulti is one of the calmest half days near the city.
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The short version
- Road distance from Kolkata
- 58 km
- From Barrackpore side
- 72 km
- Usual drive time
- 1.5 to 2 hours from Kolkata, 2 to 2.5 hours from Barrackpore
- Best time to go
- December to February, for the mustard and the river mist
- Suits
- Readers, couples, photographers, a quiet half day
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What you actually see there
The Rupnarayan bank
Wide, slow water right behind the house, with boats and fishing nets. This is where people sit for an hour and forget the time.
Mustard fields in winter
From late December the fields around turn yellow. Combine with Garchumuk, 15 km away, if you want water and open ground in the same day.
How to reach
By car via Kona Expressway and the Kolaghat road, 58 km from central Kolkata and 72 km from Barrackpore. Deulti station on the Howrah–Kharagpur line is nearby, but the house is a few kilometres from the station and the return connections are awkward, so most people drive. Ask us to confirm the house opening day before you fix the trip.
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What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
Go in the morning. By afternoon the light on the river is flat and the house may be shut.
There is no restaurant worth planning around. Carry breakfast, or eat at Kolaghat on the way.
Read one of his stories before you go. It changes the visit completely.
Road distances and drive times here are checked on road routing data and then widened for real traffic. Timings, ferry hours and entry rules change with the season, so ask us the day before you go and we will tell you what the road is like that week.
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Cars for this trip
These are the trips on our list that match this guide. Pickup is from your gate.
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We pick up from these areas
A day trip works best when the car reaches you early, from your own side of town.
questions
Questions about Deulti and Samtaber: the house Sarat Chandra wrote in
Is Deulti worth a day trip from Kolkata?
As a half day, yes, especially with Garchumuk added. On its own it is a quiet hour by the river and a small house, so pair it with something else if you are taking the car for the full day.
How far is Deulti from Kolkata?
About 58 km from central Kolkata and 72 km from Barrackpore, roughly one and a half to two hours by road.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
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