Susunia Hill
The nearest real hill to Kolkata, in Bankura. A short climb, a spring at the base, rock carvings from the Chandravarman inscription, and stone carvers in the village. One night is enough.
201 km from Kolkata
travel guide
Hill stations near Kolkata, from a 200 km hill to Darjeeling
Bengal has two kinds of hills. The western belt, Bankura, Purulia and the Jharkhand edge, is 200 to 370 km away and reachable by car in a day. The Darjeeling side is 600 km and more, which by road means a night on the way or a train or flight to Bagdogra. This guide keeps them apart so you do not plan a 600 km hill in a two day weekend.
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The short version
- Best time to go
- Western hills: November to February, and February for the palash. Darjeeling side: March to May and October to December
- Suits
- Anyone who wants cool air without a flight
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The places, and what each one is like
Distances are road distances from central Kolkata, checked on road routing data.
Jhilimili and Belpahari
Forest more than hill: sal, the Kangsabati, Ghagra falls and Kankrajhor. Belpahari is 207 km on the Jhargram side. Elephants use these roads, so travel in daylight only.
234 km from KolkataBarrackpore — Jhargram
Ghatshila
Just inside Jharkhand, on the Subarnarekha. Bibhutibhushan wrote here, and the town is still all river, low hills and quiet. Good for two days with Galudih and the dam.
244 km from KolkataBarrackpore — Ghatshila
Biharinath Hill
The highest hill in Bankura, with an old Shiva temple at the base and a forest track around it. Very few people, two or three resorts, and the mist sits on it in December.
249 km from Kolkata
Baranti
A lake with the hills behind it, in Purulia. Nothing to do except sit, walk to the water and watch the palash burn red in February. Usually paired with Garpanchkot, 4 km on.
262 km from KolkataBarrackpore — Purulia and Ajodhya Hills
Garpanchkot
Ruined temples of the Panchakot kings at the foot of Panchet hill, with the Panchet dam close by. Forest, ruins and a hill in one place, and almost no crowd on a weekday.
266 km from Kolkata
Ayodhya Hills, Purulia
The big one on this side: Ayodhya top, Bamni and Turga falls, Marble Lake, Murguma reservoir, and Charida mask village on the way. Needs three days from Kolkata to be worth the drive.
367 km from KolkataBarrackpore — Purulia and Ajodhya Hills
Mirik, Kurseong, Darjeeling
The real mountains. By road it is 12 to 14 hours, so most people take the train or fly to Bagdogra and we meet them there with a car. Mirik at 612 km, Kurseong at 608 km, Darjeeling at 639 km.
612–639 km from KolkataBarrackpore — Darjeeling
Driving to Darjeeling, or meeting the car there
A car all the way is worth it if you are five or six people, want to stop at Malda or Lataguri on the way, and have eight days. For a five day trip, take the night train or a morning flight to Bagdogra and we keep a car at the station or the airport for the hills. It costs less and you do not lose two days on the road.
What the western hills are actually like
Do not expect Darjeeling. These are 300 to 700 metre hills with dry forest, dam water, rock and red earth, and in February the palash turns the whole belt orange. It is hot from March, so the season is short. What you get instead of altitude is silence, empty roads and stars.
travel guide
What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
On the Purulia and Jhargram forest roads, finish driving before dark. Elephant herds cross these roads in the evening and there is no way around them.
The western hills have very few good rooms, so book the resort three weeks ahead for any February weekend.
For Darjeeling, keep the hill car separate from the plains car. Hill driving needs a driver used to those turns, and we arrange one there.
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 Hill stations near Kolkata, from a 200 km hill to Darjeeling
Which is the nearest hill station to Kolkata?
Susunia Hill in Bankura, about 201 km by road, is the nearest proper hill. Biharinath is 249 km and Baranti 262 km. The nearest hill station in the Darjeeling sense is Mirik, and that is 612 km.
Can we drive to Darjeeling from Kolkata in one day?
It is 639 km, so it can be done in one very long day, but we do not suggest it. We either break the journey at Malda or Lataguri, or you take the train or flight and we give you the car from Bagdogra or NJP.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
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