The boat on the Ichamati
An hour on the river with the two countries on either side. Fix the rate before boarding and stay on the Indian side of the water; the boatmen know the line.
travel guide
Taki: the Ichamati, and Bangladesh on the other bank
Taki sits on the Ichamati in North 24 Parganas, with Bangladesh on the far bank, close enough to see people going about their day. It is 70 km from Kolkata and 68 km from Barrackpore, which makes it one of the best day trips from our own belt. Come for a boat ride, the river bank at sunset and old crumbling houses, not for anything organised.
travel guide
The short version
- Road distance from Kolkata
- 70 km
- From Barrackpore side
- 68 km
- Usual drive time
- 2 to 2.5 hours from Kolkata, 2 hours from Barrackpore
- Best time to go
- November to February. Dussehra time is special but very crowded
- Suits
- Families, groups from the Barrackpore belt, picnic parties, photographers
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What you actually see there
The Golpata forest patch
A small mangrove-like stretch by the water, pleasant for a short walk. It is not the Sundarban, but it is the same family of trees.
The old houses
Zamindar houses in various states of collapse, and the Jora Shiv temple. Nothing is restored, so treat it as a walk through a quiet river town.
How to reach
From Barrackpore through Barasat, Berachampa and Basirhat, about 68 km, two hours. From central Kolkata it is about 70 km. Trains run to Hasnabad, and from there it is a short hop, but with a family the car is easier because the ghat, the forest patch and the old houses are spread out. Chandraketugarh is 25 km back on the same road if you want both in a day.
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What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
This is a border river. Carry an ID card, do not cross the middle of the water, and do not fly a drone.
The riverbank fills up with picnic groups on winter Sundays. Reach by 10am for a good spot.
Sunset is the best part, so plan the boat for the late afternoon and keep the car till 8pm.
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 Taki: the Ichamati, and Bangladesh on the other bank
How far is Taki from Barrackpore and Kolkata?
About 68 km from Barrackpore and about 70 km from central Kolkata, roughly two to two and a half hours either way.
Can we see Bangladesh from Taki?
Yes, the far bank of the Ichamati is Bangladesh and it is clearly visible. You cannot land there, and the boatmen stay on the Indian side of the river.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
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