Eco Tourism Park, Kolkata Overview

Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata is an expansive urban park designed to promote eco-tourism in the city. It is the biggest urban park in India and occupies over 475 acres of land. The beauty of the location increases ten folds because of a water body that surrounds the park and forms an island in the middle. It is often visited by picnickers or those who want a quick escape from mundane lives. The beautiful and well-maintained landscape is a perfect retreat for nature lovers. All the facilities provided inside the park are designed to decrease the adverse effects on nature through non-pollution and preservation of the natural landscape.

The idea of an Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata was proposed by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal. HIDCO - Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation of West Bengal coordinated with several departments and brought about the construction of the Eco-Tourism Park in Kolkata. It has three major parts - the ecological zones, the gardens and the recreational zones making it a perfect getaway to relax and unwind. They have some activities that visitors can choose from to suit their requirement. They also have cottages and conference halls that can be rented for personal or business needs. The Eco Park is a beautiful respite from the developing concrete jungle in the city.

Gardens at Eco Tourism Park in Kolkata

Butterfly Garden: The butterfly garden is where one can find different species of butterflies. The specialty of this garden is that it houses plants that help the butterflies thrive inside the dome. The dome helps maintain a perfect temperature for both, the plant and the butterfly species. It is one of the best gardens to observe butterflies in a habitat closest to their natural habitats around a circular water body.
Mask Garden: The Mask Garden is an area reserved only to display various types of masks found not just in Bengal but also in various parts of the world. This garden is located near the northern parking lot. Visitors get to see masks of different shapes, sizes, and colors from all over the world.
Tea Garden: The Tea Garden at Eco Park occupies over an acre of land. It is a model tea garden designed by Andrew Yule and Company. This recreation was possible by creating the right environment in Eco Park. About 40 trucks of soil were brought in from Dooars region of North Bengal to help the tree plantations thrive.
Formal Garden: Formal Garden is located between the Eco Children's Park and Visitor Centre. It is based on the concept of vertical gardening surrounded by a flat landscape. Visitors explore the garden for their innovative designs and maybe get an idea or two they could implement in their private gardens.
Bamboo Garden: The Bamboo Garden has a variety of Bamboo Plantations that come in various sizes, right from short grass type to giant bamboo shoots. The plantations are arranged in a way that it creates a serene yet interesting themed garden.
Fruit Garden: The Fruit Garden showcases some fruit-bearing trees found mostly in Bengal. Enthusiasts often get drawn to the Fruit Garden to identify the species.
Meadow Garden: This garden has a variety of wild flowering plants and overlooks the lakefront promenade. Visitors can take a long stroll across the garden to get to the promenade.
Rose Garden: Rose Garden has a long walkway lined with rose shrubs. The garden also has fountains and sculptures to add to its charm.
Sculpture Garden: This is where one can find sculptures of the 19th and 20th-century legends and events related to them can be found.
Rabi Aranya: Rabi Aranya features plants and trees mentioned in the literary works of Rabindranath Tagore. The aranya reflects the ambience of Shantiniketan Ashram and is beautifully landscaped with benches, a lotus pond, walkways and commemorative pavilions.

Places of Interest at Eco Tourism Park, Kolkata

Urban Museum: Urban Museum or Sangraha displays a beautiful collection of stunning artwork, mostly used to decorate Durga Puja Pandals. The work has been inspired by various themes and has been collectively put on display to encourage restoring the artwork and maintain the essence of the festival of Durga Puja all through the year.
Food Court: The Food Court at Eco Park has about 20 food kiosks that serve a variety of food items. These kiosks have been arranged around a square courtyard with pavilions that are also used for dining.
Lake Front Promenade: The beautifully paved promenade is lined with tall coconut trees and runs all around the large water body at the park.
Biswa Bangla Haat: This haat is specially made to showcase the traditional handicrafts of Bengal. It has a shopping arcade and is also a platform to showcase the Cottage Industries in the region. Fresh Produce is also sold at the Haat.
Artists Cottage and Adda Zone: Artists Cottage was built with the intention of inspiring the burning desires of artists to create magnificent pieces of art. It overlooks the Flower Lake, and the entire location is not less than a dream location. Adda Zone is situated opposite to the Artist's Cottage. It has some benches that overlook the lake where visitors can spend hours looking at the serene waters and the beautiful surroundings.
Graffiti Walls: This wall runs along the South Parking at Eco Park. Both the sides of the walls bear stunning artwork created by two renowned artists, Subha Prasanna and Jogen Chowdhury.
Children's Park: Eco Children's Park is a part of the park where everything is made to suit the needs of the kids and keep them entertained and increase their knowledge in the process. The Park has play areas, sculptures, fountains and lush gardens that help the kids keep their spirits high and have as much fun as they want to.
Seven Wonders of the World: The entire Park has replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World situated in different parts of the park. Christ the Redeemer, Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China are some of the Seven Wonders that can be seen, while others are being constructed on the 480 acre Park.

Things To Do at Eco Tourism Park in Kolkata

Gaming Zone: A perfect hangout for gaming freaks. It costs INR 50 per person for an hour.
E-Byke: E-byke or electric bike/ scooter ride costs INR 150 per person for a 10-minute ride. It is a great way to get an experience riding the bike that completely runs on electricity.
Eco Cart: The Eco Cart serves as a convenient vehicle to commute from Counter 1 to Children's Park. It costs INR 100 per person and goes one way only.
Toy Train: A toy train runs all around the Eco Park covering most of the important parts of the park. It costs INR 150 per person for a round which lasts about 25 minutes.
Bird Watching: The well-maintained landscape at Eco Park serves as a suitable environment for various species of bird and draws bird watchers in large numbers to the Park. Bird Watching costs INR 10 per person.
Cycling: Eco Park has facilities for Baby Cycling, Solo and Duo Cycling to suit the visitor's preference. Baby Cycling costs INR 70 per person for 30 minutes, Solo Cycling costs INR 150 per person for 30 minutes and Duo Cycling costs INR 150 per pair for 20 minutes.
Ice Skating: Eco Park has a well-maintained Ice Skating Rink that visitors can make complete use of. A 30-minute skating session costs INR 150 per person.
Paint Ball: A game of Paint Ball costs INR 50 for 5 balls and is a fabulous game to play with friends and family.
Boating: Solo or group boating facilities are also available in the serene water body that surrounds the beautiful park. One can choose between rowing, water cycling, paddling, shikhara boat ride, speed boat or Kayaking. The cost ranges from INR 50 - 300 depending on the type of boats, number of people and the amount of time one wants to go boating for.
Land and Water Zorbing: Travelling a stretch on water or land inside a Zorbing Ball is an adventurous and an exciting activity that can be done at Eco Park. Land Zorbing costs INR 200 per person for a stretch of 200 metres, and Water Zorbing costs INR 150 per person for 30 minutes.
Archery: Visitors can try their hand at Archery at the Archery Range in the park. It costs INR 70 for 5 arrows per person and is an interesting way to sharpen mental focus.
Rifle Shooting: Eco Park has a Rifle Shooting Range and costs about INR 50 for 10 shots per person.

How To Reach Eco Tourism Park

Eco Tourism Park is located at a distance of 18 kilometres from the city centre. Taxis or private vehicles are the best modes of transport in Kolkata to reach the park via VIP road or Thakurnagar Panchpota Road and NH12. You can also take Canal W Road to reach the attraction.

To take the route via VIP Road/ Thakurnagar Panchpota road, you need to go through Rama Ram Mohan Sarani road and head to Maniktala Main Road. From here, follow the route CIT Road - Thakurnagar Panchpota Road/ VIP road - Rajarhat Road - NH12 to Street number 706 - Ghuni Road - Major Arterial Road (South-East), Action Area II, Newtown.

If travelling via Canal W Road, follow the route via Surya Sen Street - Canal W Road - NH12 in Tangra - NH12 to Action Area II, New Town - Ghuni - Major Arterial Road (South-East), Action Area II, Newtown. CTC bus C8 is a direct bus to Eco Tourism Park. It departs from Tollygunge Depo. Bus No. 46B or 217B can be hailed from Esplanade at Chinar Park or City Centre 2.