As long as winter resides in eastern and central part of India, why not make the best of it? We bring you a list of places where one can spend an amazing weekend and are pocket-friendly too. There are some amazing hotels nearby which serve as perfect hideout while visiting these locations.

5 ways you can spend amazing weekend near Kolkata:

At a distance of 187kms from Kolkata, Digha was initially known as Beerkul. This beach town provides a plethora of options to its tourists. One can get a taste of seafood and enjoy a range of marine activities like boating, scuba diving, jet skiing, swimming etc. It is connected by both rail and road. The largest attraction in Digha is the recently constructed Science Centre. The Aquarium of Zoological Survey of India is the largest in our country.

Some other places of interest around include Subarnarekha River, Talasari, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; the Subarnarekha Delta and the Manadarmani Beach. At Talasari, river Subarnarekha meets the Bay of Bengal and creates a delta which is one of the most recommended places to visit. Boats are available if one decides to take a tour into the delta.

The most fascinating thing about Ranchi is its pleasant weather which remains so all year round. The major attractions around Ranchi include the Birsa Zoological Park, Surya Temple, and the Jagannath Temple. There as some famous waterfalls which serve as perfect adventure as well as picnic spot like the Johna and Hundru Falls. Rajrappa Temple is another excellent place to visit if you are around Ranchi.

To reach the Hundru falls one has to climb down 800 stairs and again climb up to go back. There is another way around which reduces the number of steps by 400 but this path lacks safety gears and security guards and the rocks are very slippery. Once you get down to the falls, the area is adorable and the mesmerizing waterfall is enough to drive you insane. You can plan your stay at some of the best hotels in Ranchi like Radisson Blu, Hotel Green Acres, Hotel Blues Shivalik etc.

Lying in the shadows of mighty Himalayas is a narrow strip of land just 40 km wide, with its broadest section known as Chicken’s Neck which connects India’s North-East to the Indian mainland. Some of the prominent attractions around Siliguri include the Coronation Bridge, Kali Mandir and the North Bengal Science Centre.
Salugara Monastery is another important place to visit in Siliguri. Its stupa is 150 feet high and contains five different types of relics. The entire around the monastery is neatly and beautifully maintained.

Once ruled by the Mauryans, Raipur’s early existence and wide history can be made out from the remains of ancient sites that are believed to be from the 9th century. You can go for spending an amazing weekend to the birthplace of vaishanav guru Shree Mahaprabhuji, a piligrimage place called Champaran. Other popular attractions include The Dudhdhari Temple, Hajra Waterfalls, and the iconic Balaji Temple.

You can enjoy a peaceful and religious atmosphere at Rajiv Lochan Mandir, which is located about 40kms from main city of Raipur.

Apart from being a stunning destination, one thing that makes Darjeeling more magnetic is that it is inexpensive. There are a lot of beautiful spots in Darjeeling to linger like Batasia Loop, Joy Ride toy train, Japanese Temple, Himalayan mountaineering and zoological centre, Rock garden, Mahala Mandir, Famous Darjeeling Tea Gardens, The Mall etc.

Tourists visit Darjeeling all the year round to spend an amazing weekend because of its proximity to Himalayas and natural beauty of the place. Its most attraction is the Toy Train, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will always be thrilled with the small steam engines pulling mini coaches up the steep mountains through mesmerizing landscapes. It becomes almost impossible to overcome the curves and gradients but sheer engineering ingenuity and creative skills make this possible.