Valki Machan Tour | Kolkata To Valkimachan Bardhaman West Bengal

Want to spend a night in the middle of a jungle? Let’s come to the wilderness of Valkimachan. The jungle is well-connected to Kolkata and is a perfect weekend destination from the city. The main attraction of the Valki Machan tour is the forest. The Valkimachan tourist is developing the surrounding jungle.

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Valki Machan tour from Kolkata

Valki Machan tour Burdwan, West Bengal

Many years ago, the Zamindars came here to hunt. At that time, the landlord built a watchtower. They sat on the watchtower and hunted animals. When you visit, you can see that the tower’s ruins still exist.

Valkimachan tour

The history behind the name of the Valkimachan Forest

There is a history behind Bhalki Machan’s jungle. About 300 years ago, a king lived in this area. One day, he and his queen were passing through the jungle. At that time, the queen was pregnant. Eventually, the king and the queen get separated. After some time, the queen gives birth to a son. And unfortunately, the queen was dead.

The Bears saved the baby boy’s life. The king, still searching for his queen, heard a child’s cries in the forest. He realised that the child was his own. He took the child back to the palace. When this child became king, he had three daughters — Jamuna, Sweta, and Kalindi. Jamuna Dighi was named after the eldest daughter.

While walking through the forest, use the Bhalki machan map, which shows sunlight filtering through the dense foliage. Be cautious about the monkeys, wild cats, etc. The sun setting behind tall trees is an enchanting experience, and the calls of elephants from the Dalma forest punctuate the silence.

How does the place name become Bhalkimachan?

Many years ago, there was a rumour that many Bhalluk (bears) were found in this jungle, and Zamindars were hunted by those “Bhalluk” sitting on the “Machan.” From there, the place is named Bhalkimachan or Valkimachan. In this jungle, a bamboo named Valki could be found. In those days, the machan used to be made of Valki bamboo. So, the place’s name becameValkimachan.

Hotels and resorts at Bhalki Machan

For staying in the Valkimachan forest, the Aranya Sundari Hotel is the first choice. Aranya Sundari Hotel is in front of the jungle. It means where the jungle began; the hotel is there. Here, you get AC /non-AC rooms. You can enjoy Camp Fire, Fishing, Boating, Santali Dance, and Night Staying in a Tent. The charges are extra.

Another choice is for the government to undertake the Jamuna Dighi Amrapali Tourist complex, 10 kilometres from the Valkimachan Jungle. Online and spot booking are both available.

Valki Machan Tour Forest’s Special Attraction

Many years ago, zamindars came here to hunt animals like jungle bears. But now, in this jungle, you can see the wild pig, hens, poisonous snakes, etc.

Here, you can enjoy

Campfire, only in winter
Local Site Scenes in Motor Van
Santali Dance with local villagers
Fishing, if you carry your fishing.
Stay a night in a Tent only in winter.
Boating, only in winter.

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How to Reach Valkimachan

It takes about 3 hours to travel from Kolkata to Valki Machan, Bardhaman. Bhalikimachan is well connected to both Guskara and Mankar stations.

Valkimachan is 18 km from Guskara station. It takes 45 minutes to 1 hour by Toto, about 13 km from Mankar station on the Asansol Line, and half an hour to reach by car.

dariyapur dokra village — Dariyapur dokra village

Nearest Tourist Spot

1. Dariyapur – The Dokra village

Dariyapur Dokra village is situated near Guskara station in Burdwan. The village is famous for its Dokra artisans. The families moved from Odisha about 120 years ago. At present, 133 craftsmen are practising the craft as a profession.

Dokra is an ancient technique. These craftsmen follow a process that is almost 5,000 years old. They make statues, animals, gods, and jewellery.

In collaboration with UNESCO, West Bengal’s Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises & Textiles has set up a rural craft centre in Daryapur. WBKBIB built a community museum in the village to showcase the Dokra tradition.

Daryapur is an enjoyable one-day trip year-round. Visitors to Valki Machan, Santiniketan, or Bankura can easily plan a short tour to explore ancient Dokra art. The village’s artists are celebrating their annual fair in mid-October.

2. Jamuna Dighi

The Jamuna Dighi Amrapali tourist complex is Valki Machan’s nearest tourist spot. It is a 25-hectare artificial lake called Jamuna Dighi.

3. Bolpur

From Valkimachan, Bolpur is just 34 kilometres away. You can make a round trip from Valkimachan to Bolpur or vice versa. You can make a trip plan, like going to Valkimachan first, then visiting Bolpur.

Day 1:Dariyapur: The Dokra village, Jamuna Dighi, Valkimachan (stay at Bhalkimachan).
Day 2:Go for Bolpur visit- Gitanjali Rail Museum, Kankalitala, Biswa Bangla Haat, Prakriti Bhavan, Amar Kutir, Kopai River.
Day 3: Srijani Shilpagram, Ballavpur deer park, Biswabharati, Kala Bhavan, Biswabharati museum, Khoai boner hat, etc.
Day 4: Kalikapur raj Bari, Ghursia, Fossil Park, Raipur Rajbati, Surul raj bari.

4. Shantiniketan

The distance from Valki Machan to Bolpur Santiniketan is about 35 kilometres. By car, it takes about 1.5 hours. We all know about Santiniketan. It is a famous place for all Indians.

Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore established Visva-Bharati University here. Poush Mela and Basanta Utsav are the main occasions in Santiniketan and also have historical significance.

Santiniketan tour from Kolkata

5. Deul

Deul is located on the west bank of the Ajai River. By road, the distance from Valkimachan to Deul is approximately 40 kilometres, and the journey takes about 1 hour.

There is a 500-year-old Bhabani Mandir. Ichhai Ghosh built the mandir.

Deul Park.
Shayma Rupa Mayer Mondir.
Hetampur Rajbari and the surrounding religious places.
A jungle is also there; you can see wild animals like hens, cats, foxes, deer, and elephants. And many names of unknown birds can be seen and heard.

If you go a little farther, you will reach Jaydev Kenduli. It is well known for the Navaratna Radhabinod temple, built in the 17th century. Another attraction is the Poush Sankranti Mela, held on 15 January.

6. Durgapur

The distance between Valkimachan, Bardhaman, and Durgapur is 45 kilometres by road. Durgapur has many attractions for tourists. Like –

Durgapur Barrage Dam Picnic Spot
Durgapur Water Park/ Anand Amusement Park
Durgapur solar energy park
Bidhan Nagar Ram Mandir
Rahreswar Shibtola
Bhavani Pathak Cave

Visit Jaydev Kenduli from Durgapur. It is 25 kilometres away and takes 45 minutes to reach.

My Holiday Story – Valkimachan

If you want a day tour from Kolkata, the Valki Machan tour is best for you and is easy to reach. You can stay one night in the middle of the forest. It takes about 3 hours to get to Bhalikimachan from Kolkata. Valkimachan is well connected to Gusakara and Mankar, both stations.

Valki Machan is 18 km from Guskara station. A Toto takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach Valkimachan Park.

It will take about 13 km away from Mankara Station at Asansol Line, and ½ hour time requires a car from the station.

I went to the Valki Machan forest in Burdwan from Kolkata and arrived at Gusakara station. From there, I booked a Toto and reached Valkimachan.

We booked the Toto for 400 rupees, and after visiting Valki Machan, he will drop us at the station.

Two Interesting places – Guskara Station to Valikimachan

Dariyapur Dokra village is 4 km away from Guskara station. There are many famous Dokra artists still living here. You can buy some souvenirs for the family from here.
Jamuna Dighi is a picnic spot created by the West Bengal Government’s Fisheries Department.

There is an excellent place to stay and eat. Inside the park, there is a big area for play and picnics. This place will be great for both kids and adults.

There is a sales centre in Jamuna Dighi where handmade and Dokra items are available. Online booking and spot booking systems are available.

After watching Jamuna Dighi, I went to Valkimachan, 10 km away. The road is quite beautiful. On the way to the main destination, we crossed paddy land and many small villages. The ruins of the watchtower are still visible here.

A hotel called Aranya Sundari is located next to the forest. It’s the only place to stay in Valkimashan.

They have a well-decorated park and an artificial lake. We can go boating here.

We can book rooms at Aranyasundari Resort Valki Machan online. This guest house has restaurant facilities. Check-in and Check-out Are at 1 p.m.

This Indian sanctuary is a jungle of shawl trees. A fun night can easily pass on a quiet night in the jungle.

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Valki Machan Tour | Kolkata to Valkimachan Bardhaman West Bengal