Kolkata the city of joy comes with so many beautiful places and locations for the visitors to explore. No matter if you are staying in Kolkata or visiting the city you will find plenty of locations to explore throughout the city. However there are some places in Kolkata that will offer you a variety of experiences which you can enjoy. From enjoying the breathtaking nature to enjoying water sports or enjoying long walks or picnics, you can enjoy it all here. That location is Rabindra Sarobar Lake in Kolkata. The Rabindra Sarobar Lake Kolkata is one of the popular sightseeing spots for the people of Kolkata. However even for the visitors this can be an interesting location to explore.
The Rabindra Sarobar Lake is one such location in Kolkata that is equally popular for the city dwellers as well. You will find so many people living in the city visiting the Lake to spend some time. Also popular for other activities the lake is almost always bustling. Also the beauty of nature, the beautiful lake, abundance of flora and fauna everything makes this a must visit location in Kolkata. So if you are already in the city or planning to visit here, you must include visiting the Rabindra Sarobar Lake in your itinerary. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention each and everything that you probably need to know about the Sarobar Lake. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this location.
Rabindra Sarobar Lake Kolkata
Location of Rabindra Sarobar Lake: Dhakuria, Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata, West Bengal
Rabindra Sarobar Lake timing: 6 am to 8 pm
Entry fee of Rabindra Sarobar Lake: There is no entry fee
How to go
By air
If you are travelling from outside the city then the nearest airport to reach Rabindra Sarobar would be the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport in Kolkata. The airport is about 23. 5 km away from the lake and it would take around 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach there. You will easily get taxis or you can hire a cab to reach the lake from there. The city is well connected by buses as well. So you can opt for that too.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the Sealdah station is the nearest railway station to reach the lake. From Sealdah you need to take another train in the Kolkata Suburban Railway line that is on the Budge Budge section. You will have to get down either at Ballygunge Junction or Tollygunge railway station or the Lake Gardens railway station. From each of the railway stations the lake is at a walking distance. The lake has multiple entry gates so consider the stations according to that. The Tollygunge railway Station is the nearest and you can actually see the train from the lake itself as the train passes over a high railway track just in front of the lake.
By road
The city is well connected by roadways and you will find buses from major locations of the city to reach Rabindra Sarobar. It is located in South Kolkata so you will have to take buses to reach Golpark, and from there the lake is at a 2 minutes walking distance. Also you can get down at Southern Avenue or near Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station. From there also the lake is a 3 minutes walking distance. You will also find taxis or cabs or you can drive your own car to reach the lake. If you are travelling in your own vehicle you will get chargeable parking space nearby.
By metro
It is most convenient to reach the Rabindra Sarobar Lake by metro as the nearest metro station is Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station. From there the lake is only about 3-4 minutes away. You can easily walk up to the lake from the metro station.
Overview
The Rabindra Sarobar Lake or the Dhakuria Lake is one of the major sightseeing spots in Kolkata. This is one such location that city dwellers as well as the tourists both love visiting. The lake in Rabindra Sarobar is an artificial or man made lake, a garden as well as a park. It has Southern Avenue area in the north and Kolkata Suburban Railway Tracks in the south. In the west it has Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road and in the east there is Dhakuria.
This lake is the second largest water body in Kolkata. At first the lake was popular as the Dhakuria Lake. However in 1958 to honour famous poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore the lake was renamed as the Rabindra Sarobar Lake. Also under the Programme of National Lake Conservation merged with the National Wetlands Conservations Programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Indian Government, the lake in Rabindra Sarovar is declared as the National Lake in the year 1997. Along with that the lake is also one of the major ecological reserves in the city of Kolkata.
What’s more?
The whole area of the lake premises along with the lake as well as the stretch for walkway spreads across 192 acres. Calcutta Improvement Trust (CIT), a body responsible for the beautification and development of the city, acquired this jungle land in 1921. Their aim was to build a residential complex across the lake. Out of the total of 192 acres of the premises, the lake spreads across 73 acres. And the rest of the area comprises gardens, walkways, auditorium, jogger’s area etc. Almost around 11, 000 trees are present here that belong to more than 50 different kinds of plant species. Out of them 7500 are almost 70 to 100 years old.
Major attractions in Rabindra Sarobar Lake
The Lake
Obviously the lake in the Rabindra Sarobar is the main attraction of this idyllic location. The lake has clear water and provides a serene and calm ambience. There are various benches and seats surrounding the lake where you can sit and watch the lake and the water. You will also see the sky changing colour with the passing of the day and the water also changes its colour along with it. The water also houses a good number of fishes here that you can watch. But fishing is totally prohibited here. Also you can enjoy the various water activities like rowing here that takes place in the water.
Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
This is yet another classic and iconic location located inside the Rabindra Sarobar Lake premise. Rabindra Sarobar Stadium is one of the oldest stadiums that you can find in the city and it is extremely important for football matches. It can accommodate up to 26000 people at the same time. The opening of the stadium goes back to 1961 and from then the stadium has hosted many noteworthy matches like matches between India and Czech Republic, India and Iran, India and Russian Eleven etc.
Nazrul Mancha
This one is one of the famous and iconic auditoriums in Kolkata and is a favourite for many. The auditorium is named after famous poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and is a famous spot for hosting various concerts, live programmes and cultural shows.
Durga Museum
This is the first ever Durga Museum in the city set up in 2012 and is popular as the “Ma Elo Phire”. Previously this location was basically an old warehouse that the authorities turned into this museum. This museum houses several award winning Maa Durga idols made by the finest craftsmen of Kumartuli. Every year the new idols replace the older ones here.
Rowing and Swimming Clubs
You will find multiple swimming and rowing clubs inside the complex of Rabindra Sarobar. One of the oldest Rowing Clubs, the Calcutta Rowing Club is located here. Also there is the London Rowing Club, Lake Club, Bengal Rowing Club, and Calcutta University Rowing Club. The Anderson Club or the Indian Life Saving Society that is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the city also has an office inside the premises.
Japanese Buddhist Temple
On the southern fringe of the Rabindra Sarobar the only Japanese Buddhist Temple in Kolkata is located. Established in 1935 the temple is a serene location where the monks offer prayers in Japanese. There is no restriction to enter this temple and visitors can visit here even during the prayers.
Lake Garden Graffitti Warehouse
This one is an abandoned warehouse located in the middle of the premises. It is a hotspot for artists and also for people who practice skateboarding and cycling. The walls here have graffiti all over that looks very interesting and pleasing to look at.
Things to do in Rabindra Sarobar Lake
1. The ideal thing that you can enjoy here is sitting and looking at the beauty of nature here.
2. Also this one is a hot spot for morning walkers and joggers. During the morning time the weather and ambience here is perfect. So you can definitely visit here to have a walk or run or a jog.
3. For photographers this one is an all time favourite spot. Not just that this area is also popular for various shoots like pre wedding shoots.
4. You can take membership in any of the rowing clubs here and enjoy rowing here.
5. Explore the various flora and fauna around the premise. You will find various species of plants, shrubs, bushes and trees here to explore. Also, the area attracts a huge number of migratory birds that you can look at. If you are a bird lover then this will be a great opportunity to spot different bird species here.
6. Munch on some jhalmuri, ghoti groom or have cotton candies, roasted peanuts or matka kulfi from the sellers that roam around the lake and sell these.
Café near Rabindra Sarobar Lake
The area of Rabindra Sarobar is flanked by Golpark, Dhakuria and Southern Avenue on all sides. And this whole area has a series of amazing cafes that you can try out to have a quick bite. Or you can spend some time hanging out with your friends here too. Some of the popular cafes are
Café Drifter
Loafer’s Café Southern Avenue
Royal Bengal Tiger Café
Bunaphile Café
Café By the Lane
Wise Owl The Coffee Shop
Roastery Coffee House
The Chaiwala
Café Coffee Day
Chai Break Café and Bar
Wrapping Up!
The Rabindra Sarobar Lake Kolkata is one of the coziest hangout spots in Kolkata. Even if you are a tourist or a city dweller you can surely plan a visit to the spot. Let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to Rabindra Sarobar. And do let me know when you are planning a trip there.
