Gopegarh Eco Park, situated on the highlands of Kangsabati River with heritage Garh area and remnants of Khan Raja, is located on its high lands. According to folklore and Ai-I Akbari, it bears mythological connotations, as Gope Griha was mentioned therein.
The park offers many exciting adventures to discover, making weekends and winter particularly busy with group/day outings.
1. Sabuj Sathi Island
Gopegarh, situated close to IIT Kharagpur, offers an idyllic spot for exploring nature’s breathtaking spectacle. Furthermore, Gopegarh holds historical value; according to local lore, this park was part of King Birat’s Mahabharata kingdom. Also, it may have been home to an old fort known as Gope Griha, which historians have documented through the Ain-e-Akbari book.
The park spans over an expansive 480 acres, featuring a water body. It boasts three eco-zones – wetland, grassland, and urban forest areas. Furthermore, themed gardens and open spaces have been created within it; kayaking, paddle boating, ice skating, and tandem cycling activities can also be found within its boundaries.
At the center of the lake sits a magnificent glass house that gives visitors an uninterrupted panorama of the park. There are open galleries, lawns, and paved pathways on the island – in addition, KMDA has created an arena where cultural programs may take place.
Nature and art enthusiasts alike should visit this park at some point. Wintertime offers the ideal conditions when trees are green, and temperatures remain cool – a perfect opportunity for long strolls through this magnificent space and spending quality time with those you care about most. Cafe Ekante serves delicious cuisine, adding another element to an enjoyable visit!
2. Bamboo Garden
Gopegarh Eco Park provides an idyllic spot for picnicking near IIT Kharagpur or Midnapore, perfect for weekend hangouts or picnics. Built around multiple water bodies, its picturesque setting makes this park the ideal location to unwind after work or enjoy an offbeat weekend outing.
The Eco-park is divided into three zones: eco areas, theme gardens, and urban recreational spaces.
Bamboo Garden and Fruits Garden are themed gardens designed to showcase various species of bamboo plants with creative planting effects. Meanwhile, Bamboo Garden features multiple varieties that boast innovative planting effects. At the same time, Fruits Garden showcases this region’s abundant nature through fruit trees that encourage wildlife learning by teaching the identification of fruits.
Lake Zone features a bridge connecting Eco Island with the mainland, a Bengali restaurant, a Sculpture Court, a Lakefront Promenade, and a Gazebo – providing great scenic and leisure walks along its lakefront promenade and waterfront promenade. Furthermore, the Sculpture Court holds numerous works by Bengal-born artists for visitors to enjoy.
Mist House and Cactus Walk at Eco Park allows visitors to see various cacti and succulents. At the same time, Park-cum-zoological Garden boasts a Chinese Garden, formal Garden, Bonsai Garden Butterfly Garden, Heliconia Garden, and many others. Additionally, the Park hosts various festivals, such as the Vokatta Kite Festival annually in January.
3. Gaming Zone
Gopegarh, located in the West Midnapore District of Bangladesh, is an exquisite heritage and nature ecotourism center brimming with history & natural splendor. Surrounded by a forest area and bordering Kangsabati River, this ecotourism hub features four picnic spots, an amusing paddle boat pond with paddle boat amusement rides, four garden areas for children to play in, as well as four picnic spots, an amusing paddle boat amusement pond with paddle boat amusement, children park facilities & more – plus there’s even an awesome watch tower that gives 360-degree views over its surroundings! – Forest areas filled with Duranda/ Vacaranda flowers and Shal/ Bakul/ Tekosa trees add visual interest.
Gopegarh is one of the premier weekend destinations and picnic spots near IIT Kharagpur & Kolkata, accessible via train or road travel. Sher e Punjab Restaurant and Express Food Plaza are among the finest eateries. Unfortunately, noise from passing trains may make the journey uncomfortable.
4. Paddle Boating
Gopegarh Eco Park, situated along Kangsabati riverbanks, offers visitors a gorgeous spot full of hillocks, trees, and exciting activities that make an excellent picnic spot for families. Divided into sections such as Biswa Bangla Haat, Children’s Park, Adda Zone, Grass Land, and Tea Garden, visitors are treated to an outstanding evening show with fountains spraying music onto water screens. In contrast, laser shows tell stories through visual projection.
Near Gate No. 1, visitors will find an exciting display of masks from different parts of West Bengal, India, and beyond. Additionally, ice skating and duo cycling offer additional thrilling attractions, while eco carts transport them between parking lots and different areas within the park.
Gopegarh can be reached by car from Kolkata via Midnapore and Medinipur, then onward to Medinipur and Gopegarh. Buses and auto rickshaws run regularly between these points and Gopegarh; hotels, lodges, sheds for campers, food services, and paddle boating are available nearby if staying over. Don’t forget your camera – this experience won’t soon be forgotten!
5. Children Park
Gopegarh Park near IIT Kharagpur & Kolkata offers an excellent weekend picnic spot and boasts historical significance. Filled with exciting activities and plenty of outdoor spaces for enjoying nature-based leisure time.
The park boasts several attractions for both tourists and locals to enjoy, such as a lighthouse, children’s playground, paddle boating, park-cum-zoological garden, and other special features. While entering the park is free, tickets for certain attractions may incur separate charges.
Visit Gopegarh Eco Park by taking a train or bus ride to Medinipur and then taking an auto rickshaw ride from there – both are stunning scenic routes with lush greenery on either side of the road, making your visit well worth your while!
Once inside, visitors will find a large ghar called “Gope Griha.” These remnants of an erstwhile palace have been turned into an eco-park while also offering small treks, flower gardens, and panthasala for picnic parties, as well as some fantastic guest houses such as pathik and appayan guest houses (pathik and appayan) as guest accommodations in this park. It provides the perfect blend of nature and history and is an excellent location to stroll while admiring the Kangsabati River along its majestic bridge!
6. Park-cum-zoological garden
Gopegarh Eco Park near IIT Kharagpur is the ideal weekend picnic spot, offering abundant biodiversity and historical landmarks to discover. There is a children’s park, paddle boating, and even a floating musical fountain – not forgetting its easy accessibility by car and bus!
The Park-cum-zoological Garden is one of the most extensive botanical gardens in North East India. Spanning an area of 432 hectares, this botanical garden houses wild animals, birds, reptiles, and plants and modern zoological parks throughout India and overseas that regularly host exchange programs between themselves and one another.
Formerly, the Zoo was famous for importing exotic animal species like chimpanzees, white rhinoceroses, and black rhinoceroses from Africa; giraffes, zebras, and ostriches from India; pumas and jaguars from South America and kangaroos from Australia; however more recently its emphasis has shifted toward indigenous wildlife conservation with several captive breeding programs being initiated to support it.
Near the northern parking lot is a new tea garden where visitors can stroll along winding pathways while viewing natural plants growing. A grassland has also been created with different kinds of grasses. At the same time, Adda Zone offers masks from districts within West Bengal, states within India, and countries worldwide – featuring a Floating Musical Fountain and laser show on a water screen for added entertainment!
