Monchasha, an offbeat weekend destination from Kolkata was waiting for us. Our weekend trip from Kolkata was no longer a dream—it was finally happening! The time had finally arrived, and we were on our way to this beautiful eco-resort in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.
Monchasha is an eco-resort in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, developed as part of a rural ecotourism initiative. Surrounded by greenery and located close to the Bagda River, it offers a peaceful setting away from the busy city life of Kolkata. With its bamboo cottages, rural surroundings, local food, ponds, and opportunities to enjoy nature, Monchasha can surely be ranked among the best relaxing weekend getaways near Kolkata.
While planning our West Bengal travel from Kolkata for the weekend, we were looking for a quick retreat close to nature. And it's not easy to find an offbeat destination from Kolkata that's really alluring and something that quenches your thirst for travel close to a river and in the lap of nature.
This is when we came across this place with a beautiful name - Monchasha. In Bengali, the name is an amalgamation of two parts - Mon, which means the soul or the heart, and 'Chasha', which translates to Farmer. So, this retreat, which lies close to nature, is a place where you can reconnect with your soul and spend some quality time near a village with a flowing river.
Monchasha at a Glance
- Location: Purba Medinipur, West Bengal
- Type: Eco-resort and rural retreat
- Best suited for: Weekend trips, nature stays, and relaxing getaways
- From: Kolkata
- Surroundings: Greenery, rural landscapes, ponds, and the Bagda River
- Accommodation: Bamboo cottages and rooms
- Experiences: Nature, local food, fishing, boating, and rural surroundings
How to Reach Monchasha from Kolkata
We left the southern fringes of Kolkata at around 8 in the morning and headed towards Monchasha. The journey took us through Vidyasagar Setu, Uluberia, Bagnan, and Kolaghat before we continued towards the resort in Purba Medinipur. We took the route toward Vidyasagar Setu, also called the Second Hooghly Bridge.
After crossing Vidyasagar Setu, we passed through Uluberia and Bagnan before continuing towards Kolaghat. We took a short break for breakfast at Kolaghat and continued toward Nandakumar. From Nandakumar, we took a right turn toward Digha and continued on Contai-Nandakumar Road and then on the Digha Road. After reaching Kalinagar Bus Stop, we took a right turn. After a while, we had to cross a bridge, the Pausi Desapran Setu, and drive along the small and narrow roads of a small but beautiful village that has a sweet name - Pausi.
The road ran along the banks of the local river named Bagda. Soon we reached the gate of Monchasha.
For anyone planning a Monchasha weekend trip from Kolkata, this route offers a convenient way to reach the resort while also taking you through several familiar towns and roads of southern West Bengal.
First Impression of Monchasha
We parked our car just inside the main gate of Monchasha Resort and walked the stretch to the reception area. Our luggage was left behind at the gates. Soon, the bags we had brought with us were carried in a hand-drawn cart. These carts are common in rural India but are not commonly seen in hotels or resorts.
The narrow, unpaved road leading into Monchasha has a couple of medium-sized ponds on either side. If you're planning a trip to Monchasha, you can enjoy fishing or swimming in these ponds. Fishing rods are available at the resort.
Welcome and Check-in at Monchasha
Once we reached the main area, on our right was a large, earthen-floored reception area. As we entered it, we were welcomed with cool and fresh lime water - much needed after our long drive from Kolkata.
Soon, we were allotted two rooms in a cottage with a pristine appearance.
Bamboo Cottages at Monchasha
At Monchasha, you get to stay in bamboo cottages with thatched roofs. A short flight of stairs from the grounds of Monchasha led to the sitting area outside the rooms. A couple of sofas made from cane are placed here to relax. Just beyond the sitting area, the Bagda River ran relentlessly. A sweet breeze came from the side of the river. It immediately gave us the feeling that we would enjoy the peace and comfort at Monchasha Resort that we often look for but rarely find amid the crowds of city life.
On both sides of the sitting area were the two rooms. The floors of the rooms are made from mud and are covered with carpets. The walls are made from bamboo. Each room has an attached washroom and a balcony facing the Bagda River, which flows right behind the thatched bamboo cottages of Monchasha.
Things to Do and See at Monchasha
After refreshing, we headed out of our rooms and started exploring the amazing space of Monchasha. The resort has been developed as a responsible ecotourism initiative, with its natural surroundings and rural character forming an important part of the experience. A large number of trees have been planted around the area. They provide the required shade and keep Monchasha cool. The shade from the trees, along with the breeze from the Bagda River, kept the surroundings cool and comfortable, so we did not need an air conditioner.
There's a large area with a mud floor and a thatched roof. It has one verandah and a couple of rooms. On one side of this area is the reception and the dining area. There are several games, such as carrom, in this area. You can also find a canvas and a few tools, which you can use to draw pictures. Besides, there are a few handicraft items on the walls of every room of Monchasha. Most of these handicrafts are created by local artisans in Monchasha. If you want, you can purchase a few handicraft items as souvenirs.
As you move ahead, there's a sitting area with a small bed at one end of the verandah. There's a waterbody right where the verandah ends and beyond that, you can see acres of paddy fields.
The sitting area has a couple of small cots made from bamboo, a couple of tea tables, and a few chairs. This surely is the perfect area to lie down and spend a lazy afternoon, while enjoying the greenery.
Along with the cottages, there's also a small hut in Monchasha that displays the essentials of rural life. These include ploughs, spinning wheels, a weaving machine, a potter's wheel, and a few earthen and wooden decorative items made by the local artisans from the village of Pausi who come here.
A gate toward the rear side of the resort takes you to the banks of River Bagda. You can enjoy a walk along the banks or go boating on the river whenever you want to spend time closer to nature.
The area outside the reception is well managed with several flowering plants and large trees. A small waterbody has been created artificially to grow lotus plants. A few colorful fish swim in this little pond.
Food and Lunch at Monchasha
The sumptuous lunch at Monchasha was full of the flavors of rural Bengal. The menu comprised:
- Rice
- Fried bitter gourd or ucche bhaja
- Locally prepared ghee
- Dal
- Fried potato or alubhaja
- Mixed vegetable or sabji
- Two types of fish curries or maacher jhol
- Chatni
- Sweets
All the items that were served in Monchasha were quite fresh. The food was also prepared with great care.
They were cooked with special care and were extremely delicious. In addition, the staff at Monchasha served the food in such a caring way that we felt really welcome at this serene resort in Purba Medinipur.
An Evening at Monchasha
After taking a walk across the grounds, we felt tired as an effect of the heavy lunch. So, we decided to go for a short afternoon nap. After the siesta, we experienced the beautiful sunset while sitting on the cozy cane couches in the cottage's common area and enjoying the breeze from the river.
As the darkness rolled in, Monchasha changed its appearance immediately. The lights that were switched on were dim. So, the magic of the night was not wiped away completely with any vibrant lighting system. While relaxing on the cane bench on the balcony of our cottage in Monchasha, we enjoyed the soothing evening breeze that was coming from the side of River Bagda that shimmered in the darkness.
A bit later, we were served our evening snacks - muri and telebhaja. These consisted of puffed rice along with a few deep-fried accompaniments, such as peyaji and alur chop, which were really enjoyable.
Soon after, we were sitting on the sofa and looking at the magical, moonlit landscape across river Bagda.
Dinner and Overnight Stay at Monchasha
Before it was too late, we were informed that our dinner was ready. So, we headed toward the dining area. It was now lit in a natural and understated manner. The low lighting helped preserve the natural ambiance of the rural setting at Monchasha.
The dining table was filled with dishes from the local cuisine. These included both rice and chapatis or roti, along with different types of accompaniments, such as dal, vegetables, and chicken.
We were planning to stroll through Monchasha after dinner. However, the darkness and our concern about encountering snakes made us rethink the idea. This was also one of the reasons we preferred visiting Monchasha during winter. The clear night sky offered a view of stars that is often difficult to enjoy in cities. After spending some time staring at the pitch-black darkness across Bagda River and enjoying the look of the star-studded sky, we retired for the day inside our cottages.
The next morning, most of the staff were ready even before we woke up, and we were served cups of bed tea. After getting refreshed, we strolled the area and found that the beautiful morning light had actually augmented the beauty of the place. After some time, we went to have the delicious breakfast.
The breakfast menu at Monchasha was quite delectable, to say the least. The enticing menu comprised:
- Fruits
- Luchi or deep-fried flatbread
- Sada aloor torkari or accompaniment made of potato
- Pickle
- Sweets
After completing our breakfast, we spent a bit of time fishing in a pond at Monchasha. Then we bathed in another pond within the resort grounds. Soon, we were ready to leave the magical world of Monchasha.
On the way, we had our lunch at Sandeepa Restaurant at Kolaghat and reached home before sunset.