The Indian state of West Bengal has many places around it which are much sought after for spending weekends or as picnic spots. Gadiara is one such place, which is around 90 km away from the city. The picturesque hamlet of Gadiara lies on the cusp of the three main rivers of Bengal, namely Roopnarayan, Damodar and Hooghly.
History of Gadiara
The small town of Gadiara has an interesting history. Notorious for river pirates, during the mid 18th century when the British had already gained a stronghold over Kolkata, the pirates of Gadiara used to plunder the surrounding areas. So in order to combat this menace, the British General, Lord Robert Clive, built a fort that came to be known as Fort Mornington. This historical monument reminds the presence of the British among the vast river front. The fort has been abandoned long time back and still stands as a memoir and a gateway to those days of colonial rule in India. Kolkata is rich in such monuments most of which have been preserved and they have become a glory to the whole country. The devastating effect of the 1942 flood could only wash away the structure but the essence and the legends woven around it still exist. This site still has that effect on tourists who visit the place, and are enthralled by the myth of the place. There is also a lighthouse in Gadiara which stands as a testament to the early days.
Tourism in Gadiara
Gadiara has several picnic spots which makes it a popular tourist destination for people to visit during the weekends. With the wide flowing river, a quaint atmosphere is created and the offer of river cruises is also one of the prime attractions of Gadiara. Other than this, there is the Geonkhali water treatment plant and the ruins of the Mornington Fort at low tide, both of which are easily accessible by boarding a ferry.
Visiting Information on Gadiara
The Howrah railway station is the closest at a distance of 82 km from Gadiara and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the nearest at a distance of 94 km. Gadiara is well connected via roadways.
