Falta is located on the bank of Hooghly River in South 24 Pargana district of West Bengal. It is a famous tourist destination having relics of ancient times. After the capture of Kolkata by Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah, the British took temporary shelter in this place. Before the attainment of independence by the country, a Dutch factory was established here. About 1000 years ago, Tamluk which is situated near Falta was a famed Buddhist centre. The town is completely a riverside town where towards the south, Hooghly River meets Damodar River and towards its north Hooghly River merges with Rupnarayan River. In addition to the mesmerizing riverside beauty of the place, Falta also houses a wonderful farmhouse which belongs to Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, a famous Bengali scientist. Falta is also included in `Special Economic Zone` and hosts a number of business guests.
Tourism in Falta
Falta offers a serine and beautiful ambience to the tourists. Walkways and parks along the river bank provide an enjoyable evening. The farmhouse of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose is known as Bose Bigyan Mandir which is adorned with a beautiful garden having numerous trees. The grounds of the farmhouse also form cherished picnic spots. Falta Jetty is the site from where boats carry passengers throughout the day. A visit to this jetty is also a delightful experience. Boat ride on the river of Falta is pleasing. Other enjoyable activities in Falta include bird watching and village walks to explore the lifestyle of village folk.
Tourist Places near Falta
A number of tourist destinations are located near Falta which also attract tourists. Diamond Harbour is situated at a little distance from Falta. Nurpur and Gadiara are other riverside towns and are popular tourist sites. Geonkhali, situated on the opposite bank of Falta, is another magnificent place to visit. Tamluk, located in Purba Midinipur district, is a historic town along the bank of River Rupnarayan and is quite near to Falta. It is also a significant industrial town of Haldia.
Economy of Falta
In the year 1984, an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) was set up in Falta by the government of India, which was later converted into a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and subsequently under the West Bengal SEZ Act, 2003, into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The act was the first one to be passed by any state government in India which make Falta SEZ, the first SEZ in the country. In 2005, when the SEZ act was passed by the government of India, the Falta SEZ was brought under the purview of this act. All the units under this zone needed to export their complete production and had certain entitlements. Falta SEZ spans over 280 acres of land and had about 271 companies out of which may have been closed now. Majority of the workforce of this SEZ comprises of women.
Falta can be visited by the tourists at any time of the year, as the place always offers a wondrous time with the nature. Tourist resorts are also situated near Falta for providing accommodation and other facilities to the tourists and visitors.
