In our everyday busy life, a tired mind often seeks solace in the vicinity of nature. And what if it is in the midst of a veil of flowers? Will it not be a mind-blowing experience? An offbeat and unknown destination is sure to personify the experience more. Khirai in West Bengal is one such quaint destination where you can feel this essence of calmness.
A picturesque place adorned with a plethora of flowers of multitude varieties and colors; truly an enchanting place to visit. A little away from the city crowds, you can spend a day strolling past its vast array of flower carpets and treat your eyes.
A paradise for flower admirers and nature photographers:
The entire stretch of Khirai blooms with marigolds, chrysanthemums, dahlia, aster, sweet william, celosia, roses, and many more. The soothing winter breeze whizzing past the vast gardens seems to create a mesmerizing feel. The sparkling rays of the sun cast a silvery shade on the crown of flowers; depicting a vivid picture of the landscape.
Many Bengali poets and eminent writers have aptly described the beauty of Khirai in their literary works; such is the aura of the place. They have often illustrated the comparison to that of a bride with a veil of flowers covering her face. Yeah, it's that magical.
A Source of livelihood for many:
Families own acres of land in Khirai, selling flowers, flower tiaras, and garlands. They even sell flower plant saplings which you can carry back home to your garden. Their main occupation is horticulture. The locals stay at a village nearby, from which the flower garden has earned its name. The secret behind this enormous bloom is the extremely fertile land next to Kasai or Kangsabati river.
The owners of the gardens mostly sell the flowers at Howrah and Kolaghat as a wholeseller. From there, the flowers are transported to various parts of the country. The popular among all the flowers is the Marigold.
The majority of the blooms happen between November-end and Mid-April. Rest of the year, the locals plant vegetables and sell them to keep the farm working.
Things to do at Khirai:
1. Strolling across the flower gardens and feeling the vibes of the fragrant and colorful flowers
2. Click plenty of photographs for creating a bright flowery album
3. Buy a flower tiara or a crown, costing not more than INR 20, and wear it on your head. You can customize it with flowers of your choice
4. Visit the nearby village and learn about the livelihood and survival habitat of the villagers and locals. Mingle with them to understand their lifestyle and their hard work in maintaining the flower fields
5. Buy some plant saplings for your gardens or as gifts to your loved ones
6. Check out the little make-shift stalls selling flowers and plants below the rail bridge
7. Taste the delicious rolls, Maggi and tea at the village stalls
8. Bring your food basket and enjoy a picnic at the river banks
9. Match your visit with the weekly flower shows. The popular among them being the Anjuna flower show on a Saturday, and the weekly ones of Teekah and Guddi
How to reach Khirai?
From Kolkata, you can board a train and reach Khirai railway station, about one kilometer away from the flower fields. The travelling time between Howrah and Khirai is almost 2 hours, after which you have to walk down for 30 to 40 minutes to reach the place.
But if you want to go for an eventful day, then it is best to drive. You can stop by the Azad Hinda Dhaba at Uluberia for a joyous meal and then proceed towards Khirai. The journey will be mostly through the NH16 highway and then onto the village roads with red soil. You will love the stretches of flower fields on both sides and the village huts.
Best time to visit Khirai:
The months between December and February are the peak months when the flowers bloom in abundance. Hence the best time to visit the gardens. It is advisable to select weekdays for the visit as sometimes the weekends are bit crowded. And if you can match your time with the flower shows then it's the best option.
Many of you have visited the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand or several hill stations blooming with flowers. But little do we know about this hamlet which will entice you with its buoyant beauty of flowers. So do hop in to this place once during the winters and experience the splendid beauty of nature.
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